What is Hypnotherapy?!

What actually is hypnotherapy?

It isn’t woo woo magic or freaky mind control… Hypnotherapy is a very powerful, effective and efficient form of therapy that can help with a wide range of issues.

Let’s start with an explanation of how it works…

Hypnotherapy uses focussed attention to create fundamental shifts in the subconscious mind; breaking down limiting beliefs and introducing more positive and supportive ways of thinking. By bypassing the logical, rational (and often very noisy!) part of your mind, impactful and long-lasting changes can be implemented quickly and efficiently. Hypnosis uses tools such as deep relaxation and visualisation to increase peaceful self-awareness, heal deep rooted issues that are causing you discomfort and open the mind to new possibilities and ways of thinking.

In my work as a cognitive behavioural hypnotherapist, I recognise that the way you think and behave heavily influences the way you feel. As a result, my personal process uses CBT techniques alongside hypnosis to help you break negative cycles and replace them with more positive and empowering thoughts and actions. A collaborative approach between therapist and client is then key to getting to the root of the problem and finding an effective and efficient solution. My aim is always to help clients become self-sufficient – to be their own best therapist; so that they can move forwards with unshakeable confidence in their own abilities, rather than growing reliant on our sessions.

What can hypnotherapy help with?

Hypnotherapy is a wonderful treatment for a huge range of conditions and issues. Some examples include stopping smoking and overcoming unfavourable habits, weight loss, pain management, irritable bowel syndrome to name just a few.

My focus is mainly on:

• anxiety and social anxiety
• fears and phobias
• boosting confidence and low self-esteem
• stress management
• insomnia
• health goals and personal development

however this list is by no means exhaustive. 

What happens in a hypnotherapy session?

In the initial consultation we will discuss your issue extensively and together agree on your goals for treatment. There will often be home assignments for you to complete between sessions. These might include little behavioural challenges to complete, a thought diary to fill out and hypnotherapy recordings to listen to. During subsequent sessions we’ll work together using hypnotherapy and CBT to restructure the beliefs that are holding you back. By implementing more empowering ways of thinking, we’ll create a positive ripple effect in how you feel and behave.

I personally work with people over a minimum of 4 sessions, because long lasting change requires commitment to the process. You wouldn’t expect to learn to speak Spanish or to play the piano in one day and building new neural pathways is no different. Repetition is key to learning new things and working together over a number of sessions allows us to address any resistance you may come up against and to prevent against relapse. This process is proven to be highly effective and cannot be swapped for a quick fix. That said, hypnotherapy is the most effective form of therapy in a short amount of time. Studies have found that hypnotherapy has a 93% success rate after just six sessions, compared to behavioural therapy (72% success rate after 22 sessions) and psychoanalysis (33% effectiveness after 200 sessions). Pretty amazing no?

Hypnotherapy misconceptions and myths…

Lots of people have preconceived ideas about hypnotherapy having seen or experienced stage hypnosis in the past. However the more you understand about hypnotherapy, the more effective treatment is likely to be, so it is important to do some myth busting.  Hopefully this will help provide you with clarity on what hypnotherapy is and isn’t.

So who can be hypnotised?

Anyone! All you need is an open mind and the readiness to change. Hypnosis is a skill that you can build on. You’ll find that the more you practice the more easily you can access this state of peaceful focussed awareness. All you have to do is relax, think positively and use your imagination to go along with the things you’re hearing.

Can you get stuck in hypnosis?

No, definitely not. You will have full control throughout the process and cannot get stuck or be made to do or say anything you don’t want to. So you won’t be spilling out your deepest darkest secrets or dancing like a chicken!

Are you asleep or unconscious?

No but you might feel super sleepy and dreamy. Some say it feels like the drowsy half-sleep you might feel in meditation or a massage, but whilst useful relaxation is not always essential in hypnotherapy.

If this sounds interesting or you have any further questions please feel free to get in touch. Or download my free hypnosis for boosting low mood if you’d like to give it a try!