Where does hypnotherapy fit in holistic healthcare?

Roles and Identities – Where does Hypnotherapy fit in?

 Who are you?

To answer this question, after mentioning your name, you might find yourself saying things like, “I am a teacher” or “I am a cyclist,” “I am a brother” or “I am an Accountant.” You might include somewhere lower down on the list that, “I am a dog lover” or “I am a cat person.” What you are doing, in essence, is describing how you make use of your time and what your preferences are. Too often you will get asked what you do for a living, if you are married or have children, what your hobbies and interests are – but, seldom, do you actually get asked who you are. You might hear yourself saying, “I am an angry person” or “I am depressed” – absorbing those emotional experiences and states into your self-image, into your definition of who you are, your “self”. The concept of identity that you have come to accept includes those labels you were born into, those you have been conditioned to believe, and those you created through your opinions and beliefs. But do those labels actually define who you are? Not really! They merely scratch the surface by giving a superficial account of your true, authentic self.

In society, there seems to be great value attached to the roles you play, rather than to who you really are at your core. This can leave you feeling like you are in a perpetual cycle of needing to meet other peoples’ expectations in order to prove your worth and to be seen as valuable. In the process, you might lose sight of your true value, forgetting your passions and purpose. You may overlook those parts yourself that generate your thoughts and emotions, so that you can help others to accept and approve of the roles you play. As a result, you could undervalue yourself to avoid the judgement or disapproval of these so-called “others”.

Which roles and identities define you? Are those roles in alignment with who you want to be and with what you want to achieve in your life? Are the identities you are carrying within yourself and your life helping you or hindering you? Who told you that you have to play that role and that you have to buy into that particular identity?

If you really dig deep, you might discover that quite a few of the roles you identify with are not in alignment with who you want to be. If you look closely, you may realise that who you identify yourself as is not aligned with your authentic self, who you really are. Start by stripping away all the many layers of labels and roles that have been placed on you by your family and friends, your work environment and society as a whole, and you might find that the real you is hidden far below the surface, waiting for the “right moment” to step out of the shadows, waiting to be seen, heard, accepted and loved.

So, what is stopping the real you from coming into the light? In truth, the answer is: You!

In order for you to be playing these roles, you must have already come to believe and accept, on a subconscious level, that it is who you are – and therein lies the problem. The more you accept the labels and expectations that society, or your peers or partner, have placed on you, the more you hold tightly to those identities. In this way, you allow others to dictate who you are and how you live your life. This belief system can keep you stuck in a job that you don’t like, and in relationships that are abusive or are just plain unfulfilling, so that you remain trapped in your uncomfortable comfort zone.

Once you can see the roles you are playing and the identities you are holding on to, it becomes easier to determine whether or not they are helping you or harming you, and, as a result, hindering your personal development. You can also begin to see who in your life has your best interests at heart and who is using those roles and identities to leverage their influence over you.

But where to from there? How can you change the roles you feel are out of alignment with your true self, without your life crumbling into complete chaos?

This is where Hypnotherapy is incredibly effective. All of these roles and identities are stored in your subconscious mind, keeping you trapped in old ways and beliefs. The subconscious mind is that part of the mind which is outside of your awareness – storing within it your beliefs, values, memories and attitudes, which play a role in forming your behaviours and habits. And as the saying goes, “Out of sight, out of mind.” That phrase could not be more true than when it comes to the subconscious mind. Through Hypnotherapy, you can determine which roles are detrimental to your overall well-being, allowing you to, then, adjust those belief systems that are keeping you locked in the behaviours and habits that those roles and identities require of you. By gently working with the subconscious mind, you can break the old, unhealthy associations you have to the identities that no longer serve you or your higher purpose, thereby allowing yourself to evolve and expand. In addition, by gaining a clearer understanding of why you are attached to those roles and identities, you can free yourself from this entrapment. What better way is there to resolve an issue than by going directly to the root?

Once you begin this journey, you will see that by living your life according to the detrimental labels you have taken on board, you are more prone to experiencing anxiety, stress and depression, amongst other heavy emotions and disruptive states. With a focus on those areas of yourself and your life that are incongruent, you will be empowered to embrace your true, authentic self and be better able to find ways to live a more integrated and harmonious life. Your relationships can blossom and you can thrive when living as your authentic self. As you step more into yourself, you will come to see that others no longer have the power to control or manipulate who you are and how you choose to identify yourself. The transformation into your true self can be achieved.

So what does it sound like when you describe yourself in an authentic way? You might hear yourself saying things like, “I am loving” or “I feel compassion for all”. You might find that you treat others with more kindness and care, more patience and understanding. And rather than coming from a place of ego or arrogance, or with a focus on personal gain, you will feel more at peace, within yourself and your life experiences. You will experience more meaningful connections. You will feel more harmonious and balanced, more authentic and true to yourself, when experiencing the world and everything in it from the wonderful, higher perspective of your soul.

So if you want to move toward the best version of you, invest in yourself by booking your first session now.

Faine Bisset

Counselling Hypnotherapist

cell: 073 4116 793