Hypnosis Myths

Myth #1: The Hypnotist will be able to control my mind.

Fact: No one can control your mind, unless you let them. At no point during the hypnosis work will you lose control of your mind. If you hear something that you don’t agree with, or don’t understand, your subconscious mind will automatically question it or reject it.

Myth #2: I will be made to perform embarrassing acts, such as bark like a dog, or walk like a duck.

Fact: This assumption is based on Stage Hypnotism and Hollywood fiction. The truth is, people volunteer to act on stage, and they allow themselves to participate in silly suggestions. Hypnotherapy is a well defined process of self-improvement, healing and life enhancement, not entertainment.

Myth #3: Hypnosis comes from “Black Magic” or is “Supernatural”.

Fact: Hypnosis is a natural state that has been studied to understand its value and significance. Hypnotherapists are not Psychics or Palm Readers with “special powers”. Hypnotherapy is based on many years of clinical research by such notables as Dr. Sigmund Freud and Dr. Carl Jung, and more recently, by Dr. Milton Erickson and Dr. John Kappas.

Myth #4: If I’m hypnotized, I won’t be able to snap out of it, or Hypnosis is Dangerous.

Fact: Hypnosis is safe and is in fact, a state of hyper-awareness. It is your superpower. It is the same as deep concentration. Any time there is an emergency, a person would naturally be able to come out of the Hypnotic focus by opening their eyes, and stretching or speaking.

Myth #5: I have never been in Hypnosis before.

Fact: Every person naturally enters a state of hypnosis (concentration) several times everyday: Driving, reading, watching TV, or in a movie theatre, focusing on work, focusing on a conversation.

Myth #6: Hypnosis is a “Miracle Cure”.

Fact: While Hypnosis is a clear, concise and quick method of making permanent improvements, it isn’t a one-time “Hypno-Miracle”! Every individual makes progress at his or her own rate. Be weary of those who make wild claims of overnight success.

Myth #7: Hypnosis is a great tool to get someone to “confess”.

Fact: Hypnosis isn’t a truth serum or a lie detector test.

Fact: Hypnosis isn’t a truth serum or a lie detector test. There are seven different techniques law enforcement can use to obtain a confession. Law enforcement can use direct confrontation, dominance, deflection, address objections, be empathetic, intensify the moral justification of the crime, and offer alternative choices.

Myth #8: When Hypnotized, I will lose all sense of my surroundings, and will have no memory of the session.

Fact: Using Hypnosis as a mental, emotional and physical recovery tool is not an unconscious state of sleep. In fact, most people report having a heightened sense of awareness, concentration and focus, and can even hear more acutely while doing the work.

Myth #9: Self-Hypnosis is safer, better, or more effective than going to a trained professional.

Fact: Self-Hypnosis is less effective than when facilitated by a trained professional, as a negative attitude or belief about oneself will be reinforced regardless of one’s perception. This can cause more stress and problems in the long run. Hypnotherapy directly accesses the unconscious and subconscious mind, while Self-Hypnosis seldom does.

Myth #10: I can’t be hypnotized because my mind is too strong/disciplined.

Fact: This archaic belief has been proven to be untrue. It was thought, long ago, that only 50% of the population could be hypnotized. Over the last 30 years, Dr. John Kappas and Milton H. Erickson, MD developed methods to induce hypnosis in 100% of the population. During your first appointment, we utilize their methods, and will be able to determine which process will work best for you. Because it is your decision to use Hypnosis for self-improvement, your mind has already accepted the idea of Hypnotherapy. Thus, the method is secondary.

Myth #11: A hypnotized person is believed to display “blind obedience,” going along automatically with whatever the hypnotist says.

Fact: Individuals do not lose control over their actions during hypnosis – contrary to the notion the media reinforces that hypnosis is something done to you and that hypnosis can be used to control someone. In fact, people can resist and even oppose improvement ideas. Their experience of control during hypnosis depends on their intentions and expectations regarding whether or not they retain voluntary control.

Myth #12: Facilitating a Hypnotic method requires great skill to administer. More accurately it is best to engage with a Certified Hypnosis practitioner because for certification from one of the foremost certification boards in the world, the practitioner is required to meet high skill standards.

One popular misconception is that of the mesmerist, or a magician-like hypnotist with special powers of influence who can “hypnotize” anyone to do weird things–such as a stage hypnotist who uses deception to compel people to go along with anything the hypnotist suggests. However, it is imperative to engage only with a hypnosis practitioner who has certification independent of the training program one attended.

Here are the three hypnosis certification boards in the U.S. where I am based. However, humans are no different anywhere in the world–everyone has the same feelings–anger, sadness, fear and happiness.

Hypnosis Certification Boards:

Each certification board has a list of members who are certified hypnosis practitoners.

The National Guild of Hypnotists, National Guild of Hypnotists, Inc. is a not-for-profit, educational corporation in the State of New Hampshire. Officially founded in Boston, Massachusetts in 1950 the Guild is a professional organization composed of dedicated individuals committed to advancing the field of hypnotism. NGH provides an open forum for the free exchange of ideas concerning hypnotism. The Guild is a resource for members and a vehicle for legal and legislative action.

American Council of Hypnotist Examiners  

The A.C.H.E. is the primary organization that has been responsible for the recognition and regulation of hypnotherapy training in the USA. This organization is a state-chartered, non-profit professional corporation that has established standards for specialized education and maintains standards of practice and a code of ethics.For examination and certification by A.C.H.E., a Hypnotherapist must be trained in a school approved by the A.C.H.E. The A.C.H.E. only approves schools that have programs of at least 200 hours of training in hypnotherapy that is almost entirely in the classroom.

Certification as a Clinical Hypnotherapist requires not less than 300 hours of training that is almost entirely in the classroom. It is the highest level of certification awarded.

The A.C.H.E. has developed a membership in over 40 countries throughout the world. Graduates of approved schools are eligible to receive certification and, if they provide hypnotherapy services to the general public, are considered to be professional hypnotherapists.

International Certification Board of Clinical Hypnotherapy (ICBCH) ICBCH Professional Hypnosis Certification is a worldwide hypnosis association organization that provides education to the public and professionals via live training classes and home study courses about the benefits of clinical hypnosis and recognizes hypnosis certification programs and hypnotherapy certification courses. ICBCH offers hypnosis certification through reciprocity with other hypnosis training programs, or by completing our approved online hypnosis training courses. ICBCH program is recognized for approved continuing education hours, our online learning center was created using the same principles and methods as traditional online universities worldwide.