What is hypnosis, hypnotism & hypnotherapy?
How can hypnosis affect change?
What does hypnotherapy involve?
How many sessions will I need?
What qualifications do you have?
What is Hypnosis, Hypnotism & Hypnotherapy?
We all move through different levels of consciousness throughout the day. Most of us spend the majority of the time using our “critical” or “conscious” mind; the part of the mind that analysis, rationalises and solves problems.
During times of relaxation, perhaps when we’re reading a book, watching a film or daydreaming, our conscious, critical mind rests and our “subconscious” mind becomes more accessible. Our subconscious is extremely powerful, and influences much of our behaviour. It is responsible for learned behaviours and unconscious responses: whether we have a phobia, suffer from low self esteem or experience unwanted habits, the reasons why are stored here.
Hypnotism is the simply the deliberate act of encouraging the conscious mind to rest in the same way that it rests during times of relaxation. This is known as the state of hypnosis. When a person is in hypnosis, hypnotherapy can be used to access the subconscious mind and alter any unwanted patterns of behaviour or relieve physical symptoms.
Hypnotherapy is therefore the use of suggestion given directly to the subconscious mind to effect therapeutic change.
How can Hypnosis Affect Change?
Our subconscious mind is responsible for learned behaviours and unconscious responses. Whether we have a phobia, suffer from low self-esteem or experience unwanted habits, the reasons why are stored here, along with the triggers for our physical response.
By using hypnosis to rest the critical mind we can access the subconscious to alter these unwanted patterns of behaviour, or to relieve physical symptoms.
What does Hypnotherapy Involve?
All clients start with an initial consultation which enables me to take a full case history, learn more about what you want to achieve and establish the most effective approach for you.
At subsequent sessions I will simply guide you in to a deep state of relaxation, and while you are relaxed I will endevour to find out the root cause of the behaviour and will make suggestions to your subconscious mind in order to affect change. You will be able to hear and remember everything I say, and will be fully in control.
Most people experience hypnosis as a deep and pleasant state of relaxation, similar to the state experienced when daydreaming, when absorbed in a good book or when drifting off to sleep. Hypnosis occurs in the same brain-wave frequencies as these states of relaxation, and so the experience is very similar. Just as you may bring your critical mind into full awareness at any time while watching a film, for example, you will always have full control during hypnosis and will be able to engage your critical mind at any time.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
The subconscious mind learns through repetition. The behaviours that you currently have were not created because of one, iscolated incident, but were built from a series of repeated suggestions and reinforcements, often long-forgotten. With the exception of smoking cessation, it is therefore very rare for just one session to be sufficient for most issues. Most clients require approximately four or five sessions before the unwanted behaviour or issue is completely resolved.
Your therapy will be discussed at your initial consultation, and from that I will be able to tell you approximately how many sessions I think you will need. During the course of treatment it may transpire that you would benefit from additional sessions, or it may be that your issue will be resolved over fewer; throughout treatment I will keep you fully updated and let you know how the therapy is progressing.
Most clients start to feel the benefits after their first session. By the end of the full course, most will feel that their issue is either resolved or has significantly improved. In the case of phobias it is sometimes only apparent that the hypnotherapy has worked when you are faced with the object or situation that caused the phobic response.
All prices are detailed on the prices page of the site.
What Qualifications do you Have?
I hold qualifications in Clinical and Curative Hypnotherapy and NLP from the Anglia School of Hypnotherapy & NLP (GHSC accredited course), and am a HypnoBirthing® Childbirth Educator affiliated with the HypnoBirthing® Institute. I studied women-specific Psychology while at university in Cambridge, and I have four years' experience in the conventional medical sector (pharmaceuticals) during which time I also gained qualifications from the Association of the British Pharmaceuticals Industry (ABPI).