Questions and Answers About Hypnosis: 

Many people from Dallas / Fort Worth and all parts of Texas, and even other states and countries have called and emailed  me with questions about Hypnosis.

First, let’s talk a little about what Hypnosis is and isn’t.

Have you ever yawned when you saw someone else yawn? Or have you ever yawned and someone else yawned when they saw your yawn? Then you’ve experienced both sides of Hypnosis. In the first case, you were hypnotized, and in the second, you hypnotized someone else. This is the simplest example of Hypnosis you could think of. It’s simply responding to a suggestion.

There are several kinds of Hypnosis:

• Directed Hypnosis – When you go to a Hypnotist or do self Hypnosis with the intent of using Hypnosis to bring about a positive change.
• Social or mass Hypnosis – Advertising is a good example of this. Think of the advertisements we see on television. “It’s the cold and flu season. You need to buy XYZ medicine.” Before you know it, you’ve heard the commercial enough times and you begin to get the sniffles, and next thing you know, you’ve got a cold or flu and you’re buying medicine.
• Natural Hypnosis – Examples of this:
• When we’re day dreaming, the state between sleep and being awake
• Driving on a familiar road and realizing your mind wandered off and you had either missed your exit or you’re surprised to find out you’re further along than you thought you were
• Being so absorbed in a movie, book, or sporting event you sort of lose awareness of things going on around you
• My favorite example is MUSIC -- it can change your state of mind very quickly.  Sometimes you're not even aware of it. 
• And of course the “Yawn”.

And of course, this brings up a few questions and MYTHPerceptions about Hypnosis. Now of course, if you have a question I haven’t covered, let me know. I’ll try to answer it for you.

Q -- How are you and your Hypnosis practice different from other Hypnotists?

A -- I can't speak for others, but I will say that when you call for your free consultation, I'll be paying attention to you.  I won't try to get you to come in for a "suggestibility" test to see if you can be Hypnotized just to try to sell you a big, expensive program.

Some Hypnotists do a quick 15 minute session with you and then hook you up to listen to a tape or CD, or maybe a set of eye glasses with blinking lights in them while they work with someone else.  When you come into my office, I'm working with YOU.  You have my attention.  You'll get a real Hypnosis session.

When you come in for your first session, I will LISTEN to you and your needs.  I'll be taking notes so I can give you the best suggestions. 

This leads to the biggest difference.  I treat each client as an individual.  Many Hypnotists have what I call a "Cookie Cutter" approach and they have a script with a "One Size Fits All" approach. 

My goal is to treat you fairly and get you the best results in the quickest amount of time.  In other words, I treat you like I would like to be treated.

Q -- Can anyone be hypnotized?

A -- Anyone of average or above average intelligence can be hypnotized if they WANT to be hypnotized, and if their mind is not impaired by alcohol, drugs, or disease. If you’re able to read and understand this sentence, you can be hypnotized – if you want to.

Q -- Is Hypnosis safe?

A -- Yes, Hypnosis is safe. Your subconscious mind will not accept a suggestion that’s not safe for you OR that you don’t want! Of course, you must use common sense. If you’re listening to a Hypnosis recording that tells you to close your eyes, or uses relaxation techniques, then you obviously should NEVER listen to it while you’re driving a car or doing something that requires your full attention. If you’re thinking about using Hypnosis for a medical condition, you should ALWAYS consult your Physician first. For example, you wouldn’t want to use Hypnosis for headaches if they haven’t been properly diagnosed. What you might think is a simple headache or even a migraine headache could be your body warning you about a potential danger that only your Physician can properly diagnose.

Q -- Will I be under the “control” of the Hypnotist?

A -- NO! You cannot be hypnotized to do something against your morals or ethics. You WILL NOT do anything you don’t want to do.

Q -- Will I tell my secrets when I’m hypnotized?

A -- You will not tell any secrets while in Hypnosis. As I stated earlier, you CAN NOT be hypnotized to do something you don’t want to do.

Q -- Can a person get “stuck” in Hypnosis?

