What is Hypnotherapy?

The useful analogy of the mind is that of an ice-berg, with our conscious thinking the visible tip and the subconscious the much greater part that exists below the surface. Our subconscious mind controls non-voluntary bodily functions e.g. breathing, leaving the conscious mind free to plan and do. It’s also the store room for our past memories, experiences, relationships and some of these will lie further below the surface than others. We are all the results of past subconscious programming from parents, peers, teachers even television etc and sometimes that programming will leave us living with negative effects that can impact on our lives. 

Hypnotherapy is nothing like what you see in magic shows. It is simply a state of relaxation where your conscious mind is temporarily bypassed, allowing the hypnotherapist to suggest things to your unconscious mind to bring about a positive change. Hypnotherapy is one of the best ways to achieve the changes that you want. 

My job is to work with you using relaxation techniques to enable you to get in touch with your subconscious mind and to then make suggestions to re-programme those messages so that you can make the changes you are looking for. It’s a very safe and natural process – think of it as a relaxed dream state –  indeed, we experience hypnotic trance-like states often when for example we lose ourselves in a good book or film. 

The idea that the hypnotist can take over the minds of the subjects and control their actions is an entirely media driven concept. There are no ‘clucking chickens’ in hypnotherapy! In the trance state you can hear everything around you and control all of your actions. Therefore, you can’t be forced to do something against your will. You are always in control because your subconscious mind will only accept the suggestions if you are ready to make those changes. How much you are motivated will ultimately determine how successful it’s going to be.