Hypnosis and Other Services

Many people are unsure about whether or not they can be hypnotized and whether hypnosis and hypnotherapy can be useful for them. If you are curious about hypnosis, please contact us. We are happy to give you a no-obligation consultation either in person or on the phone to explain how hypnosis works and how it can possibly address your specific issues or problems.

The term "hypnosis" comes from the Greek word hypnos, meaning "sleep." Hypnotherapists use exercises that bring about deep relaxation and an altered state of consciousness, also known as a trance. A person in a deeply focused state is unusually responsive to an idea or image, but this does not mean that a hypnotist can control the person's mind and free will. On the contrary, hypnosis can actually teach you how to master your own states of awareness. By doing so you can affect your own bodily functions and psychological responses.

How does hypnosis work?

When something happens to us, we remember it and learn a particular behavior in response to what happened. Each time something similar happens, our physical and emotional reactions attached to the memory are repeated. In some cases these reactions are unhealthy. In some forms of hypnotherapy, a trained therapist guides you to remember the event that led to the first reaction, separate the memory from the learned behavior, and replace unhealthy behaviors with new, healthier ones.

During hypnosis, your body relaxes and your thoughts become more focused. Like other relaxation techniques, hypnosis lowers blood pressure and heart rate and changes certain types of brain wave activity. In this relaxed state, you will feel at ease physically yet fully awake mentally and may be highly responsive to suggestion. If you are trying to quit smoking, for example, a therapist's suggestion may help you to see yourself as a nonsmoker going through your daily life with ease. You may also receive suggestions on ways to reduce your anxiety, take a break, or enjoy life smoke-free.

What happens during a visit to the hypnotherapist?

During your first visit, you will be asked about your medical history and what brought you in -- what condition you would like to address. The hypnotherapist may explain to you what hypnosis is and how it works. You will work together to determine the specific modalities or tools that you both feel will be helpful. Depending on the session, the hypnotherapist acts as your guide - you control your journey, and the therapist is there to support you. Some techniques will be taught to you and used with your eyes open; others will require that you become fully relaxed and supported in trance. You and your therapist will decide your comfort levels with any technique before you begin them. The hypnotherapist will also teach you the basics of self-hypnosis and may provide you with further information, CD, MP3 file, or other tools to support you as you continue to practice what you have learned on your own.

There are several stages of a hypnotherapy session:

Reframing the problem - discussing the issue with the hypnotherapist and deciding that you want to work on it
Becoming relaxed, then focused (deeply engaged in the words or images suggested by the hypnotherapist)
Allowing your conscious mind to relax, becoming inwardly centered
Engaging your subconscious mind to address your issue guided and facilitated by the therapist
Returning to usual awareness
Reflecting on the experience in conversation with the therapist.

How do I know what the "right" or "best" technique is for me?

Working with the therapist, you will be given options for how to address your specific issues. You may then decide to undertake one or more (or none) of them to begin your work. Best techniques are those which match you and your needs and help you make changes or adjustments you are wanting to make. They are those which facilitate you in gaining deeper understanding of issues that have been baffling you or seem out of reach. They are generally reached when you and your therapist have a shared understanding of your needs and motivations so that you are working with shared information and purpose.

Alternative Techniques

San Francisco Bay Regressions focuses on the use of Regression Therapies to address deep client work and needs. Sometimes in the process of understanding direction and intention, one or more issues might arise that will get in the way of deeper work. For example, someone may want to work on past life challenges, but has experienced a recent death of a close friend and is still grieving. That grieving may need attention and support before other work can be supported. This is a determination that is made by the client and the therapist, usually jointly. Since regressions entail considerable time and energy, the client may need to clear some current life activity off his or her plate before they have the emotional time and space to focus on the deeper content that would be revealed by the regression.

As Dr. Paque is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist as well as a Certified Regressionist, she addresses her clients as complete individuals and facilitates their choices of services with her experience and understanding of techniques and processes. More information on her complete Hypnotherapy practice can be found on her website: DPConsulting.Biz.