When you walk into The Flow Center, located right off the Tollway in North Dallas, you immediately feel transported to a calming environment. It seems more like a spa, as soothing scents fill the air, tranquil sounds echo through the space and you are enveloped in soothing blue hues. Valerie Grimes, Certified Clinical Hypnotist, has created a place where her clients can come and let go of their preconceived notions and worries. The large painting on the wall in the welcome area features something like the full view of an iceberg.
“This painting was suggested by the designer of the office because of the colors,” says Valerie. “But I realized after a few years that it was really the perfect representation of the mind. A small portion that is visible, and a much deeper and larger portion that is hidden. I help people access that hidden part.”
When you hear the word “hypnosis” you probably have something pop up in your head - usually goofy or fake. The art of hypnosis dates back to the 18th century and the phrase hypnosis was coined in the 1840s. The American Medical Association recognized hypnosis as a legitimate treatment method in both medicine and dentistry in 1958. In the here and now, it’s a transformative treatment to assist people in getting out of their current way of thinking and responding. Putting it simply, hypnosis is a highly relaxed and natural state of mind.
When we talk about wellbeing, it has become increasingly important to focus not only on the body, but the mind. Mental health awareness is growing and people from all walks of life - athletes, actors, teachers - are working to take away the stigma from getting help. Therapy, medication, and other forms of self-care are all ways to start prioritizing your mind’s health. But what if you’re looking for something natural, new or nothing else has worked? You just might benefit from a practice that creates focused attention, heightened suggestibility and can be highly effective when it comes to changing habits, especially habits of thought.
Valerie has been practicing hypnotherapy for more than 20 years, and draws from her own difficult life experiences and an understanding of human behavior. The Flow Center has now grown to include Valerie and 2 associates so that they may serve a range of clients six days a week, including children and seniors.
Your first session starts with simply getting to know you and understanding your motivation for wanting assistance. Why are you seeking out hypnotherapy in the first place and what else is going on in your life? Clients can be referred to Valerie through other therapists or can find The Flow Center through a search of their own. Very often, though, her clients are people who have tried everything else. They are searching for solutions to anxiety, alcohol dependency and trouble sleeping. They want to stop smoking, lose weight or reach their goals and can’t seem to do it successfully, long-term, on their own.
“Clients that come to The Flow Center may be nervous or doubtful, but a lot of them are at the point where they need something to work, so they are pretty open-minded,” says Valerie. This open mindset is key for people coming to experience hypnotherapy - a closed mind or a view that it “won’t work” doesn’t allow a chance for success. And there is a specific science behind why this can be successful.
Our mind is composed of two parts: the conscious and the subconscious. Our conscious mind is logical and contemplative. It is where judgement, deliberation and acceptance occur. The subconscious is more primal; it avoids pain and likes pleasure. It deals in feelings, memories, habits and beliefs. At The Flow Center, they combine centuries-old hypnotic practices with modern-day neuroscience to tap into the subconscious to create beliefs that lead to new habits and lasting life changes, helping clients reach their full potential.
Once it’s time to begin the actual hypnotherapy, you go into another office, which is just as calming, and settle into a recliner. Blankets are available and you get yourself comfortable. Even if you feel awkward or don’t know what to do, Valerie is an incredible support system.
“Ok, let’s begin with eyes closed,” Valerie begins, “and those closed eyes send such a powerful message to your body that it’s time to create something new. A new mindset.” Her voice guides you into a place of relaxation as she begins to instruct you on what to think about and offer suggestions to your unconscious mind that are productive and purposeful.
Clients are completely aware of what is being said and what their responses are. Every night before you fall asleep, your brain cycles down through four stages of consciousness; beginning in Beta, transitioning through Alpha and Theta and ending in Delta where you are almost completely unaware and deepest into your subconscious. Hypnosis happens in a sweet spot between Alpha and Theta.
When in these states, the subconscious mind is able to receive new confidence-building ideas and suggestions that can assist them in defeating old habits. When awakening from the hypnotic state, clients feel as though they’ve napped and are refreshed. If you are a yogi, the feeling in your body is similar to that of a great savasana.
Valerie’s clients aren’t long-term. Hypnotherapy rewires your brain within a finite number of sessions.
“After assessing a client, I typically recommend a number of sessions between 3 or 7 and reaching a max around 9 or so,” says Valerie. “And then I teach a self-hypnosis practice for my clients to continue to work on in their own time, between sessions and after we finish our work together.”
One thing is certain. Valerie’s voice does wonders for stress all on its own. You leave your session feeling positivity and lightness. So take a load off, and work through your own walls at The Flow Center.