FAQ about Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy Services

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I provide hypnotherapy treatment in my home, located in the small village of Linton in South Derbyshire. My house is surrounded by beautiful fields, providing a peaceful setting for therapy.

The village offers easy access from the East Midlands and West Midlands areas.  I also offer online appointments that are done from the comfort of your own home, therefore you can choose what is most suitable for you. 

The most important factor of successful session is you wanting for the change to take place. Your desire to shift your circumstances and stop tolerating things in your life that do not serve you is the biggest starting point. I am here to facilitate the change you wish to make by using proven techniques that will allow you to make significant progress in the area you are working on. 

Every person who is willing to be hypnotised can be hypnotised. 

The depth of hypnosis may vary from person to person. Factors such as individual susceptibility and willingness to participate can influence the effectiveness of hypnosis. While some individuals may enter a deep state of hypnosis quickly and easily, others may require more time and practice to achieve similar results. 

NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) techniques can be used  with or without hypnosis, while tapping and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) treatments do not involve hypnosis at all. All methods are equally effective in providing therapy.

Understanding your own thoughts, feelings and how your mind operates is the most significant step you could ever take to gain control over your life. People often attempt to make changes using their logical mind and find it ineffective, as this is not where the reasoning behind their behaviour resides. Consequently, change can be challenging for most individuals. However, if you understand how your mind works, you can use this knowledge to your advantage.

Hypnosis is a state of deep focus that each of us naturally enters multiple times a day. It is the same experience as when you are completely absorbed in a movie or a book and you lose track of time. Hypnosis intentionally induces this state, allowing you for profound benefits, as during this time - resistance is reduced, relaxation is achieved and you become more open to suggestion. This optimal state is ideal for introducing positive changes in your life.

Hypnotherapy and stage hypnosis might seem similar, but they serve very different purposes.

Hypnotherapy is a form of therapy that uses hypnosis to help people make positive changes in their lives. During a hypnotherapy session, you are in a relaxed state where your mind is open to suggestions. This state is utilised to transform behaviours that do not serve you. I guide you through this process to address issues like quitting smoking, loosing weight, reducing stress or lack of confidence. Hypnotherapy is therefore about using hypnosis for personal growth and improvement.

On the other hand, stage hypnosis is more about entertainment. In stage hypnosis shows, a hypnotist selects volunteers from the audience to participate in fun and playful activities, done purely for entertainment. It's important to note that participants in stage hypnosis are willing volunteers who enjoy being part of the show.

There are no side effects to hypnotherapy. There are however some considerations that clients should have, which include:

·  Emotional Release - Hypnotherapy can bring up intense emotions or memories that may be uncomfortable for the client, this however often forms a part of the therapeutic process. I provide appropriate support and guidance to help you navigate these experiences safely. 

·  Reactivation of Trauma - For individuals with a history of trauma, hypnotherapy can trigger repressed memories or traumatic experiences. I support your well-being all the way through the session to navigate this safely. In addition, you are provided with resources that allow you to regulate your response.  

·  Feeling sleepy afterwards - Some people may experience a temporary state of feeling very relaxed and sleepy as a result. This typically resolves quickly. The client should assess how they feel before driving or operating heavy machinery. 

We may seek improvement in many areas of our daily lives. Clients may have more than one issue  that they would like to address such as: weight reduction, mending a broken heart and confidence.  During hypnotherapy sessions we address one issue at a time and when that is resolved we move to the next concern that the client wishes to work on.

The number of hypnotherapy sessions required can vary depending on the depth of the issue. It is therefore not possible to identify with precision how many sessions exactly will be required.

Some issues can be resolved in just 3 sessions, while others may need 4-6 appointments or more.

I will always strive to achieve the best results in the quickest possible time. We do however tend to deal with many layers of mental conditioning, limiting beliefs, habits and patterns. During my work with you I will be using various tools to ensure that I approach the subject from many different angles to clear the issues in the best possible way.

I provide clients with structured programs offering between 3-6 sessions depending on the area of work. However, additional sessions may be required based on the individual progress. Clients experiencing positive developments during treatment can feel reassured about its effectiveness. It is important not to form an expectation that change can only occur when the maximum number of the sessions takes place.  The sessions are designed to deal with an issue or a goal on many levels, so the number of appointments in a program is designed to approach the area of work in various ways, so you can achieve long-lasting effects.

The intention of the hypnotherapy is to help people, therefore it is crucial to understand that no one will ask questions unrelated to the treatment or intrude on personal matters. During sessions the focus remains on addressing specific issues or concerns brought forth by the individual. It's important to clarify that hypnosis induces a state similar to meditation, where people are fully alert, awake and aware of their surroundings.  Clients have the autonomy to terminate the hypnosis session at any point, if they feel the need to do so.

If the client would like to keep some details of the issue private or does not wish to discuss memories that are perhaps painful or embarrassing, then there are methods of treatment available for that, ensuring comfort and privacy of the client. 

