What is Hypnotherapy
Hypnosis has been used for therapeutic benefit for thousands of years. It is a totally natural method, which allows the client to achieve a very pleasant relaxed state, enhancing awareness. During hypnosis, the subconscious part of your mind is open to positive suggestion, enabling the client to achieve their desired behaviour modification. Like wise the hypnotic state also enables the therapy to uncover and thus remove the causes of deep rooted emotional problems such as anxiety, phobias, panic attacks etc.
Hypnosis is a natural state of mind. Often referred to as an altered state of consciousness. During hypnosis, one is calm, relaxed and peaceful. You are not asleep and there is absolutely no question of being controlled. You are aware of the whole process albeit in a deep and pleasant state of relaxation.
The hypnotic state is the key that enables the vast power of the mind to bring about positive and beneficial changes. Hypnosis is a natural state of heightened awareness, where you are able to open your mind to beneficial suggestions and where you can make use of your imagination to help make positive changes in your life.
" Our thinking creates problems that the same type of thinking will not solve" Albert Einstein
How is Hypnotherapy different to other therapies?
There are many forms of psychological therapy but Hypnotherapy is distinctive in that it attempts to address the clients subconscious mind.
Hypnotherapy utilises hypnosis, a state of altered consciousness in which the therapist can help you to access the deeper levels of awareness, to which you are usually oblivious in your normal day-to-day functioning. More often than not, what you are experiencing as a problem, whether emotional, psychological or psychosomatic (i.e. actually producing physical symptoms) is only a surface EFFECT of a deeper underlying mental/emotional CAUSE. It is at these deeper levels of consciousness that we as hypnotherapists work with you, to bring about change in the way you feel, think and behave
It is a brief strategic therapy - one that is aimed specifically at finding a resolution to your problem as quickly, safely and efficiently as possible. It is not a long drawn out method of solving a problem.
If left untreated, problems can sometimes create a ripple effect into other areas of your life, and what many people find is, on completion of effective hypnotherapy, other problems seem to melt away.
In practice, the Hypnotherapist often (but not exclusively) requires the client to be in a relaxed state, frequently enlists the power of the clients own imagination and may utilise a wide range of techniques from story telling, metaphor or symbolism (judged to be meaningful to the individual client) to the use of direct suggestions for beneficial change. Analytical techniques may also be employed in an attempt to uncover problems deemed to lie in a clients past (referred to as the "there and then") or therapy may concentrate more on a clients current life and presenting problems (referred to as the "here and now"). It is generally considered helpful if the client is personally motivated to change (rather than relying solely on the therapist's efforts) although a belief in the possibility of beneficial change may be a sufficient starting point.
What can hypnotherapy treat?
This is not an exhaustive list, but is designed to give you an idea of the range of conditions that can be helped by hypnotherapy.
- Alcoholism
- Anger Management
- Exam Stress
- Anxiety
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- MS (Multiple Sclerosis)
- Depression
- Childbirth ('Hypnobirthing')
- Confidence/Motivation/Self Esteem
- Psoriasis
- Phobias (fear of flying, spiders, etc)
- Drug Addiction
- Sexual Abuse
- Pain Control
- Eating Disorders
- Sexual Problems
- Eczema
- Past Life Regression
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Panic Attacks
- Insomnia
- Sports / Work Performance
- Stammering
- ME
- Stress
- Smoking Cessation
- Migraine
- Weight Loss
Hypnotherapy is widely used for all psychosomatic disorders. (i.e. those mental and emotional states which actually produce physical symptoms)
In a nutshell, hypnotherapy can generally help with any problem you're finding hard to handle on your own - thoughts and actions you'd like to banish or acquire, or emotional suffering that is too overwhelming or has gone on too long. Some physical problems can also be treated effectively by hypnotherapy.
Contraindications
If you suffer from epilepsy, schizophrenia, clinical depression, or certain breathing problems you should consult your GP before approaching a hypnotherapist.
