Science of Hypnotherapy

Science of Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy guides eager clients into deep meditative relaxation, where the subconscious becomes open and receptive to positive suggestions. The intricate process through which this affects the subconscious mind and helps achieve specific goals involves several fascinating mechanisms:

  1. Altered Brainwave States
    When someone is under hypnosis, their brain activity slows down significantly. Normally buzzing in beta state (14–30 Hz), associated with active thinking and problem-solving, the brain transitions to alpha (7.5–14 Hz) or theta (4–7.5 Hz) waves during hypnosis. Alpha waves are tied to a serene, meditative state while theta waves are linked to deep relaxation and creativity, much like that dreamy state before falling asleep or upon waking up.

In these altered brainwave states, the critical mind takes a back seat as the subconscious mind steps into the spotlight. This part of our mind controls automatic behaviors, emotions, and deeply rooted beliefs making it accessible for hypnotherapists to directly engage with where our habits, fears, and instinctive responses are stored.

  1. Neuroplasticity and Suggestion
    The brain’s remarkable ability to rewire itself, known as neuroplasticity, plays a pivotal role in hypnotherapy. During hypnosis, suggestions are tailored towards desired behaviors or goals like reducing anxiety, overcoming fears or losing weight. These suggestions pave the way for new pathways by suggesting positive outcomes with behaviors.

Example: For someone looking to quit smoking; a hypnotherapist might suggest feeling calm and empowered when thoughts of smoking arise instead of anxious or triggered feelings. Over time, these preferred associations can become second nature as the brain reshapes itself, replacing old habits with preferred, healthier alternatives.

  1. The Power of Visualization
    Guided visualization or imagery is often used to help clients envision success. It triggers neural networks similar to those activated during real-life actions, essentially training the brain for success even before it happens. Whether it’s anticipating a comfortable presentation or losing weight; visualizing success primes the subconscious for victory when faced with actual challenges.
  2. Bypassing the Critical Mind
    The conscious, critical mind is the gatekeeper critiquing ideas that clash with existing beliefs or self-image; however, in hypnotic states this guardian is bypassed making it easier for suggestions to access subconscious thought free of resistance or doubt. This is a crucial part of the process helping clients to break free from self-imposed limitations.
  3. Emotional Regulation
    Hypnotherapy also delves into the limbic system which is a group of interconnected brain structures that help regulate emotions and behavior. The limbic system works to reprocess memory, thoughts and motivations, then telling the body how to respond. Hypnotherapy allows clients to access and positively reframe past emotional experiences helping to overcome emotional barriers obstructing progress.
  4. Repetition and Reinforcement
    Repetition cements neural pathways supporting desired changes. Each session reinforces positive suggestions leading to sustainable relief/success with a client’s goal.

In conclusion: Hypnotherapy taps into our innate learning ability while utilizing suggestive visualization techniques. This can help modify thoughts, emotions and behaviors to be more in line with the client’s specific goals.

by Paul Gustafson

Top 10 reasons for daily hypnotherapy

Routine hypnotherapy, like meditation, offers many life-enhancing benefits. My clients are advised to listen to their office hypnotherapy sessions daily for 3 months. Its the repetition that ensures sustainable relief from whatever problem they pursued hypnotherapy to fix.

1 Sound Sleep: Hypnosis can improve your sleep quality, ensuring that you are well-rested and have the energy needed to pursue your goals effectively.

2 Enhanced Confidence: Hypnosis can boost your self-esteem and confidence, making you more likely to take the necessary steps toward achieving your goals.

3 Improve Visualization Skills: Hypnosis often involves visualization techniques, which can help you create a clear mental picture of your goals and the steps needed to achieve them.

4 Consistency and Discipline: By making hypnosis a daily habit, you can develop greater consistency and discipline, which are crucial for long-term success.

5 Healthy Habits: Hypnosis can help reprogram your subconscious mind to adopt healthier habits and behaviors that support your goals, such as eating healthier, exercising regularly, or staying organized.

6 Less Stress: Regular hypnosis sessions can lower stress and anxiety levels, allowing you to approach your goals with a calm and clear mind.

7 Optimize Motivation: Hypnosis can enhance your motivation by reinforcing your desire to achieve your goals and reminding you of the benefits of reaching them.

8 Pain Relief: If physical pain or discomfort is a barrier to your success, hypnosis can help manage and reduce pain, allowing you to focus better on your goals.

9 Positive Attitude: Regular hypnosis sessions can help cultivate a positive mindset, which is essential for overcoming challenges and staying persistent.

10 Improved Focus: Hypnosis can help you improve your ability to focus and concentrate, which is crucial for staying on track with your goals.

by: Paul Gustafson

 

Paul on WBZ radio

Radio host invited Paul Gustafson to talk about hypnotherapy on WBZ’s Nightside with Dan Rea.

