Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP,), what is it? How might it help me? Is it real science?
Neuro Linguistic Programming or NLP, refers to a method in which the brain (once in a relaxed enough state) is capable of interpretation through the process of receiving information via direct language which can produce highly effective positive change resulting in the progressive conscious elimination of various negative behaviors and habits which are unwanted yet often present as challenging to stop doing, such as overthinking, smoking, pornography addiction & even chronic panic (subconscious fight or flight triggering) to name only a few examples. This process is usually found in and mastered through the practice of hypnotherapy and is administered by a trained hypnotherapist. As humans, one of the first ways in which our brain develops is through consistent stimulation from our surroundings, this usually begins with the sensation of touch & then gradually as the brain develops & nerve pathways become more readily receptive to understanding the physiological reactive phenomenon, other senses like taste, smell & sound become important to our development. It is the through the very sensation of sound that we find the roots of how NLP works for many of us. As infants & young children, we will instinctively anchor certain sounds with the individuals who care for us, such as their voice which acts as a guide and source of comfort, positioning them as our first source of recognition & soon after comfort, this process supposedly begins before sight and is believed by experts in the field of child development to first begin in the womb. As we grow, these sounds develop into language which we eventually use to communicate as we become young adolescent children, teens and eventually adults. Once we reach the state of adulthood, our learned patterns become ingrained in our psychological makeup and are widely responsible for who we are and how we behave. It has however been discovered that various tones & certain forms of language that open up long term stored memories & sensations from early childhood can and will effect the subconscious which is the deep storage area which our brain uses to store these memories for later use (if needed). It is through hypnosis, that we can through guided help or properly prepared self help materials start the process of reprogramming certain long term bad habits or repeated behaviors, changing them from the core of where these patterns build and grow into negative habits and behavior, it is the foundation of Neuro Linguistic Programming which basically translates to a restructuring of the subconscious through specific voice patterns received by the brain. Yes, NLP is based on genuine scientific research & over the years many respected studies have been done to validate it's usefulness in conquering bad habits & self destructive repeating patterns
What is hypnosis? Is it real science? Isn't it just a bunch of nonsense & fake performances?
ISN'T HYPNOSIS FAKE?
Contrary to popular belief, hypnosis is a very real science, when conducted by a genuine licensed professional hypnotherapist. Many of the stigmas surrounding the myth that hypnosis is a gimmick or fake stems from what pop culture & Hollywood have presented over time. When you think of hypnosis, do you imagine a wide eyed magician of sorts swinging a stop watch while announcing in an entertaining, cool & calm tone that they're placing the subject or group of people usually seated in a row under a hypnotic spell & then commanding them to perform parlor tricks or bark like a dog on stage before a captivated audience? Well this is not genuine hypnotherapy, what you're seeing is a live performance given on stage at circuses, fairs, carnivals, street festivals & magic shows. The volunteers from the audience are actually individuals who've been pre-selected & pre-instructed before the show to go along with the hypnotist's instructions & act out their commands as though it's involuntary for the benefit of the audience. In fact, many of the supposedly random volunteers are repeat spectators who are actually fledgling performance artists who show up on schedule to help make the performance appear real. During the turn of the century circa 1890s - 1920's, stage hypnosis was at it's peak of popularity, however genuine magicians like Harry Houdini made a valiant effort to expose this form of stage performance for what it was, entertainment only.
SO THEN WHAT IS REAL HYPNOSIS?
Real hypnosis is a method of helping the patient into a state of deep relaxation without them completely losing consciousness & then once in state, guiding the subject into the depths of their subconscious mind so that they can access deep rooted emotions, biases & learned behavioral patterns & work on reprogramming behavior so that such things as bad habits or vices can be eliminated over time with continued therapy. This is conducted by a trained professional hypnotherapist who has a solid understanding of safety & has a lengthy amount of training so that the patient remains mentally & physically safe during the entire process. Contrary to modern myths, the subject remains consciously aware during the entire session, they can interact with the therapist & can remove themselves or be returned to the beta brainwave state (being fully awake) by the hypnotist at any time.
IS HYPNOSIS SAFE? ARE THEY'RE RISKS?
As with any type of therapeutic procedure, be it medical, psychiatric or metaphysical, the potential of risk does exist, however these risks are greatly increased when undergoing these types of sessions with individuals who are not properly trained professionals. Hypnosis is classified as a metaphysical therapy, meaning it is not considered a medical, clinical or psychiatric procedure & does not at any time replace any type of proper treatment or diagnosis from a medical professional, so be mindful that even though a genuine hypnotherapist is a properly trained metaphysical physician, they are not medical doctors. The risks involved with hypnosis mostly fall into the category of emotional, meaning that when a subject is under a hypnotic state, they will experience deep rooted emotions which may have been suppressed earlier in life & were stored away but we're not worked through, which can cause a release of severe emotional expressions & the therapist will work to remind the patient that they are not actually revisiting the experience & that they are safe from the past trauma currently as hypnosis can feel very real when experiencing stored past trauma. A subject who has pre-existing medical conditions such as heart conditions, pace makers, high blood pressure or stroke risk will be requested to obtain approval from their primary care doctor prior to engaging in hypnotherapy to ensure the patient is healthy enough to be placed into state. It is generally in how the patient experiences the trauma remotely that presents risks, so a properly trained hypnotherapist will pre-screen a client prior to any sessions to assess the risk factors in terms of mental illnesses which would put the subject at risk & the therapist will refuse to provide therapy to anyone who currently experiencing serious mental health conditions which would present the potential to encounter these risks.
INTAKE SESSION:
As a part of the hypnosis process, a pre-screening appointment is required in order to assess the specific needs for hypnosis therapy and if it's a good fit for you. Dr. Williams offers a free 30 minute intake session to evaluate the individual needs of the potential client. During this time, you will meet with the doctor, go over your reasons for wanting hypnotherapy, your ability to commit to sessions ans you will fill out all of the required paperwork to become a patient.
A Word About Insurance:
Due to the nature of hypnotherapy & the practice of providing holistic/metaphysical (non-clinical) therapy, most insurance companies will NOT cover hypnosis sessions & the plans which do are VERY expensive & usually not offered through employers, therefore, as a way to make obtaining hypnotherapy therapy extremely simple & low cost, Dr. Williams does not accept insurance. However, not to worry, in contrast to not taking insurance, Dr. Williams offers sliding scale/low cost services which can accommodate virtually any budget, therapy shouldn't break the bank, we've already got plenty of stress in everyday life.
The comprehensive hypnotherapy session addresses a wide range of personal struggles from more basic issues such as stopping smoking or weight loss to more advanced topics such as relationships, co-dependency, anxiety, phobias and deeper rooted subconscious blocks and struggles.
FORMS OF PAYMENT ACCEPTED:
• CASH • ZELLE • VENMO • CASH APP • CREDIT/DEBIT
All payments must be made at the time of service. Payments can be made in office prior to your session or via a pre-sent link via which the patient shall receive prior to the scheduled session.