Alister Marriott

Personal Change Works

"...everyone needs to change sometimes..."

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How does it all work?
2. Does a person give up control when hypnotized?
3. Can I get stuck in hypnosis?
4. Will these techniques work specifically with me?
5. What does Hypnosis feel like?
6. What's the difference between hypnosis, guided imagery, creative visualisation or meditation?
7. What is NLP?
8. Can you help me with ....?

1. How does it all work?

I use techniques with you to work at different levels of your personality in order to help you change your unwanted behavior. The following picture describes the "logical levels" of a behaviour, taking the example of a smoker.

Smoker Example - Before Change Work

Usually, people attempt to make change directly at the behaviour or environment level, and this fails because the more powerful forces of beliefs and identity are ignored. If someone still believes they are addicted to nicotine and has the identity of a smoker, the unwanted behaviour will continue to prevail.

What I do is assist you in shifting your identity towards a more desirable one (non-smoker), change your limiting beliefs (about cigarettes), and offer you new ways to manage (in this example) tension and relaxation. At that point, your identity is one of a non-smoker, you have more empowering beliefs about unneeded and unwanted chemicals in the body, and you have better ways of coping with tension. At this point the unwanted behaviour (smoking) has no purpose and so it ceases! This is what causes behavioural change, and this is how I can help.

Smoker Example - After Change Work

Note that in the example given, the only item that stays constant is the environment.

2. Does a person give up control when hypnotized?

Do we give up control of our minds during a movie? When is the last time you got so involved during a movie or TV show that you actually felt emotion? You were literally in a hypnotic trance, although you still have the power to emerge from that state if desired. Your mind may be guided by a movie, TV show, self-hypnosis tape, or hypnotherapist, but YOU still have the power to resist.

Even though there are some people who seem to at least partially give up control of their minds, that is because of misunderstanding who has the power. How many times do you see a manager telling a subordinate what to do, and they carry out the task unquestioningly? In actual fact, the employee could explain to the boss a much better way of doing the task.

3. Can I get stuck in hypnosis?

No, this is impossible.

4. Will these techniques work specifically with me?

If you want to make a change in your life, then these techniques will absolutely work for you. The key is that you have to want to change, I cannot make you do anything you do not want to do!

5. What does Hypnosis feel like?

Actually you have already been hypnotized many times throughout your life - trance is a natural state! Have you ever driven to work and realized you have almost no recall of the journey? Sat on a bus and day dreamed your way through the traffic? Become so absorbed in a television program or conversation with a friend that you lost track of time? These are all classic examples of the hypnotic state. To most people Hypnosis is a similar state of mind.

6. What's the difference between hypnosis, guided imagery, creative visualisation or meditation?

In fact, there is not a tremendous difference at all. Misconceptions about hypnosis have made some people uneasy to call the process by its rightful name, especially in the business environment. “Guided Imagery” or “Previewing” perhaps sound a little less mystical than “Hypnosis” and "Hypnotic Trance". "Creative Visualisation" is a very common term in the business world, and increasingly so in the world of professional sport.

All of these processes are simply procedures to relax the body and focus the mind towards achieving a specific goal or outcome. The state you attain can feel similar for each, no matter what you choose to call it. 

7. What is NLP?

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is a behavioral technology, which simply means that it is a set of guiding principles, attitudes, and techniques about real-life behavior, and not a removed, scientific theorem. 

It allows you to change, adopt or eliminate behaviors, as you desire, and gives you the ability to choose your mental, emotional, and physical states of well-being. NLP is a very pragmatic technology based on an ability to produce your desired results, thus allowing you to become proficient at creating your future.

8. Can you help me with ....?

These skills can be used to help you in your personal life as well as in professional business. Areas that I can help you with include: 

Compulsions
Confidence
Conflicts at work
Controlling weight
Decision making
Fears and phobias
Goal Setting
Grief
Habits
Improving performance
Interpersonal communication
Interviews
Making money
Making new friends
Moving home or office
Pain management
Passing driving tests and exams
Relationships
Self esteem
Sleeping
Smoking
Starting a new job
Stress
etc. etc.

And these are just some examples of what you can get help with - the list is almost endless!