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Why is it so difficult to keep on track?

After helping people with hypnosis for over 20 years, one might think that I would’ve learned something groundbreaking. Yes, I have helped many achieve fascinating solutions to some intense challenges, but I have to admit; the most important thing I have learned is something that most of us already know.

Allow me a moment to explain…

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Something I have regretfully learned is that with essentially every type of therapy, be it modern medicine or alternative, the impact of therapy wears off. (The exceptions to this general rule, strangely enough, are things that seem to be the most difficult to overcome – smoking addictions and phobias.)

Yes, people get results. Do not misunderstand. They often get amazing results from both. To give a few examples, Reiki and acupuncture do not seem like they should be able to help with as many things as they do.

During a Reiki treatment, the practitioner transmits energy to the body either through touch or just having a hand above the body. What kind of energy? How? What is energy? It doesn’t make sense but people always feel better afterwards.

Acupuncture, to describe it crudely, pokes needles into people at very specific locations in the body (meridians) to help unblock or improve the energy flow. Why is it beneficial for energy to flow through the body? And, again, what is this “Energy?” How does unblocking this help?

The challenge with these and so many others is what I said earlier – it wears off. People almost always feel better after most any alternative therapy treatment. They may feel better for a few days, a few weeks, maybe even a month or two. But then, whatever issue the person was having starts to creep back into their mind or body.

Many come to me for weight loss, for example (and this is how it is with most every eating and exercise program). In the first several weeks, everything is good. The motivation is there. Change is happening. People see results. But then, something happens. This abruptly stops or usually, the motivation and the discipline starts to fade away. (Another example is stress, anxiety, and panic attacks.)

This tendency is something my engineering brain is never satisfied with. That little “WHY” kid in me always asks, “Why does the healing or the behavior fade away? Why can’t it remain forever?”

Well, first… IT CAN! And it does. There are many cases where people truly experience long-term change. So when I say it wears off, I should clarify: It USUALLY wears off with what may be a majority of people. But it sometimes does NOT wear off. People change a behavior and that behavior becomes them, it just becomes a part of their lifestyle and it is no longer something they need to work on.

What I have found after all these years is that non-groundbreaking thing I started with:

These solutions people acquire are not given to them by a healer or a therapist. The only time someone truly changes or has that epiphany-like breakthrough is when THEY do it. Somehow, in general Biblical-ish terms, every person must… HEAL THYSELF.

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That’s the non-breakthrough breakthrough – that thing that most of us already know: In order to truly change, you have to do it yourself.

If it were easy to just become a healer by going through some sort of coursework, then everyone would just be healed. Were you abused as a child and now suffer in ways that make it difficult to just function normally in everyday society? No problem. Just go to the whatever therapist and they’ll do a treatment and you’ll be cured of this lifelong challenge.

It doesn’t happen that way, does it? Healers, true healers, do exist. Somewhere. And if it were easy to become a true healer, then there would be no need for hospitals. They could just put all the sick and dying in, say, a park, and the healer could just go for a walk and heal everyone. It’s not that easy, is it?

But, if you read more of this site, it may seem as though I am contradicting myself. I have multiple examples of (or it’s likely you are reading this now because you know someone who I’ve worked with) where I did, in fact, seem to cure people. This is actually true. I have helped many, many people. The question is… How? (And if I did, how come there isn’t a line by at my door?)

After reading so many books and learning this or that hypnosis or neuro-linguistic programming technique, while all of those have contributed to my knowledge-base, ultimately none of that learning matters if I do not go to the source of the issue and guide people to resolving this issue on their own.

Basically, the most effective therapy I could perform is ZERO therapy! And I’ve become very good at doing nothing!

I do not command the body to heal. I do not command the mind to release years of abuse. I do nothing but guide people to their own sources of whatever challenges they’re experiencing and then, in a way, start a conversation. Or I help them see things from a different perspective. Or sometimes (and I think this is why so many other therapies are also effective), people are able to relax so deeply or visualize (or feel) so thoroughly that they tap into their own natural ability to heal.

The healing actually takes a little work. People can’t just go to someone and do absolutely nothing and open their eyes all healed and feeling wonderful. THAT is why I, and so many others who are very, very good at whatever alternative form of treatment they practice in, do not have a line at their doors.

