Can hypnotherapy help me?
30th August 2020
The answer is most definitely yes!
Hypnotherapy can be an effective therapy for many issues and provide long lasting and life changing results.
However, lots of people can ‘shy away’ from this transformative therapy, having false misconceptions of what is involved and many can feel sceptical about results. This is totally understandable, as stage hypnosis and hypnosis techniques are often portrayed in an entertaining light and give the impression of not being in control of thoughts and behaviours.
So let’s address a few myths …
Can I be hypnotised?
We all achieve hypnotic states; before falling asleep, when daydreaming, when watching TV, listening to music, reading, when performing repetitive or automatic tasks. We are all capable of being hypnotised, being in a relaxed state and in an altered state of awareness.
How does hypnotherapy work?
Whilst in a deeply relaxed state, the therapist will make positive suggestions to the client’s sub-conscious mind, through guided imagery, to bring about positive changes to their issue and overall well-being. It is believed that cognitive re-structuring takes place, to enable a client to feel differently about the issue in their conscious state. For example, if working with a phobia, the client would be asked to think about the issue or object in question whilst feeling relaxed - this in turn ‘re-programmes’ the mind to feel relaxed when experiencing the issue when awake.
What can hypnotherapy be used for?
Hypnotherapy can be such an effective therapy for so many issues. A short list would include: anxiety and stress, phobias, IBS, Insomnia, weight loss, confidence building, alcohol reduction, stop smoking, driving test and exam stress, performance anxiety etc. Please see the hypnotherapy page on my website for a more comprehensive list of issues which can be treated.
Can hypnotherapy be useful for relaxation?
Absolutely. Hypnosis is a deep form of relaxation and hypnotherapy is therapy being undertaken whilst you are in a deeply relaxed state. Often clients feel incredibly relaxed during sessions and wake feeling re-freshed, de-stressed and less anxious. These techniques can be repeated and practised by the client to help them to relax whenever they wish.
How many sessions would I need?
This depends on the issue. Some issues, such as stop smoking can be treated in one session, others such as confidence building may benefit from several sessions over a period of time. Phobias would normally require around three sessions, but treating the issue on a bespoke basis tailoring therapy to client’s needs is most effective. I also provide ‘Hypnotherapy Programmes’ which are a set number of sessions incorporating hypnotherapy, counselling and psychotherapy with specific techniques designed to target the issue. Please see the Hypnotherapy Programmes page on my website for full details.
Will I be in control?
During a hypnotherapy session you are in control of your thoughts and your body. Although you may drift in and out of various levels of awareness, you are still able to respond and wake should you need to.
Can I be made to do something I don’t want to?
No - ultimately you cannot be hypnotised to do anything that is not already part of your moral or ethical code.
Will I remember the whole session?
Due to you drifting into altered states of awareness you will be more aware of parts of the session sometimes than others. Most people remember some of what was said, but not all, and often the session feels much shorter than it actually was. Before any session, your therapist will explore your issue in great detail and agree with you the areas to be worked upon, thus ensuring you have a good understanding of what will be covered during your session.
How do I know a hypnotherapist is professional?
Always check a therapist’s qualifications, training and memberships. A fully qualified hypnotherapist can be listed on an accredited register and be a member of a professional body, such as GHR (General Hypnotherapy Register), GHSC (General Hypnotherapy Standards Council) NHS (National Hypnotherapy Society), CNHC (Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council), to name a few. Word of mouth recommendations can give valuable re-assurance, along with checking therapist reviews.
Can hypnotherapy downloads help?
There are many hypnotherapy downloads available online for a wide range of issues. It may be worth trying a hypnotherapy download purely for relaxation, to see how you feel about the process - there are many free downloads available to trial. As a trained hypnotherapist, I would always recommend receiving face-to-face hypnotherapy for specific issues - this way the therapy can be tailored and targeted to your specific needs. I have also produced a selection of hypnotherapy downloads, for anxiety, stress reduction and disturbed sleep - these will shortly be available for downloading from my website.
I hope this has answered some of the most common questions about hypnotherapy. Please get in touch should you have any queries or wish to discuss bespoke hypnotherapy for you.
I think this quote sums it up perfectly …..
“Since most problems are created by our imagination and are thus imaginary, all we need are imaginary solutions.”
- Richard Bandler
