If you mention the word "hypnosis" to a group of people chances are you will get stifled giggles and certainly grins, with the usual question, (or a variation thereof) "So, are you going to put us all asleep and make us cluck like a chicken?" (Well, I must admit, sometimes it is tempting - but Absolutely No!)

It seems everyone has, at some time, seen a movie or read a book where a hypnotist has been stereotyped into a person that control a persons' mind, make them rob a bank or any number of other dastardly things. Well, this is all in the realm of Hollywood theatrics. No one can make another person do something or act in a way that is unnatural to them. Actually the word "hypnosis' means sleep condition.

There really is no short answer to that; and that is probably because there are so many misconceptions about it. "Sleep" is actually a mental state that we all enter into every night and truly very little is understood about it. Those of you that have practiced meditation know about the different levels of consciousness.

• " Beta: this is normal waking consciousness in which the brain is alert to stimuli from the outside world and is able to process those stimuli.
• " Theta: the person is 'slowed down' a little and is more focused and able to dedicate their train of thought on one thing. We have all experienced this: when you watch TV; drive for a long period of time; or while reading a good book. It is a "not really here/not really out of it' state. A person is still able to react to outside stimuli and making decisions.
• " Theta and Delta: We will not examine these states as these deep states are not necessary for hypnosis. Most people will never achieve these deep states during hypnosis and some people will transit between Alpha, Beta and Theta.

So, perhaps it would be easier to state some common misconceptions and explain from there.