These myths give the impression that the subject is gullible.  A hypnotic trance state occurs, not out of gullibility or weak-mindedness, but simply because that person allows it to happen.   A stage hypnotist knows this, and carefully screens volunteers in the audience to select only those who display exhibitionist tendencies and who are willing to cooperate.  In hypnosis, the subject is not under the hypnotist’s control.  All hypnosis is self-hypnosis.   In other words, hypnosis is not something that is imposed on you, but something that you yourself do as you relax and use your imagination to support a goal.   The therapist helps facilitate, but you do the work.  You will never be asked to do anything that you yourself do not want to do.   On the contrary, if you believed the hypnotherapist was asking you to do something against your values, you would likely immediately re-alert yourself.   In addition, you will never have to reveal anything to the therapist you don’t want to. 

Another myth about hypnosis is of the loss of consciousness and amnesia.   Only a small percentage of very hypnotizable individuals go to very deep levels of trance and experience amnesia.  Most people remember everything that occurs during hypnosis.   On a more positive note, most therapeutic goals in hypnosis can be achieved in a light or medium depth trance state, through which memory of the session is active.

As we perform the hypnotic sessions, it is most effective to use your imagination and passively imagine that things are happening to you.  Don’t try to hard to make things happen, or analyze the process to see if it is working.  Just allow things to happen naturally.  After the session, I will ask you for feedback about how we might enhance the experience for you.