Become Who You Want To Be

Clinical hypnotherapy is the use of clinical hypnosis to address presenting issues and problems, in a therapeutic setting at the unconscious level. 

Hypnosis itself is referred to as an “absorbed or inward, directed attention state”, or a state that appears more “trance-like”. A trance-like state can also mean “open eye trance”, like when you are driving and dancing, and you aren’t consciously thinking about it. Thus, you actually go naturally in and out of trance so many times in a day. You just don’t notice! Therefore, this idea that hypnosis is a zombie-like trance state (that may be portrayed on stage or in movies), is a myth.

Clinical hypnosis has also been likened to a state of “heightened awareness”. As well as can also mean an “increased susceptibility to suggestion”, where people are more willing to entertain new options/possibilities, and less attached to their own position.

Ultimately at The Inward Process, hypnosis is used as a vehicle/tool for delivering strategic psychotherapy/coaching (if you choose) that are tailored to your individual needs and desired goals.

In clinical hypnosis, the conscious mind if you will (the part of the mind that is responsible for thinking, analysing, and interpreting) takes more of a back seat, and it allows us to tap more directly to the unconscious mind (or the unconscious). By being able to bypass the critical, conscious mind and leveraging strategic psychotherapy/coaching in the process, it allows for a tailored therapeutic experience, that facilitates significant and lasting shifts in behaviour and thought processes. In quite often a relatively short period of time.

To explain further, there are certain patterns/processes, such as in procrastination, or a dependency for example, where the frontal lobe – the logical part of you that is responsible for thinking, analysing and interpreting things, already knows that you should stop the bad habit/dependency. Yet, in the end, you still end up turning, and doing the bad habit/dependency. Why? Because this is an unconscious pattern driven by emotion, not logic (read this sentence again). This is why strategic hypnosis is so effective, whilst traditional, dialectic, or conscious talk therapies have limited success in comparison. When you combine these approaches, which we offer, you get far better, effective outcomes as a result.

Everyone’s experience will be slightly different, and how effective hypnosis is, will largely come down to how open you are to the experience, what your expectations and beliefs of hypnosis are, how quickly you can take onboard/take action, and the skill level of the clinical hypnotherapist contributes.

No, a person under hypnosis cannot be forced to do something against their will or against their moral or ethical beliefs. While in a hypnotic state, individuals are still in control of their actions and decisions. Always. The role of hypnosis is to facilitate positive changes aligned with the individual’s own goals.

Hypnosis is simply a tool, a fascinating and complex tool to me, and requires voluntary participation. Thus, you remain in control and can choose to come in and out of hypnosis at any time.

ntent

Hypnosis can be used for a whole host of reasons, including, and not limited for strategic coaching and psychotherapy purposes. Here are some of the lists that we offer at The Inward Process:

Anxiety/stress, Addictions/dependencies, low self-esteem, procrastination, pain management, insomnia, smoking, phobias, improved focus/concentration and more!

The myth that 10% of the population can’t be hypnotised, or “my mind is too strong to be hypnotised” is outdated. Traditional, older forms of hypnotherapy that were scripted, more forceful in their methods that told you what to do, made this so. In modern strategic hypnosis, I do not give you direct advice, only offering suggestions, insights and possibilities that you can cherry pick, deciding whether to take that onboard if it is useful, or you can dismiss it if you choose. It’s all up to you. In truth really, anyone can then be hypnotised, but it requires your active participation and willingness – if you decide. 

Jay Haley, first termed “strategic psychotherapy”, which led to the strategic approach. He was highly regarded and influential in the development of strategic family therapy, and brief therapy models.

Key focuses on strategic psychotherapy are:

Solution-oriented: Strategic psychotherapy begins with defining clear outcomes for what the client wants to achieve. The focus remains on these outcomes throughout the session.

Focus on Patterns: There is a strong emphasis on underlying patterns that lead to the problem, throughout the interviewing and clinical hypnotherapy process. It prioritises identifying swift, practical solutions to a client’s presenting problem, rather than delving deeply into past experiences or unconscious motivations.

Directives & Tasks: Rather than just talk, therapists use specific tasks, directives and other interventions to change behaviour patterns and create shifts in the system.

Change Creates Change: The strategic approach posits that even small changes in behaviour can set off a cascade of positive shifts within the system as a whole.

1. A 20 minute discovery session, followed by the completion of the client intake form.
2. A strategic interview lasting about 30-35 minutes (the initial interview around 45-60 minutes to identify the client’s desired outcomes, strengths, resources, underlying patterns, processes and what is contributing to the presenting issue).
3. A 15 minute hypnotic session.
4. A 5-10 minute debrief, overview and moving forward.

Strategic Psychotherapy is a therapeutic approach that helps individuals understand and manage their emotions, thoughts, and behaviours. Through one-on-one sessions with a trained psychotherapist, clients can explore their concerns, gain insights, and develop effective coping strategies. This is different from other forms of psychotherapy as it is focused on the perceptual filters that clients have developed throughout their life. In showing clients how to change those filters, the possibility of change becomes a reality.

Yes, strategic hypnotherapy can be highly effective in alleviating anxiety and stress. By addressing the root causes of these issues at the subconscious level, hypnotherapy can help individuals develop healthier coping mechanisms and experience a greater sense of calm and control.

Yes, we offer in-person sessions at our locations in Albury Wodonga, as well as telehealth sessions for individuals who prefer the convenience of online therapy. Our goal is to make our services accessible and convenient for all.