Hypnotherapy
What is Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is often confused with being asleep. However, whilst it often appears that the hypnotised person is asleep, they most certainly are not asleep. It is a deep state of relaxation when the subconscious part of the brain can be accessed, therefore allowing change to occur. Most people do not realise that hypnosis is a very natural state, that most of us go into at least twice a day – as we are waking from sleep, and as we go into sleep. Other people daydream which is hypnosis, and some people find that when they are driving a well known route, they get to their destination and are unable to remember getting there – this is also hypnosis.
Can I be made to do anything that I don’t want to do?
Whilst in stage hypnotherapy people are often made to do things such as walk like a chicken, these people are fully aware and in control. Hypnosis does, however, induce such a deep state of relaxation, that they have no concerns as to what is going on around them. They know that they could come out of hypnosis, but they often do not want to. The hypnotist is not able to ‘control’ the person under a hypnotic experience – they are fully aware and in control. The hypnotist cannot make anyone under hypnosis do anything they do not want to do. The person under hypnosis can hear, see, feel, smell, taste and speak, as they are completely aware of what is happening to them.
Why should I have hypnotherapy and not counselling for instance?
Hypnotherapy works very differently than counselling, as hypnosis works with the subconscious mind, where as counselling uses the conscious mind. This is important when the conscious and subconscious parts of our brain are in conflict, because the conscious mind is the ‘logic’ part of our brain – we know how we should change our behaviour or thoughts - but we struggle to actually do so. The reason this is difficult, is because our subconscious mind has previously learnt every behaviour, or thought that we have. The subconscious part of our mind will always ‘win’ a fight with the conscious mind – referred to as the ‘law of conflict’. For example, when someone wants to loose weight, their conscious mind knows that this behaviour change is necessary. It is the logical part of the brain and knows that loosing weight will bring many health and confidence benefits. However, the subconscious mind is constantly imagining eating lots of junk food, or not exercising much (which has always been the behaviour) and therefore ‘wins’ the battle with the conscious mind.
What can hypnotherapy help me with?
Hypnotherapy can help with all of the following: 
Quitting smoking
Weight control
Fertility
Exam and driving test preparation
Speech performance
Self confidence
Habits (e.g: nail biting)
Stress management
Fears (e.g dentist, flying)
Blushing
Social phobias.
How long will treatment last?
The initial consultation lasts for approximately one hour and is free. If you decide to proceed with hypnotherapy, each session will last for an hour. How long you will need hypnotherapy for will depend upon why you are having therapy. This will be discussed with you at the consultation session.
The only exception to this is Stop Smoking as this session is a one-off session which lasts 1.5 hours.