I trained at the Clifton Practice, Bristol a recognised centre of excellence for Hypnotherapy and was awarded a Diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy & Psychotherapy. I am a member of the CNHC (Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council) and am fully insured to practice.
What is Hypnotherapy?
Hypnosis is a natural state of trance that can be induced by concentrating on a single idea or focus. Meditation, listening to music, watching television, driving, or watching a movie are examples of trance states and it is very ordinary. In a therapeutic setting, hypnosis provides a powerful tool to access the subconscious part of the brain in a relaxing, gentle way. This enables new insights and understandings to be formed.
There are many hypnotherapy models practised today. I specialise in “Solution Focused Hypnotherapy”. This is where the client is encouraged to find positive solutions to their issues, rather than focusing on the past. This enables the client to move forward fairly quickly. Conventional therapy often involves keeping people in the past, which isn’t always helpful. With ‘Solution Focused Hypnotherapy’ the client is encouraged to visualise their goals or change their behaviours. This is achieved through a combination of psychotherapy techniques and hypnosis.
There are many myths around ‘what hypnotherapy is.’ People’s perception is often what they have seen on TV, stage hypnosis for entertainment purposes. There is also an assumption there is some ‘mind control’. None of this is the case. The client is always totally in control. Hypnotherapy is about accessing the subconscious part of the brain through relaxation, which is then open to suggestion, facilitating positive change. The client is required to be fully engaged and has to want to change.
Hypnotherapy has given me a new insight into helping people make positive changes enabling them to live life to the full.
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can help with Anxiety, Depression, Sleep problems, Childbirth and much more…
Anxiety & Stress
Anxiety and stress has become a common part of modern 21st century life. Most people will encounter it at some time. It can usually be dealt with naturally as long as it stays within safe levels. Prolonged periods of stress become difficult to cope with, affecting our quality of life on a day-to-day basis. This can lead to physical, psychological illness, exhaustion and panic attacks. When we come under extreme pressure from our home, work and relationships, we respond with anxiety, anger and depression or even a combination of all three.
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Depression
Depression is possibly the most common psychological disorder of modern times. It’s a significant factor in the break up of relationships, career problems and lack of motivation. Severity can vary between being totally dysfunctional or experiencing some of the following symptoms.
- Depressed mood
- Loss of pleasure & diminished interest in usual activities
- Fatigue/loss of energy
- Weight loss or weight gain
- Sleep disturbance
- Difficulty in thinking and concentration
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'Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined'
-Henry Thoreau
Fears and Phobias
The origin of a phobia is often associated with an unpleasant or traumatic event earlier in life, which can be triggered during periods of high anxiety. Fears and phobias can be extremely debilitating and restricting in many areas of life eg. fear of flying, public speaking, medical procedures, sitting exams. It takes three to five sessions to resolve most phobias. The technique used removes the emotion out of the event or experience, replacing it with an ordinary one instead.
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Confidence & Goal Achievement
In my experience, many people are affected by lack of confidence. This prevents people from achieving and succeeding in what they want to do in life. With ‘Solution Focused Hypnotherapy’ anxiety can be reduced, unwanted behaviour patterns are eliminated and the subconscious is developed to be more optimistic and therefore more motivated to succeed. This can help with exams, interviews and public speaking.
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Smoking Cessation
Hypnotherapy is a fast, effective and powerful tool for getting rid of unwanted habits forever. Smoking is the easiest to achieve because the physical addiction to cigarettes is less than 10%, the rest is all in the mind. If you have a genuine desire to give up smoking, a one off 2-hour session will do the job and you will leave a non-smoker for good with no cravings.
Whatever it is you want to change or achieve using hypnotherapy, you will come along for a FREE Initial Consultation. A relaxation CD will be provided as part of the work free of charge.
Childbirth
For some women, the thought of pregnancy and giving birth creates anxiety. Partly due to the process of childbirth is usually portrayed in western culture as causing pain an trauma. In films, on TV programmes we are shown women screaming and yelling. When we watch these kind of scenes, it’s understandable the feelings generated by these dramas are perceived as negative.
Hypnotherapy can, however change the way the subconscious perceives pain and childbirth to a more positive experience where the mother to be is more relaxed and in control of her body.
Some of the reported benefits of using hypnosis for childbirth are
- Less worry and about life in general
- Control of blood pressure
- Improved sleep prior to birth
- Less need for induction of labour
- Fewer drugs or no drugs necessary means less side-effects on mother and baby
- Shorter labour
- Increased production of oxytocin (the most important hormone that controls strength and duration of contractions and bonding of mother and baby)
- A calm, peaceful birthing atmosphere
- Fewer interventions and complications during labour
Whatever it is you want to change or achieve using hypnotherapy, you will come along for a FREE Initial Consultation. A relaxation CD will be provided as part of the work free of charge.