Hypnotherapy is a form of therapy that utilises the power of positive suggestion to bring about subconscious change to our thoughts, feelings and behaviour.
The process itself aims to alter our state of consciousness in a way that relaxes the conscious part of the mind while simultaneously stimulating and focussing the subconscious part. This heightened state of awareness - reached using skilled relaxation techniques - allows the therapist to then make appropriate suggestions.
When might hypnotherapy be useful? Hypnotherapy is widely endorsed as a treatment for:
WEIGHT LOSS By targeting the unconscious mind, you will develop a new, positive relationship with food and exercise. The aim is to make you feel confident about your body, change any negative thoughts about eating and help you lose weight healthily and responsibly without impacting your emotional well being. SMOKING If you smoke 20 cigarettes a day, you are spending approximately £2700 a year on something that constantly robs you of your health and vitality as well as your finances. I will assist you in becoming a true non-smoker. With Hypnosis you can break the connections which are associated with your smoking habit whether they are emotional (such as stress or boredom) or physical (such as with a drink or meal). This means that I focus directly on your individual psychological and behavioural habit, targeting specific patterns relevant to you. ANXIETY The suffering of anxiety leaves you in a place where your confidence is knocked, your self esteem begins to drop and an increasing amount of worry starts to enter your world. Hypnotherapy will help you overcome those feelings, helping you gain control of your stresses and anxieties in order for you to cope with whatever life has in store, and for you to go on living your life in a confident, productive way. PAIN RELIEF People suffering from acute or chronic pain can get substantial pain relief from hypnosis. Hypnosis has been used successfully in the treatment of all kinds of painful conditions, including headaches, cancer, burns, surgical procedures, dental conditions, irritable bowel syndrome, and many other conditions. Whether the pain is as a result from surgery, injury, illness or disease, hypnosis can be of benefit. To reduce the discomfort to a manageable level or even to eliminate it altogether is one of the most meaningful applications of hypnosis which allows the person to become more comfortable and in control in the management of their own pain. Habit breaking, Stress related issues, Range of long-term conditions In recent years has been gaining steam in the medical world after a recommendation from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recognised hypnotherapy as a treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
While more concrete evidence is needed to support the use of hypnosis in additional areas as an alternative to conventional medicine, many have found the process has been incredibly effective either when used in tandem with traditional treatment or when used independently after other avenues have been exhausted.