But a few vintage horror movies and a handful of badly trained or egotistical hypnotists have made some people fear being controlled by hypnosis.



That's unfortunate. Misconduct among certified hypnotists and hypnotherapists is extremely rare. Frankly, more physicians, dentists, chiropractors, and even estheticians, have injured clients than hypnotists have?but people worry anyway.

And hypnosis can be helpful in so many ways: to eliminate fears about public speaking, dating, job changing, tall buildings, opening a business, and more; even for slimming down, stopping smoking, exercising routinely, and many other desires.

Come to my office where my colleagues are respected therapists or psychologists who regularly send me clients, and you'd probably feel better, but watch another Bella Lugosi movie and bam!

Yet everyone has the right to keep him or herself safe from perceived threat, right? What to do?

Fortunately, if you do worry about control, and still want the benefits of hypnosis

there are three useful solutions:

Solution 1: Get a hypnosis CD or download on your subject and, the first time you listen, stay fully alert from beginning to end. Allow your fully-conscious mind to inspect the hypnotic suggestions until you're satisfied they are safe and right for you.

Then play the recorded session as it was intended: in a relaxed, open state, allowing yourself to become hypnotized so your subconscious mind can accept the suggestions that are useful to you.

Solution 2: Use your own nature.

Twice a day, you are in natural states much like hypnosis. The ?hypnagogic state? occurs before you fall asleep, the ?hypnopompic state? just before you awaken.

During both, you are more open to suggestion than when awake and alert. These are opportune times to give a simple hypnotic suggestion to your subconscious. Prepare your suggestion in advance?something desirable, simple, and easy to remember?and ?feed? it to your subconscious mind during these moments, perhaps two to three times a week.

Here are some examples of suggestions: ?I enjoy and look forward to daily physical activity and I am achieving good results,? ?I get pleasure from eating fresh fruits and vegetables at most meals,? ?Each night after school, I review what I've learned, and my memory is growing stronger.?

I recommend including ?From today on?? at the beginning of each suggestion.

Solution 3: Get a CD that guides you through the hypnotic process and allows time to mentally insert your own hypnotic suggestions instead of relying on premade suggestions.

My CD, for example, teaches you how to prepare a good hypnotic suggestion, making it believable and accessible. It then guides you into the hypnotic state, so you can be your own hypnotist and give your suggestion to your own subconscious mind.

The final segment leads you out of hypnosis and into a refreshed, waking state.

Others may also have a similar item available. And there are many useful books and audios on the general process of self hypnosis.

If well-designed, these can offer hypnotic help for a small investment.?2009 by Wendy Lapidus-Saltz. All rights reserved.