The role of hypnotherapy in consciousness

This topic could easily generate thousands of words. How does hypnotherapy impact consciousness? The first step in discussing this is to define what consciousness is. Without researching it beforehand, my simplistic view is that consciousness is the state of being aware that you exist. Cogito ergo sum, “I think therefore I am”, to quote Rene Descartes. The amazing field of endless possibilities, quantum mechanics, postulates that without consciousness the universe does not exist. The first reference in my list agrees with me.

From Plato through to Descartes through to the modern day quantum physicists and philosophers, quantifying and defining consciousness is an ever-present challenge. As conscious beings, we are aware that, even if we rarely contemplate it deeply, we have different levels of consciousness. Different states, if you will. Or do we?

In fact, my first reference actually refers to hypnosis as a state, separate from dreams, sleep, hallucinations, meditations and the psychoactive substance-affected state. I’m not sure that hypnosis is a specific state separate from all others, or that such a simple delineation or consciousness is appropriate.

It might be more accurate to consider consciousness as being dependent on brain wave activity, from high awareness in the Gamma range through to low awareness in Delta. Depending on the context in which we find ourselves, our consciousness rests somewhere on this spectrum. In a heightened “fight or flight” state, down to a deep meditation or hypnosis, or deep sleep, our awareness and consideration of the world around us is vastly different. Thus, consciousness is a spectrum, not a specific state.

Consciousness affects our decision making, which in turn feeds back into our consciousness, because the world has changed due to the decision we made. Thus, our consciousness can stagnate or move backward, or it can progress and become something more, if we expand it through knowledge. So there is a general consciousness that is derived from experience and thought, and then separate levels or states that we traverse through on any given day.

So where does hypnosis fit in, on this spectrum? It enables an individual to traverse through it. To find aspects of one’s consciousness that are lacking, such as having a mental illness due to past trauma or negative events, in this lifetime or any other. Hypnosis enables access to states of consciousness that might otherwise be inaccessible. In these states, a different awareness exists, and exploring memories and stored knowledge that might usually be hidden can lead to improvements when the person is in a higher, more alert state and living their daily life.

Hypnosis has the capacity to traverse through the different brainwave levels and find blockages or problems that can be removed or replaced with something more positive. Given that being conscious is the state of being aware, expanding this awareness is surely a positive thing, resulting in an improved consciousness, and therefore an improved life.

Hypnosis is also all about reframing and reforming the mind, so that it is able to perceive the world differently. For example, if one thinks they are overweight and have an eating problem, that is probably reflected in the way they go about their lives. They remain overweight, believing that diets do not work, their thyroid is malfunctioning, and they can’t resist food, or whatever the case may be. Therefore, their eating patterns and perhaps their exercise regime (or lack of) reflect that opinion of themselves.

However, if they undergo hypnotherapy, they can have their subconscious mind reframed to think otherwise. It really works! I have had clients tell me that, after one session of pure hypnosis, they walk around thinking differently about food and about themselves. They are making smarter choices and it’s not that hard at all.

This is the effect of reframing, and hypnosis will do this for you.

It’s all about belief. If, deep down in your unconscious/subconscious mind, you believe something, it governs the way you think and act. This is usually without your awareness because, as Freud contended, it is unconscious and beyond your control. The key is to bring that destructive thought pattern out into the open and change it. Or, perhaps better termed, overwrite it.

With the destructive or unhelpful conscious thought reprogrammed, your life can then improve for the better. Why not give it a try.

References

https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-consciousness-2795922

http://www.appliedconsciousnesssystems.com/consciousness-concepts/spectrum/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2861757/