What is hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a natural state of consciousness that allows you to be extremely focused. During this heightened state, your subconscious mind is extremely receptive to positive messages and suggestions. This allows you to reprogram your mind for success and change and allows you to wipe out bad habits and negative behaviors, such as nail biting or smoking. Everyone experiences hypnosis every day, as you pass through the hypnotic state before falling asleep. Hypnosis is something you enter willingly with a professional hypnotist as your guide.

Hypnosis is a scientific fact, most recently documented by a group of Stanford researchers in Cerebral Cortex. They stated that “hypnosis is not a parlor trick or a magic show, it is a neurobiological phenomenon. This is not a way of losing control, as a lot of people fear. It is a way of teaching people to enhance control over their brains and bodies.”

Can anyone be hypnotized?

Yes. Anyone can be hypnotized, as long as they want to be hypnotized. Hypnosis is a natural state of being that requires your agreement. A professional hypnotist can guide you into that state but if you resist and don’t follow the instructions, you will not enter the state of hypnosis. You can not be forced into hypnosis against your will. When you visit our office to be hypnotized for the first time, chances are you will be slightly nervous and curious and that’s natural. As an experienced, certified consulting hypnotist, Carl Birkmeyer has a wide variety of techniques and will craft a custom strategy to help you into a deep state of hypnosis. Hypnosis is also progressive and cumulative, so each time you enter hypnosis, you enter more quickly and more deeply.

Do I lose control when I’m hypnotized?

Not at all. Many people think hypnosis is the loss of control but in reality, hypnosis gives you more control than you may have thought possible. Actions and thoughts that you believed were an uncontrollable part of your life can be controlled through hypnosis. For example, a person with a fear of heights has no control of their thoughts when they are in the midst of that fear. Hypnosis can eliminate that fear, enabling you to constantly remain in control. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to control your thoughts? Hypnosis gives you that control.

Many people believe that they are “control freaks and can’t be hypnotized.” The exact opposite is true. Being able to focus and concentrate allows you to follow instructions and enter the hypnotic state quickly and easily.

You also may be familiar of the old media portrayal of hypnosis turning a person into a mindless slave of the hypnotist. Nothing could be further from the truth. You will maintain your core beliefs at all times. It is impossible to hypnotize someone to do something against their morals or core beliefs. During hypnosis, you are aware of everything being said and everything you are doing.

What is the difference between hypnosis and sleep?

Hypnosis actually was named after “hypos,” the Greek word for sleep, but it is a different state of consciousness. Technically, sleep is a state of reduced consciousness while you rest in a daily rhythm, whereas hypnosis is a state of heightened focus and concentration. You are aware of everything happening around you and are focused on the voice of the hypnotist during a hypnotic trance. A good analogy is when you find yourself arriving at work yet having no real memory of the drive – that’s a trance state you were experiencing.

How does it feel to be hypnotized?

People experience hypnosis in different ways but everyone agrees that it feels wonderful! You may experience hypnosis as a light state where you seem to be floating, a state of relaxation, or it may not have a distinct feeling at all. Most people experience a strong feeling of relaxation and stress relief and emerge from hypnosis feeling relaxed and refreshed. No matter how you experience hypnosis, you will be in a state of incredible focus and concentration, and extremely receptive to suggestions. There is no one magic experience for everyone but everyone can have a wonderful and productive session.

Will you make me cluck like a chicken?

Only upon request!