We love hearing comments and suggestions from our readers and this post is in response to Dona’s comment below:
Would you please explain the difference between Clinical Hypnosis and what I think of as stage hypnosis or entertaining hypnosis. I think many people see shows on television and do not get the true meaning of how hypnosis can help a person in so many areas of their lives.
Thank you
Dona
What do you think of when you hear the word “hypnosis”? Chances are that you probably think about something that you have seen on TV, in the movies or during a stage show at your high school prom or local comedy club. One of the most common misconceptions about hypnosis is that people think that someone is going to come in and take control over their minds and make them do things that they don’t want to do. It is true that hypnosis is very powerful and can be used to influence thoughts, behaviors and patterns that have been programmed in the subconscious mind, however, hypnosis cannot make someone do something they don’t want to or wouldn’t normally do.
Perhaps you’ve seen the episode of The Mentalist where someone was hypnotized into believing he was carrying a sack of potatoes when he was actually moving a dead body or CSI where a hypnotist hypnotized bank tellers to hand over large sums of money with post-hypnotic suggestions. These story lines are intriguing and entertaining but are not an accurate depiction of Clinical Hypnosis. Clinical hypnosis, when practiced by a Certified and Licensed Hypnotherapist has been proven to be extremely effective at helping people make positive changes in their lives and acheive personal and professional success. Clinical hypnosis, here in Pittsburgh, PA as well as all over the world is most commonly used to help people lose weight or quit smoking but is also widely used to help people reduce stress, tension and anxiety, improve sleeping patterns, boost self confidence, enhance sports performance, become a more confident public speaker, and overcome nervous or destructive behaviors such as fingernail biting.