I was a little skeptic when my therapist asked me to try hypnotherapy. I imagined it would work somewhat like in the circus, the hypnotist would command a few words, I would blank out, fall down unconscious on a couch, and somehow new ideas would be put in my mind.
I could not have been further from the truth.
Andrea first is a highly trained mental therapist, using many different techniques to help clarify my ideas and thoughts.
The first part of the session, about 1 hour, involves talking and doing an exercise such as NLP or Voice Dialogue to help clarify or resolve an issue. We were always able to create a scenario and script for the second part, the actual meditation.
Meditation is at the root of hypnotherapy, you actually stay fully awake and aware during the hypnotherapy process. Aware here is the key word. I was so relaxed at times that I did fall asleep now and then in a few of the sessions, but still got the full benefit of the hypnotherapy.
The second part of the session involves a meditation trance journey, that last about 30-45min. Andrea was able with her soft, soothing voice and visualization techniques to bring me into the deepest meditation level I have ever been. In the first half of the trance, Andrea guides me to deeply relax, and in the second half she brings in the script and scenario that was developed and agreed to in the first part of the session and "imprints" it deep in the mind.
I had six sessions so far with Andrea, covering many aspects of my personality and character: journey into the past, journey into releasing shame, journey into self-love and self-acceptance, journey into self-esteem, journey into essential-self.
Andrea records the second half of the session on a CDs, and I am able to use them any time as a custom-made guided meditation at home.
The results are astounding: I have changed from a shy, soft-spoken, self-conscious introvert to a confident, soft-spoken, mild extrovert.
No more breaking into sweats during meetings, heart palpitations, sweaty hands, sleepless nights before a presentation.
I can start a conversation with any strangers any time, even in line at the supermarket, or with the cashier.
I started taking group classes for dancing, swimming, yoga, Zumba, TRX, cooking, ...
All I had always wanted to do before, but was too shy to register for, let alone attend the group classes.
I started dating beautiful, successful women recently as well, meeting them on blind dates in social events, something I could not even imagine in my wildest dreams.
In brief, I am living the life I had always wanted to have before the hypnotherapy, but could not articulate or even imagine.
Before I did hypnotherapy, I spent over a few years working on behavioral therapy, I was part of a men's therapy group, and doing daily meditation. Progress was there, but slow.
After I started hypnotherapy, that was like the catalyst that put all the pieces together for me. Within a month or so, I was a very different person.
I would definitely recommend working with Andrea to anybody who is open to meditation, and to anyone who has a strong will to improve him/herself.
I have been in and out of therapy over the past few years, and have learnt a lot about myself and how I relate to other persons, and how I got to behave these ways. We slowly peeled the onion, removed one layer of shame after another.
Although I learn a lot about myself, and was able to express a lot of previously repressed or hidden thoughts, or learn to put feelings and emotions into words and express and communicate them, I was still very much the same person outside the therapists' office, and interacted with other people ( family, office workers, strangers) the same way I used to.
With hypnotherapy, we did not try to find out what happened in the past for me to be the way I am today, how my character and behavior were shaped over the years, what emotions I feel or not feel during some hard events or during day to day events, etc...
With hypnotherapy, we just discussed what I wanted to achieve, we did a trance, and ... voila, behavior suddenly changed over the next few days and become second nature over the next weeks and months.
As long as you have an idea of what you want to change, and you feel really strong about why you want to change it ( for sake of kids, relationship, etc... you are in a point in your life when you know something has to change or else...), basically if you are strongly motivated to change, I would so much recommend to be open and fully embrace hypnotherapy.
Be careful what you ask for though ! It will change your life for ever, no way to predict for the best or for the worse, it really depends how you will use and apply your new skills and make sure you do not let the genie out of the box uncontrolled.
Hope this review is helpful, and you all get the same or better results than I did. read more