Hypnosis and hypnotherapy are terms often used interchangeably by people without much background in the area. Although they are related, they do each have very definite definitions. Understanding the relationship between hypnosis and hypnotherapy can help you find the right professional for your treatment and can even assist you in deciding whether or not to try this alternative method of treatment for yourself.Defining the Terms: HypnosisAs mentioned above, hypnosis and hypnotherapy are separate terms with their own definitions. Knowing those definitions is the first step to understanding how the words and the practices they represent are related.Hypnosis, for example, basically refers to a mental state in which a person focuses intently on something to the exclusion of everything else in the surrounding environment. Contrary to popular believe, this does not mean you lose consciousness while hypnotized. Most people are aware of what is happening, although they may not know what is going on in the surrounding environment beyond their focus.Another common misconception is that while someone is hypnotized he or she is completely at the mercy of the practitioner. In fact, your mind will reject any type of suggestion that goes against your own standards of acceptable behavior.Defining the Terms: HypnotherapyWhile hypnosis refers to the mental state of the person, hypnotherapy refers to a wide range of therapies which can be used to assist people when they are in this state. Because people who are hypnotized are usually more open to suggestions, this is the best time in which to help them, especially if their conscious mind has been blocking attempts. For example, if you want to quit smoking but have been unsuccessful through conventional means, the hypnotherapist can give you a suggestion while you are hypnotized which can stop your desire for cigarettes.Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy: DifferencesOne reason some people dismiss the potential benefits of hypnotherapy is they see hypnotists doing shows for audiences in which they make people behave in ridiculous ways. They believe these hypnotists are the same types of people working in hypnotherapy but that is not the case.Although anyone can learn how to hypnotize others, only those individuals who have completed extensive training and education requirements are accepted into the British Society of Clinical Hypnosis (BSCH). These professionals are most certainly not the same people entertaining crowds in theatres and pubs.Hypnosis can be used for both serious treatments and for entertainment. Hypnotherapy only defines hypnosis that is used as a clinical treatment.Reasons to Choose Hypnosis and HypnotherapyAlthough there are plenty of benefits to using hypnosis and hypnotherapy, one of the biggest is that the process has worked for so many people. Hypnotherapy has been helped people overcome serious phobias which interfered with activities they wanted to enjoy, such as traveling by plane. This method of therapy has also helped people improve their health by breaking dangers habits and by losing weight.Hypnosis and hypnotherapy can be extremely useful for a myriad of modern problems if you are willing to give this approach a try.