A -- Every Hypnotist has a large room filled with people who have gotten stuck in Hypnosis, some as many as ten years! Just kidding! NO! You CAN NOT get stuck in Hypnosis. If for some reason the Hypnotist left the room, or tiptoed out to go to a movie, you would very soon come out of Hypnosis naturally because your subconscious mind would get bored of waiting for the next suggestion. When your subconscious realized, “Hey, it’s been a long time since I heard the Hypnotist say something”, you would just simply go back to your natural state of awareness.

Q -- What is Hypnosis?

A -- Simply a relaxed state of mind in which you are receptive to suggestions. A more complicated explanation is: When the critical factor of your conscious mind is bypassed allowing the subconscious mind to accept suggestions, usually when you’re in a relaxed state. Some people describe Hypnosis as a state of receptive alertness. I like this explanation.

Q -- What does being hypnotized feel like?

A -- To answer a question with a question: What does daydreaming feel like? There’s no “one size fits all” explanation for how Hypnosis feels. You will be relaxed. You may even go to sleep (it’s OK; your subconscious is still getting the suggestions). Your body may feel heavy, like it’s sinking into the chair. Or it may feel light, like you’re floating into the clouds. Some people say they’re not even aware of their bodies at all. Most people will experience “time distortion”. You may feel like a one hour session is only five minutes, or you may feel like the session lasted 3 or 4 hours.

Q -- What if I go to sleep during Hypnosis? Is it still effective?

A -- It’s OK if you go to sleep. It’s even OK if you snore. It just means you’re very relaxed. Your conscious mind may doze off, but your subconscious mind is ALWAYS alert and hearing the suggestions.

Q -- What if I need to scratch my nose or ear? Will that bring me OUT of Hypnosis?

A -- No, if you feel the need or urge to scratch your nose or ear, or to move in anyway to get more comfortable while you’re experiencing Hypnosis, go ahead and do it. It will actually help you to relax and to be more comfortable than if you were fighting to resist the urge. It’s OK – you’re in control and should be comfortable.

Q -- Will I remember, or possibly forget, everything that happens when I’m in Hypnosis?

A -- You may not consciously remember everything, but your subconscious will. And you might not remember some of the suggestions right away, but many of them will come into your awareness when you realize you’ve been making some changes. An example of this may be the suggestion to drink more water. You might not remember it immediately after the session, but the next day, when you’re drinking a glass of water, you might think to yourself “That’s right, the Hypnotist did suggest I would want to drink more water! And I AM!”

Q -- Will I be aware of things going on around me when I’m in Hypnosis?

A -- Just as when you’re asleep, your subconscious is aware of things going on around you, you’ll be aware of things during Hypnosis, but they just won’t bother you. You’ll still be able to hear normal sounds around you, if those sounds are happening near enough for you to hear – traffic, dogs barking, music, the air conditioner, other people talking, and of course, the voice of the Hypnotist. In fact, the Hypnotist will probably suggest the other sounds will help you to relax and will blend with the Hypnotist’s voice and help you to relax more deeply. I know. That’s one of the suggestions I give my clients.

Q -- What about using tapes or CDs or other recordings?

Q -- Do they work?

Q -- Are they any good?

A -- Some Hypnotists refer to them as “Reinforcement” tools. I call them “Enhancement” tools. If the Hypnotist tells you they are used to “reinforce” the Hypnosis, what the Hypnotist is possibly saying is he / she is not confident enough of their work that you will get results without them. I suggest using them to ENHANCE the work we’ve done together. They assist you in making progress and they’re like getting very affordable extra sessions to help you be successful making the changes you want to make.

As for are they any good? It depends on the quality of the suggestions on them and how appropriate they are to what you’re using Hypnosis for. You may get a very poor quality recording that has the RIGHT suggestions that are appropriate for you, and it will be better than a high quality expensively produced recording that has poor quality suggestions, or suggestions that don’t apply to YOUR needs.

Q -- Give me one good reason why I should use Hypnosis!

How about if I give you three great reasons!

• 1 -- SAFE -- recommended by such organizations as the American Cancer Society, the National Institute of Health, the Mayo Clinic, the American Medical Association.
• 2 -- EFFECTIVE -- see my "Client Quotes' page for testimonials how Hypnosis helped them make positive changes to their lives.
• 3 -- AFFORDABLE -- Compared to the value you get from the changes you make, and compared to other more costly methods, Hypnosis is VERY affordable and cost effective.  I don't try to sell you big programs.  I work with you to determine how many sessions will be right for YOU.

