According to Towradgi hypnotherapist Natalie Armstrong, hypnosis is a natural state we go in and out of several times a day.

‘‘Hypnosis taps into the same brain wave state, theta, that we go into and out of for sleep - that lovely dreamy place,’’ Armstrong says.

‘‘It’s very safe. When we’re watching television, listening to music or meditating, they’re various states of hypnosis as well.’’

Hypnosis involves relaxing the conscious mind in order to make suggestions and recite affirmations to the subconscious mind in order to change certain behaviours or overcome particular problems.

Armstrong says the most common reasons people seek out her services as a hypnotherapist is for anxiety and associated stress, weight loss and to quit smoking.

‘‘I relax the conscious mind, the one that talks to us during the day. That goes to sleep when we get hypnotised, which allows hynotherapists to speak directly to the subconscious mind, where our habits, our memories lie,’’ she says.

‘‘Once we’re down in that deep place, I can start making suggestions. I make direct, positive affirmations in response to their negative affirmations.’’

For example, for someone suffering from a fear of public speaking, Armstrong reassures them they are confident and capable of the task.

‘‘I am speaking clearly, I am confident, I am natural in all situations, it comes easy to me to speak in public, words just roll off my tongue - just things like that.’’

While Armstrong uses imagery and relaxing words to ease her clients into a state of hypnosis, she says there are hypnotherapists that use old tricks such as a watch swinging back and forth to get their clients relaxed.

‘‘There’s many different ways to take you under. Some of those images can definitely freak people out, but they’re just tools to get you relaxed,’’ she laughs.

But don’t worry - you won’t open your eyes and start clucking like a chicken after a hypnotherapy session.

Hypnosis only works if you want to be hypnotised and want the things that are being said to you.

‘‘If I was to say to someone to jump off a cliff when they’re in that state and it doesn’t make sense to them, then they would wake up and be alert,’’ Armstrong says.

‘‘People are often afraid that a hypnotherapist could suggest something totally against their values and morals and that they would accept it and do it. That usually comes from the whole stage hypnotherapist thing we’ve all seen, but everyone that gets on a stage is compliant and they want to be there.’’

It may not seem so, but you are awake when you are under hypnosis, as your subconscious mind cannot be turned off.

‘‘It’s a really clear way to take in the information because the conscious mind with all it’s negative information is completely out of the way,’’ Armstrong says.

This especially helps her treat people that are suffering from sleep disorders such as insomnia, as they find that listening to recordings of affirmations while they are sleeping can be beneficial.