Types of Therapy....

What is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis can be defined as a state of deep relaxation during which the conscious critical faculty of the mind is bypassed and complete focus on a single idea is achieved.

Contrary to popular belief, hypnosis is not a mystical trance that can be placed on an unsuspecting victim, nor is it a form of mind control. It is in fact a naturally occurring state, which we all experience on a daily basis. If for example, you have ever found yourself completely absorbed by a good book or film, or even realised whilst driving a well known route that you have no recollection of a part of your journey; then you have been in hypnosis. The ‘Alpha’ state which we all pass through on our way into and out of sleep is also very similar to hypnosis.

Hypnosis is however very different to sleep. A hypnotised person actually has a heightened rather than lessened state of awareness. This is why for example, just before falling to sleep, some people may suddenly notice the sound of their alarm clock ticking. During hypnosis a person is still in complete conscious control of their actions, and could not be made to do or say anything against their will.

What about Stage Hypnosis?

If the above is true, then you may be wondering why anyone would run around flapping their arms and clucking like a chicken at the request of a stage hypnotist.

The answer is quite simple........

Successful Stage Hypnotists are skilled at choosing the participants in their shows, based on their likelihood to comply with instructions. Hypnosis can lower inhibitions due to its relaxing qualities, and those who decide to behave in some strange way at the request of the hypnotist quite simply see no reason not to.

Some participants feel obliged to comply so as not to cause the hypnotist embarrassment, whilst others may actually enjoy an excuse to ‘let their hair down’ with the convenient explanation that they:

 ‘Had no idea what they were doing’.

How can Hypnosis be achieved?

As already mentioned, we all achieve hypnosis or a very similar state naturally whilst either falling asleep, waking from sleep, carrying out everyday mundane tasks, or concentrating on something of intense interest.

The ability to intentionally achieve hypnosis is, however, something that some people find easier to do than others. Being able to choose to go into hypnosis and allowing oneself to do so, is actually a skill which can be developed with practice.

The ability to achieve hypnosis at will is most definitely not a sign of a weak mind, but rather a testament to a persons self control and powers of concentration. A well practised person should be able, eventually, to achieve self hypnosis at will. There are many techniques that can be learned to achieve this, most of which involve some type of eye fixation or visualisation.

A Hypnotist or Hypnotherapist can not force anyone into hypnosis, but simply helps to guide a willing person into the hypnotised state by using a form of hypnotic induction. The success of a particular induction style will depend on the personality of the client, therefore a good Hypnotherapist will have a wide variety of inductions available to them to best suit each individual.

What is Clinical Hypnotherapy?

Hypnosis alone cannot achieve much other than the beneficial effects of a period of relaxation. It is the therapy part during hypnosis which achieves the real results. Hypnotherapy uses the medium of Hypnosis to allow a client and their therapist access the subconscious mind. By working with the powerful subconscious, Hypnotherapy can often achieve faster, greater and more permanent results than many other types of psychological therapies can on their own.

The subconscious is quite amazing and, essential to our very survival; but it can also be incredibly destructive. If you have ever been determined to achieve something, but somehow just cannot seem to, it is likely that your subconscious is putting something in your way. Although the intention of the subconscious is always positive, it may be acting upon false beliefs learned from past experiences, and until these beliefs can be rectified, the subconscious will carry on blocking your efforts relentlessly. With hypno-analysis and regression, the therapist can help the client to locate the original source of their false beliefs, and release any repressed emotion relating to these events. Once this happens, the subconscious can gain the realisation that the resulting unwanted behaviours are no longer necessary. With the use of carefully worded hypno-suggestions, new and more beneficial positive beliefs can be installed directly into the subconscious, without the obstacle of the mind's conscious critical faculty.

 Please rest assured however, that only wanted and beneficial beliefs can be installed, as the conscious critical faculty would automatically jump to attention if anything untoward were suggested. An example to demonstrate this, is the way that when driving on ‘autopilot’ without thinking about what we are doing, we would still react just as quickly (if not quicker) if something were to run out into the road ahead of us.

Another good example is the way that we can often sleep through all kinds of familiar noises such as the boiler firing, passing trains and traffic etc., but we are roused immediately by the slightest unusual sound, in particular for parents by an unusual sound from their baby. Depending on the type and severity of a problem, as well as the length of time the client has been experiencing this difficulty and the surrounding events when it first occurred, either hypno-analysis, hypno-suggesion or, a combination of both may be required to achieve the best possible results.

What can Clinical Hypnotherapy help with?

Hypnotherapy can be used to treat most psychological and emotional problems and, has also been successful in helping with (in conjunction with conventional medicine) numerous medical conditions. To find more information on the conditions I specialise in and the issues that I most commonly assist with please see the Symptoms and Conditions page.

Nuero Linguistic Programming (NLP)

NLP can be simplistically described as the science of achievement, and the study of success. It is based upon the search for and the study of the factors which account for either success or failure in human performance. Having studied in this field to Practitioner level, I also use many of these techniques with my clients, both in a normal waking state as well as in hypnosis. I often also teach my clients to use these techniques for themselves, in order to assist them in achieving their full potential.

What can NLP help with?

NLP techniques are particularly helpful for improving motivation and confidence relating to specific situations, and for goal attainment. They can also be effective in dealing with some anxieties, fears and habits. To find more information on the conditions I specialise in and the issues that I most commonly assist with please see the Symptoms and Conditions page.

Cognative Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

CBT is based on the idea that our own thoughts, and not external influences such as people and situations or events, cause our feelings and behaviours. The benefit of this is that we can change the way we think to feel / act better even if the situation does not change.

As a Practitioner of CBT, I incorporate many techniques from this field into my clients’ therapy where I feel it can be of benefit. One aspect of this therapeutic style that I often employ is the use of self help assignments which I may ask you to complete between sessions. I use techniques from this field with my clients in both a normal waking state and during hypnosis. The benefit of combining CBT with Hypnotherapy is that, by working directly with the powerful subconscious mind, improvements can often be achieved far more quickly than with CBT alone.

What can CBT help with?

CBT is recommended by the medical profession, in line with prescribed medication, to assist with depressive and anxiety related disorders such as eating disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD); to name but a few. To find more information on the conditions I specialise in and the issues that I most commonly assist with please see the ‘Symptoms and Conditions’ page.