The Red and Black

There is more to hypnotism than being put under a spell and told to act like a chicken, according to a hypnotherapist.

“There are a lot of misconceptions about hypnotherapy,” Advanced Clinical Hypnotherapist Dale Gibson said.

Gibson will appear at Earth Fare in Five Points Today at 6:30 p.m. to clarify the definition of hypnosis and explain how it can be used beneficially.

Gibson received his training and certification from Barry Seedman, an internationally renowned hypnotherapist. He furthered his studies with the Georgia Chapter of the National Guild of Hypnotists.

Certification includes training in effecting a state of mind, ethical practices and learning what hypnosis is and what it isn’t, he said.

Gibson said hypnosis can help the judgmental part of the mind stand aside to make effective choices.

“Hypnosis really is a relaxation and focused attention to bypass the limitations of the criticizing mind,” he said.

Gibson said everyone is familiar with hypnosis, although they might not be aware of it.

“We go into hypnotic states daily,” he said.

Some examples would be our state of mind right before falling asleep or while waking up. Sometimes it happens when people drive a common route in the car and not realize how they arrived at their destination.

When used for therapy, hypnosis can help target and adjust individual belief systems, clarify personal goals or get rid of old habits.

The session at Earth Fare mainly will be informational.

Gibson said he is anxious to know what attendees to the event are looking to gain from the experience.

“I want everyone to have something they can take with them,” he said.

Susanna Aikin, Earth Fare community coordinator, said she thought Gibson would interest students as a less conventional program.

She said the program will be a great way to introduce new medicinal methods that vary from traditional Western medicine, she said.

“It was just another option to have out there,” she said.

After beginning with a general overview, Gibson will invite those who want to experience the hypnotic state to participate.

He also will share some techniques for self hypnosis that can be useful in times of stress and decision making.

Gibson said hypnosis is extremely effective for students when preparing for and taking a test.

Once relaxed, special techniques can prove to be helpful.

“You can use self preparation to enhance the study process,” he said.

When in the test setting, the same preparation can be used to relieve anxiety and focus on the task at hand.

According to Earth Fare’s website, the store’s roots go back to 1975 when Roger Derrough founded Dinner for the Earth, the first natural food store in Asheville, N.C. In 1993, Earth Fare won the Best New Store of the Year award from Health Foods Business Magazine and was featured on the front cover of the magazine’s July issue.

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