Hypnotherapy is a wonderful way of using hypnosis techniques to resolve a whole range of issues and problems, including stress, pain and childbirth pain. Hypnosis as such doesn’t achieve anything of itself: it’s what happens when you go into that wonderful, relaxed state that creates the amazing results. It is a highly relaxing experience with no side effects, or after effects.
With hypnotism you cannot be made to do anything against your will, or your moral and ethical standards. It is merely a natural phenomenon that you experience many times during your day – for example, when watching a television programme or reading a good book we all naturally drift in and out of awareness.
Hypnosis results in a wonderfully relaxed state, but you are always in total control. It is not sleep, although if you’re listening to the ‘audios’ we have recorded for you to download (see below) when you’re tired you may well find you do drop off to sleep.Think about the changes you want to make. You’ve probably succeeded for a while in changing eating habits, for instance, but old behaviours eventually come back. This is because you have not addressed the underlying patterns that were causing your behaviour in the first place.
In hypnosis you can easily let those patterns go and replace them with powerful, beneficial suggestions that fully support the new life you aspire to.
Q: What is hypnotherapy?
A: Hypnotherapy is the therapeutic application of hypnosis as a wonderful tool to support beneficial change. It is used in many situations, including stress relief, pain management and childbirth. It is the third key therapeutic tool we use with our clients in face-to-face sessions. For this book we have specially recorded three powerful hypnosis sequences that you can download via your computer as MP3s (see page 186). We recommend you listen to one every day while you are focusing on losing weight.Think about your weight-loss goals. You’ve probably succeeded in losing weight for a while, but the old behaviours eventually come back, don’t they? This is because you haven’t sorted out the underlying patterns that are causing you to behave this way. With hypnotherapy we are able to help you to easily let those self-sabotaging patterns of behaviour go, and support your successful weight loss with new positive ways of thinking and feeling about yourself.
Q: What must I do before listening to the hypnosis audio tracks?
A: Find a quiet place where you are able to relax without interruption. All the audio tracks are less than 20 minutes long. If possible, turn off the telephone, dim the lights or draw the curtains.
Q: Are there some people who can’t be hypnotised?
A: No. It’s a natural process. Anyone who can follow simple instructions can be hypnotised.
Q: What if I go to sleep?
A: It’s fine. If you do doze off while listening to the hypnotherapy audio tracks, the positive suggestions will still go deeply into your subconscious mind and changes can take place. Equally, if you are unexpectedly required to return to full awareness while listening to the audio tracks, you will be alert and feel fully awake, without any grogginess.
Q: What will it feel like?
A: There is no such thing as a hypnotised feeling. In hypnosis, you will feel exactly the same as you would if you were engrossed in a book or absorbed in an interesting movie. It is simply a very relaxed feeling that most people truly enjoy, and sometimes wish they didn’t have to leave behind.
Q: Will I lose control listening to these audios?
A: No. You are always completely in control of your body, and thoughts. Hypnosis is absolutely safe and has been used for a long time by dentists, doctors and psychotherapists. It is a proven therapeutic aid.
Q: How does hypnosis help with weight loss?
A: When you are in a lovely relaxed state, your mind is much more receptive to positive suggestions. It then goes on to make the desired changes that you are seeking. When you’re listening to the audios we encourage you to use the power of your imagination. We talk more about this in the section on visualisation (see page 97).
We have provided three specific, professionally recorded MP3 audios to assist your successful weight loss. You can download these tracks to your computer or smart phone. At around 20 minutes or less, you can listen through headphones whenever you have time to relax. You can even listen to the recordings as an audio loop while you sleep at night. The hypnotic words will go deep into your subconscious mind and support all the positive changes you are making in your life.
The power of suggestion can help you to feel fuller more quickly. Use the power of your mind to shrink your stomach so you are satisfied with smaller portions of food without any feelings of hunger or deprivation.
To download the free MP3 hypnosis audio to ‘Shrink your stomach’ go to www.your7simplesteps.com and click on the Hypnosis tab.
Emotional eating is often a result of feeling stressed and overwhelmed. Listen to this powerful stress-buster to support you in releasing stress without swallowing it down with food.
To download the MP3 ‘Stress buster’ audio go to www.your7simplesteps.com and click on the Hypnosis tab.
The ability to visualise yourself as slim and fit is key to helping you achieve your weight-loss goal. We would go so far as to say if you cannot visualise yourself at your goal weight, it will be almost impossible for you to achieve it. We explain the vital role visualisation plays in successful weight loss fully on page 97. This hypnosis audio harnesses the wonderful transformative power of visualisation to deeply embed the image, feelings and sensations of a slimmer, healthier you into your subconscious. Your mind will then find new and creative ways to make this your reality.
To download the MP3 ‘Guided visualisation for a slimmer, healthier you’ audio go to www.your7simplesteps.com and click on the Hypnosis tab.
Important warning: You should not listen to any of the hypnosis audio tracks whilst driving a car or operating machinery.