Question 1

What is hypnosis?

Accepted Answer

Hypnosis, or trance as it is often refered to, is simply a state of focused attention. It is your body's natural relaxation response. In this relaxed state, your mind is more responsive to suggestion. In a therapeutic setting, the suggestions are designed to be beneficial to help you change unhelpful thought patterns.

Clients often comment about how “ordinary” hypnosis feels - it’s not unlike daydreaming – you can often hear everything that is being said whilst in a deeply relaxed state. In fact, you could think of it as guided daydreaming.

Question 2

What is hypnotherapy?

Accepted Answer

Hypnotherapy is a combination of psychotherapy and hypnosis. The psychotherapy in itself is extremely beneficial and its effects are enhanced by the application of hypnosis, which enables the subconscious mind to make beneficial changes. A hypnotherapist contrives a trance state, or focused state of awareness, through relaxation techniques, to help you achieve specific goals.

Question 3

What is psychotherapy?

Accepted Answer

There are many different kinds of psychotherapy, all of which aim to help people overcome stress or emotional problems. Psychotherapy involves talking together to help clients overcome their difficulties. Psychotherapy is often referred to as a ‘talking treatment’.

Question 4

What is hypnosis like?

Accepted Answer

Actually, we all experience the hypnotic state in our everyday lives.

Have you ever driven home and not remembered anything about the journey, or been engrossed in a book and not been conscious of time passing? If so, you’ve been in a state of focused attention, not unlike the feeling of being hypnotised.

During hypnosis you will be guided into a similar state so that beneficial suggestion can be directed towards your subconscious mind.

Question 5

During hypnosis trance, will I remain in full control?"

Accepted Answer

Absolutely yes, you will remain 100% in control. Contrary to the image portrayed in films, books and the media, hypnosis does not involve the therapist taking control of your mind - no one can hypnotise you against your will.

Nobody can make you do anything you do not want to – your subconscious mind will simply reject any suggestion that is inappropriate for you. We use a very light version of trance, during which you could stop at any stage, should you choose to. However, our clients generally find it the most enjoyable part of therapy, being very relaxing and calming.

Question 6

What can I expect?

Accepted Answer

Many people believe that hypnotherapy is something that is "done" to them, that they explain their issue to the therapist who then simply hypnotises their problem away, as if by magic. Solution Focused hypnotherapy is a much more collaborative process and it is important to understand that change happens because you want it to and because you are prepared to take the necessary steps to allow it to happen.

The initial consultation is designed to assess what you want to achieve, how hypnotherapy can help you and how many sessions you are likely to need.

Subsequent hypnotherapy sessions involve much more than hypnosis. During the first part of each session we'll talk about the progress you have made and I'll be encouraging you to express yourself positively, focusing on solutions rather than dwelling on problems.

I'll help you to imagine your preferred future, a future where you have a more useful perspective on the quality of your life. I'll then guide you into a relaxed state of hypnosis so that we can consolidate what we have discussed.

Question 7

Do I have to talk about past problems/issues?

Accepted Answer

The type of psychotherapy we practise does not involve analysing painful memories from the past. If you have experienced unpleasant events, we acknowledge they happened and help you get from where you are, to where you want to be.

Question 8

Are sessions confidential?

Accepted Answer

All information disclosed is confidential and held within the laws of the Data Protection Act and I abide by the regulations set out within the ethics framework of both the Association for Solution Focused Hypnotherapy and the National Council for Hypnotherapy.

If I feel a client is either a danger to themselves or others, I may be obliged to inform an outside agency, eg. a GP, but would, wherever possible, discuss this with you first.

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