Jo, Sue,

I copied this from a post I made in the PN forum a few days ago.

I have talked for hours before explaining what hypnosis is and how it works. I actually do complete seminars and communty education classes at the college just for that. But lets see what we can get done on here......

1. All hypnosis is self hypnosis. Even when you work with a hypnotherapist - you are hypnotizing yourself, with their guidance. That's all I am - a tour guide on your mental vacation.

2. Everyone uses hypnosis everyday. They just don't call it hypnosis. They call it zoneing out, day dreaming, ect. The most basic discription of hypnosis is "The ability to concentrate on one thought, whereby excluding all others" or focased concentration. So anytime you are concentrating on that one thought - YOUR THERE...... Even when you dream in your sleep, your technically in the hypnotic state, not asleep. Have you ever watched a movie or read a book and got emotional? Have you ever driven down a stretch of road you drive often, and sometimes you don't remember part of the drive? These are all examples of hypnosis.

3. Hypnosis is not mind control. Your subconcious mind is always in control. It either excepts or rejects each suggestions given by the hypnotherapist, based on your moral and ethical boundrys. For the most part, you will hear and remember everything that happens in your sessions. Hypnosis feels like your sitting in the chair with your eyes closed. That is it !!!! Some people feel additional sensations, but not all. At anypoint you needed to open your eyes and walk out of the room, you could!!!

4. You can move in hypnosis, you can talk in hypnosis. You can lie in hypnosis if your subconcious mind feels strong enough about the lie.

Ok I can go on forever. I think this will give everyone a good start. This will prompt a number of questions I'm sure. I'll answer those and then well keep going. Keep in mind that hypnosis is a natural state of mind that everyone uses everyday.

Rick