Through the use of hypnosis and hypnotherapy, Dr. Katherine Agranovitch helps clients find relief from physical dysfunctions, stress, unwanted habits and ultimately to achieve improved overall health and wellbeing. The art of hypnosis, as practiced at Achieve Health Center, has helped countless patients. We believe we can help you as well.
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Answer: Hypnosis is a state of profound relaxation and heightened suggestibility. It is simply a relaxed and concentrated state of mind, which expands a person's awareness to receive positive instructions for improvement in every area of life. The conscious mind by consent enters a state of abeyance and allows the subconscious mind to receive direct outside stimuli without the resistance of mental processes. Because hypnosis is a natural state of mind it is in the realm of everyone's capability. All of us pass through hypnotic stages when we go to sleep at night and when we wake up in the morning. We are in hypnosis when we "daydream" and when we "stare".
Physiologically, hypnosis stimulates the limbic system, the region of the brain linked to emotion and involuntary responses, like adrenal spurts and blood pressure.
The physiological shift can actually be observed during a hypnotic state, as can greater control of the autonomic nervous system functions that are normally beyond one's ability to control; stress and blood pressure reduction are common occurrences.
Research demonstrates that body chemistry changes, such as cortisol levels and metabolic properties occur during a hypnotic trance.
Question: Does the hypnotist have "control" over the subject's mind?
Answer: An emphatic "NO". No one can be hypnotized unless they want to be. It should be pointed out that the subject is fully aware of what is happening in the surrounding environment at all times. Should something be asked of him that is against his will or moral principles he would either reject the suggestion or come out of hypnosis. The subject accepts only those suggestions that he wishes to accept; all others are rejected.
Question: Has anyone ever been harmed by the use of hypnosis?
Answer: Hypnosis as we know it today has been around for 200 years. There has never been a documented case of harm yet, due to the use of hypnosis. The reason is the answer above.
Question: Does one need more than an average intelligence to be hypnotized?
Answer: Basically "NO"! Alpha or the hypnotic level is a natural aspect of the mind. Clients that accept this natural state of mind best are those with the ability to concentrate and those with strong imaginations. The stronger the imagination is, the more effective is the hypnosis. Cooperation also plays a big role in the induction of hypnosis.
Question: Does hypnosis render the person unconscious?
Answer: NO! The client is never really in an unconscious state. He is merely in a very pleasant state of relaxation. He is at all times fully aware of what is happening around him.
Question: Does hypnotherapy deal only with the symptom of a problem?
Answer: Hypnotherapy should cover both the symptoms and the underlying course of the problem. It's been said, "Realizing your problem is only half of the battle". Once the hypnotherapist can help the client to realize his major problem, he can then give hypnotic programming to eliminate this problem or change unwanted habits or behaviors.
Question: Does the hypnotist actually hypnotize the subject?
Answer: NO! All hypnosis is self-induced. The hypnotist makes suggestions to the subject and by following these suggestions, the subject hypnotizes himself.
Question: What can hypnosis help you ACHIEVE?
Reduce stress by relaxing mind and body
Increase self-confidence
Change negative attitudes
Increase motivation and self-esteem
A state of profound relaxation and heightened suggestibility
Improve concentration, memory and study habits
Eliminate frustrations, anxiety and tensions
Improve sales and self-image
Combat worries, fatigue, and insomnia
Improve business, social and marital life
Sharpen mental attitude and enhance working performance
The major cause of stress for most people comes from self-generated anxiety and worries. Because our body responds equally to mental images as to sensory ones, learning to monitor and sort out thoughts can be a major step to inner peace.
The key is to first notice negative thought and then say to our self "This is a story that does not need to happen". By this technique, we honor our destructive thoughts and simply let them go. On another hand, if there is a positive, optimistic thought, acknowledge it by praising and supporting yourself: "Yes, this is a healing story".
"Wisdom tells me I am nothing.
Love tells me I am everything.
And between the two my life flows."
-Nisargadatta Maharaj
Five steps to getting what you want:
1. DESIRE, supercharged with emotion and intensity
2. CLEAR PICTURE OF WHAT YOU WANT, be specific
3. BELIEVE, never doubt the outcome
4. SEE YOUR DESIRE AS ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED, think in pictures
5. FEEL YOUR DESIRE AS ALREADY DONE, feel strongly in your visualizations, things have to happen, results must come!