What you might not know about hypnosis

Hypnosis is natural

Hypnosis is a natural and gently altered state of trance that every human being experiences. You yourself experience hypnosis at least twice every day: in the moments just before you wake up, and just before you fall asleep.

Hypnosis is familiar

Most people move in and out of hypnosis naturally throughout the day without realizing it. For example, do any of these experiences seem familiar?

You come out of a pleasant daydream and realize that you lost track of your surroundings for a while
You become so engrossed in an activity that when you finally look at a clock, you can't believe so much time has passed
You're driving down the highway, and you suddenly realize that you don't remember driving the last 10 miles—even though you drove them just fine

All of these describe spontaneous experiences of the state of relaxed mental focus that we call hypnosis.

Hypnosis is empowering

Hypnosis is a relaxed and relaxing state in which the conscious critical mind shifts temporarily into the background. This creates a state of open, focused attention in which you are more easily able to:

communicate with the subconscious mind
integrate positive thoughts and ideas
access inner knowledge and hidden potential
experience higher consciousness and the Divine

How hypnotherapy works

Trance is a healing state

Hypnosis, also called trance, is a natural state of mind with numerous beneficial characteristics. For example in hypnosis, your parasympathetic nervous system is activated, which helps you relax and allows your body to renew and regenerate itself.

Another characteristic of hypnosis is that your subconscious mind (your deeper mind) is more available to you. This means you can accept beneficial ideas more easily and deal with blocks and obstacles more effectively.

Your superconscious mind (your higher mind) is also more available to you in hypnosis, giving you access to wider perspectives, deep insight, and inner wisdom.

Hypnosis makes change easier

In hypnotherapy, these and other beneficial characteristics are used by the therapist for your therapeutic benefit and to help you achieve your goals. In the relaxing state of trance, it is easier to access the deeper resources of your mind so that you can:

accept positive, life-enhancing ideas
heal and resolve the past
connect with inner guidance and expanded states of consciousness
create the future you want for yourself

Lia's compassion and expertise are invaluable. She is very well trained and highly intuitive as she guides her clients through the deep and very personal process of hypnotherapy.

Lia helped me so much to recover my wounded inner child and to clear huge emotional blocks that were holding me back. I refer people to her without reservation!

Rev. Meredith Ann Murray

servicewithheart.com

In the United States, there are no federal or state mandates about the training required to practice hypnotherapy. Consequently, hypnotherapists vary widely in what they do, and in how well they do it.

Many hypnotherapists rely heavily on pre-written scripts. This means every client with the same issue receives virtually the same suggestions while in trance.

A better and more effective approach is to tailor the work to you as an individual, using transformational methods that have proved highly effective in catalyzing change.

Our healing partnership

When you and I work together, we are partners in your healing. Together, we uncover the root causes of your issue and decide on the potent language that has resonance and meaning for you.

Our work is:

Collaborative. We discuss what will happen in each session, and we create together the words, feelings and imagery that will help you reach your goals.
Interactive. We are in conversation throughout our sessions, and I tailor our work specifically to you.
Transformational. You will be guided through effective transformational processes to reveal and resolve the underlying issues and help you make the changes you desire.
Empowering. You are in charge during the session, as you learn to draw on your own inner resources for your benefit.

My healing toolkit

When we work together, I bring to the table:

Over 850 hours of hypnotherapy training
10 years of experience as a hypnotherapist
12 years of psychotherapy experience
Thousands of hours helping clients change and heal

I have a robust toolkit of skills and transformational methods to help you get to the heart of your issue and find the lasting results you’re looking for.

Lia provides a depth that is rare and important. She is one of the few colleagues I would deeply trust with my own spiritual needs and would feel safe trusting to guide me - or my clients - through personal hurts and concerns.

Amy "Bear Paw" Piper

MA, BCC, IMn

Private Guidance and Business Coach

FAQs About Hypnosis

There are many common myths and misperceptions about hypnosis and hypnotherapy. Because of these common misunderstandings, many people have questions about this healing modality, or even concerns.

Actually, hypnosis is quite natural. It's a natural resource state that gives you access to the deeper levels of your mind. Although a hypnotherapist is trained to help you get in touch with this state, you can also learn to access this natural state yourself, and use it for your benefit.

But it's natural to have questions about hypnosis, if you're not familiar with it. Below are some of the most frequent questions people ask me about hypnosis, together with my answers.

What does hypnosis feel like?

Most people find hypnosis relaxing and pleasant. Because everyone experiences hypnosis spontaneously, the sensation often feels very familiar. People commonly experience a state of relaxed well-being and focused awareness.

You might also be aware of a sense of heaviness or lightness, a mild tingling sensation, or a feeling of energy moving through your body.

Will I remember what happens in a session?

You're likely to remember everything. Contrary to popular belief, remembering what happens while in hypnosis is common and natural. Occasionally a person may “drift off” during part of a session, but most people are aware of everything that happens in hypnosis and remember it afterwards.

Is it true that some people can't be hypnotized?

Once upon a time, this was believed to be true. We now know that this idea was based on the limited understanding and techniques of the past.

The truth is, just about anyone can be hypnotized provided they want to be and their hypnotherapist is sufficiently skilled. Hypnosis is a universal human experience. A hypnotherapist simply helps you to access this natural state of mind and utilize it for your benefit.

In hypnosis, can I be made to do something against my will?

No. You are in control while in hypnosis. You can choose to accept a suggestion or to reject it. If you were given a suggestion that conflicted with a deeply held value or moral code, for example, you would simply refuse to follow it.

Has anyone ever gotten stuck in hypnosis?

No. If left alone, a person in hypnosis emerges from it spontaneously after a little while, just like a person who is daydreaming emerges naturally from their dream. At most, a person in hypnosis might fall asleep and then wake up naturally.

Is there any proof that hypnotherapy works?

Yes. Hypnotherapy is an evidence-based modality, and there are literally thousands of scientific studies validating its effectiveness for both physical and psychological issues.

The specific methods developed and taught at the Hypnotherapy Academy of America, of which I am a graduate and where I now teach, were recently studied in the treatment of Overactive Bladder Syndrome. Academy methods proved to be as good, and in many cases better, than medication for that condition.

Click here for further details about that study.

Is hypnosis officially recognized as therapeutic?

Yes. Many professional organizations have recognized the therapeutic potential of hypnosis, including:

the American and Canadian Psychological Associations
the American Psychiatric Association
the American, Canadian and British Medical Associations

Learn more at Work with Lia.

About Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy...