What is hypnosis?

Hypnosis is what is commonly called a “trance” state. Most people are more familiar with what trance is than they realise – it is the experience just before you fall asleep, or when you’ve been so absorbed in something you didn’t notice time going by. Being in this state increases your mind’s ability to accept new messages and suggestion – an opportunity to bolster efforts for behaviour and cognitive pattern change.

What is clinical hypnotherapy?

Clinical hypnotherapy is when hypnosis is used as a therapeutic tool. It can be used to address any issue that is founded in or linked to the mind. When combined with a strategic psychotherapy approach it can result in sustainable cognitive and behaviour change.

What is strategic psychotherapy?

Strategic psychotherapy is:

• Outcome and results focused: help you achieve the change you want as part of a brief therapy program.

• Future not past focused: Emphasis is on what can be done to change future patterns, rather than spend a lot of time understanding the past.

• Tailored to your needs. Every individual is unique and each program is tailored to your individual needs.

• Guiding not directive: You need to be an active participant in your own therapy. The therapist doesn’t direct you to a solution, instead guiding you to find the right steps and path to reach your change goal.

• Skills building: this therapy approach focuses on building your skills to manage how you make your choices and cognitive or behavioural responses.

When is hypnosis not appropriate?

Hypnosis is not recommended for use in the following situations:

• if you experience psychosis

• if you have been diagnosed with chronic depression

• if you have epilepsy

• if members of your clinical team who do not agree with you having hypnotherapy

• if there are no reasons to believe your concerns have a psychological cause. 

  Please discuss alternative referrals with your GP if the above describes your situation. 

  In addition to this, if you attend a session under the influence of drugs or alcohol the session will not be able to proceed.

Will I lose control of my mind and choices during hypnosis?

You always have control of your choices and how much you want to participate in the therapy, even when you might be deep in a hypnotic “trance” state. If you choose to not participate - you won’t!

What if I fall asleep?

Trance can be a very relaxing experience for people but falling asleep is not usually the aim. In fact the aim is to be hovering just in that state before you drift off into sleep. This means you will always be able to choose to come out of a trance state at any time.

Will hypnotherapy be an instant cure?

Hypnotherapy is a brief form of results based therapy, but ,it is pretty rare for a magic cure in a single session, possible, but rare. Sustainable change, requires ongoing effort and a step-by-step plan to get you to the outcome you want to see, not an overnight miracle, as nice as that might be.

What can hypnotherapy help with?

Hypnotherapy can help to shift and change behavioural and cognitive patterns you might be running that you realise are no longer helpful or useful for you. These could include:

• how you might have an anxious response to or avoid particular situations,

• a dependency on something (alcohol, comfort eating, or even a particular relationship) that has started to have a negative impact on your life,

• a fear, anxiety or phobia that is restricting what you are able to do or enjoy

• thought patterns or attitudes that might be obstacles to a healthy self-confidence.

• Trouble making decisions

• Limiting belief systems that might be affecting your relationships and choices.

  Read some of these articles to understand more about issues hypnotherapy can help address

How does hypnosis work as telehealth??

Telehealth hypnotherapy/hypnosis sessions can be just as effective as in-person sessions. As long as you can hear, see and engage with your therapist then the techniques and approach can be used. While many people may feel a preference for their session to be face-to-face, in these times this may not be possible given the changing COVID-19 restrictions on in-person services. Fortunately, hypnotherapy is very much able to be used as an effective therapeutic tool for online hypnosis appointments.

To help make online hypnotherapy telehealth sessions be as effective as possible it is important to have a strong internet connection, headphones (preferably noise cancelling), and a quiet comfortable place where you can be confident of not being disturbed.