If you are looking at HypnoPsychotherapy as a possible way forward to helping you resolve an issue that is causing you distress or to address an unwanted habit, then you have found a therapy that helps you to tap into the intelligent and creative resources that already lie within you. HypnoPsychotherapy is, in a nutshell, ‘talking therapy’ combined with hypnosis techniques. There’s a lot of relaxation and visualisation involved, overall a very pleasant experience so even though the problem may be distressing, the therapy doesn’t have to be.

Each of you is entirely unique, doing your best with the resources and experience available to you so with this in mind I have a broad approach to the therapy I offer. Taking elements of the Humanistic / Cognitive-Behavioural / Person-centred / NLP therapeutic approaches, I adapt according to my client’s personal approach and the type of problem they wish to tackle.

The common thought around at the moment in ‘therapy world’ is that we don’t have to face the problem / trauma full-on in order to resolve it. In fact re-experiencing a trauma or bad memories may in some cases be detrimental. If we are already in distress we may not have the emotional energy to give the problem the good shake-down it deserves and this can leave us feeling powerless. Instead now, it is found to be more effective therapy where we can be taught ways to sneak up on the problem or bad memories and change them; to get creative in our approach to render them harmless; to ‘file’ them away in a safe place; reinterpret them from a different, less painful more objective angle. These are some of the tools available to us, and once discovered, we have them for any future problems. Use them frequently and they will stay sharp, and once learned, never forgotten.

HypnoPsychotherapy can be quite exciting to experience because we start to discover the supportive and strong parts of us that have been a little dormant. Many of my clients have resolved issues and then gone on to change their lives in significant ways – just because they can! They feel empowered. When we know ourselves better, we have more control.

HypnoPsychotherapy can help with many issues and compliment your medical health care for example:

• Depression
• Feeling stuck
• Anxiety / Panic attacks
• Phobias
• Relationship difficulties
• Bereavement or Loss (eg. through divorce)
• Traumatic Bereavement (eg. by Suicide)
• Work / Career issues
• Pain management
• Coping with illness
• Fear of medical procedures (eg. needles, operations, MRI scanning tube)
• Dentistry issues ( eg. gagging, saliva flow)
• Public speaking success
• Childbirth – creating a positive approach with anxiety and fear reduction
• Bowel Disorder management

What happens in a session?
The session starts with a chat about what has been happening and what has changed since the last session. The session progresses naturally from there and at some appropriate point we have the hypnosis part, the relaxing part where I will give you positive suggestions relevant to your thoughts. During this time your mind may come up with creative solutions for your unconscious to chew over to solve the problem. You are able to talk during this and we may decide to explore some imagery or memories in a non-threatening way. I also work a lot with metaphors and analogies (short stories that have a way of summing things up). They speak to the highest and most creative part of you and most people love a story!

The session finishes with a chat about how you felt and any ideas that came forward. Often I will give you some sort of exercise to do over the next few days to help you grow your awareness or try out your new found insights.

Therapy goes at your pace not mine, and at the first session you will learn self help techniques that will stand you in good stead for the future.

How many sessions?
This depends on the number of aspects to your problem:
- between 1 to 3 sessions for simpler issues
- between 3 to 6 sessions for an issue with more ‘sides’ to it
- more than 6 if there are other issues arising that you would like to take care of, or for further self development

Will I lose control or get stuck in a hypnotic state?
No, you will be in control at all times and able to stop, even during the hypnosis part if you become uncomfortable. You will always be in the ‘driving seat’. If a fire alarm went off for example you would be perfectly able to respond to that normally.

I find it difficult to relax
That’s okay. It’s natural to be more on our guard in a new situation. As you become accustomed to me and the clinic you will find it easier to relax. When you realise that hypnosis doesn’t reduce you to a zombie, you will trust the process more! Studies are now showing that you don’t need to be deeply relaxed / hypnotized in order to benefit from the positive suggestions. Practice makes perfect, so regular moments of self hypnosis will help you to relax more and more easily more quickly at your command!

Will I remember anything I don’t want to remember?
No, if you don’t want something to surface, then it won’t. If you are ready and feel safe enough in the therapy relationship, things may come up because you’re ready to deal with them. It is important that if this happens you tell me straight away so that I know how to support you. You are always in control.

Overall, your treatment will have periods of deep relaxation, insight and creative ideas to help you now and in your future.

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