Hypnotherapy

What can hypnotherapy help with?

Hypnotherapy can help with a wide range of emotional and physical symptoms. Many of the problems listed below may overlap; for example, lack of confidence may be stopping you from ‘public speaking’, or shyness may stop you from having a special relationship.  Many other physical and psychological issues can also be helped, but which are not mentioned here.

EMOTIONAL problems such as:  Panic attacks, Phobias, OCD, Intrusive thoughts, Stress, Anxiety, Depression and low mood, Low confidence and self-esteem, Anger, Shyness.

PHYSICAL symptoms:  Irritable bowel syndrome, Pain, Skin disorders, Headaches, Heartburn.

CHILDBIRTH: Taking control and creating a comfortable birthing process.

LIFESTYLE problems:  Excess: shopping, television, exercise.

ADDICTIONS:  Drugs, Alcohol, Others.

RELATIONSHIPS:  Personal, Work colleagues, Friends and family.

GENERAL WELL-BEING:  Insomnia, Weight issues, Socialising.

UNWANTED HABITS:  Smoking, Nail biting, Skin picking.

FEARS AND PHOBIAS: Panic attacks, Fear of flying, Heights.

PERFORMANCE: Public speaking, Sports performance, and Goal setting in many life areas.

What is hypnotherapy?

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.

What to expect:

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.

What is Psychotherapy?

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’.

What to expect:

Solution Focused Psychotherapy is future oriented:

The type of Psychotherapy Fiona practices is ‘Solution Focused Therapy techniques’ and is designed to reduce anxiety and calm the mind. As the name suggests it focuses on solutions for the future, rather than analysing problems of the past.

Provided you are willing to make changes to the way you think, the therapy can be highly effective in relieving the symptoms of anxiety and stress. Focusing on solutions means we do not dwell on problems.

Instead you and Fiona:

    - acknowledge where you are currently

    - identify where you want to be

    - help you to make the necessary changes

Solution Focused Psychotherapy avoids problem talk:

The type of Psychotherapy Fiona practices does not involve analysing painful memories from the past.  If you have experienced unpleasant events, you and Fiona acknowledge that they happened and that they may influence how you are today; and help you get from where you are now to where you want to be. 

What is hypnosis like?

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.

What Hypnosis is:

Hypnosis is simply a state of focused attention.  In this relaxed state, your mind is more responsive to suggestion.  Hypnosis amplifies the therapeutic element of the session; the positive suggestions are designed to be beneficial to help you change unhelpful thought patterns, and your own understanding of what to do and how to move forward is absorbed at this time.  These new thought patterns then drive your behaviour. 

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.

What Hypnosis isn't:

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.

How hypnotherapy can help you.

Hypnotherapy can help by enabling you to feel calm, confident and in control of yourself and your life, being able to see things clearly and logically.  It gives you the mental freedom and the natural inclination to make positive changes, at your own pace, with confidence and trust in your own abilities. 

Changes in your behaviour and thinking can occur even after the initial consultation, as understanding how the brain works – and realising that we can change the way we are –comes as a great relief.  Hypnotherapy can also stop many unwanted habits and phobias immediately and permanently.

Long term benefits

Solution focused therapy is ‘brief’ as it often only takes relatively few sessions to enable you to be functioning well in your life. Maintaining your motivation long term then becomes easier because the subconscious has accepted new messages and your instinct from then on is to want to follow a positive life route.  Combining what you know about the mind and practising simple and positive life activities, will enable you to keep yourself on track. 

Changing aspects of your life

Should you feel anxious that ‘change’ seems too much to deal with, please be reassured that hypnotherapy is both gentle and respectful and that you will only move forward with changes that are appropriate and that are at the right pace for you.  As you relax and take control throughout the sessions, the rise in confidence you experience will enable you to deal with life changes that occur.

What happens in a typical session?

Initial Consultation

The initial consultation is free of charge and is designed to assess what you want to achieve, how hypnotherapy can help you and how many sessions you are likely to need. You will also be given a relaxation CD to listen to each night throughout the duration of the sessions and beyond.

Hypnotherapy sessions

Subsequent Hypnotherapy sessions involve much more than Hypnosis.  During the first part of each session you and Fiona will talk about the progress you have made and Fiona will be encouraging you to express yourself positively, focusing on solutions rather than dwelling on problems. 

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

A typical hypnotherapy session lasts for 60 minutes, with therapy based around solution focused questioning during the first half and hypnosis in the second. During the first half of each session, you and Fiona also discuss any appropriate information that can help with your progress.  Some people find ‘homework’ in between sessions helpful; if appropriate, this is included.

Number of sessions

Anxiety and depression and related issues: initial consultation plus approximately 8-12 sessions.

Phobias: initial consultation plus 3 sessions.

Anti-smoking: one session of 1 and a half to 2 hours.

Nail biting: initial consultation plus 2-3 sessions.

Time for You practitioner is: