The Difference Between Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy

The idea of hypnotherapy can bring up a lot of concerns and feelings.  I encourage your skepticism and questions! Please read further to learn a little bit about what hypnosis is and how that’s different from hypnotherapy. 

Hypnosis and hypnotherapy are different.  Hypnosis is a natural state, and it can be tapped into and used for many purposes. Hypnosis is simply full, focused attention with our subconscious taking the lead.  It is a state of being that most of us experience on a daily basis.  Hypnotic trance can happen doing anything routine, like driving the same route to work, watching TV, day-dreaming or reading a great book.  We also enter and exit trance states (alpha and theta brain waves) when we are awakening from sleep and when we are entering sleep. Hypnosis is used in stage performance and entertainment, for relaxed meditations, and checking out (i.e. auto-pilot, fantasy or dissociation). Hypnosis has been recorded and used for about four centuries, and I will add, with zero recorded instances of anyone getting stuck!* In addition, it has been studied that the subconscious mind is 30,000 times faster at inputting data than the conscious mind.** This leads to the benefits of hypnotherapy…..

Hypnotherapy is an intentional use of this natural state of hypnosis for learning and healing.  The magic, so to speak, isn’t the act of going into trance. The magic is actually what we do with the trance. Hypnotherapy has several benefits, starting with the simple fact that information processing is sped up as compared to waking consciousness.  When this trace state (hypnosis) is induced by a trained professional for learning and healing, that is hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy is hypnosis with a goal-directed aim, such as facilitating relaxation, introducing mental resources, or assisting in resolving inner conflict. This is achieved by relaxing the critical mind while introducing positive changes to the subconscious mind. Still, I get this question a lot – what happens??  

Hypnotherapy is still therapy first – just faster.  We create a goal for the session ahead of time, so we know if we’re working on alleviating a phobia, reducing physical pain, or better understanding an emotional block, as examples. There are several forms of induction into the hypnotic state, but generally the therapist guides or talks the client into a deep relaxation similar to a guided meditation.  Once there, we address a problem area with the sole intention of manifesting your personal goal of learning or healing. Often there are regressions to past memories or points for review and reflection. We go where you go; and you go where you need to learn and heal. We integrate the newfound emotional content and learning between the experience of THEN and the wisdom of NOW, and suggest that this helpful understanding and healing is part of your life moving forward.  At the end of the 1.5-2 hour session, you asked to return to the room in a fully conscious state. 

As you can see, hypnosis and hypnotherapy are not the same terms.  Hypnosis is a natural state, and hypnotherapy is one of the most profound ways we have of utilizing it for change. 

*Miller, D. (2017). Can I Get Stuck in a Trance? A New Hope Hypnosis. Retrieved on January 25, 2020, from https://www.anewhopehypnosis.com/post/can-i-get-stuck-in-a-trance

**Markowsky, G. (2017). Information Theory. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved on January 25, 2020, from https://www.britannica.com/science/information-theory