Hypnotherapy is based around bringing about a condition where the client is in a heightened state of awareness, concentrating on the hypnotist’s voice.
Unfortunately, various misconceptions surrounding hypnosis have severely damaged the reputation of hypnotherapy, as a direct result I would ask a client to attend a no obligation consultation to dispell any fears a client may have about hypnosis.
It is important for a client to realise that the technique does not involve being put into a deep sleep. You remain aware of your surroundings and situation, however, you are able to accept the suggestions of the therapist at a very deep emotional level. The important thing is that the client wants to change some behavioural habit or addiction and is highly motivated to do so. They have to want the treatment to work and must establish a good clinical rapport with the therapist in order for it to do so.
As a therapist, I then suggest ideas, concepts and lifestyle adaptations to the client the seeds of which become firmly planted.
In many ways, hypnotherapy is a kind of psychotherapy. Hypnotherapy aims to re-programme patterns of behaviour within the mind, enabling irrational fears, phobias, negative thoughts and suppressed emotions to be overcome. As the body is released from conscious control during the relaxed trance-like state of hypnosis, breathing becomes slower and deeper, the pulse rate drops and the metabolic rate falls. Similar changes along nervous pathways and hormonal channels enable the sensation of pain to become less acute, and the awareness of unpleasant symptoms, such as nausea or indigestion, to be alleviated.
As a hypnotherapist I deal with the subconscious part of the mind, that is the non-analytical or instinctive part.
For example, a patient who consciously wants to overcome their fear of spiders may try everything they consciously can to do it, but will still fail as long as their subconscious mind retains this terror and prevents the patient from succeeding. Progress can only be made by reprogramming the subconscious so that deep-seated instincts and beliefs are abolished or altered.
How many sessions will I need?
I recommend a minimum of three sessions for most cases although smoking cessation can take just one session in the right circumstances, in an ideal world we would be looking at between 5 – 10 sessions depending on the severity of the symptoms.
Essential Questions to Ask a Hypnotherapist before treatment