If you’ve ever thought of resolving any issue using hypnosis, or you’re thinking of doing that now, this information will help you get started. It explains what hypnotherapy is, and how to find and choose a good practitioner.

Hypnosis is a state of complete relaxation and heightened awareness in which the subject becomes very receptive to suggestions. Hypnotherapy is the practice and profession of helping people to change habits and modify behaviors, using hypnosis. A trained hypnotherapist knows how to put you into a state of hypnosis and then make a series of "suggestions" - beneficial ideas which are implanted directly into your subconscious where they will impact your future actions.

Hypnosis is a means of relaxing and relieving inner tensions. It is worth trying a course of hypnosis simply to learn the relaxation techniques. The greater benefits of learning to change behaviors can make a significant difference with personal issues, from smoking and weight control to fears and phobias, relationships, motivation, and many other challenges that we face.

Anyone can be easily hypnotized, if they want to be. Generally, if you can relax, and you can visualize things in your mind, you can be easily hypnotized. If you are concerned about being hypnotized, let your hypnotherapist know so that she can address your concerns and reassure you.

Hypnotherapy is largely about habit reconditioning and behavior modification. It has many different applications, from motivation, self-confidence, smoking, and weight loss to fears and phobias, anxiety, relationships, and much more. It can also be used to help with the side effects of illnesses such as AIDS, diabetes, and cancer, subject to the comments below concerning the use of hypnotherapy for medically related issues. Discuss your specific situation with your hypnotherapist to determine if he or she can help you.

A good hypnotherapist will be trained, certified, insured, and experienced in the issue(s) that you wish to address. In some states, hypnotherapists also have to be licensed or registered. As hypnotherapy is largely unregulated, titles and certifications do not mean much unless they have been issued by a reputable institution. Make sure that you ask your hypnotherapist about his credentials.

Hypnotherapists are very rarely sued, but the good ones carry insurance. Simply having insurance is a likely indicator that the hypnotherapist has been certified by an organization requiring some minimum level of training and experience.

The effectiveness of hypnotherapy depends on you. Hypnotherapy can sometimes be effective in one session, sometimes 3-6 sessions, and sometimes more. As hypnotherapy is largely about behavior modification and habit reconditioning, it depends a lot on how entrenched the original habits and behaviors are.

Some hypnotherapists practice in offices, either their own or shared with other hypnotherapists or health-related practitioners. Others practice out of their homes or over the telephone. If by phone, the hypnotherapist will explain to you, before the session, how to set yourself up for maximum benefit wherever you are located.

A typical hypnotherapist’s workspace consists of two straight-back chairs, a desk or table, and a more comfortable chair or recliner. Subdued lighting and soft background music are often added. However, a hypnotherapist can model an office or workspace to suit her own style and needs.

A typical session lasts about an hour. The first session could be longer. The most important part of the session is the initial "intake" discussion. This is where the client describes her issues to the hypnotherapist and states what she wants to achieve. From this, the hypnotherapist and client between them develop a series of "suggestions", or ideas, which will be presented to the client in a hypnotic state.

The hypnosis part of the session generally lasts anywhere from 20-45 minutes. Once you are hypnotized, the hypnotherapist will use various techniques to deepen your hypnotic state until you are fully hypnotized. He will then provide beneficial suggestions for your issue(s), based on your earlier discussions.

The hypnotherapist will then return you to a waking state and make sure that you are completely alert and aware before sending you on your way Follow-up sessions, and there could be a total of 3-6 or more, will be used to evaluate what is working, reinforce the suggestions, and continue to train the client to enter the hypnotic state quickly and easily, so that they can continue with self-hypnosis techniques during and after the course of hypnotherapy.

Across the US hypnotherapists are charging anywhere from $50 to $150 and more per hour. It is probably more important that you evaluate the hypnotherapist’s credentials and services so that you get what you need, rather than "price shop". Hypnotherapy is unlikely to be covered by health insurance.

Hypnosis is very much about learning to relax. Despite what you may think, very few of us know how to "relax". Our bodies are in a constant state of stress caused by the pressures of everyday life. Stress over the long term is either responsible for, or can exacerbate, many of the major ailments to which we fall prey. This is what it is to be a human in the 21st century.

For more information, including a more detailed report with links to hypnotherapy resources and downloads, please visit http://www.hypguy.com/Reports.

Author's Bio: 

Simon de Lides practises hypnotherapy in Los Angeles, and worldwide by telephone. Trained as an engineer and with extensive professional and business experience, Simon graduated from the Hypnosis Moviation Institute in 2001. He has worked with clients ranging from show business to the medical profession to entrepreneurs. Contact Simon at 1-800-880-5597 or see Los Angeles Hypnotherapy.