What Is Clinical Hypnosis?
Clinical hypnosis, or hypnotherapy, is a simple but powerful process that has helped thousands of people overcome challenges and achieve goals they once believed were out of reach. Studies have shown that hypnotherapy is not only more effective than many traditional methods, like talk therapy or medication—it’s faster, too!
In as little as one session, hypnotherapy can help you quit smoking, release an addiction to sugar, soda, or junk food, or improve your athletic performance or study skills. However, despite the studies supporting clinical hypnosis as a scientifically-validated approach, many people struggle to understand how it works. Others recognize that hypnosis is a powerful tool for personal change but falsely associate the process with a loss of control or self-awareness.
The reasoning behind such myths is the mistaken idea that hypnosis is something that is “done to you.” The truth is that hypnosis is a state of focus and concentration that no one else can force you into. It’s a participatory process that helps open up your imagination so you accept positive beliefs faster than you could through traditional therapy or willpower alone. In a sense, this means that all hypnosis is self-hypnosis to some degree, even when it is facilitated by a professional hypnotherapist.
How Does Hypnosis Work?
Hypnosis is a state of heightened awareness, a tool that allows you to tap into the power of your own mind and foster positive change. In many ways, hypnosis is similar to the trance state we find ourselves in when daydreaming or reading a good book. The conscious mind is distracted, which allows for easier and more direct access to the subconscious mind (the home of habits and emotions). Therapeutic hypnosis also taps into the parasympathetic nervous system, the body’s inherent relaxation response, making it an extremely effective way to reduce the stress we often associate with significant changes in our lives.
As an increasing number of studies show the effectiveness of hypnotherapy, it has become quite a mainstream approach to managing mental health disorders. Often used in conjunction with psychotherapy or medication, clinical hypnosis is a solution-focused strategy that can help drive improved results without negatively impacting any other treatments you are participating in.
Why can hypnotherapy work if other approaches didn’t?
The conscious mind desires change, talks about it, reads self-help books; but the subconscious mind is where the changes happen. The problem is that conscious change—like trying to lose weight or quit smoking—requires a lot of repetition. And, often, a lot of “white-knuckling.” It’s not something we can do quickly on our own, no matter how motivated we are. And if we don’t see immediate results, we may lose hope. In our minds, it seems as if the lengthy, manual process doesn’t work, so we give up on it.
Clinical hypnosis, on the other hand, taps into the subconscious mind to allow for rapid change and powerful results. Whether you are trying to foster a sense of balance in your life, reduce stress, eat healthier, or become pregnant, an experienced hypnotherapist can help you reach your goals faster and without giving up other things you enjoy.
Common Misconceptions About Hypnotherapy
Many of the common fears and misconceptions people have about clinical hypnosis are associated with inaccurate depictions in television or movies. So what’s the truth about clinical hypnosis?
You can be hypnotized. Different methods of inducing hypnosis benefit different learning styles or information processing abilities, and a sharp mind is an asset in accessing and benefiting from the state of hypnosis. You just need to be willing to participate. With that mindset in place, a skilled hypnotherapist can then help you utilize your individual style and intelligence level to benefit from hypnosis.
You can’t get stuck in a state of hypnosis. Even if the hypnotherapist were to leave the building, you would either drift into a natural sleep for a few minutes or simply open your eyes and emerge from your hypnotic state.
You won’t be “under” during sessions. You will remain fully conscious and in control at all times. Even if you do “fall asleep” (or feel as though you have done so) mid-session, that is simply your conscious mind benefiting from the relaxed state you are in. Your subconscious mind always hears, it always pays attention.
You can’t be made to do something you don’t want to do or reveal secrets you don’t want to share. Hypnosis is not a truth serum, and you won’t do or say anything during the hypnotic state that you don’t consciously want to. The protective critical faculty of the mind keeps your morals, values, and beliefs intact, allowing only beneficial suggestions into the subconscious.