Self-hypnosis can be taught in the hypnotherapy session. This will however not be the same depth of hypnosis that I use in my work. You will learn techniques for achieving deep relaxation, that enables you to enter an optimal state, perfect for addressing specific goals you wish to work on.

This is an excellent resource that can support you while you are dealing with various issues such as: tension, anxiety, sleep disturbance, overeating, confidence building, motivation and many others.

The most important consideration when answering this question is whether you really want for the change to take place.  If you truly desire change, it is entirely achievable.  It is important that the initiative for booking the session comes from you directly. If the appointment is booked on your behalf but you are not truly invested in making changes in your life, then the therapy may not have an effect on you, as I cannot make people do things that they don’t want to do. Therefore, the cornerstone of my success rate lies in your genuine desire for  improvemnet. This combined with effective hypnotherapy methods is the formula for success. 

In order to give you a truly accurate snapshot of my efficacy with clients, I would need to follow-up with them over many years and this is not exactly possible. Additionally once clients have made changes, they do not want to be reminded of who they used to be and what they used to do. They want to embrace the person who they have become and move forward with their life, so contacting them and asking them ‘Do you still smoke?’, ‘ Do you still overeat?’, ‘Are you still confident?’ is not appropriate. 

The effects of hypnotherapy are normally long-lasting. Clients may continue to benefit from the changes made during hypnotherapy for months, years or permanently afterward. 

In instances where clients encounter significant challenges in their life leading to a return to old and unhealthy habits, top-up hypnotherapy sessions can frequently provide the support needed to regain control over emotions, thoughts and behaviours.

Hypnotherapy is not intended to substitute professional medical assistance. Therefore, individuals with the following conditions: bipolar disorder, mental illness such us Schizophrenia, severe mental issues, psychosis, personality disorder or those experiencing suicidal thoughts are strongly encouraged to seek appropriate medical advice. Unfortunately, I am unable to accept clients with these conditions for hypnotherapy sessions. It is crucial for their well-being that they receive the specialized medical care they need.

There have been scientific research and clinical studies done in the field of hypnosis, making it an evidence-based practice. There are many studies that have demonstrated its effectiveness.

There are also medical organisations that focus on promoting safe use of hypnosis in medical settings and psychology. These include:

·  British Society of Clinical and Academic Hypnosis (BSCAH)

·  British Society of Medical and Dental Hypnosis (Scotland) - BSMDH (S) 

·  The Royal Society of Medicine

As stated by the Royal Society of Medicine  on their website “Hypnotherapy has been used to treat a wide range of conditions, including anxiety, depression, phobias and addiction. Although hypnotherapy is not a mainstream medical treatment, it is increasingly recognised by healthcare professionals as a valuable complementary therapy”.

The below studies are just a few examples of the research in the field of hypnotherapy that have been done. 

·  Pain Management: One area where hypnosis has demonstrated remarkable effectiveness is in the management of pain. Research published in ‘The Journal of Pain’ and ‘The Journal of Gut’ has shown that hypnosis can significantly reduce both the intensity and perception of pain in individuals suffering from chronic conditions such as: IBS - Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

The American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association officially acknowledged hypnotherapy as a legitimate practice. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) have endorsed hypnotherapy as an effective treatment option for managing chronic pain since 1995. 

·  Insomnia and Sleep Disorders: Sleep disorders, particularly insomnia, pose significant challenges for many individuals. Studies published in ‘The Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine’ have reported that hypnosis can enhance sleep duration and quality, offering relief to those struggling with sleep disturbances. Sleep Foundation organisation supports use of hypnosis for sleep.

·  Stress and Anxiety: Hypnosis has proven highly effective in alleviating symptoms of anxiety, stress and tension. Studies and research shown in ‘Research Gate’ and ‘UK Hypnosis’ have demonstrated significant improvements in individuals' overall well-being when they undertake hypnosis treatment. 

·  Behavioural Change: Research published in the ‘Journal of Counselling Psychology’ has explored the effectiveness of NLP (Neuro- Linguistic Programming) techniques in facilitating positive behaviour change, such as smoking cessation and weight loss.

·  Performance Enhancement: Whether in sports, academics, or professional settings, optimizing performance is a common goal for many individuals. Research examining the application of NLP (Neuro- Linguistic Programming) techniques in performance are evidenced in:

Taylor J., Horevitz R., Balague G. (1993). ‘The Use of Hypnosis in Applied sport and psychology’. Sport Psychol. 7 58–78. 10.1123/tsp.7.1.58

Pates J., Maynard I. (2000). ‘Effects of hypnosis on flow states and golf performance’. Percept. Motor Skills 91 1057–1075. 10.2466/pms.2000.91.3f.1057

Pates J., Palmi J. (2002). ‘The Effects of Hypnosis on Flow States and Performance’. United Kingdom: University of Derby.