What is hypnosis?

Hypnosis has been used in healing for thousands of years. The beneficial effects for each individual follow learning to access the unconscious part of the mind using well proven techniques of relaxation and controlled imagination.

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How does it work?

The therapy involves learning a relaxing way to access your own inner resources, to enable you to deal with problems in a creative and controlled way. You can make helpful changes to the way you think and feel as well as altering the way physical processes work.

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What happens during hypnosis?

You will sit in a comfortable chair so that you can be physically as well as mentally relaxed. I will talk to you and teach you a relaxation process to allow you to become aware of your unconscious thoughts and feelings. As relaxation deepens you may feel sleepy, but will not actually fall asleep. Therapy work is most rapidly effective when relaxation is deep. Most people enjoy the experience, and leave feeling refreshed and fully awake.

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Will I be able to control what happens?

Yes of course. If you feel uncomfortable you can stop the process at any time, and we can deal with any effects which are not helpful to you. However, you may be surprised by what your unconscious mind is able to do. Relaxation is easier if you are prepared to let go of mental and physical tension, and simply be curious to see what can happen.

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Can anyone be hypnotised?

The short answer is no, but nearly everyone with the ability to concentrate, and a willingness to try, can achieve enough depth of relaxation to benefit from treatment.

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Can I get rid of troublesome symptoms?

Symptoms usually mean that something is wrong, mentally, physically or both. Simply using hypnosis to remove symptoms can therefore be risky. We can work together to check what each symptom means for you, and deal with it safely. In some cases I may advise you to consult your GP for investigation or treatment.

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Can hypnosis be harmful?

I would not recommend anyone suffering from a serious mental illness to agree to hypnosis unless in expert hands. Some expert psychiatrists do use hypnosis in treatment. There are a few other situations in which hypnosis is not advisable. I always reserve the right to decline to use hypnosis in clients for whom I consider it would not be in their best interests.

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