What does a plumber do? They fix leaky faucets and clogged toilets. What does a truck driver do? They drive trucks. What do toilet paper testers do? They test toilet paper with expensive machinery. What some professionals do is totally obvious. For others, not so much.

Take a hypnotherapist for example. What does a hypnotherapist do? If your answer is that they “hypnotize people,” sorry (insert game-show buzzer sound here) that is incorrect. Hypnotherapists are consummate professionals who wear many hats. Read on to find out what a hypnotherapist really does.

What does a hypnotherapist do?

A hypnotherapist is a person who uses hypnotherapy to help people improve their lives. The state of hypnosis has been used for thousands years to help people solve problems, achieve goals, and improve quality of life. Despite the nonsense you see in movies and on television, hypnosis is not what you might think. Hypnosis is simply a state of relaxed concentration in which the deep mind (subconscious) accepts suggestions more readily.

 Hypnotherapists are yoga instructors of the mind

A hypnotherapist does not hypnotize anyone. Instead, they coach their clients into hypnosis. Hypnotherapists are very much like yoga teachers. There is no yoga teacher on the face on the planet who can “make” someone do yoga. Instead, they give their students instructions. When the students follow these instructions, they enjoy the benefits of doing yoga.

It’s the same with hypnotherapy. What does a hypnotherapist do? They give their clients instructions on how to enter the state of hypnosis. When the client is willing to accept and follow these instructions (also known as suggestions), the client is said to be “hypnotized.” Hypnotherapists cannot hypnotize anyone against their will. For hypnosis to work, the client must be willing to receive and respond to the hypnotherapist’s suggestions.

Hypnotherapists are programmers

In a certain sense, hypnotherapists are very much like computer programmers. Computer programmers write code which is then executed by a computer. Most often, however, programmers “debug” code. That is to say that they find errors in the code and fix them so that the computer works properly.

[su_pullquote align=”right”]What does a hypnotherapist do? They give their clients instructions on how to enter the state of hypnosis. When the client is willing accept and follow these instructions (also known as suggestions), the client is said to be “hypnotized.” [/su_pullquote]

Hypnotherapists serve a similar function. The human mind is not a computer, but functions in a similar way. Hypnotherapists are master wordsmiths. They have a special talent for writing suggestions that the subconscious mind will accept. So what does a hypnotherapist do? A hypnotherapist crafts suggestions that upgrades the “software” of the mind. When you improve your mental software, the quality of your life improves.

What does a hypnotherapist do? – They collaborate with their clients

What if rogue hypnotherapist gave you suggestions that you didn’t want to accept? Would you still act on those suggestions? Of course not. Just like a hypnotherapist can’t hypnotize you against your will, you will not act on any suggestions that you were not intending to receive.

When it comes to creating therapeutic suggestions, hypnotherapists collaborate with their clients. Both hypnotherapist and client agree to the outcome of each session. They also agree on the suggestions to be presented. Not only that, but a good hypnotherapist will also check the wording of each suggestion with the client. This insures that the suggestions truly resonate with the client.

Hypnotherapists are also debuggers

Sometimes hypnotherapists have clients that present a problem to be solved, rather than a goal. In this case, what does a hypnotherapist do? In this case, they figure out what ideas are acting in the client’s mind that’s creating the problem. Once they discover the problem “code,” hypnotherapists compose specific suggestions that dismantle it. This is done in a precise, systematic way. What a skilled hypnotherapist does is truly an art-form.

What does a hypnotherapist do? – They listen

If there’s one thing that hypnotherapists do better than most other professionals, its listening. Hypnotherapists are absolute masters of the art of listening. From your language patterns, they can detect which beliefs are holding you back. From your tone of voice, they can zero in on inconsistencies and resistances. Skilled hypnotherapists even discern a lot from what’s not being said. They read even the subtlest clues in your body language. They are masters of using all this information to discover the patterns that are out of your awareness.

[su_pullquote align=”right”] Once they discover the problem “code,” hypnotherapists compose specific suggestions that dismantle it. This is done in a precise, systematic way. What a skilled hypnotherapist does is truly an art-form. [/su_pullquote]

Hypnotherapists listen for the emotion behind what you are saying. They listen from a place of compassion and understanding. Clients often report that the first time they actually felt “listened to” was when they first talked with a hypnotherapist.

What does a hypnotherapist do? – Hypnotherapists are investigators

People often come to hypnotherapists after failing to get relief through from other professionals. Often times, these professionals know little about what the cause of the problem is, and even less about how to fix it. Problems that don’t seem to have a solution through traditional means are often psychosomatic. Psychosomatic problems originate in the mind although they produce actual physical symptoms. So what does a hypnotherapist do? Hypnotherapists are master investigators. Through hypnoanalysis and other regressive methods, a hypnotherapist can pinpoint the cause of your problem and help you put it behind you.

What does a hypnotherapist do? They are your accountability partner

Do you set goals, then lose interest in them? Losing interest in your goals is not so easy with a hypnotherapist as an accountability partner. This is because a hypnotherapist will help you figure out what you really want, and why it’s important to you. Good hypnotherapists can be highly confrontive. When you say you’re going to do something, and don’t follow through, a good hypnotherapist will call you out on it. Good hypnotherapists aren’t judgmental or critical. They remind you of your lack of action to get the results you say you want.  Your hypnotherapist will lovingly and compassionately help you get back on course. They will monitor your progress carefully and make sure you follow though with your commitment to positive change.

5-Star Rated Dallas Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy Programs By Award-Winning Dallas Hypnotist, Sean Maness