Is hypnosis the same as sleep?

Hypnosis is different to being asleep. It can feel as if you’re drifting off, but actually it’s not sleep. It’s better than sleep when you want to make changes to your habits, the way that you think and how you feel. Your brain works differently when you’re in a hypnotic trance compared to when you’re asleep.

As you begin to relax, I may use phrases like "deep, deep sleep". That reminds your conscious mind to switch off like you would when you sleep. But your unconscious mind will continue to work to effect change. Before you relax in trance, we will have talked about the kind of change you want to create, so your unconscious mind will feel comfortable with the suggestions that I make when you are in trance.

At the end of the session, the nice thing is that you won't have that groggy feeling you can get if you doze off during the day, you will feel calm, refreshed and focused instead. Some people go very deeply relaxed and may feel as if they have been floating on the edges of sleep. That's fine, the suggestions will still be effective and the person will always "wake" when they are counted back up to full conscious awareness.