The American Society of Clinical Hypnosis defines hypnosis as “a state of inner absorption, concentration and focused attention… like using a magnifying glass to focus the rays of the sun and make them more powerful… when our minds are concentrated and focused, we are able to use our minds more powerfully.” 

Some people fear hypnosis before they try it, primarily because they are afraid they will lose control.  Actually, all hypnosis is self-hypnosis. Even in a hypnotic trance, you will not do what you choose not to do, and will do only what you would ordinarily.  

Hypnosis is just a way of focusing more clearly, in a useful way, to hopefully bring about insight, or behavioral change or symptom relief. The process of hypnosis enables you to use your imagination, or imagery--be this visual, verbal, auditory, kinesthetic, or otherwise--in a powerful way.  

Hypnosis also entails suggestion. The hypnotherapist suggests that she knows to be compatible with the desires and goals of  the client. These suggestions can be extremely impactful when they are heard in a highly focused state such as that that can be reached in hypnosis.   

Furthermore, hypnosis can allow access to the unconscious mind, which is often thought to be very important, when conscious attempts at solutions have failed, when there are tough issues which consciously make no sense, or which appear to defy logic, and/or when there are difficult-to-break habits, which continue, though they may be harmful to a person. 

Hypnosis, like other therapeutic techniques, may work for some, but not for others.  You can maximize the chances that hypnosis or some other techniques will help when you work with someone who specializes in hypnosis, and who is a licensed health professional. Such professionals have a good foundation in and access to resources in health care.  Their training in hypnosis is supplemental to much broader base of knowledge and they are more likely to understand hypnosis in context and to have alternatives available.