What is Hypnosis and How Does it Work?
Hypnosis is a natural state of focused attention, a bit like being absorbed in a good book or driving a familiar route on autopilot. In that relaxed, focused state your mind becomes more open to helpful suggestions, which makes it easier to update the habits and reactions your subconscious runs automatically. You're not asleep, you're not unconscious, and you're never under anyone's control.
Prefer to read, or want to revisit a part? Everything Erika covers in the video is written out below.
Welcome. Whether you've just started one of my programs such as Beyond Stress, or you're about to work with me one-on-one, or you simply typed "what is hypnosis" into a search bar and ended up here, you're in the right place. This short video answers the two questions nearly everyone asks before they begin: what hypnosis actually is, and how it works. The short version is reassuring. Hypnosis isn't mind control, it isn't sleep, and it's certainly not someone clucking like a chicken on a stage. It's a natural, focused state of attention that helps you work with the part of your mind that runs your habits automatically, so change stops feeling like a fight. You stay aware. You stay in control. And you're not broken; your brain simply learned a pattern, and patterns can be updated.
How does your mind actually work?
For simplicity, let's think of your mind as having two main systems.
The first is your conscious mind. That's the part you're using right now to listen, think, analyze, plan, and make decisions. It's the part that reads an article about exercise and says: "Yes, that's a great idea. I should definitely start doing that."
The second system is what many psychologists and hypnotists refer to as the subconscious or unconscious mind. This is where many of your habits, emotional reactions, learned behaviors, and automatic responses operate. It's the part that remembers how to drive a car, tie your shoes, or automatically reach for the cookie jar when you've had a stressful day.
Not because you're weak. Not because you're broken. But because your brain loves efficiency.
Think of your subconscious like the autopilot on an airplane. Once a route has been programmed and flown enough times, it becomes the default path. That saves energy and frees up your conscious mind for more important tasks.
The challenge is that some of those programs were created years ago and no longer serve you particularly well. Some were learned when you were young. Some were created during difficult experiences. And some simply became habits through repetition.
Meanwhile, your conscious mind is standing there waving its arms and saying: "Excuse me, we'd like an update." And your subconscious replies: "Thank you for your feedback. We'll continue using the 2007 version until further notice."
This is why change can sometimes feel frustrating. It's not that you don't know what to do. Most people already know what they should do. The challenge is getting the autopilot system to update its flight plan - which is what I do when helping people stop smoking.
Why isn't willpower enough?
Willpower is useful. In fact, you'll probably need some. But willpower alone can be a bit like trying to hold a beach ball underwater. You can do it for a while. Then you get tired.
Real, lasting change tends to happen when your conscious goals and your automatic patterns begin working together rather than pulling in opposite directions. That's where hypnosis can be helpful.
Why don't affirmations always work?
Before we talk about hypnosis, there's one important idea to understand. Most of us have a mental filtering system. When we hear new information, our minds automatically ask: "Does this fit with what I already believe?" If it does, we tend to accept it. If it doesn't, we often question it, ignore it, or dismiss it.
In hypnosis, this filtering process is sometimes called the critical factor. Whether you think of it as a mental filter, a gatekeeper, or simply your brain's quality-control department, its job is to decide what gets your attention and what doesn't.
This helps explain why simply repeating affirmations doesn't always create change. If someone deeply believes "I'm not confident," then repeating "I'm confident" a hundred times may feel about as convincing as being told you can fly by flapping your arms. The mind resists information that feels too far from its current experience.
Hypnosis helps create a state where people can explore new perspectives and possibilities with less internal resistance.
What is hypnosis, really?
Let's clear up a few myths. When people hear the word hypnosis, they often think of stage shows, swinging watches, mind control, or someone clucking like a chicken in front of an audience. Entertaining? Perhaps. Representative of therapeutic hypnosis? Not even slightly.
Hypnosis is simply a natural state of focused attention and absorbed awareness. You're not asleep. You're not unconscious. You're not under anyone's control. You're simply focused.
In fact, you've probably experienced something similar many times already.
Have you ever:
- Driven a familiar route and realized you don't remember much of the journey?
- Become completely absorbed in a good book?
- Lost track of time watching a film?
- Drifted in that pleasant space between waking and sleeping?
Those are all examples of naturally occurring trance-like states. Hypnosis simply uses this ability intentionally.
What does hypnosis feel like?
Most people describe hypnosis as deeply relaxing and surprisingly ordinary.
You may notice:
- A sense of calm
- A pleasant heaviness or lightness in the body
- Increased focus
- A feeling that the voice guiding you becomes easier to follow
Your mind may wander occasionally. That's normal. Minds wander. That's what they do. The important thing is that you don't have to "do hypnosis perfectly" for it to be effective. There's no gold medal for relaxing correctly.
What's actually changing in the brain?
Here's the short version, without requiring a neuroscience degree. Your brain is constantly changing in response to experience. This ability is called neuroplasticity. Every thought, behavior, emotion, and experience strengthens certain neural pathways while others become weaker through lack of use.
Think of it like walking through a field. The path you use every day becomes easier to follow. The path you stop using gradually becomes overgrown. Habits work the same way. The more often a pattern is repeated, the more automatic it becomes.
The exciting part is that new pathways can also be created - for example, my weight loss service helps create healthy eating habits. Research shows that vivid mental rehearsal can activate many of the same brain regions involved in actual experience. Athletes have used this principle for decades. Musicians use it. Elite performers use it. And hypnosis often uses it too.
When you're relaxed, focused, and imagining yourself responding differently, perhaps calmer, more confident, more resilient, you give your brain an opportunity to rehearse new possibilities. The more often those new patterns are practiced, the easier they become to access.
What does change usually feel like?
One final thing. Real change rarely arrives with fireworks, dramatic music, and a movie trailer voice saying: "Everything changes now..." More often, it sneaks in through the side door. You suddenly realize:
- You handled something differently.
- You stayed calmer than usual.
- A trigger wasn't quite as triggering.
- You made a better choice without having to wrestle yourself into it.
The change feels natural. Almost ordinary. And that's often the best sign that it's becoming part of who you are.
I hope this explanation helps you feel more comfortable, more informed, and perhaps a little excited about the work ahead. Because change doesn't usually happen in one dramatic moment. It happens through many small shifts that, over time, create a very different life.
Frequently asked questions about hypnosis:
Can I be made to do something against my values?
No. People in hypnosis remain aware and capable of making decisions. If a suggestion conflicts with your values or beliefs, you're unlikely to accept it.
Can I get stuck in hypnosis?
No. Hypnosis is not a trap. If you choose to open your eyes, stretch, or stop listening, you can.
Will I reveal secrets?
No. Hypnosis is not a truth serum. You remain in control of what you say and what you keep private.
Will I remember everything?
Most people remember most, if not all, of the experience. Many people finish their first session thinking, "That's it? I thought it would feel more dramatic." Which is perfectly normal.
If you'd like to explore whether hypnosis is a fit for what you're working on,
book a short consult and let's see.