What to Expect Hypnotherapy is highly subjective. It is a form of therapy, and in order to be the most effective, it is tailored to your individual experience. Although I can't say with certainty how many sessions will be needed to deal with a problem, the therapy is structured in three session blocks. Most people notice results after just one session, and are satisfied that they are capable of making the necessary changes without any more help, others find it necessary to do three or more sessions to make absolutely sure that the fundamental changes needed have been made completely. Extinguishing a phobia will always take at least two sessions, and smoking cessation is just one 90 minute intensive session. Other than that, it is up to the individual how many sessions they need/want! In your first session, we will spend about a half an hour discussing you and the issue that you have come to see me about, in order to create a strategy and establish what kind of treatment you will need. I will then tell you what I think we need to do, and discuss with you whether we are going down the right path, and if there is something you would like to work on that has been left out, or something that I have mentioned that you don't feel needs work. I will then have a chat with you about hypnosis, how it works and what to expect. Self hypnosis is taught in every session, and everything that we discuss, including your action plan will be emailed to you, so you don't have to remember anything. If your situation is not covered, just email and I will give you an overview. Hypnotherapy for weight loss Weight is a complicated issue, and everyone's situation is different. We will begin by discussing the underlying issues that have caused you to have problems with your weight. Whether you are an emotional eater, a stress eater or a you are eating out of boredom, hypnotherapy helps you break these bad habits, encouraging you to eat smaller amounts of healthy foods and to find junk food unappealing. We will also learn other exercises to help you manage other aspects of your life in order to help stop you being triggered into eating. Using hypnosis, you are also encouraged to find time for exercise, allowing it to naturally become a part of your life.
Hypnotherapy for anxiety There are a few different techniques that we use to combat anxiety and anxiety disorders. I teach you self hypnosis in your first session as well as relaxation exercises that you can use once you get home. You'll also learn techniques to help eradicate intrusive thoughts, as well as teaching you different ways of coping with your anxieties.
Hypnotherapy for panic attacks Hypnotherapy is an effective treatment for panic attacks. Panic attacks are caused by the unconscious mind misreading a situation as dangerous when it is not, causing your body to release adrenaline, the fight or flight hormone. Adrenaline gives you the sensations associated with panic attacks, the racing heart, fuzzy vision, knots in your stomach, dry mouth and racing thoughts. Initially,we will spend some time discussing where your panic attacks come from, what triggers them and what makes them worse (ex. caffeine). Under hypnosis we will teach you techniques to combat panic attacks and new ways to cope with stress and anxiety. Hypnotherapy for fertility Whether you are struggling to conceive or beginning IVF treatment hypnotherapy can be a very powerful tool. Using hypnotherapy your body will be brought into balance, releasing stress and negative self talk. Any underlying issues that may be affecting your fertility will be addressed, such as; past traumas, fear over becoming a parent or previous miscarriages or stillbirths. Fertility is enhanced through mental rehearsal, guided imagery and visualisation, and you will prepare for pregnancy, IVF, birth and parenthood.
Hypnotherapy for IBS A physical manifestation of stress, IBS can be crippling. Using hypnotherapy you will learn both pain and stress management meaning you have far fewer attacks, and that you are prepared for them should they come.
Hypnotherapy for insomnia Any insomniac will tell you, not sleeping can make everything feel ten times worse, ten times harder to cope with and ten times more stressful. One of the biggest complaints is that the stress and worry of not sleeping then makes it harder to sleep. Using hypnotherapy you can have a full nights sleep, every night. You will find it simple to drift to sleep at the same time every night, and will sleep through until the next morning. If for any reason you wake in the night, no matter how hard you try to stay awake, you will be unable to. Every hypnotherapy session will also include self hypnosis, a helpful tool to manage any stress in your life, and to help you fall asleep naturally and easily.
Hypnotherapy for nail biting Nail biting is often an old left over habit from childhood, and is treated by bringing the behaviour into the conscious mind, so it is no longer an unconscious behaviour. Because of this, it will be impossible to bite your nails unless you really want to. You will be taught self hypnosis as a stress management tool, as this can be another cause of nail biting.
Hypnotherapy for smoking cessation Hypnotherapy is a very effective method for quitting smoking, without any side effects, like weight gain, headaches or moodiness. Smoking causes many different diseases, a lot of which are fatal. It is also very expensive, costing £3000 a year if you smoke a pack a day! By using hypnotherapy to quit smoking, you will have that money available to you, to spend on something for you. For £3000 you could have 2 massages a week for a whole year, a holiday to a tropical location, a new car, or buy yourself a whole new wardrobe. Hypnotherapy for smoking cessation is £200 for a 90 minute session, after which you will be a non-smoker! You may have a free top up session afterwards if you feel that you want it.
Hypnotherapy for a phobia There are two ways to deal with a phobia, flooding; where you are forced to face up to your worst fear, or systematic desensitization. As it is impossible to feel both relaxed and fearful at the same time, you are placed under hypnosis and presented with the source of your phobia in small increments. This allows you to overcome the fear a little bit at a time, all the while feeling relaxed. If you have an upcoming event, and little time, I can also help you with the quick release of your phobia. This method only takes one session, but does not necessarily generalise as well.
Hypnotherapy for sexual dysfunction Sexual dysfunctions can be embarrassing and frustrating. If there is no medical reason, they are caused by our unconscious mind, and hypnotherapy can combat them! Using hypnotherapy, we will address underlying issues, such as confidence and anxiety that may be contributing to the problem. I will also teach you self hypnosis and techniques to help you to retrain your body and give you confidence.
Disclaimer : This list is by no means exhaustive, and is just a general overview of what may happen in a session. Every person is different, and although the apparent symptom, such as weight may be the same, the underlying causes and the treatments are often different. The efficacy of the treatment relies strongly on your commitment to the treatment, and your willingness to do work yourself.