What is Hypnotherapy

Psychological therapy and counselling is a treatment of emotional and psychological disorders, unwanted habits and undesirable feelings, using psychological techniques alone. The aim of all such therapy is to assist people in finding meaningful alternatives to their present unsatisfactory ways of thinking, feeling or behaving. Therapy also tends to help clients become more accepting both of themselves and others and can be most useful in promoting personal development and unlocking inner potential

There are many forms of psychological therapy but Hypnotherapy is distinctive in that it attempts to address the client's subconscious mind.In practice, the Hypnotherapist often requires the client to be in a relaxed state, frequently enlists the power of the clients own imagination and may utilise a wide range of techniques from storytelling, metaphor or symbolism to the use of direct suggestion for beneficial change. Analytical techniques may also be employed in an attempt to uncover problems deemed to lie in the client's past or therapy may concentrate more on a client's current life and problems. It is generally considered helpful if the client is personally motivated to change although a belief in the possibility of beneficial change may be a sufficient starting point.

Regardless of the techniques employed, perhaps the most important thing is that a client should expect to feel comfortable and at ease with their therapist. This is of particular importance in Hypnotherapy, in which the value of the treatment is confidence in the practitioner. For this reason we recommend that a single session only is initially booked, leaving the client subsequently free to decide if they wish to proceed with more.

Unlike many other psychological therapies, Hypnotherapy is generally considered to be a fairly short term approach in which beneficial change, if it is to occur, should become apparent within a relatively few sessions.

N.B. In actual practice, most Hypnotherapists will combine hypnotic procedures with other appropriate counselling and therapeutic techniques. Should there be any doubt about the combination of skills utilised in individual cases, the therapist should be asked directly for a further explanation of their therapeutic approaches.

Who can be Hypnotised?

The answer to this question is undoubtedly virtually everyone. The claim must, however, be qualified by the observation that some are more readily hypnotisable than others and that it will also depend upon one's willingness to be hypnotised at the time.

Aims of Hypnosis

*Increased Confidence
*Ego Strengthening
*Reduce Stress
*Take Control of Life
*Promote Selfworth

Who May Benefit From Hypnotherapy

Again the answer to this question is virtually everyone. Given that hypnotherapy can be utilised to access a person's inner potential and that probably no one is performing to their actual potential, then this answer is literally true. However, it is not just potential which Hypnotherapy is well placed to address but also one's inner resources to effect beneficial change. In this regard, it is the innate healing capacity of our own body that may be stimulated by Hypnotherapy. Consequently, the list of problems which may be amenable to Hypnotherapy is far too long and varied to catalogue but certainly includes: anxiety, phobias, unwanted habits and addictions, disruptive sleep patterns, lack of confidence and low self esteem, fear of examinations and public speaking, allergies and skin disorders, migraine and irritable bowel syndrome(IBS). Additionally, it has proven of value within surgery, where normal anaesthetics have not been practical, in the wider sphere of pain management and in areas of both sporting and artistic performance enhancement. As an adjunct to other counselling techniques, it can also assist in helping to resolve relationship difficulties and be useful within anger management strategies.

Although there remain many other areas of human suffering in which Hypnotherapy may bring relief, there are others in which it may be contra-indicated. These could include some manifestations of depressive illness, epilepsy, psychosis (eg schizophrenia) and some breathing problems.