People are sometimes a bit unsure about hypnotherapy. They may be excited by the idea of hypnosis. Sometimes, they want a few answers before they book an initial consultation.

Hypnosis, used during hypnotherapy, is safe and natural. We’ve probably all experienced it:

as daydreams, or
that dozy state just before falling asleep or waking up, or
when we meditate at the end of a yoga class, or
those times when we ‘zone out’ on a familiar journey.

These are examples of self hypnosis.

In hypnosis our subconscious keeps us safe.

Sometimes we realise we’ve been daydreaming on a familiar car journey. We ‘come to’ and wonder where we are for a second before realising everything’s OK. It’s the same when a hypnotherapist helps you to be hypnotised. Your subconscious will naturally keep you safe.

hypnotherapy hypnosis Watford Bushey Redbourn — Relaxed and enjoyable hypnotherapy sessions with a professional and successful therapist

Hypnosis is a pleasant relaxing experience that helps us to achieve what we’ve set out to achieve. Safe, in a comfortable room with me, using hypnosis, I can help you to achieve what you want.

Hypnotherapy evidence

Hypnosis therapy (or hypnotherapy) simply uses this natural state to help us achieve things we’ve previously found difficult. This use of the common pleasant experience dates back to ancient times. These days hypnotherapy is recognised by modern medicine.

Modern research suggests that under hypnosis, we are fully awake and focusing attention in a concentrated way. We become less conscious of our external surroundings. Our subconscious keeps us safe. This focused attention increases our response to suggestions.

Today hypnosis is recognised as a useful and powerful healing technique. Hypnotherapy is supported by the NHS and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) for example as a treatment for irritable bowel syndrome. (See paragraph 1.2.3.1 of this guidance).

Although hypnosis is a natural relaxed feeling, a dreamy brain experience, there are thousands of therapeutic ways of helping people when they’re in that state. I use a range of applied positive hypnotherapy structures to help people make the changes they want in their lives. Many studies have been done into hypnosis and the therapies I use. I am committed to evidence based practice and will highlight relevant evidence for clients.

In sessions I also use coaching with powerful cognitive psychological training (development from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, CBT and coaching) to ensure that my client understands what’s happening so they remain in control. These methods are fully supported by recent research.

Magic wands

Unfortunately, I don’t have a magic wand. There are therapists who guarantee change in one or two sessions. I’m afraid I’m not one of those.

Let’s call the thing you’re struggling with a “symptom”. The body doesn’t do anything without a reason so that symptom is there to solve a problem. It might be a problem that no longer exists or it may be that the symptom is just an unfortunate way to solve the problem…

I will make sure we recognise what problem the symptom you are struggling with is trying to solve before we take it away. Otherwise, we may remove a symptom only to have it substituted for something else because the root of the problem still exists. This doesn’t necessarily mean raking over old stuff but it will mean we take care over what we’re doing. This is rarely a 5 minute job. We may take a number of sessions to explore the symptom and the problem before we achieve resolution.

For more information see my FAQ page.