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What is hypnosis? Hypnosis is a state of mind somewhere between sleep and wakefulness. It can be produced either by oneself (auto or self-hypnosis) or by responding to the directions of a therapist. The actual experience of being hypnotised varies from person to person; it is usually accompanied by deep physical relaxation while your awareness is directed inside. Hypnosis is a natural phenomenon that occurs in everyday life, for example when day-dreaming or being absorbed in a book. What is hypnotherapy? Hypnotherapy means the treatment and relief of a variety of somatic and psychological symptoms under hypnosis. Even today, nobody is really sure how hypnotherapy works but it has been used successfully for a long time, in fact, hypnotic practices can be traced back to the ancient Egyptians and Chinese. Hypnotherapy enables you to communicate with your unconscious mind, that is, the part of your mind that is outside your "normal" awareness. The unconscious controls an incredible range of activities, including emotions and memory but also sensory perception and automatic functions of the body, such as breathing. Why choose hypnotherapy? Hypnotherapy is a drug-free and often rapid therapy. It helps you achieve your goals in your own way and with your own resources. A nice side-effect of hypnotherapy is that it tends to improve your general well-being and self-esteem. What happens during a typical session? A typical session lasts 60 minutes. We will talk about your condition and any other relevant issues. I will also answer any questions you may have. To go into hypnosis, simply listen to my instructions. I may ask you to look at a certain focus point and to close your eyes. You will hear me speaking and drift in and out of conscious awareness. Finally, I will bring you back to normal awareness. How many sessions will I need? There is no rule of thumb as every person is unique. The number of sessions depends on the condition and your personality. However, just one session may be enough in some cases, for example smoking cessation. Can I hear what is happening around me? Yes; you can hear surrounding noises but you will disregard them unless they are important. Will I loose control? No; nobody can be hypnotised against their will, and you can choose how to respond to any suggestions given. What if there is an emergency? You can wake yourself immediately if necessary. What is Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy? Our way of thinking, our emotions, our behaviours and our physical well-being influence each other, usually in complex ways. This implies that we can influence the way we feel by taking responsibility for the views we take on the events in our lives. For many problems it is useful to find out how your thinking patterns, or beliefs, contribute to a problem, known as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. These beliefs usually live in the unconscious part of your mind, and hypnotherapy can help identify and modify unhelpful beliefs. CBH includes work outside hypnosis and work outside the therapy session. It is particularly suitable for: fears and anxieties, emotional difficulties, weight issues and stress management |