What is hypnotherapy?
What is meant by the ‘unconscious mind’?
What is meant by the ‘conscious mind’?
What is hypnosis?
How can hypnotherapy treat so many different problems?
Will I always be in control?
What is self-hypnosis?
What is NLP?
How many sessions will I need?
What will I experience as a client?
How effective is hypnotherapy?
What is hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is based on a simple idea, which is this: you have within your unconscious mind all the resources you need to solve a whole range of problems and issues, as well as the power to promote well being and to develop personal excellence. The job of the hypnotherapist is to help you access all that inner potential!
People visit hypnotherapists to be more confident, achieve an ideal weight, become a non-smoker, resolve inner conflicts, let go of unwanted habits, be more effective in relationships, enhance performance, recall lost memories or reduce pain and discomfort.
Hypnotherapy combined with NLP can be a very powerful therapeutic combination.
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What is meant by the ‘unconscious mind’?
The ‘unconscious mind’ is literally everything you have inside you that you are not aware of at any given moment. It contains all your memories, your intelligence and intuition, your language, your creativity, you emotional responses and everything that you have learnt to do and believe in from your lifetime’s experience. On top of that it also quietly regulates all your body’s functions and keeps your system stable.
If you think about it for a moment that is a huge amount of information and resources at your disposal! All you have to do is access it, which is where hypnotherapy can help.
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What is meant by the ‘conscious mind’?
The ‘conscious mind’ is what you are conscious of at any given moment.
Think of your ‘conscious mind’ as a small container. You are reading this sentence and so that is what you are aware of right now. If you close you eyes and think of something else, your breathing, for example, this sentence then slips into the background as you become aware of your breath – try it now!
As another example, if you recall what you did yesterday you will find that your awareness has gone inside your head and your conscious mind is then filled with the events of the previous day. Try that now and see what happens to your awareness of your breathing!
So you can see that the conscious mind can only carry a small amount of information and awareness at any one time – everything else is stored in your ‘unconscious mind’ waiting to be recalled at your command!
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What is hypnosis?
Hypnosis is a state of deep relaxation that allows you to bypass the conscious mind and access the potential contained within your unconscious. The process is very simple. A state of relaxation is achieved using a combination of language, imagination and suggestion, which has the effect of gradually calming down your thoughts, emotions and body. Even so, you will also be able to communicate at all times. Being asleep or completely unaware has no therapeutic value!
Hypnosis is very similar to having a rest in an armchair after a long day. Your mind, emotions and body enter a state of calm relaxation. In this pleasant condition the conscious mind is at rest but not asleep.
Sometimes this state is described as being ‘abstracted’ or like experiencing a daydream and is akin to driving a car for a few miles without being aware of your immediate surroundings because you are deep in thought about something else.
So hypnosis is a state of rest and stillness where you are able to connect with the vast resources within that will enable you to solve your problems, make helpful changes in your life and create a sense of well-being.
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How can hypnotherapy treat so many different problems?
Good question! Hypnotherapy works for a wide variety of conditions and afflictions because it is a means of access to the healing power that you already have within you. Many of our problems, even physical conditions, are psychologically based and therefore open to improvement through suggestion and a change of mental attitude. The placebo effect is an example where healing takes place through a simple belief that the sugar-coated pill is powerful medicine! Hypnotherapy taps into that inner power to heal and make significant changes. There is a lot of anecdotal and experiential evidence to support the claims of hypnotherapy, as well as some well documented clinical research into its effectiveness. Look at the pages under Information if you want to know more.
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Will I always be in control?
Yes! Hypnosis is often associated with stage entertainment and illusions or tricks. Clinical hypnosis is absolutely nothing like that! Here are the facts:
• You cannot be hypnotised unless you allow it. In the end all hypnosis is self-hypnosis.
• You will always have a degree of background awareness about what is going on. If something happens you will quickly snap back into awareness and be fully alert and able to take action.
• You can rouse yourself at any time.
• You cannot be made to do anything against your will.
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What is self-hypnosis?
Self-hypnosis follows a procedure similar to that which a therapist uses to create a state of deep relaxation. Interestingly, meditation, yoga or tai-chi also produce the same, calming effect where mind, body and emotions are in harmony.
You can easily use a self-hypnosis method on yourself to enter a state of mind that will allow you to access the resources and potential stored in your unconscious. What you do need to understand is how to use language and images to achieve the results you require. Self-hypnosis is usually best taught by a qualified hypnotherapist. I have prepared a small, free download so that you can try it out – go to Resources on this site for more information.
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What is NLP?
NLP stands for “Neuro-Linguistic Programming”. NLP is the study of human thought processes, behaviour and potential, as well as the practice of resulting techniques for positive change.
Its founders, Richard Bandler and John Grinder, studied the work and methods of some of the world’s best counsellors and therapists and put together a model of how these practitioners achieved their exceptional results. One of the therapists they studied was an American psychologist called Milton Erickson – the ‘father of modern hypnotherapy’, which is why hypnotherapy and NLP are often practised together.
NLP has been described as a science and an art. It is a ‘science’ in the sense that it methodically analyses what works and what gets results in human action and interaction. It is an ‘art’ when those insights are creatively applied by the therapist.
NLP has also been described as the ‘psychology of excellence’.
Some areas where NLP can be successful:
• Managing relationships
• Negotiating solutions
• Marketing and sales
• Developing skills
• Psychological and physical well being
• Improving self-image, behaviour and personal effectiveness
• Solving personal problems
• Addressing phobias and negative habits
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How many sessions will I need?
Each session lasts between 50-60 minutes (the exception is the non-smoker course which is for 90 minutes). Generally, treatment extends on average between 2-6 sessions depending on complexity. In any event I like to help clients achieve what they want as quickly as reasonably possible. If we can do everything in one session then it will be one session!
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What will I experience as a client?
Initially we will discuss your issue, looking at its history and how it expresses in your life, and forming an overall understanding of what you want to achieve. I will then suggest a treatment plan which we will consider and agree, explaining hypnosis and answering all your questions before we begin.
We will then proceed with hypnosis and NLP techniques suitable for your issue but we will move at your pace over the number of sessions required. The overall aim is to deal with the negative aspects of your situation and replace them with a positive mind-set that deals effectively with the problem.
Beyond this we will be formulating strategies and techniques for you to use in order to keep you on track.
If we continue beyond one session I will be asking you practise techniques and to keep a diary of how things are progressing. We will use this information to enhance the following session.
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How effective is hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy can be both beneficial and remarkable. There is a large body of anecdotal and research evidence which supports hypnotherapy as a complementary approach to social, psychological and physiological problems and conditions. Hypnotherapy has a wide range of applications because it uses the individual’s own unique resources to effect change and improvement from within.
Visit Treatments for a list of conditions and situations where hypnotherapy and NLP can help.
Visit Information for some fascinating and revealing studies on the benefits of hypnotherapy.
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