Tap into the sea of your subconscious with hypnotherapy

Ria Yap talks talks to us about the healing power of hypnotherapy

When you come across the word hypnotherapy, what comes to mind? I asked a few friends and some amusing replies included "mystical” and "mind control.” In reality, however, it is the farthest thing from this. The practice, which dates back thousands of years, is actually meant to delve deeper into one’s subconscious to create positive change. "Since we’re living in a predominantly Catholic country, some are not sure if it is against their religion, asking, ‘How congruent is this with my faith?’” shares Ria Yap, a certified hypnotherapist who is also a member of the American Hypnosis Association (AHA). Her response to this? "I ask them if they ask the same thing to their cardiologist or neurologist. But on a more serious note, I explain how hypnotherapy is simply a self-improvement behavior modification,” she shares. Many clinics in the United States have understood hypnotherapy’s purpose, with every specialist in the Mayo Clinic’s Integrated and Complementary Unit being trained to incorporate these alternative wellness modalities into the treatment of, say, a cancer patient. After all, the treatment of someone going through cancer is not just physical—it’s emotional and spiritual as well. In the Philippines, however, people have just started to warm up to the idea, and Yap is here to help change all that.

Yap didn’t expect to end up where she is now. "I was in the media for so long with my own PR consultancy. I got involved with energy healing because of my sister, [One Mega Group’s founder] Sari. It started with workshops and then me studying in the States,” she shares. Having had experience in the West and now in her hometown, Yap notes some considerable differences. "Filipinos like to talk. In my classes in the US,

I was told to keep my sessions at 55 minutes. Here, a first session lasts up to two hours.”

At this point, you might be wondering, what exactly happens in a hypnotherapy session? "After our introduction where the client talks about what they want to improve on, I move on to Access Bars if they allow me to, where we make clearing statements while I touch certain points of the head,” Yap shares. The point of doing this practice beforehand is to let go of preconceived beliefs that are not true to the person, messages that we might have misinterpreted as a child.

Afterwards, Yap proceeds to the primary induction to hypnotherapy. "Hypnotherapy is a trance-like state where the client allows the therapist to access their subconscious to help them make positive changes. Therefore, a lot of deepening techniques are necessary to induce them,” she starts. "It’s a self-healing technique—it’s not my subconscious, it’s theirs. So at this point you can tell that all these myths about brainwashing aren’t true,” she adds.

At the end of the day, the most important part about hypnotherapy is the commitment of the client. Even before a client comes to Yap, they should be willing and committed to make positive changes in their lives. Having said this, home care is equally as important to one’s healing. "After our first session, I give them my self-hypnosis recording. I also suggest to them affirmations to say to reinforce what we did during our sessions. This is something I recommend everyday, especially if it’s a new client,” she shares, adding that those who are diligent usually progress faster. "It’s simple really—you just have to do your part. It really does wonders,” she says.

Ria Yap’s office is located at Rockwell Center, Makati. For more information, get in touch with her at (917) 839 7452 or email her at riayap29@gmail.com. You may also follow her on Instagram at @riayaphypnotherapy.