WHAT IS HYPNOSIS?
Hypnosis is a natural state that anyone can access given the right circumstances. During hypnosis your attention is focused wholly on a dominant idea, to the exclusion of everything else. In a way it is like being totally absorbed in a book or film where you are oblivious to everything around you. Hypnosis is sometimes called imagination therapy and likened to daydreaming. It is deeply relaxing, effective and enables you to create change in a fast and focussed way.
Hypnosis is perfectly safe and you are aware throughout of what is happening. You remain in control and cannot be made to do anything you don’t wish to.
It is a collaborative process where with my help, you engage your imagination to evoke positive emotions and rehearse behaviour change. In hypnosis you feel calm and relaxed and more open to accept positive suggestions. In this relaxed state you are better able to concentrate on accepting new ideas and thoughts. You must want to accept the suggestions and will use your imagination to vividly picture yourself reacting to the suggestions.
Hypnosis is something you can learn and get better at and I will teach you self-hypnosis techniques, so you can use it to make change whenever you need to and ultimately become your own therapist!
Integrating hypnosis with cognitive behavioural techniques enables you to use the power of you own imagination to help you find the solutions to your problems or difficulties. If for example you experience anxiety, low self esteem or fear of things or situations, you already understand the power that your mind has to generate unhelpful or unhealthy thoughts. CBH harnesses that power for positive change, changing your thoughts feelings and behaviour to bring about lasting change.
WHAT IS COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL HYPNOTHERAPY ?
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT?
The first step will be a free half hour telephone consultation where we can discuss what you would like help with, and how we can work together to achieve your goals. You can then decide if you would like to book future sessions.
In our first session we will talk in more depth about what you would like to change and together agree a plan to achieve your goals. We will start work immediately on the plan in this first session. In subsequent sessions we will continue to work on a treatment programme, tailored to your needs, using hypnosis, applied relaxation techniques and cognitive behavioural approaches. We will monitor and review the effectiveness of the plan and alter the strategy if necessary.
The number of sessions will depend on you and your situation. Some people experience change after one session while others need three or four. Long-term change is generally typical with four to six sessions.
Between sessions I might ask you to complete a task, which could include listening to recordings that I will provide for you, or to keep a diary to record thoughts or feelings. These tasks ensure that change happens quickly. I will also teach you self-hypnosis techniques, so you can continue treatment on your own outside of sessions and ultimately become your own therapist!
HOW MANY SESSIONS WILL I NEED?