Q -- What do the religious and medical communities say about Hypnosis?

A -- MOST major religions see Hypnosis the same as they would any other tool you may use to help you with self improvement. The Catholic Church approved the use of Hypnosis in the 1950’s. The American Medical Association approved the use of Hypnosis in the 1950’s. Most mainstream religions realize Hypnosis has many positive benefits and are in no way anti religious. Of course, there are some religions that forbid their members to use medical services and the use of blood transfusions. Some religions do not want their members to think for themselves. Clergy of whatever faith who respects their member’s right to make their own decisions, have no problem with Hypnosis. In my first Hypnosis class, there was a Baptist minister and a Catholic police Chaplin. Here are a few professional associations:

National Association of Clergy Hypnotherapists.

The Association for Professional Hypnosis and Psychotherapy

National Guild of Hypnotists

American Psychotherapy and Medical Hypnosis Association

The International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy Association

International Association for Doctors of Clinical Hypnotherapy

Q -- Can a Hypnotist make me do ANYTHING?

A -- A Hypnotist CANNOT make you do anything you don’t want to do.

Q -- Can Hypnosis MAKE me stop smoking, lose weight, or anything else?

A -- NO, a Hypnotist CANNOT

• MAKE you stop smoking
• or MAKE you reduce your weight,
• or MAKE you good enough to play professional sports if you’re not already potentially capable of playing professional sports.

Hypnotists DO NOT have a MAGIC WAND. A Hypnotist can ASSIST you. A Hypnotist can help the process be easier for you. But a Hypnotist CAN NOT MAKE you do anything.  Hypnosis is very effective when you WANT to make a change and you are motivated.  If you really don't want to make a change, why would you go to a Hypnotist and ask for help in making the change?

Q -- Is STAGE Hypnosis real?

A -- Yes, but please realize, STAGE Hypnosis is entertainment. A good Stage Hypnotist will select people to be on stage that are willing and wanting to entertain. The Hypnotist will help them remove or minimize any inhibitions, or nervousness that might interfere with their ability to have fun on stage. The Hypnotist will “direct” the show. Some people on stage MAY be faking it, but most will really be hypnotized and will have a great time having fun on stage. Some of them will remember everything they did. Others will forget some, most, or even everything they did on stage. But, as I tell people I’m working with in my Absolutely Fun Stage Hypnosis Shows, “It won’t matter if you remember or not. Your friends will remind and tease you about it anyway. So why not go ahead and remember the fun you have?” If you want to book me for a Stage Show either as a FUNdraiser, or just for some event you or your group has planned, let’s talk about it – go to the page about Stage Hypnosis.

Q -- What are some of the common uses of Hypnosis?

A -- For most Hypnotists, their work is about 90% in three areas – weight control, stop smoking, and stress management. But there are many more uses besides these. In my practice, these three make up probably less than 30% of the work I do. See the next answer to see some of the other uses for Hypnosis – a lot of which is done in my practice.

Q -- Are there other uses that might not be so obvious?

A -- Besides those three most common areas, there are many other uses as well. Some of them are: better study habits, more confidence taking tests or exams, improving sports performance, breaking bad habits, better sleep, improving sales confidence, gaining confidence in public speaking, gaining confidence for life in general, overcoming shyness, facilitating healing, Guided Imagery for wellness, and much more!

I’ve worked with many athletes, helping them with confidence and minimizing both internal and external distractions. Actors have come to me for help with confidence, remembering their lines, audition jitters, stage fright. Physicians have referred clients to me to help with self Hypnosis instruction and Guided Imagery to help in many areas of healing and wellness.

Q -- Can a Hypnotist guarantee their work? Or that Hypnosis will work for me? 

A -- Can they? Yes. Should they? NO! When clients ask me this, I think they’re really saying, “Are you magic? Can you MAKE me change?” They want the results, but they don't want to do anything themselves. Hypnosis is a joint effort between the client and the Hypnotist.

A Hypnotist cannot ethically guarantee you will get 100% success from the work they do with you. No Hypnotist can guarantee human behavior – yours or any other client’s behavior. Just stop and think for a moment. Will a Physician guarantee the medicine will work for you or the surgery will be successful? Will an Attorney guarantee they’ll get you out of a speeding ticket?

