FAQ

Hypnosis is 100% safe.  Most people find it to be a very relaxing and enjoyable experience.

In therapeutic hypnotherapy you remain in control throughout.

Therapy is not mind control. No hypnotherapist can make you do anything you don’t wish to do.

The hypnotherapist and the client are working together in partnership. If a suggestion is offered to the client which does not fit within their moral code, they will simply reject it.

You will NEVER be asked to do anything against your moral code.

Even if the hypnotherapist left the room, you would simply emerge from hypnosis feeling absolutely fine.

Hypnosis is an entirely natural phenomenon. It’s been around for centuries and has been recognised and approved by the British Medical Association and the American Medical Association for over 60 years.

Hypnotherapy has been widely researched and endorsed by many medical authorities for a variety of medical, dental, and psycho-therapeutic uses.

Here are some of the world’s most respected medical associations who have long recognized the validity of hypnotic phenomena and the effectiveness of hypnosis as a therapeutic intervention:

• Royal Society of Medicine
• The British Psychological Society
• American Medical Association
• American Dental Association
• The United States’ National Institute of Health
• Mayo Clinic
• Harvard University Medical School
• Yale University Medical School

Hypnotherapy is supported by more scientific research than any other complementary therapy.
The Which? Guide to Complementary Therapies, 2002

 

The consensus in the medical community is that hypnosis shortens treatment time and can provide invaluable relief when other treatments fail.

Yes, anyone can be hypnotised.

Hypnosis is an entirely natural phenomenon. All human beings have an innate ability to enter hypnosis. It’s an ability unrelated to intelligence, personality type or imagination.

There are however two prerequisites:

1. You must want to be hypnotised. A hypnotherapist cannot force you to go into hypnosis against your will.
2. You must have the ability to concentrate. It is not appropriate for very young children, for people with certain mental disabilities, or for people under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

My aim is to help my clients achieve positive change rapidly, in the minimum number of sessions possible, whilst providing them with the tools and strategies to make their change long-lasting.

The number of sessions required depends upon your individual needs, the type of issue being addressed, and your personal history.

Each individual is as unique as their fingerprints. And so are his/ her problems.

Hypnotherapy is a very effective therapy, but its success largely depends on your motivation to change.

A typical hypnotherapy process consists of an initial assessment/session and 2 or 3 follow-up sessions.

Some clients achieve their goal after the first session. At times more sessions are required. Some clients keep a regular appointment for ongoing support, and others see me as and when needed.

We will review your progress at the end of each session so that at any time you can make a valued judgement about how your therapy is progressing.

Hypnotherapy is a very effective therapy but its success directly and proportionally depends on your desire and motivation to change and on the part you are willing to play.

In some clinics, the hypnotherapist will simply ask you to sit back and relax in a comfortable chair while they read you a one-size-fits-all script with some lovely, new-agey music in the background. That’s not me.

My therapeutic process is interactive, and at times can be intense. If you desire change, you must be ready to participate fully in the process that will produce that change. Such participation usually involves honesty, openness, giving expression to long suppressed or repressed emotions.

I will skilfully and patiently guide you in this process, but I cannot force you to fully participate. That is your choice. Your responsibility. Hypnosis is not mind control. It requires real commitment. It requires going deep inside.

The majority of people who enter into the therapeutic process motivated and committed to change achieve genuine and permanent change. Fast.

The simple answer is “NO”. You are ALWAYS in control.

You will remain in control of your actions and choices throughout the session.

Hypnotherapy is very different from what you see on stage shows or TV programmes. We are working together in partnership to achieve the positive change you need.

If a suggestion was offered to the client which did not fit within their moral code, they would simply reject it.

Hypnosis is a natural state of selective, inward focused attention. Hypnosis has existed since the beginning of human history. One way of defining hypnosis is as the bypassing of the critical mind and the establishment of acceptable selective thinking.

A very simple example of a natural hypnotic state would be when you are watching a compelling film. If you are fully absorbed in the story, you may not hear if someone is calling you, or you may not notice someone coming into the room.

Our ‘unconscious’ mind refers to that part of the brain where we store our memories, patterns of behaviour and habits. These are the behaviours that we have developed over time and we continue to do automatically. For instance, if someone develops a habit to smoke a cigarette whenever a specific situation occurs, this will continue automatically without any real conscious effort posed by that individual.

Under hypnosis, the unconscious mind can be changed and reprogrammed so that new, desirable behaviour patterns can form. What effectively happens is a ‘rewiring’ of the brain.

Neurological research confirms these actual changes occur both on an anatomical and physiological level. They are explained through the neural plasticity of the brain.

Neural plasticity is a term used in the field of the Neuroscience to refer to the brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections.

Neural plasticity is essential for the development of brain circuits, creating the differences in those circuits that make us individuals. Neural plasticity mediates the acquisition of knowledge and skill, and brain repair after injury. It also leads to misperceptions and pain, and maladaptive limiting behaviour.

Neural plasticity occurs as neurons respond to the activities of neighbouring neurons that are spontaneously active or are activated by events in the external environment.

Hypnosis and NLP techniques can play a key role in promoting neural plasticity when it is useful to us and changing it when it has limiting consequences.

Hypnosis is a natural state of mind, and clients are often surprised that they can hear what is said to them, that they can answer questions, or that they can remember the session.

Unless you enter a deeper state, you may not feel any different than when you are daydreaming on your favourite sofa, reading a captivating book, or when you are immersed in a good film or in an engaging piece of music.

For many clients, hypnosis feels like a lovely state of relaxation, when in fact it’s a heightened state of concentration where you get to focus on one thing to the exclusion of everything else.

As we deal with issues and they become clearer, clients find themselves feeling incredibly relieved, empowered by genuine feelings of motivation, determination, confidence and – importantly – feelings of certainty and control.

Our session usually begins with a conversation. We discuss your goal or situation, the hypnosis process, and any questions you might have.

When we use hypnosis, I help you let go of physical tensions and get your mind into a state similar to pre- and post-sleep, daydreaming, or meditation. Hypnosis is most often a state of intensified physical relaxation and mental focus.

You remain conscious throughout the session, interacting with me during hypnosis by signalling, or speaking. Hypnosis is not sleep, and you do not lose control.

You may experience some dissociation during hypnosis, but this does not hinder the process. In fact, it can enhance the effectiveness of hypnotic suggestions.

When hypnosis is concluded, it is normal to feel so relaxed that you don’t want to move. You can emerge from hypnosis slowly and gently, and you will be able to go about your day normally.

After a hypnotherapy session a client will feel often feel relaxed, rejuvenated, calm and re-energised – ready to start afresh and live life to the full.

Clients are required to complete a New Client Intake Form requesting disclosure of certain information before undertaking hypnotherapy. It is a simple procedure. It may take 10 – 20 minutes.

An adult caregiver (typically Mom or Dad) must fill out the Parent Consent Form prior to the hypnotherapy session of a minor.

Whilst hypnotherapy is very safe, if you are epileptic, undergoing psychiatric treatment, or if you are under certain prescription medication I need to know in advance and therapy may be declined, or deferred.

Please be aware that therapy depends on the individual’s ability to connect with feelings. In certain cases, medication might flatten or affect feelings to such a degree that therapy may not be possible at the desired time.

Yes, online video is becoming popular for Hypnotherapy, NLP and Coaching.

For successful online sessions you need the following:

• A stable internet connection
• Access to a computer or tablet or phone with a webcam
• A Skype/Facetime account or an email address for Zoom
• Somewhere comfortable to have the session, where you will not be interrupted and can concentrate
• Privacy
• The use of headphones, or a headset is recommended

My general office hours are:

Monday –  Friday 08:30am to 08:30pm
Saturday – Sunday 10:00am 8:00pm

Out of office hours appointments are available by arrangement, but such sessions incur an additional surcharge.

In special circumstances, we can arrange for the session to take place on your premises. However, there will be extra charges to cover travel, extra time and expenses.

All sessions must be paid in advance at the time of booking.

All major debit/credit cards are accepted and you can also pay by PayPal.

I do not accept cheques.

In person, I accept cash and all major debit/credit cards if you wish to pay for extra time, or for a future session.

Please note that Smoking Cessation Therapy is a minimum two-hour session.

Cancellation/Re-Scheduling
If you cannot make an appointment, please give me at least 48 hours’ notice by emailing. You can re-schedule or cancel and receive a refund. If you do not give at least 48 hours’ notice, you will be liable for the full cost of the session. No-shows will be billed.

Life doesn’t always go as planned and I totally understand that there may be times when you just cannot make it to your appointment. As long as you give me a minimum of 48-hours’ notice, which enables me to book another client into your time slot, no charge will be made.

Clients giving less than 48-hours-notice are, however, liable to pay for missed sessions.

I completely understand that delays can happen, however I must try to keep the other clients on time. Your late arrival will require that I end the session at the scheduled time, meaning that your session will unfortunately be shorter. I reserve this time for you and only you and have other clients scheduled after your time.

As with any medical or therapeutic process there can be no definite guarantees. No surgeon will or can guarantee their work and results. This is no different for my hypnotherapy programmes.

Hypnotic programmes are reliant on ‘you’ the client. You will be required to be 100% committed, opened & motivated. In return, I guarantee I will do my best to help you.