Why does Hypnotherapy/ Hypnosis work when other methods don't?
Sometimes, no matter how much people want to change and how logical the process seems to get there, knowing this is simply not enough, e.g. to lose weight you simply stop eating more food than you burn. Unfortunately, the subconscious mind is not always in line with the conscious mind. Therefore, hypnosis is often necessary to achieve real change by synchronising the conscious and subconscious mind.
How safe is Hypnotherapy/ Hypnosis?
Hypnotherapy/ hypnosis is very different from the stage hypnotism you see on TV, as your therapist is not controlling your thoughts or making you behave in a certain way. In my Hypnotherapy sessions you will always be completely in control and your therapist simply acts as a guide.
You will only be given positive suggestions that are in line with your goals. You are always in control. Your therapist will help you explore the hidden levels of your mind and emotions and use positive suggestions to initiate change so that you can achieve your goals.
Although it may seem daunting to dig below the surface of your mind, Hypnotherapy sessions are a completely safe and supportive way to tap into your potential, as well as past experiences, as illustrated by the following quote:
Who can be hypnotised?
I use a mixture of traditional and new techniques to ensure that all clients can be hypnotised if they want to be (as long as they have an IQ of at least 70 and do not have a severe mental disorder).
Apart from wanting to be hypnotised, it is important that you have realistic expectations of what it will feel like to by hypnotised. The best expectation you can have to help you do this is that you will feel more relaxed when you come out of hypnosis.
Sometimes people become to preoccupied with looking for signs that they are hypnotised and as such fail to follow the guidance of their hypnotherapist.
By doing this and thinking you are not 'going under' or being resistant to hypnosis relaxation is rarely achieved. This is quite ironic as relaxation is a key component of hypnosis and by doing either of these things people often prevent it.
Relaxation is a gradual process which is always achieved by the end of each of my sessions.
Therefore, it is most important to simply focus on letting go and relaxing whilst concentrating on my voice so that I can guide you into deeper relaxation. To facilitate this I include Progressive Relaxation to help you release physical tension.
How do you hypnotise someone?
I use traditional techniques including the progressive relaxation induction. This can be used to hypnotise 70% of clients that it is used on.
Although it takes longer than other techniques it is hugely beneficial for clients who experience a lot of physical tension, as it involves going through each muscle group in the body to ensure the entire body is completely relaxed.
The new techniques include the rapid induction method, which ensures that clients are deeply hypnotised within four minutes and produces deep physical and mental relaxation.
What evidence is there to prove that Hypnotherapy/ Hypnosis really works?
The following is taken from a clinical review of hypnosis and ‘relaxation therapies’ published in the BMJ (British Medical Journal: 1999 Nov 20; 319 (7221): 1346–1349).
There are many other areas that Hypnotherapy can help with. I am happy to advise you, via email or over the phone, as to whether I can help you.
Which? 2002, reported the results of a meta-analysis of 18 controlled trials which suggest that Hypnotherapy/ hypnosis can reinforce the effects of cognitive behavioural psychotherapy for conditions including high blood pressure, insomnia and anxiety.
Which? also stated that other studies indicate that Hypnotherapy/ hypnosis can potentially help with weight loss, chronic fatigue syndrome and headaches.
How does research explain Hypnotherapy/ Hypnosis?
Objective research suggests that hypnosis is not the same as being asleep as an increase in alpha brainwave activity is found in hypnotised subjects. These are the brainwaves produced when humans are in a relaxed but mentally alert state, as opposed to slower delta waves, which are found predominantly in humans when they are asleep. We often pass through this stage before we drift off to sleep and when we wake up in the morning.
Research suggests that when people watch TV their brainwaves change from beta (found in the wide awake state, associated with active, logical thought) to alpha waves (found in a state of hypnosis). This suggests that when we watch TV we are in a state of hypnosis and the parts of our brain associated with logical thought switch off.