When I first started doing therapy, I thought it was my responsibility to come up with the perfect words and the perfect scenarios to cause people to get better. I really worked hard on these. But, no matter great my plan was, they never stuck long-term. Because commanding people to heal just isn’t how it works.

I tell people who come to see me that they’re going to experience change. And we’re going to go to the source(s) of this challenge and finally resolve this once and for all. Many people are scared when they learn this. Many people do not want to face or uncover the source. And then I tell them what I’m about to describe, and they rarely believe me until after all is said and done:

First, going through this experience of finding and resolving the source of your challenge will be fascinating! And secondly, even though it may seem as though it can only be painful, it never is. Somehow… and I think this is one of the beautiful gifts of spiritual work… the resolution after discovery on a deeper level leaves people feeling wonderful.

I don’t know why, but that’s just how it is.

And that is the non-breakthrough breakthrough. After all these years of experience and study, I have realized what you likely already knew: In order to truly heal mentally, people must heal themselves.

So, I apologize if it feels like you’re reading some groundbreaking study, say from Neurology, June 2000 magazine, where they conclude, “Combining Drugs and Alcohol is Bad For You.”

Or maybe one of these others:
Swallowing More Than One Magnet is Dangerous, Radiology, Nov. 2004
Smoking Cigarettes Costs You Money, Tobacco Control, Dec. 2004
Time Flies When You’re Busy, Brain and Cognition, July 2004

(Those are fun. There are a lot of them, apparently. I googled “groundbreaking studies that proved the obvious.”)

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Having said all of that, what can you expect from hypnotherapy sessions at Berkshire Hypnosis?

The first session is where we lay the groundwork. You will most likely experience some sort of positive change, where the challenge will be diminished and manageable. But without further work, this will unfortunately fade and you’ll likely return back to your original behaviors or beliefs. (Sorry.)

Part of the groundwork in that first session is to include suggestions for enhanced communication and understanding, and to help you better respond to any future work we do together.

From there, the sessions change from a typical “me talk you listen” hypnosis session to more of an exploratory or conversational type of hypnosis. This is where things start to become interesting. This is where you’ll have a fascinating story to tell.

The latter sessions can be anything from an age regression, parts therapy, attachment releasement, re-writing of history, or even a past life regression or two. Each person is different and each scenario is unique – even with similar challenges.

So we explore. YOU explore. I shine the light and you go awaken your own ability to do something you may have never thought you could do…

Heal thyself.

I encourage anyone to just come and talk to me.  There is no charge to just talk.  And if I don’t think I can help, I’ll tell you or I’ll point you to others who can.

As always, thank you for listening to me blab.

Rob Daugherty

Rob


If you’re interested in making an appointment or would simply like to have a few questions answered, please call or text.

You can also comment below or email robdaugherty@berkshirehypnosis.com.

Many questions may be answered through the articles on this site.  Please explore.

And if there’s a topic or article you’d like to see discussed, feel free to leave a suggestion.  Thank you.

  7 Responses to “How to Keep on Track”

  1. I was wondering how much hypnosis sessions cost. Can hypnosis be used to build confidence, optimism, and help someone become more outgoing?

    • Sessions cost $90 (which includes a CD recording of the session). 3 or more sessions are $60/session (up-front). 5 or more sessions are $50/session.

      Hypnosis can help someone become more comfortable with themselves. Confidence, optimism, and being more outgoing are simply a positive side-effect of this.

  2. Can Hypnosis help me to sleep, I have been taking med for about 5 years, it only give about 4,or 5 hours the most.

    • Yes, hypnosis is very effective for this. In fact, a SIDE EFFECT of hypnosis sessions is usually better sleep. I have developed a session specifically for people suffering insomnia. I record this personalized session onto a CD so that you can listen to it as you fall asleep. No drugs. No issues. Just deep, restful sleep. You’ll be amazed as how much better you feel.

  3. Can hypnosis help me quit smoking? How does it work? I am very interested in quiting. Thank you

    • Statistically, hypnosis has the greatest success when used to help quit smoking. How does it work? It somehow connects those parts of you that WANT to quit smoking with the other parts that can help you actually do it. Many people WANT to quit, but they need that little push from somewhere else. That push can very effectively come from your subconscious, which is where hypnosis comes in. Read other articles on this site and others and you’ll get greater insight.

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