What is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a special state of mind that relaxes the conscious mind of an individual to allow for greater access to the subconscious. What type of therapy is then used while in the hypnotic state varies drastically.

Hypnosis has been used in one way, shape or form for millennia. There is evidence of it's use in ancient Greece and Rome and even further back if one considers the Egyptian Sleep Temples in use over 2000 years ago. At the time however, there was no word for the phenomenon. This would come much later, in the 1840's when Dr. James Braid, coins the word Hypnosis from the greek word 'hypnos', meaning sleep.

Hypnosis as a therapeutic modality was popularized in the late 1700's to the early 1900's by such persons as Mesmer (where the term Mesmerism comes from), to Braid, Elliotson, Esdaille and Freud.

Today, hypnosis is practiced and performed for therapeutic benefit on millions of people each year under the name hypnotherapy.

All Hypnotherapy is not created equal

Many people make the simple mistake of thinking that what one hypnotherapist does, so must every other. That if 'it' didn't work for Uncle Bob then 'it' wont work for me.

The fact is that every hypnotherapist is unique and the form of therapy (the 'it') they use within hypnosis differs from therapist to therapist. Hypnosis in and of itself is not a therapy.

Members of the I.A.P.H. practice the same form of therapy as every other member in the organization.

All Hypnotherapists are not created equal

The mainstay of any therapy, whether hypnotherapy or any other is the relationship between the client and the therapist. It is vital to the success of therapy that you trust your therapist. If something feels off, by all means seek out someone else.