There are many misperceptions as to what hypnosis and hypnotherapy are due to what we have seen in movies or on the stage. The assumption is that hypnosis, at the very least, is controlling whereas, in reality, all hypnosis is self-hypnosis. Do not equate mind control with hypnosis, we are always in control. Hypnosis is simply distraction of the conscious level of the mind and even if we 'officially' have never been hypnotized we have all inadvertently fallen into the state of hypnosis. Have you ever been on your way to the store only to find yourself absentmindedly on the road to work? Perhaps you have become aware that you just drove a few miles without conscious awareness only to timidly peek a glance in the rear view mirror looking for flashing blue lights. Remember that favorite TV show you thought you were watching until you woke up.

Enough said, what makes hypnosis effective is that we are all suggestible. If not, there are a lot of companies wasting money on advertising designed to influence our choice of cars to buy, clothes to wear or the detergent to wash them in. Hypnotherapy is simply using the tool of hypnosis for therapeutic purposes. It is objective in intent rather subjective, in other words, the intent of hypnotherapy is not to have you run around and cluck like a chicken but to assist you to achieve a predetermined set of goals of your choosing. How this is achieved can can vary according to different approaches but the mechanism remains the same. Our minds are similar to that of a computer with one difference--our computer does its own programming, the true meaning of sentient beings, self-aware and self-programming.

We have a conscious, subconscious and unconscious mind. Our conscious mind is analogous to the monitor of a computer. We keystroke into our consciousness experiences and decisions which project onto the monitor of our awareness. Our conscious mind is our periscope into the world but contrary to popular belief it has never created a thought. It controls our voluntary motor skills, identifies bodily needs and monitors our senses. That is quite an important job but it does not think, to believe it does would be like believing the image on a screen created the movie.

The art of thinking rests in the subconscious and unconscious levels of the mind. The subconscious mind serves two very important functions. Firstly, it is the master computer of the physical body controlling all autonomic functions such as breathing, heartbeat, healing (ie: broken bones, cuts or bruises). Secondly, it is a vast storehouse of everything we have ever experienced, thought or dreamt. Everything, yes everything, is there. Our subconscious mind is like the hard drive of our computer--just the facts. It has no analytical or deductive abilities, simply an operating system and memory capacity. That may seem like a flaw but in reality it is an asset. The subconscious mind has no investment or attachment to either our physical aliments, addictions, emotional blocks or dysfunctional behaviors. As the master computer of the body it is able to instruct the body to return to its 'original imprint and coding' meaning every cell of the body has the ability to reproduce itself without imperfection. It is the default state of our operating system--perfection. As the storehouse of vast sums of information it is simply 'mental wiring.' There is no investment whether we are afraid of flying or if we're a smoker. It will support our behavior based upon the programming it receives.

The programming it receives--what does that mean? Remember the subconscious mind has no deductive or analytical abilities and it remembers everything it sees, hears or thinks. If I said to you the moon is made of green cheese you have now heard it and it is now retained in your subconscious mind. If you went to your mental filing cabinet containing your information on the moon you might find information on men walking on the moon or bringing back rock samples and the green cheese info is in there, too. After reviewing the file you make an analytical decision that the moon, in truth, is a rock orb rotating around the earth.

Let's play a little game. Imagine that for the next two years every time you hear or see information about the moon from friends, scientists or astronauts it will be in reference to the moon being made of green cheese. Two years later you would open up that file on moon and take note of all the 'green cheeses.' At the very least you would doubt what the moon is made of, at the most you might actually believe the moon is made of green cheese. Imagine if that file was your self-worth, self-esteem or self-confidence. This is how an imprint and impression is created, the programming software running your computer. I kid people I'm a computer hacker and go in and change the programming, your willingness is the password which allows me access.

The third level of the mind is the unconscious level, it is unaffected by any of the imprinting and coding of the subconscious. It is our higher spiritual nature and will always make decisions for our highest good, see the resolution of any problem or know the answer to any question. Why then do we make so many errors in judgement and action? This level will not interfere or 'out scream' the conscious level of the mind. It is the still small voice that speaks to us will all the love and wisdom of the universe. You know that one. Yep! The one we wished we had listened to before we got into that particular mess. That may seem to be a flaw of the unconscious but it is our light at the end of the tunnel.

You may have noticed by now that no level of the mind stands alone, each having an important job yet unable to function independent from the others. Much of our mental anguish and mental confusion comes from our endeavors to compartmentalize our thinking. Hypnosis reintegrates these levels into one harmonious blend of thought.

Through my twenty+ years of utilizing the tool of hypnosis I have found a three-step approach to effectively create permanent and lasting change in your life. First, an invitation to the unconscious level of the mind to bring resolution to the problem at hand or the behavior to be modified. Secondly, instruction to the subconscious level to release any imprints or impressions which are either hindering what you wish to create or contributing to what you don't want, always remembering the subconscious has no investment in your choices. The third step is direct suggestions that are in agreement with your conscious desires. These direct suggestions built upon the plateau of unconscious direction and subconscious release lead to permanent and lasting change.

Hypnosis is not magic--the magic is that when the levels of our mind are in harmony with each other--all things are possible.