778 878 9699
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Vancouver Office
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Edmonton & Calgary Offices
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Regina Office
Dr. Pieter van den Berg, R. Psych. & CVRP.
Registered Psychologist (Alberta, BC & SK)
Certified Vocational Rehabilitation Professional
Providing Vocational & Psychological Assessments in Alberta, BC & Saskatchewan
FAQ
Have heard about hypnosis, but unsure what exactely it is, how it works, and what it can do for you? Here are a few questions from our clients before they started their therapy with us.
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What is hypnosis?
Hypnosis is an education, communication process that allows your conscious and subconscious mind to believe the same message. During hypnosis your body and conscious mind are in a relaxed, neutral state, while your subconscious mind remains awake and receptive to suggestion. It is a natural state that we all experience in some form every day. In hypnotherapy we use specific techniques to utilize and maximize the power of your subconscious mind to help you create the change you want in your life.
What types of people typically see a hypnotherapist?
People who decide to see a hypnotherapist have made the decision to change some part of their life, whether this is a particular habit or behavior, way of thinking, or the way that they feel. They are generally open-minded, able to commit a 100% and ready for change.
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What can hypnotherapy be used for?
Hypnotherapy is used for a variety of issues. This includes: anxiety and depression, self-confidence, phobias (including fear of public speaking), pain management, addictions, smoking cessation, over eating and weight loss, performance enhancement (including sexual performance), and sleep difficulties.
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Does hypnosis work?
Hypnosis is widely used today in medicine to aid in recovery and symptom control, by athletes to boost their performance, by business people to develop confidence, and by thousands of people like you who are ready for a change in their life. The American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, as well as the British Medical Association have all approved hypnotherapy as a viable therapeutic tool. Just take a look at the following statistics published in a study in American Health Magazine comparing outcomes with hypnotherapy to other psychotherapy interventions:
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Psychoanalysis: 38% recovery after 600 sessions
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Behaviour Therapy: 72% recovery after 22 sessions
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Hypnotherapy: 93% recovery after only 6 sessions
Hypnotherapy is a complementary form of medicine and just like all therapies results are never guaranteed 100% of the time with every individual. However, with your commitment and my expertise you are bound to start to notice some change within your first two hypnotherapy sessions.
I don’t know that I can be hypnotized.
As mentioned above everybody experiences some form of hypnoses on a daily basis, therefor most people can be hypnotized. Some people might need a little bit more relaxation to help them slow down their brain waves sufficiently enough to allow their subconscious mind to take center stage. But this is ok too.
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Can I become stuck in hypnosis and not wake up?
Hypnosis is a state of focused awareness. As mentioned in the aforementioned paragraph you are in complete control and aware of your surroundings. Therefor no, you can’t get stuck in hypnosis.
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Will I be able to stay in control while I am in hypnosis?
In hypnosis you are in complete control of the entire experience. Your subconscious mind is very powerful. You will simply reject any suggestions that are incongruent with your values, and you will simply wake up. Some people confuse hypnotherapy with stage hypnosis. Stage hypnosis is very different from hypnotherapy. In stage hypnosis only a small handful of people is typically selected, people who are highly suggestible and, most importantly, want to do the things that are typically done in stage entertainment.