12 Reasons a mentor is important

12 Reasons a mentor is important

1 Mentors support growth

Mentors encourage and enable another person’s professional or personal development. A mentor can help focus their efforts by setting goals and giving feedback. As a result, companies that want to build employees’ skills often create mentoring programs. The mentors’ knowledge can help train and create a high-quality and productive workforce. Employees appreciate workplaces that encourage development, as it can demonstrate that their employer values them and wants to see them grow.

2 Mentors serve as a source of knowledge

Mentors can provide specific insights and information that enable the mentee’s success. For example, they offer instructions on how to perform particular tasks or develop useful skills. Individuals starting their career can benefit from such guidance, as it helps them feel comfortable in the role more quickly. For example, a mentor can help a person starting a business learn how to develop their initial business plan and budgets.

3 Mentors can help set goals

A mentor can help their mentee set personal or professional development goals. For effective goal-setting, they can create SMART goals—specific, achievable, relevant and time-based. These goals can help focus the mentee’s efforts and make it easier for the mentor to track and assess progress. They may identify smaller tasks in pursuit of a larger objective to develop specific skills or meet particular priorities.

4 Mentors maintain accountability

A mentor helps hold their mentee accountable for their goals. By tracking progress, the mentor helps the mentee stay focused and on track towards completing them. It can also ensure that the mentee does not forget about the goals they have set. Knowing that someone else is watching can serve as motivation, as the mentee likely does not want to let the mentor down by failing to meet goals.

5 Mentors offer encouragement

When the mentee finds themselves struggling to perform their job or reach a goal, they can turn to their mentor for support. This encouragement can motivate them to keep moving forward despite challenges. A mentor can also identify and express their mentee’s strengths to instill confidence in them. Having a strong sense of confidence can make the mentee less likely to give up on their goals.

6 Mentors help make connections

A mentor can help build their mentee’s professional network. When the mentee identifies professional or personal goals, the mentor can connect them to potential opportunities or individuals who can help them. As the mentor typically has more industry experience or a higher-level career, these connections can be valuable for career advancement.

7 Mentors are willing to listen

When an individual has ideas, they can use a mentor as a resource to discuss or try them. The mentor can provide unbiased advice or opinions using their relevant knowledge and experience. With these insights, the mentee can better understand what steps to take and whether to pursue the idea or walk away. Similarly, a mentor can also listen and advise them on daily concerns, such as workplace conflicts.

8 Mentors serve as a trusted ally

Trust represents a core element of mentoring relationships. The mentee must trust that the mentor has their best interests in mind and will provide accurate and honest guidance. The business world can also be competitive, so they need to rely on one another to keep confidential information private when necessary. Communicating regularly and following through on their promises demonstrate two methods of establishing trust in these relationships.

9 Mentors can offer constructive feedback

A trusting mentorship relationship enables honest feedback. By establishing trust, the mentee understands that constructive criticism aims to build their professional growth rather than make them feel bad. Mentors can identify weaknesses and advise them on ways to improve. Because this is a professional relationship, the mentor plays an objective role. Meanwhile, a friend may hesitate to identify the mentee’s weaknesses because they do not want to appear critical.

10 Mentors provide guidelines

For individuals just starting their career, a mentor can help set guidelines on professional expectations. For example, they may clarify the priorities of the role and proper workplace behaviors. These guidelines can help the mentee establish appropriate work habits that enable them to focus and perform their job successfully. These effective work habits can help them be more productive and impress their supervisors.

11 Mentors have relevant experience

When possible, individuals should choose mentors who have the experience relevant to their profession or goals. When mentors convey their successes, the mentee can use them as an example to strive toward and copy the steps they took. Mentors can also share the mistakes they made along their journeys. The mentee benefits because they learn lessons about the mistakes’ negative impacts but do not have to suffer the consequences themselves. Learning about these experiences can also help prepare the mentee for the challenges they can expect to face and provide demonstrable advice on how to overcome them.

12 Mentors are a free resource

Mentorship typically occurs due to networking or company programs, so mentors do not seek payment. They offer to serve this role because they genuinely want to help the other individual grow and establish a more authentic and personal connection. The lack of payment also opens up mentorship for all types of people, rather than restricting this resource to only those who can afford it. (Indeed.com)

Hypnotherapist Paul Gustafson RN CH offers a 6-class mentoring program for new certified hypnotherapists interested in taking the fast track to professional success. Paul incorporates high-end audio and video along with creatively effective sessions which offers eager clients consistently positive results. [more]

Paul’s multilevel approach includes a dynamic client office experience, digital recording of client sessions, MP3 file sharing, cable TV show production with search engine optimization, blogging and social media distribution. [contact]