What is hypnotherapy?

Hypnotized Hypnotherapy can be explained by splitting the term into two parts - "hypno" the actual hypnosis part, and "therapy" the part that describes the therapeutic element. Whilst every hypnotist and hypnotherapist employ hypnosis to guide the client into a hypnotic state, it is the hypnotherapist's job to apply their therapeutic skills to bring about beneficial changes in the client.

A typical hypnotherapy session

A session starts by discussion for a short period of time with the therapist, and ends with a short review. If attending for multiple sessions some time is spent before each hypnosis session reviewing the progress of the therapy. If it is your first session expect it to last longer as the therapist will want to discuss hypnosis, answer your questions and take some brief notes on the issues you wish to address.

During the hypnosis session the therapist will use his voice to guide you into a relaxed state. Once the hypnotic state is established they will continue to talk to you using words and carefully tailored stories or suggestions to bring about a change for your benefit. He/she will often use the power of your imagination and ability to visualise or imagine, a process known as guided imagery. Since no two people are the same, a good hypnotherapist will use all of their skills and experience to produce the best programme of therapy for you. A good therapist can work intuitively often picking up non verbal information that allows them to tailor the therapy to you.

Typical conditions and disorders that respond well to hypnotherapy using suggestion work include...

> Smoking cessation

> Stress

> Infertility

> Weight control

> Exam and interview nerves

> Compulsive habits such as hair pulling, nail biting

> Pain relief (requires referral from GP)

> Confidence issues

> Some psycho-sexual problems

> Public speaking

> Fears and simple phobias

What is Hypno-analysis?

Hypno-analysis is a type of hypnotherapy treatment that is generally used for deep rooted problems. Typically this type of work will take around five or six sessions and sometimes more. Hypno-analysis differs from the suggestion type of therapy outlined above in that the client does most of the talking. The idea is to find the root cause of the problem and overcome it by re-educating the client.

Most people who undergo a series of hypno-analysis sessions find their true self, overcome problems which may have lasted for many years, and find their life is enriched in a way they never dreamed possible. It is fair to say that this type of therapy generally can be much more rapid than traditional "talking" therapies, mainly because the client is not bound by a conscious resistance and so can make more rapid insights and understandings by use of the more powerful sub-conscious mind.

Examples of deep rooted problems and conditions that respond well to Hypno-analysis are:

> Phobias

> Panic attacks

> Social Phobia

> Psycho-sexual problems

> Irritable Bowel Syndrome(IBS)

> ME/CFS and Fybromyalgia

> Migraine

> Asthma

Can I bring a friend along to a session?

By all means, but do choose them carefully. What a client needs to discuss he/she may not want to share with anyone else but the therapist. It can sometimes inhibit the working relationship too, as the client may hold back on the very thing that needs to be discussed to bring about change, because of the need for privacy.

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Please note:

Hypnotherapy can be very effective in it’s own right, and also as a complementary treatment to conventional medicine. Hypnosis is natural and drug free, however it is strongly recommended that you do not discontinue any medication or treatment prescribed by your medical practitioner without taking their advice.