Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy uses guided imagination once the mind is in a relaxed, yet focused state (and therefore at its most receptive) to help break unwanted habits or install new behaviours and resources that allow an individual to cope better with different aspects of their lives once out of trance.

With hypnotherapy the real work done is always your own (all hypnosis is really self-hypnosis) and this knowledge helps to increase feelings of self-confidence as progress is made.

An important part of the work isalso  finding out where the current difficulty may have originated, as so many of our patterns are established subconsciously at a young age through our early experiences. Our programming from our environment and caretakers before the age of 8 becomes almost completely subconscious, and so we can repeat early unhealthy patterns unwittingly until we begin to investigate where they came from.

If we find ourselves in this position, hypnotherapy is a tool we can use to access these early experiences, see clearly what they came to mean to us, fully experience the emotions involved in a safe environment, reparent ourselves and then move forward with a healthier template that truly serves us instead of pulling us back. Read more about this process in my post here.

After this the emphasis is always on moving towards the desired outcome, and as such it is very much a solution-focussed approach.

Hypnotherapy for medical conditions

The mind is intimately connected to the functioning of the body, and as such all work on emotional and psychological that causes release and relief will have an effect on the physical body also.

FAQ:

What happens during a hypnotherapy session?

The first part involves engaging the attention, allowing you to relax as much as possible and giving a point of focus. These things combined all encourage the state of hypnosis. The second part is where the ‘therapy’ comes in and involves accessing relevant subconscious memories, feeling and releasing old programming within those scenarioes and moving forward by giving suggestions for the resources, feelings or new behaviours that have been agreed beforehand.

What does the state of hypnosis feel like?

Being in the state of hypnosis is a very gentle, relaxing and enjoyable experience. The aim really is to get below the day-to-day chatter of the mind and find a calm, clear internal space. Once there, helpful suggestions and ideas can find a home and have a much more profound effect than if they are made without the help of reaching this peaceful state.

Will I be ‘asleep’?

No, hypnosis is a state where you feel relaxed, but very focussed. However it is not sleep. In fact dozing off is a sign of a little too much relaxation!

What does it feel like to be ‘in trance’?

Being in trance is a relaxing and enjoyable experience. Everyone engages with it slightly differently, but how this is done is not as important as the fact that you are fully focussed in your own way.

Is hypnotherapy safe?

Yes, it is. As said above it is really just focussed use of imagination in a relaxed state. All goals are discussed and agreed with you in advance. The therapist merely acts as a guide to help the you relax, explore or imagine more fully.

Can I be made to do something against my will?

Absolutely not. During trance you remain in control and can hear and remember everything that is said. Your unconscious mind always works to protect you and will only accept messages that are right and appropriate for you.