BACKGROUND

Hypnotherapy uses the natural state of mind of hypnosis as a therapeutic tool. It should not be confused with stage hypnotism which, while using similar principles, gives the impression of people being under the power of the hypnotist. Actually, you can only allow yourself to experience hypnosis through choice. You will be aware of yourself and your surroundings during the session and you will still have your memory when you awake. You cannot be made to do anything you do not want to do. Hypnosis is a relaxed, safe and focussed state of mind somewhere between being fully awake and asleep.

What can it treat and help?

Whatever it is used for, you will always be very relaxed during and after the session and it is valuable as a stress relieving therapy for this reason alone. You can also use it to gain insight into your own subconscious process using guided visualisation.

It can be used to treat habits such as smoking, but please be aware this usually needs a course of treatment, so you will need to commit yourself to at least three sessions and up to eight.

How does it work?

Hypnotherapy uses positive suggestions, agreed beforehand, to enhance your own natural ability to heal yourself - whether physically or behaviourally. These positive suggestions are taken up more readily by the subconscious mind under hypnosis and can therefore bypass any inappropriate beliefs we might have, e.g. 'I will fail this driving test because I have failed all the rest' could be replaced by the suggestion of a successful outcome. This increased confidence would improve your performance on the day of the test. At a deeper level, there are reports of people recovering from illness more quickly following hypnotic suggestion and it can be used as an aid to pain relief.

What happens in a session?

The session lasts about an how; the time spent in hypnosis being about half of that. At the first session, a full history will be taken to establish whether hypnosis is suitable for you. It is not recommended for people with epilepsy or a history of psychosis, for example. The therapist will discuss your needs from the therapy and agree on the suggestions/visualisation you want to use. The whole process is explained beforehand so that you know what to expect. All you need to do is to relax in a comfortable position and listen to what therapist says.

INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER THERAPIES

Although hypnotherapy is used as a tool in psychotherapy for accessing past memories, I do not use this approach and therefore there would not be a problem for anyone in counselling. It could add insight into your own process if you wanted to use guided visualisation however. There are no interactions with other therapies.

Books & Information

Medical Hypnosis Society
42, Links Road, Ashstead
Surrey KT21 2HJ

Website Information

http://www.hypnotherapy-directory.org.uk/

The purpose of the site is ultimately to provide the UK with a huge hypnotherapy support network, enabling those in distress to find a hypnotherapist close to them and appropriate for their needs. This is a free, confidential service that will provide those seeking support with all the information they need. Every hypnotherapist on the site who has submitted their profile has either sent a copy of their qualifications and insurance cover to us, or is registered with a professional body with recognised codes of ethics and practice, this way we can be assured of their professionalism.