More About the Therapy I offer

I am trained in Solution Focused Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy.

It is a positive focused therapy that encourages you to look forward to what you want rather than what you don’t want.We cannot change the past but we can change our future. It is about creating the future that you want.This is the ‘talking part’ of the session which leads to Hypnosis or trance.

Trance is a very natural, relaxing state, encouraged by using guided relaxation, where the mind can relax and then focus on thoughts and suggestions that might be useful. As a modern psychotherapeutic approach, Solution Focused Hypnotherapy uses practical, structured, and well-researched neuroscience and strategies to help you make significant, positive changes in your life in a relatively short period of time. Using Solution Focused Hypnotherapy, I will primarily help you look at what you want to achieve (the solution) moving forward in your life to being the best version of you that you can be.

I also use where appropriate the benefits of nature and creativity which are well documented and are highly beneficial to many clients as part of the therapy process.

Hypnosis or trance describes times when we experience a shift in our conscious awareness. It is a focused state of attention. Trance used during hypnotherapy is very different from the kind of things we might see in ‘stage hypnosis’. It is nothing to worry about and is relaxing and safe.

The purpose of hypnosis as a therapeutic technique is to help you understand and gain more control over your behaviour, emotions or physical well-being.

The Mayo Clinic

We all naturally go in and out of trance many times during the day – a good example is when you have driven home and think how did I get here – that’s being in trance. Being in flow when painting or creating is being in trance. During trance the unconscious mind is more aware and can focus on helpful suggestions and thoughts. Trance takes away all these busy overwhelmed thoughts and allows other parts our brain to be more creative and to come up with solutions that we need.Trance is a very natural and safe state. When we are in a trance state we are still in control, and we process and decide whether information or suggestions are useful to us or not and we will not accept or do anything against our will.

“Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking ever will.”

Zig Ziglar, author and motivational speaker

Being in trance is a very relaxing experience – and it is something that all of us will frequently experience in our daily lives.It is actually a vital part of our existence as humans – we need times where we can relax, reflect, and consolidate information, and utilise different parts of our brains for different activities.

Trance can be demonstrated using Electroencephalography or EEG, which is a method of recording electrical energy in the brain. Our brain wave activity changes all the time, particularly as we enter different phases of when we go to sleep. When I use guided relaxation and mental imagery, it encourages you to go into a trance state, which causes a natural shift in our brainwave patterns. This means that we might shift from being in a fully alert mental state (like when we’re busy working during the day that increases beta brain wave activity) into other states. As we are guided into deeper levels of relaxation, the brain demonstrates more alpha and theta wave activity, where we feel calmer and more relaxed but can also visualise images and reflect on different ideas that may be useful to us.

This is why Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can be so beneficial, because it combines powerful solution-focused discussions, followed by encouraging a relaxing trance state so that the ideas and solutions discussed can then be explored and utilised by the brain for positive benefit.

You can read more about this on The Association for Solution Focused Hypnotherapists website here where you can also check that I am a member. https://www.afsfh.com/

Myths about Hypnosis.

There are many myths about hypnosis. You cannot be hypnotised without your cooperation and you are totally in control at all times. Hypnosis is nothing like sleep as it is an altered state of awareness that involves full concentration and focus. You cannot get stuck in hypnosis (although you may choose to stay there as it is a very pleasant relaxed state,) you either fall into a deep relaxing sleep waking up refreshed if the therapist did not bring you out or you will regain awareness naturally feeling refreshed relaxed and good. You will remember everything that you want or need to remember to help you. You will not do anything that you do not want to do. Therapeutic hypnosis or trance is not stage hypnosis. Please contact me with any questions that you may have on hypnosis.

Please get in touch if you would like to discuss how we can work together and if you have any questions not answered here. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain!