Hypnotherapy – If… Therapy

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About Hypnotherapy

Hypnosis has moved on from the days of pocket watch and Svengali figure, is so much more than the onion eating entertainment of willing exhibitionists. Neuroscience is giving us access to neural activity imaging, revealing patterns explaining thought loops and habitual behaviours, patterns which can lead to stagnation or the inability to move forward.

There are different ways to deliver and receive hypnosis; the more traditional ‘trance’ work, or conversational hypnosis, akin to a talking therapy, and all those in between. The style of technique used will depend on what best suits you as an individual. Whichever way, you will retain awareness and heightened focus throughout.

We are ultimately more capable, more resourceful, more imaginative than we think.
The problem, ironically, is that we think too much.
Sometimes the more we think the less we can achieve.
You can probably think of a time when trying too hard has let you down.

Imagine if you could tap into the level of creativity, of inventiveness, that you experience say, when you are having a good dream. Do you ever wake up and think,‘Wow, where did that come from?’. The answer is… your unconscious mind. Hypnosis is about learning how to access that part of your mind in an interesting and pleasurable way. It is about you learning to put a restrictive logic to one side, allowing you to come up with innovative solutions, to open the door to change.

So whatever your circumstances, if there is room in your life to do something better, to feel something differently, then hypnosis could be the right thing for you. Among other things, hypnotherapy can be particularly useful for Anxiety, Stress, Insomnia, Unwanted Habits, Relationship Problems, Emotional Difficulties, Phobias, improving CBT outcomes, in conjunction with Family Therapy, IBS, Pain Management, Self Esteem and setting and achieving Life Goals.

What is hypnosis?

Although the benefits of hypnosis are becoming more and more widely recognised, and are endorsed by the British Medical Association, people still, understandably, have many questions about the nature of hypnosis and the format of a hypnotherapy session.

Hypnosis is a working together to personalise whatever change is necessary, using a slightly altered, more creative brain state, one which we naturally drift in and out of spontaneously, whether in a daydream like trance or in conversation, one where we are more open to new ideas and suggestion. The hypnotherapy available at if… therapy is largely present and future oriented, (except where occasional exploration of past events is beneficial), it is very much solution focused, drawing on a wide range of psychotherapies and techniques, including among others, Positive Psychology, CBT, ACT, EMDR, Mindfulness, Havening, Symbolism, Psychoneuroimmunology, Conversational Hypnotherapy but most of all, that most resourceful and best qualified, yourself.

Recent advances in neurology have brought us closer to understanding the hypnotic process than ever before. Year on year scientists and pharmaceutical companies are devoting more attention to studies from leading universities and medical centres, such as Harvard Medical School, studies concerning ‘mind over matter’.

A new era in brain imaging means we are gaining an insight into the workings of the human mind as never before. New light is being shed on this most complex organ and connections being made between our states of mind, emotions and beliefs, and our physical health; the immune, hormonal and central nervous systems. We are being given a greater understanding of different levels of brain functioning, the conscious and the unconscious mind.

Contrary to the idea that hypnosis is somehow a loss of control, it is actually a state of focused attention. Almost always a pleasurable feeling it is a brain state in which nobody can be made to say or do anything they don’t want to. Importantly it can offer new perspectives on old problems.

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What will it cost and how long will it last?

With each recommended course of action being bespoke it is difficult to quote a number of sessions required. Occasionally one session is all that is needed, more usual would be a suggested three meetings.

Session fee is from £70. Sessions are generally one hour although an introductory meeting may last an hour and a half.

Where hypnotherapy is often a good solution for those seeking short term therapy, sometimes circumstance dictates longer term work as beneficial, alternatively, even when there is ‘nothing in particular’, monthly sessions can be recommended just for general ‘mind maintenance’.

If hypnotherapy is something you are curious about, something you would consider using, or whether you want to clarify its suitability for your personal situation, please get in touch to discuss.

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