Hypnotherapy
I offer the following Hypnotherapy treatments:
- Stop Smoking
- Weight Control
- Stress Management
- Confidence
- Fears and Phobias
- Anxiety
- Performance Anxiety
- Habit breaking (e.g. nail biting and
hair pulling) - Assertiveness Training
- Stammering/Stuttering
- Snoring
- Insomnia
- Nightmares
- IBS
And many more - please call for a confidential and no obligation discussion ...
“There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world, and that is an idea whose time has come”
Victor Hugo, 1852
What is Hypnosis?
There are many hypnotic states, all of which are characterised by a tremendously pleasant state of relaxation. If you choose to enter into a hypnotic state, suggestions can be made to the subconscious mind, temporarily bypassing the rational conscious part of the brain. The subconscious mind is more receptive to new ideas and therapy, and so positive new behaviour patterns can be introduced and negative behaviours changed. There are many different ways of inducing and deepening a hypnotic trance and this will depend on you as an individual. Visual people respond differently to kinaesthetic people and so on, but I will have determined your primary modality during your initial consultation. You will be seated comfortably and may for example be asked to concentrate on your hand or a fixed point on the wall. You may simply be asked just to close your eyes. To deepen your trance, you may be asked to visualise yourself walking down a flight of stairs or a country lane, or I may count you down from 10-1. All of this will be different from person to person, and even treatment to treatment. What works best for you at that particular moment in time is all that matters.
What's the difference between Hypnotherapy and Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness and Hypnotherapy is the use of this altered state of consciousness for therapeutic benefit.
Will I be in control?
Always. I like to describe the hypnotic state as a Sunday morning lie in. You are happy and relaxed and are aware of everything around you - maybe people outside or the TV next door - but you are quite happy to let it go and not pay attention as you are in such a relaxed state. However if the smoke alarm were to sound you would be out of bed like a shot! Hypnosis is very much like that. Regardless of how 'deep' you go, a part of your conscious mind will always be on call, and will kick in should anything occur which you are not 100% happy with. Please be assured that this scenario should never occur as I always take the time to conduct a full consultation with you beforehand.
Can you make me do/say something I don't want?
No, because anything which goes against your belief structure and moral fibre will be certain to snap you out of the hypnotic state immediately.
You won't be able to hypnotise me.
Maybe not. If you truly do not want to be hypnotised, it will be impossible for me to hypnotise you. Motivation is definitely a major factor in the ability to be hypnotised and treated. Most people are able to enter a light trance without much effort (do you daydream?), and for most treatments it is not necessary to go into a deep trance.
What if I don't wake up?
Impossible. Firstly, hypnosis is not sleep. There may be references to 'going to sleep' and 'waking up' but hypnosis is actually an altered state of consciousness. It may be that you are so happy and relaxed that you do not want to return from your trance, but telling people that I charge by the hour usually does the trick! If by some remote chance you have slipped into natural sleep (and therefore no longer hypnotised), calling out your name should wake you up.
How long does the treatment last?
Each session lasts about an hour, with smoking cessation taking slightly longer at around 90 mins. The length of treatment depends on the problem or symptom and the individual's circumstances. With some people a problem like nail biting or smoking can be successfully treated in one session. Other problems such as panic attacks can take around 6 sessions. You will be taught self hypnosis in your first session and by regularly practising this you can help speed up your treatment.
Can you talk me through what will happen during my first session?
The first session is a complimentary consultation which is geared to gather information about you, discuss the problem, and explain the process. We will then agree the changes you want to make and how you can commit to and help speed up the process by practising self-hypnosis in between appointments. If you have any questions, worries or concerns then we make sure we address all of these together so that you can enter into your treatment at the next session happily and with confidence. With some issues, such as smoking and nail biting, treatment can begin on the first session.