This was first discovered in 1969 when Herbert Krugman ran experimental trials whilst monitoring changes in brainwaves. He found that watching TV for less than a minute changed a subjects brainwaves from beta to alpha waves. They then reverted to beta waves when the subject read a magazine.
Subsequent research has demonstrated the same changes in brainwaves whilst watching TV.
This explains why we can sometimes find ourselves responding to a story in a film as if it were real.
Basically the process of hypnosis leads us to accept a sad story as real as our active logical thought processes take a back seat. In other words when we are watching TV we can find ourselves responding with real emotion because our conscious mind is bypassed and is not stepping in to rationalise what you have seen is just a made up story.
So how exactly does Hypnotherapy/ hypnosis work?
The hypnotised state is similar to being on ‘automatic pilot’. Whilst in this state it is thought that the left, analytical side of the brain turns off, giving the right, creative side, complete freedom.
This explains why people always remain conscious but accept suggestions more easily and take actions on these, so long as they are not in conflict with an individual’s moral code of ethics.
To help explain how this works it is best to break down the following definition of Hypnosis:
The critical factor of the conscious mind will block and refuse new information if this is in conflict with information or a belief in the subconscious mind. Thus, hypnosis is used to relax the conscious mind and bypass the critical factor, which opens the door to the subconscious mind.
The Clinical Characteristics of Hypnosis
The association between certain frequencies and specific mind states has been known for a long time. For example, an 8-13 hertz cycle per second (25-45 brainwaves) is known as the Alpha frequency/ state.
The Alpha state is linked to the subconscious mind becoming receptive to positive suggestions. It can produce light relaxation resulting in people being ‘in the zone’, learning more effectively, thinking positively, generating ideas, finding solutions and discovering things they wouldn’t normally during conscious awareness.
Characteristics of trance states
The most commonly experienced signs of hypnosis
~ Drowsiness ~ Feeling physically and mentally lethargic ~ Physical and mental relaxation ~ Feeling of heaviness throughout the body, limbs partially immovable ~ Strong lassitude (uninclined to exert self) ~ Feeling detached ~ Heaviness ~ Lightness ~ Tingling ~ Heightened sensitivity, e.g. noises, feeling own heartbeat ~ Amnesia ~ Body warmth- cool or warmer due to lower pulse rate and extreme relaxation ~ Increased lacrimnation- increased “tearing of the eyes” due to the relaxation of the muscles surrounding the tear ducts
Time distortion
When you come out of hypnosis, without looking at the time, consider how long you think you were in hypnosis, from when you closed your eyes to when you opened them.
People often feel the session is shorter than it is because they are so relaxed and enjoying the relaxation- time flies when you’re having fun! One hour can seem like 10-15 mins.
Visible signs of hypnosis
~ Excessive swallowing ~ R.E.M (rapid eye movements) ~ Reddening of the eyes due to the relaxation of the muscles in their eyes, allowing a greater flow of blood through the veins ~ Twitching of the mouth during induction ~ Slower and deeper breathing ~ Unable to open eyes
Signs of Light Trance
~ Physical relaxation ~ Drowsiness apparent ~ Fluttering of eyelids ~ Closing of the eyelids ~ Mental relaxation, partial lethargy of the mind ~ Heaviness of limbs ~ Catalepsy (seizure of muscles) of eyes ~ Partial limb catalepsy ~ Inhibition of small muscles ~ Slower and deeper breathing ~ Twitching of the mouth during induction ~ Strong lassitude (uninclined to exert self) ~ Rapport between therapist and client ~ Simple positive post hypnotic suggestions followed ~ Involuntary start of eye twitch on awakening ~ Positive personality changes ~ Feeling of heaviness throughout the body ~ Partial feeling of detachment
Signs of Medium Trance
~ Stimulation of dreams ~ Recognition of trance (difficult to describe but definitely felt) ~ Complete muscular inhibition ~ Partial amnesia ~ Glove anaesthesia ~ Tactile illusions (touch) ~ Gustatory illusions (taste) ~ Olfactory illusions (smell) ~ Hyperacidity to atmosphere ~ Complete catalepsy (seizure of muscles) of limbs and body
Signs of Deep Trance
Ability to open eyes without affecting trance ~ Fixed stare when eyes are open, pupil dilation ~ Somnambulism ~ Complete amnesia ~ Complete anaesthesia ~ Post hypnotic anaesthesia ~ Extremely positive posthypnotic suggestions followed ~ Control of organic body functions, heart beat, blood pressure, etc. ~ Recall of lost memories ~ Age regression ~ Visual and auditory (hearing) ~ Hallucinations
How do you use information from a Life Coaching session to prepare for Hypnotherapy?