Your success depends on YOUR desire and commitment to make a change, your motivation to change, and your willingness to follow the suggestions and even home work the Hypnotist gives you. If you think a Hypnotist can guarantee you’ll get rid of 100 pounds in 30 days, and you can still eat ice cream and cake and have thirds and fourths every meal, you just might have some unreasonable expectations.

Here’s what I do in my practice. I guarantee I’ll do my best to help you make the changes you want to make by talking to you and finding out what the best suggestions will be to use with you to get the best results for you.

But then, I ask YOU to guarantee to me you will follow my directions and accept the suggestions I give you to help you with the process. I even have you sign what I call a “Commitment Contract” stating just that. Of course, it’s not a legally binding contract, but it does alert your subconscious mind that you ARE serious about this and you really do want to make the change. It’s just a tool I use to help you better.

AND, I also sign the form stating I commit to doing my part of providing the very best suggestions and guided imagery I can, to assist you in this program to help you - my client - use self Hypnosis instruction to make the changes you want to make, as quickly, easily, and as comfortably, as possible.

I also tell my clients (and this is in writing too) if at your first program session you do not feel you attained Hypnosis (for any reason), or feel there is no benefit to using Hypnosis, there is no charge for that session! We shake hands, and there are no hard feelings. The suggestions are REMOVED and you’ve lost nothing, but you did gain some valuable information about Hypnosis.

Now what could be fairer than that?

Q -- What about credentials?  I see some Hypnotists who are doctors.

A -- Well there may be some Hypnotists who really are doctors. 

But you might also want to check more closely with the credentials and diplomas of some of these "doctors".  Some have purchased their degrees from "diploma mills".  Some just call themselves "doctor" and don't even go to the trouble of having a fake diploma, but mislead you to think they are "doctors". 

There are some Hypnotists who are so insecure in their abilities, or have tremendous egos, that they call themselves "Doctor" and have phony diplomas on their wall.  RUN FROM THOSE HYPNOTISTS.

I prefer to be ethical about my credentials.  I am a Hypnotist.  I do not do therapy.  I have real credentials.  And by being ethical, I can sleep at night with a clear conscience.

Q -- How do I make an appointment with you?

A -- If you’re ready to start working on those changes, or if you have any further questions, give me a call or email. 214-754-0021 or hypnosisrc@yahoo.com

I answer my own phone. You won’t get a receptionist. You may get my recorder. If you do, please leave a brief message and your phone number – speak slowly – say your phone number SLOWLY and repeat it SLOWLY. Tell me your name.

And PLEASE – DO NOT call after 10 PM or before 10 AM. My phone is ALWAYS forwarded to me. I do answer my phone during those hours, because I never know when it might be a friend or family member with a real emergency, and I’m willing to help my friends and family, even if it is 2 AM! But probably if you’ve been thinking about using Hypnosis for a while, it can wait until the morning. OK?

So NOW IT’S TIME for YOU to decide. Do you want to keep things the way they are? Or ARE YOU READY to FINALLY take control and make some CHANGES? What can I help you with?

Q -- Do you do workshops or classes for groups?

A -- Yes. Checkout the "Business Uses" page on the website. 

I offer a wide variety of fun workshops and classes to all kinds of groups --Businesses, service clubs and organizations, churches and religious groups, colleges, high schools, sports teams. If your group isn’t listed, talk to me, we can probably work something out.

Q -- Are you available for speaking engagements?

A -- Sure! The price is negotiable and in some cases, if my schedule permits and it’s for a non-profit or service club, I may even be willing to waive my normal fee. Now, of course you know I can’t do this very often, but I do when it’s the right opportunity.

Now, I have a question for YOU. Are YOU READY to give me a call or email and GET STARTED on a program that will make YOUR life better, or talk about something for a group you’re involved with? If you are, let’s talk. I’m so glad you came to visit this site and I look forward to working with you. If you have any suggestions on how to make the site better, please let me know.

Action Resources Center - Hypnosis of Dallas / Fort Worth

William C. Smith, Personal Coach

Board Certified Consulting Hypnotist

NGH Certified Hypnosis Instructor

214–754–0021