Why choose hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy has long been recognised to be a very powerful method for personal development. In fact, it is known to have been in use for the last 6,000 years. Today, all around the world, people use the power of hypnosis to help deal with a vast range of problems. Everyone experiences hypnosis regularly. It is simply a state of heightened relaxation and altered awareness. When you are relaxed in this way it is possible to make contact with your subconscious mind, in order to effect change in your life. The subconscious is an untapped resource for creativity, it is the seat of all your emotions and therefore directs nearly all your behaviour. Most importantly the subconscious is responsible for maintaining the body in good health and for all the autonomic processes, e.g., breathing, blood circulation, tissue repair and controlling blood sugar level.
Hypnosis is a doorway to this inner world, the enchanted realms of your imagination and emotions. Using hypnosis, whereby the subconscious mind can be contacted, 'inner power' can be harnessed to promote desired changes and physical well-being.
Life is what you make it, so why not make it better? Hypnotherapy can improve your life for the better on a daily basis including the way you feel about both yourself and the world around you. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
What does hypnosis feel like?
You are deeply relaxed and calm, aware of everything happening around you. It is a pleasant and enjoyable state, very similar to daydreaming or drifting off to sleep. You will feel wonderfully relaxed and you may find that your sleep will be of a much better quality.
What if I can't be hypnotised?
Don't worry. The only people who can't be hypnotised are those who don't want to be hypnotised. Everyone else can be hypnotised, but the depths and response levels do differ from person to person. Is the depth of hypnosis important to the success of the therapy? Yes, which is why the therapy is generally tailored to your needs and according to the level of hypnosis that suits best.
Will I be unconscious?
There is a lot of confusion about the word unconscious. Because hypnotherapy deals with the unconscious mind this leaves a realm of ambiguity around the word unconcious. If you were unconscious you would not be able to hear the suggestion from the hypnotherapist. Hypnotherapy is a state of calm, relaxed, focused attention creating suggestions and commands directed to your unconscious mind for conscious change.I don't like the idea of having my mind being controlled. It won't be, you will be in control at all times. Within each human being there is a protective mechanism of ethics, values, beliefs and identities, which protect you as an individual. It would be as crazy to suggest this, as it would be for the hypnotherapist to suggest that you would go and rob a bank and bring back all the money!
Will I know what's going on?Of course. You will also be able to remember the details of the session(s). In the same way as when you are lying in bed in the morning, no need to get up, with almost a feeling of "I couldn't be bothered to get up" and you can hear everything going on around you, but it doesn't bother you at all. It is not a loss of control; instead it is rather like a guide to your resources.
So I am not asleep then? Not at all. You will just be very relaxed and your awareness will be enhanced, not dulled. Often you may feel as if you have not been "under" although in actual fact you have been hypnotised in the session.
Will I be made to do silly things like those you see on stage or TV?No, of course not! You will always be treated with the utmost respect, and your confidentiality will be safeguarded. Entertainment hypnosis relies on compliance, expectation from the audience and perception of what the audience expects. In fact, if you should choose to go to an entertainment hypnotist, you are going with the express intention of having fun and being asked to do silly things. Also, do remember that the therapist's job is to make you better, not worse. Just take another look at our Code of Ethics and Practice .
Can I get hypnotherapy on the NHS? Yes, if your GP agrees to refer you to a hypnotherapist.
Can children be treated with hypnotherapy? Yes, children can be treated using hypnotherapy from the age of about six, provided they have a good attention span.
How do I choose a hypnotherapist?
In the UK there is no legislation to control hypnotherapy. In effect this means that there is a proliferation of poorly trained, under trained or even untrained hypnotherapists claiming to offer hypnotherapy with little or no experience. Seek out a hypnotherapist who follows a recognized code of ethics or from personal recommendation, to ensure that they have met a minimum criteria of a safe, ethical and knowledgeable service. The first session should enable you the chance to think over if you wish to continue working with a particular therapist. It is absolutely essential that you and your therapist have an excellent rapport. A good therapist will respect all this.