I use the information taken from Life Coaching sessions to ensure Hypnotherapy is tailored for each individual clients. The more tailored Hypnotherapy is, the more effective it will be.
For example, selective thinking may be established with a client who has requested Hypnotherapy sessions for pain relief through a suggestion such as “if you continue to see yourself playing football you will feel no discomfort whatsoever”. The client will experience complete anaesthesia, as long as they continue to focus on playing football and accept the suggestion they have been given.
What other ways may I benefit from Life Coaching?
Additionally, Life Coaching focuses your mind on what you really want. This means you will be more likely to take in anything around you in your daily life that will help you. The Reticular Activating System (RAS) is responsible for this; for example if you decide you want a red car one day you will find you notice so many more red cars the following day and are therefore more likely to find one for sale more quickly!
Life Coaching will help you sharpen your mind and empower you to help yourself at a conscious level, whilst Hypnotherapy can help you at a sub-conscious level. This unique and powerful two-pronged approach is highly recommended, however if you just want Hypnotherapy or just want Life Coaching that is perfectly fine.
What kind of issues does Hypnoanalysis/ Regression Therapy treat and is it successful?
I have successfully treated psychological and emotional issues through Hypnoanalysis/ Regression Therapy. Any issue or condition which may be the result of underlying anxiety, caused by a repressed memory may be helped by Hypnoanalysis/ Regression Therapy.
This includes low self-esteem, fears and phobias (including claustrophobia, agoraphobia, etc.), anxiety/ panic attacks, social anxiety, relationship issues, self sabotage and depression.
How many sessions of Hypnoanalysis/ Regression Therapy will I need?
In line with Hypnotherapy and NLP being ‘brief therapies’ this method ‘speeds up’ the analysis process, getting results in a matter of weeks which can take more than "1,000 hours of conventional analysis". I will work with you to re-examine past events and release any associated emotions.
It may take a few weeks before memories below conscious awareness come to the surface through Hypnoanalysis/ Regression Therapy. As a general guide Hypnoanalysis/ Regression Therapy can take between 1 to 12 weekly sessions, depending on clients’ needs.
How does Hypnoanalysis/ Regression Therapy work?
This type of therapy facilitates the recall of past events whilst clients are hypnotised (also known as ‘free association’). It focuses on the cause and effect of emotional and psychological issues and is used to identify the original cause of a particular issue.
Behavioural issues or physical symptoms are often linked to an emotionally significant past event which is hidden from the conscious mind. For instance as children many of us have faced events which produced emotions that we found difficult, if not impossible, to deal with.
The subconscious may have filed the memory of the event away or this may be perfectly clear in someone’s mind. However, the emotion which is associated with the event is usually locked deeply within the subconscious, triggering fears and anxieties, which often take over someone’s life.
For example, a phobia may develop if the emotion is externalised and directed towards an object or behaviour. Alternatively physical symptoms may result, such as eczema, migraine, high blood pressure, a stammer or IBS (irritable bowel syndrome).
I guide clients through Hypnoanalysis/ Regression Therapy to help them recall events and emotions leading back to the initial event. Eventually catharsis will occur where the originating cause of the problem and the associated emotions are found and released.
As an adult you can use your existing knowledge and wisdom to view these memories from a different perspective, which helps release them from the subconscious. This results in long-term/ permanent relief of the symptom.
