HOW HYPNOTHERAPY WORKS
WHAT IS hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is a form of talking therapy that uses hypnosis to help people make changes in their lives.
So what is hypnosis?
Focused Attention
Hypnosis is often described as a state of intense focus. When you’re highly focused, you become more receptive to new thoughts or ideas that you might otherwise ignore. You may experience this when immersed in a good book or film, accepting the existence of invisibility cloaks or ghosts! On a more practical level, hypnosis can direct your attention inwards so you can consider new, positive ideas.
Deeper Processing
Our minds are often jumbled with daily concerns and worries. Hypnosis can help clear this mental clutter, opening a path to deeper processing and acceptance of suggestions and guidance. Brain imaging studies have shown that the brain is less distracted and more self-aware during hypnosis.
WHAT CAN HYPNOTHERAPY DO?
Imagine a garden where certain plants aren’t growing despite your best efforts. You water them regularly and get rid of weeds, yet they continue to struggle while other plants flourish.
What you can’t see is that beneath the soil, some of the roots are damaged or tangled, preventing the nutrients from reaching the plants. Simply adding more water or fertilizer to the surface won’t solve the fundamental issue.
When confronting our problems we often try surface-level solutions (positive thinking, willpower, even ignoring!), but the real issues lie in our subconscious, like those hidden roots beneath the soil.
Hypnotherapy works by gently delving beneath the surface to access and repair these root systems. It doesn’t just treat the visible symptoms, but addresses the underlying causes that were planted long ago and need updating. Once the roots are untangled and healed, the whole garden can flourish naturally once again.
WHAT CAN HYPNOTHERAPY TREAT?
Because it works on the root cause of the issue, hypnotherapy is able to treat a range of different problems. These include:
Imposter Syndrome
Quitting smoking/ unwanted habits
Self-esteem and Confidence
Anxiety
Procrastination
Stress and Overwhelm
Fears and Phobias
WHAT HAPPENs IN A HYPNOTHERAPY SESSION?
In a typical hypnotherapy session you start by talking about what you want to work on. You will then be invited to close your eyes before being guided into a relaxed state of ‘trance’. Some clients find great benefits from the relaxation part alone.
The hypnotherapist then gives you suggestions to help you achieve the changes you want to make in your life. During hypnosis you may be focusing on every word you hear while at other times you may find your mind wandering off to wherever it wants to go. As your attention comes and goes, the critical part of your mind can stand down for a while, enabling you to take back control of the thoughts and beliefs you want to change.
