By Anny Slegten, Master Hypnotist, Clinical Hypnotherapist
In full time practice since 1984.

​Consider a pencil.  Depending what you want to use it for, you can choose a firm lead, a soft lead, or anything in between.  You can write a report, fill out a form, write a poem or a love letter, doodle, make a schematic, draw a portrait or a landscape.
 
The same goes for hypnosis.  The way it is used depends on the training, the intentions and the ability of the person who uses it, and the need and level of cooperation of the person participating in the hypnotic experience.  Therefore, I will only share my own views on the subject.
 
For me, hypnotherapy is usually regression therapy, going from effect back to cause, experiencing now the results of something that impressed our psyche before.  How so?  After all, are we not in the present, the now?
 
There is a part of us that remembers everything.  As you are driving your car today, the way you are driving it now is the result of your interpretation of what you heard, observed and experienced as a passenger and a driver of a car from early childhood on.  The same goes with our life.
 
We are the sum of our life experiences, and by regressing from effect back to cause, the fascinating voyages within our own consciousness usually bring a profound healing at a soul level, resulting in emotional order, clarity of thoughts, and inner peace.
 
Hypnotherapy makes one also very much aware of how much thoughts can affect us physically.  A common example is thinking of a lemon.  Pretend you are holding it in your hand.  Feel the texture, squeeze it, smell it, pretend you cut it in two crosswise, bring half a lemon to your mouth, and bite into it.  Have you noticed how your body responded to this imaginary exercise?
  
The “Imaginary Lemon” experience partially explains why we all respond differently to situations experienced collectively: it is not what actually happened but what we perceive happened that makes an impact in our life.  Emotionalized thoughts are like decisions frozen in time.  Like ball-and-chain, these outdated decisions are mental blocks keeping attitudes to life at different stages of maturity.
 
Revisiting what happened allows us to have a new look at an old story, putting events in proper perspective, and making peace with ourselves.  A most comforting, liberating experience.
 
Because of their inherent qualities, hypnosis and hypnotherapy can be used alone or in conjunction with other health care modalities.  Enhancing other therapies, hypnosis and hypnotherapy can be powerful adjuncts to any therapy of your choice, restoring physical/emotional/mental balance, and most of all, peace of mind. A great feeling.

By Anny Slegten, Master Hypnotist, Clinical Hypnotherapist
In full time practice since 1984.

Public awareness of hypnosis has greatly improved since I opened my practice in 1984.  At the time, the moment I mentioned that I was a hypnotherapist, people would cover their eyes, turn their head and say, “Don’t look at me!”
 
I would just answer, “Relax.  I charge!” 

This reminds me of a cartoon one of my students gave me: a couple is having a drink on the terrace of a café.  With starry eyes, the lady says to the gentleman, “Are you trying to tell me you can make me come by just gazing into my i-yi-yi-yi-yieees?”
 
Wow!  Wouldn't it be nice to have power like that: just look at them in the eyes and make them do whatever people think I can make them do.  Who wants to be accountable when there is no success?  You, like me, believe in freedom of choice, whatever the choice may be.
 
What is hypnosis?  Hypnosis is consciously going into an altered state of awareness, a trance.  It can be used as a tool, as a technique, or both.  Hypnosis in its versatility can be used in many ways, and for this article, let us consider hypnosis as a technique.  By relaxing the conscious mind, we can consciously plant a suggestion into our subconscious mind.  Once you are aware of that ability, you can have terrific conversations with the different parts of yourself.  This can be highly entertaining!
 
Having emotionalised thoughts is a powerful way to plant suggestions and staying conscious in the moment allows us to program ourselves with what we want.  Presenting suggestions so the conscious mind will accept them is an art and is not as easy to do as one is made to believe, for to go subconscious it must have the co-operation of the conscious mind who is acting as the “sensor”, or the “gate keeper”.
 
It is possible to be in a deep trance and not follow suggestions.  Therefore, no matter how deep the trance, there must be co-operation.  Yes, you are always in control, whether you like it or not.  So I ask you, how come people make such fools of themselves with stage hypnosis?  I can be wide awake and do that all by myself!  How about you?
 
Hypnosis is always self-hypnosis: the only one who can hypnotise you is you.
 
Hypnosis removes inhibitions and that is how it is so valuable in many situations.  For example, going into hypnosis just before public speaking helps in the delivery of the presentation.  This process is sometimes called “self-psyching”.
 
Using self-hypnosis for relaxation allows the body to self regulate itself, enhancing the body’s ability to heal.  By relaxing the mind, hypnosis facilitates clarity of thoughts.
 
Hypnosis as a tool allows you to consciously access information at a subconscious level.  A voyage within is a fascinating experience, and with proper guidance, the healing, the self understanding, and the inner peace that follows is an homage to life itself, and for me as a hypnotherapist, a very humbling experience.
 
Hypnotherapy - using hypnosis to do therapy - will be the subject of the next article.

What keeps you awake all night?  A snoring bed partner, a wining child, blaring sirens passing by, noisy vehicles, roaring motorcycles, heavy trucks passing by, a barking dog, loud neighbours?
 
Can no longer sleep with your bed partner?  
Cannot fall sleep while on an airplane?
 
Whatever it is, hypnotherapy usually reconciles you with the inner reason you do not fall asleep.
 
Yes, everything can be resolved, making you realise the “what for” of your predicament, whatever it is and experience a fascinating and rewarding journey within.
 
Need help?
​
Book a session with Anny Slegten.  780.448.0817 
Clinical Hypnotherapist in full time practice since 1984
 
 www.success-and-more.com

By special request, another session of HYP 101, Hypnosis, an Introduction has been added to the Calendar at https://www.success-and-more.com/aug2019.html.  
It will run Saturday & Sunday, August 24 & 25, 2019. 
 
As usual, this two-day course will run from 9:00 am to 6:00/6:30 pm both days.  The sun will still be out by then!
 
​Interested, wanting to take this two-day course? 
For information about this course, please visit https://www.htialberta.com/courses.html
 
I am looking forward hearing from you.
 
Take care,
Anny