WHAT IS HYPNOTHERAPY?
It is always interesting when I introduce myself as a hypnotherapist. People ask me what hypnotherapy is and it quickly becomes clear how little is known about hypnosis and hypnotherapy. Television shows have created a false image of what it is and what to expect. The media is full of cliches, and typical presentations make people uneasy. You get shown people being put to sleep or being made to behave in strange ways.
It’s not like that.
The London College of Clinical Hypnosis offers the definition that
“Simply speaking hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness. Clinical Hypnosis or Hypnotherapy, therefore, is the use of an altered state of consciousness, or trance, for a therapeutic endpoint. This means that people are not treated with hypnosis but are treated in hypnosis.”
Firstly, be reassured that nobody can hypnotise somebody if this person doesn’t want to be hypnotised.
Secondly, remember that everything that you think or feel in a session is already part of you. Hypnotherapy is simply the processed used to create subconscious change in the form of new thoughts, ideas, responses, attitudes, behaviours or feelings. As a hypnotherapist, I am helping you to convince yourself that you can do something you are already capable of doing. It’s like I am nudging you in the right direction, and providing you with the means to keep on going.
I’m not here to change you, but I am here to help you change your life.
Everyone is unique. We have all had different experiences, have our own ways of viewing the world, and have personal goals. I work with everyone on an individual basis, and am always happy to talk to you about what hypnotherapy involves and your own personal situation.
Please do get in touch to find out more.
About Me
I am proud to hold the highest standards and committed to delivering the best service to you. Trust, respect, professionalism and honesty are integral to myself and hence the work I do.
I promise to:
- Listen to what you want and the aims you have for your own life.
- Listen to you and what you want to achieve.
- Help you navigate your thoughts, feelings and conflicting needs in order to understand what your real goal is.
- Work in partnership to obtain the results that you seek in a constructive, active and empowering way.
- Give my full support before, during and after the session. I will always be available for you to answer any questions and provide advice and support.
- Respect your emotions, feelings and needs. While I include some light humour in my personal meetings, it is always with the utmost respect for the other person.
General Questions
“Simply speaking hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness. Clinical Hypnosis or Hypnotherapy, therefore, is the use of an altered state of consciousness, or trance, for therapeutic endpoint. This means that people are not treated with hypnosis but are treated in hypnosis.” (London Colleague of Clinical Hypnosis)
Through the words I use I evoke a very relaxed state. I will ask you to close your eyes, breathing deeply. Following my guidance, you will access a calm place. You will be deeply relaxed yet fully conscious all the time. You can decide to come out of hypnosis. You will hear my voice clearly and speak openly.
The state is similar to one experience in yoga or meditation. Or you can think of hypnosis as when you are dozing watching a movie. You are conscious of the background noise, but your head and mind are somewhere else. A very peaceful state.
It’s a state of awareness but with the mind’s filter switched off. People often know intuitively more than they rationally understand. Hypnosis is a way to gain access to that potential knowledge.
The session last for about ninety minutes and is divided into three parts:
- Consultation
- Hypnosis
- Feedback
Consultation
During the consultation we will explore your goal together. I will ask questions, and we will aim to identify what the key topic is that you want to resolve. In many cases it’s very straightforward or clear, such as ‘I want to stop smoking,’ ‘I want to lose weight’ or ‘I want to be able to sleep through the night.’ But sometimes you don’t know the roots of your worry. ‘I am overwhelmed by life’ might actually be ‘I am stressed by this particular work situation.’ Through the conversation we will get to a deeper understanding of what your aims are for both the session and in the longer term.
Hypnosis
In the hypnosis segment I will bring you to a relaxed state in which you are able to access your subconscious. Your inner critic will be quieter, and your guard lowered. Although not asleep, it can be likened to being in a dream like state. It is here that we will explore a few memories or experiences that might be related to your current behaviour and feelings. This is what we call ‘regression.’ We work out the underlying beliefs and thought patterns that you keep you trapped.
We will explore between three and five experiences, and, like detectives, find the missing link. Once we have found the reason, the limiting belief, or the underlying attitude we will work together to resolve it and bring about a new and positive belief.
At the end of this part we will create a personalised audio of the words and instructions for you to take away. This will help you to enter the state of hypnosis and access the strength that will help you to change. The recording will last for around twenty minutes and I recommend listening to it for the next three weeks, at least once a day, ideally more.
Like a muscle in training, the more you hear the words of strength and support, the stronger you will become.
All clients report coming out of hypnosis feeling calm, lighter, focused and empowered.
Feedback
In the feedback element of the session we will explore the findings at a rational level, making sense of them and of your new beliefs. We will examine what they might mean, and what actions you can take to create new behaviours that will change your life.
Whilst the session produces significant changes, the final result varies from person to person, and how much you do after the session. The hypnotherapy is the tool to help you make those changes and coaching offers a framework for continuation. By coming to a session I trust that you are committed and motivated to make a change in your life, and do the work that it requires.
As a Marisa Peer Method Hypnotherapist, I am committed to deliver the results that you need in the shortest time possible. The unique approach allows us to deal with most cases in one session. You will feel the difference right from your first session; a difference that will build and become stronger every time you listen to your audio.
The outcome is the result of both of us working together, in partnership. Some people subconsciously resist hypnosis because their brain is afraid of change. In these cases we will work on confidence and embracing change, advice for a follow up session and then address the topic directly.
I take a lot of pride in the success of my clients. I care about them. I will follow up with you regularly over the next days and weeks to ensure I can support you with any question you might have.
I offer a free no obligation consultation to anyone who just wants to find out more. We will have a conversation in which I aim to understand more about your goals, explain how I can help you, and work out the next steps to creating change in your life.
The cost of my services vary depending on the age of my client. The reason for this is that, while the work involved is virtually the same, I want to encourage parents to support their children.
The cost for adults (18+) of my service is £450 and includes: free phone consultation (approx 30mins), a preparation visualisation recording, 2hr Hypnotherapy session, personalised recording, and two follow up calls (approx 15-30mins each) 10 and 20 days after the session.
The cost for teenagers (11-17yo) is £375 and includes exactly the same as above: free phone consultation (approx 30mins), a preparation visualisation recording, 2hr Hypnotherapy session, personalised recording, and two follow up calls (approx 15-30mins each) 10 and 20 days after the session.
For children (under 11yo.) the cost of the service is £225 and includes free phone consultation (with parents), a preparation visualisation recording, 1.5hr hypnotherapy session, personalised recording, and two follow up calls (approx 15-30mins each) 10 and 20 days after the session.