Hypnosis and trance are ways of gaining direct access to our subconscious minds and our imaginal realms where we can work with our inner selves in creative ways. Being in a state of hypnosis, or trance, is to allow the body to be in a deeply relaxed, peaceful state while remaining aware of what is happening. In that state, you can access insight and internal resources, let your conscious and sub-conscious minds work in tandem with your wisdom, your inner knowing and your higher self, allowing for new ways of being in your life and in the world. What you discover in hypnosis and trance are answers that are all your own.
Some tools we can work with in hypnosis and trance states:
Finding internal resources through regressing to memories of events that offer the ability to access powerful internal resources including competence and safety.
Guided depth meditation for visitation and communication with guides, angels, and beloved dead
Guided imagery allowing you to access insight and resources through a safe space or other helpful place
Object imagery givesthe ability to work with difficult emotions like fear, anger grief or feelings and sensations like pain through the use of metaphor and concrete imagery
Past Life Regression can offer insight into current difficulties or relationships through exploration of experiences beyond this lifetime
Parts Work: This offers the ability to help you communicate with parts of yourself that may be maintaining behaviors that are not serving you
Inner Child work: Allows the ability to communicate with your inner child helping to nurture parts of you that may have sustained trauma and need more love, attention and compassion.
Reprocessing of traumatic memories and phobia work
I can give you nothing that has not already its origins within yourself
I can throw open no picture gallery but your own I can help make your own world visible- that is all. ~Herman Hesse
What to Expect in Hypnotherapy and Trancework
My practice is client centered, meaning you and your needs guide any work we do together, whether it's hypnosis, talk therapy, reiki, meditation, trauma processing, or any other thing we may work on together.
In any hypnotic state or trance, only you can allow that state to occur. Despite what we see on tv and in the movies, or even in live stage hypnosis shows, no one can be in a state of hypnosis against their will.
You may have questions about what trance or hypnosis means. All of us go in and out of states of trance throughout every day. Daydreaming, "zoning out," or dissociating---which is also a very normal and even needed state of being--are forms of trance. In specific trance and hypnosis work, I am helping you go into a deeply relaxed state where your conscious thinking, judging, comparing, analytical mind is in the background and your intuitive, creative, imaginative mind can come to the forefront and help you solve problems, integrate information, access information it already knows and use this information to help you meet your goals and find solutions. This part of your mind can even communicate with your conscious mind as needed.
When there is any fear or anxiety present, we will first work with that. Until you feel comfortable, we won't proceed. This is the first and most important thing is that you feel safe. No one can go into a trance state, or state of hypnosis, much less process any trauma, unless they feel safe. Also, during any state of hypnosis or trance, you remain in control of yourself. If you have to use the bathroom you can just open your eyes, stand up and say, "I'm going to the bathroom." You will never do or say anything that you would not do if you were completely awake and in your regular conscious thinking mind.
When you feel safe, we decide what exactly you want from your session. There are many different techniques I am trained to use and we will discuss which will best help you meet your needs. I will explain the process to you and we will decide when to begin. It may be that session, it may be the next. Each person is individual. When we do decide to go forward with our trancework, the first step is to help you find a state of feeling grounded, comfortable and relaxed. We will also work together to help you create a safe space for yourself. When you are in a state of deep relaxation, we will work on the goals we have established for your sessions.
This can include imagery, visualization, working with parts of your consciousness such as your inner child, images you have created that symbolize aspects of self or events that have occurred and much more. I sometimes work with people around behavior change--like smoking or misuse of substances or alcohol or overeating--but my practice focuses mostly on trauma work and visualization for other goals such as communicating with deceased loved ones, meeting with spiritual guides or establishing internal resources that can help you in difficult times.
If you have any questions about hypnosis or trance work and how it might help you, please send me an email using any of the contact forms on my site.