The simple answer is No – Absolutely not. This is probably the biggest myth of all. You can’t be made to do anything you don’t want to do in hypnosis. In hypnosis you retain power over your ability to act upon suggestions, although if you do allow yourself to act upon a suggestion you may feel as though the effects are happening by themselves.
Stage hypnotists seem to make people do strange things while hypnotized, but the truth is that these people are doing these things because they have a desire to be outrageous. If the stage hypnotists choose their subjects carefully, they will have willing participants. You will never do anything or accept any suggestion that violates your morals or values. If that was possible, all the hypnotists in the world could make you go rob the banks and bring back the money. We would be rich and rule the world. Obviously, this is not the case!

• Hypnosis is used in a variety of settings — from emergency rooms to dental offices to outpatient clinics.
• Clinical studies suggest that hypnosis may improve immune function, increase relaxation, decrease stress, and ease pain and feelings of anxiety.
• Hypnotherapy can reduce the fear and anxiety that some people feel before medical or dental procedures. For example, studies show that dental patients who underwent hypnosis had a significantly higher threshold for pain than those who were not hypnotized.
• Hypnosis may also improve recovery time and reduce anxiety and pain following surgery.
• Clinical trials on burn patients suggest that hypnosis decreases pain (enough to replace pain medication) and speeds healing.

Each session lasts about an hour or so, and most people start to see results within 5 – 10 sessions. We will monitor and evaluate your progress over time. Children (aged 9 – 12) are easily hypnotized and may respond after only 1 – 2 visits.

It occasionally happens that there is sense of amnesia after the session. Most hypnotists want you to be aware of the session. You will be aware of everything around you, and remember most, if not all, that happened in the session. Usually, you will remember it better than a conversation we had because your mind is in such a focused state. I call it the focused awareness of the subconscious mind.

The short answer is no. Although the word hypnosis is derived from the Greek God of sleep, “Hypnos,” studies have shown that hypnosis and sleep differ. Studies of brain activity have shown that although there are characteristic patterns of brain activity associated with sleep, the same has not been demonstrated of hypnosis. To observers hypnosis might appear to be like sleep because suggestions of relaxation are commonly given as part of a hypnotic routine, but hypnotized people are in a state more similar to wakefulness (which I call a cat-nap state).

The client ALWAYS has complete control over his/her actions and whether to accept or reject any suggestions made by the hypnotherapist.

Hypnosis sometimes feels different for everybody. Many hypnotherapists (researchers & clinicians) use elements of relaxation procedures; therefore people commonly associate a feeling of relaxation with hypnosis.
Different people have all sorts of bodily responses to relaxation instructions – some feel as though their body is very heavy, whereas some can feel very light, almost as if they were floating. Mentally, people also have all sorts of responses. People typically report feeling very focused or absorbed, often effortlessly so.
Since instructions for imagery are often used, people can have very vivid imaginative experiences – many report feeling ‘as if they were there.’ I’ve had clients that fidget, move in the recliner, even go into a fetal position – while in hypnosis.

Expands your imagination and can enhance your mind and memory.

Yes, and it can be quite beneficial.

For many, a long time. For some it could be from hours to weeks. It all depends what they need, what they get out of it and if they use it to help themselves.

Yes – it can be quite beneficial.

It can not remove, but it can place into dormancy for a long long time.

Not that I am aware of.

Upon coming out of the state of hypnosis & deep relaxation, some experience grogginess or feeling of light headed as if awaking from a profound nap.

In most cases no. Yet, there are insurance companies that honor medical hypnosis and may refund some if not most of the cost.

Yes - for those who are open and receptive.

Hypnotherapy is a tool to unlock human potential, not a magic formula. Hypnosis can help people to address both their negative habits and associated problems, but these issues can be complex and challenging both for the client and for the therapist, and hypnotherapy works for all who are willing, open and ready to HealWithin and begin their transformation for the better.

Hypnotherapy can also be used for pain.  Here a dentist talks about using hypnosis instead of anesthetics.

You cannot be hypnotized to do things against your will because you are always in charge and you know exactly what you’re doing.