Hypnotherapy

What is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis is not sleep, it is a relaxed state of hypo focus where the conscious mind is stilled and awareness to distractions are dulled. This is a trance like state where the body and mind operates with diminished conscious awareness. It is a completely natural state that we can access naturally and bring ourselves out of at any time we choose. I experience it like being lightly sedated, there is an awareness of the therapist speaking and passing acknowledgements of the world around you, but you feel separate, safe and relaxed like nothing matters. But as the exact effect of hypnosis cannot be quantified these feelings are subjective and experiencing the hypnotic state will vary from person to person. The hypnotic state can be comparable to the dream state of sleep or daydreaming. It is often described with the analogy of driving on auto pilot quite safely but with no memory of the journey.

Is Hypnosis safe?

 

Yes, Though are conscious mind is quieted we are still fully in control and cannot be made to do anything we do not chose to do and if we need to awaken we can do so quickly and easily. The subconscious mind will accept suggestions more easily in this state and this can result in enabling people to make psychological or physical changes, but only if they are desired and accepted by the client. You cannot be made to do anything that you do not want to do. Contrary to how stage hypnosis is portrayed your subconscious will only accept suggestions that you are willing to receive.

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How does hypnosis work?

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To enter into hypnosis the person needs their mind and body to be in a relaxed physical and psychological state so with the guide of a therapist like in a guided meditation the therapist can access the subconscious and it can respond to suggestions making lasting changes that the conscious mind may be struggling to make.

 

In a hypnotic state, when we are psychologically relaxed. We our highly suggestable because the therapist is directly accessing the subconscious mind. The subconscious is the part of the brain that stores our memories, learned behaviours and controls our auto responses such as breathing and reacting instinctively to danger. It controls the core way in which people behave respond and act in life. Everything we learn and experience while growing up programs the brain and shapes our habits and behaviours. Our subconscious affectively contains programmed short cuts so we can respond and react quickly with little or no conscious thought. Like running away if a car speed towards us.

 

Although this can be a very good thing when faced with danger or to stop us thinking about every detail of a response or behaviour before ever acting, it can also be a hindrance. For instance some behaviours or habits may no longer serve us and we may desire to change them. If we think of the subconscious as our core programming that is hard wired to keep the status Quo and protect what is affectively the blueprint of who we are, it helps us understand why change can be so difficult. But because the subconscious can learn, relearn and reprogram itself change is possible.

 

This is where the psychological aspect of hypnosis comes in, in a state of hypnosis the subconscious can be directly accessed. This is when the therapist can use imagery and suggestion to help the subconscious learn a new response or behaviour, or afectively delete a response or behaviour. The subconscious can also be communicated with in this way to access memory’s or understanding of why a behaviour exists.

 

Think of it as an old tape recording, our brain sees shoes and a foot, if presses play on the tape (put on shoes) so we put on our shoes with no real thoughts the same way we always do, maybe right foot first every time. But if we decided I want to put my left shoe on first, we would have to make a conscious effort every time we did it to put the left shoe on first, our programming ( the old tape) will automatically do it the old way unless we consciously do it differently. Eventually repetition will train our brain that there’s a new way to do it and it will rewrite the old tape and store the new way. But this takes time. However Hypnotherapy speaks directly to the subconscious teaching it to wipe old tapes that are no longer needed and recording new default ways of being.

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Is Hypnosis right for me?

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I have found hypnosis to be a very effective therapeutic tool for the majority of my clients and research supports its effectiveness. We offer a free 30min telephone consultation so you can discuss with a therapist the right therapy plan for you and they will access if hypnosis is right for you. As with all therapy's I can not offer any Guarantee of results. how an individual responds to hypnosis is down to the individuals subconscious response.

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Is online Hypnotherapy as effective and safe?

 

Hypnosis delivered live online via video is just as effective and safe as it is delivered in person, some clients even report entering into hypnosis quicker and more deeply in their home environment as it is already familiar, safe and comfortable. in the very unlikely event of complete loss of internet you will drift naturally out of hypnosis like waking from a light sleep. your therapist will also take your phone number and will call you if the connection cannot be re-established.

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What can Hypnotherapy help with?

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• Anxiety

• Low self-esteem 

• Stress reduction

• Relaxation

• Pain Management

• Confidence Building 

• Habit breaking

• Phobias

• Sport performance

• Smoke cessation

• Weight management

• Exam stress/anxiety

• Manifesting

• Resolving inner conflict

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How many sessions will I need? 

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I recommend a minimum of two hypnotherapy sessions. The first session is used to get to know you, combining counselling skills and CBT techniques to fully understand the changes you wish to make. you will then be taken into hypnosis. during this first hypnosis I will communicate with and prepare your subconscious to understand and accept these changes. you will also be provided with a digital recording to listen to between sessions, further preparing your subconscious to fully accept the changes your conscious mind desires. 

 

The second session will be the change session where under hypnosis I will take you through a bespoke script written specifically to meet your needs. If regress to cause, Gestalt or inner child work was recommended in session one, this will also be part of session twos change work. All of the work undertaken in sessions will be fully explained to you prior to entering hypnosis and won't be entered into without your full understanding and consent.

 

Clients may find that they discover other issues they would like to work on, or would like to reinforce changes, or feelings made in hypnosis and may need or elect to have more sessions. Clients who use hypnosis for issues such as stress relief or confidence boosting find value to book in at regular intervals. Your therapist would never suggest more sessions than are necessary to make individual changes, however you are not restricted on the amount of change work you wish to undertake. hypnosis is a safe and natural process so some clients may elect to work with us over a long period combining counselling and hypnotherapy to deal with issues or changes as they arise. you can discuss your specific requirements with your therapist. 

 

complex issues such as weight management can require a minimum of 6 - 8 sessions as there is most often many individual issues requiring work contributing to weight issues.