Every person who wants to be hypnotized can be hypnotized with the right approach. In fact, there are only three requirements necessary for hypnosis to occur: a minimal degree of intelligence, the ability to follow simple instructions, and a willingness to participate.
What Are Hypnotherapy Sessions Like At Eastburn Hypnotherapy Center?
At Eastburn Hypnotherapy Center, we know traditional therapy works. But we also know that traditional therapy can take a long time, and it may not give you the results you need as fast as you need them. With hypnosis, we can foster a rapid shift so you can reach your goals right away. And we’re happy to work in tandem with your therapist or doctor if that is what you desire.
Hypnosis is a learned skill and a participatory process. Some people may be hypnotized more easily at first, but anyone can be hypnotized with the right approach. You don’t have to quiet your mind or start a session feeling calm and relaxed to enter a hypnotic state, which makes hypnosis preferable to meditation for many people. Your hypnotherapist will work with you to create the most powerful, beneficial session based on your unique experience and desired goals.
The subconscious doesn’t distinguish between good and bad habits—our goal is to teach the subconscious to go to battle for you instead of fighting against you. In our experience, even the most difficult challenges can be resolved in as little as a month with the help of the right hypnotherapist. And if you ever struggle again in the future, we can always schedule another session.
Depending on your goals in attending hypnotherapy, you may see results in as little as one session. Rather than teaching you coping mechanisms, clinical hypnosis creates almost instantaneous changes in the brain, so you won’t need coping skills to maintain the positive change in your life. If you are working through deeper issues—like childhood trauma or chronic anxiety—we may recommend meeting for a longer duration (usually 2-4 sessions). This also allows us to incorporate other scientifically validated approaches that supplement clinical hypnosis, such as Gestalt Therapy and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP).
In addition to individual sessions, we can also work with couples or groups. And if you have a large group or are unable to visit our office in Denver, CO, we can travel to your location or provide online hypnotherapy.
Meet Drake Eastburn
Drake Eastburn is the founder of Eastburn Institute of Hypnosis and Eastburn Hypnotherapy Center. He has provided clinical hypnosis to individuals, couples, corporations, and armed service members around the globe. And his books on the topic are used in hypnotherapy training programs worldwide. Drake & Lynsi Eastburn are the first hypnosis couple to ever be featured on the cover of The Journal of Hypnotism (2009).
Drake Eastburn
With more than 30 years of experience in the field of hypnotherapy, Drake maintains a thriving private practice with two locations in the Denver Metro area. He works with clients around the world via telephone and Skype, Zoom or other such platforms, and has trained students worldwide to become Certified Hypnotherapists. Drake’s popular weight loss program, No Time to Waist—Powerful Hypnotic Weight Loss Secrets You Need to Know, will soon be available on iTunes, Audible, and Amazon.
Drake is a registered psychotherapist, a Board Certified Hypnotherapist and Certified Instructor through the National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH), and a member of multiple national and international hypnotherapy and psychotherapy organizations. He has been featured on television news, radio, and in print media. One of the most prolific authors in the field of hypnotism, Drake has written seven books on the topic. His most recent book, The Hypnotist’s Bible, is due to be released by the end of 2019. Drake is also the official hypnotherapist for the U.S. Olympic Cycling Team.
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Read Some Testimonials
“Drake has a way of exploring and explaining the many facets of hypnosis in a simple, elegant way.”
-Jay Arthur CHT, NLP
Author of Debug Your Mental Software
“You are definitely the hypnotherapist that I aspire to be! If I can gain only a portion of your knowledge, I’ll be happy!”
-Dr. Deanna Minkler, CH Chicago, IL
“Your powerful teaching style and obvious skill have instilled such confidence in my own abilities. Not only have I expanded my practice to accommodate the influx of fertility business, I have successfully applied techniques learned from your fertility training to other issues including smoking and weight loss. This is very valuable material. Thanks!”
-Sherry Gilbert, CH, HBCE, Life Coach Phoenix, AZ