Frequently Asked Questions about Hypnosis

What is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a natural, creative, dreamlike state, similar to when you are about to drift off to sleep. The depth of hypnosis is comfortable, relaxing and appropriate for your imagination to work for you. Stories and imagery are also used, to make it easy for the unconscious mind to get ideas for useful change. Self-hypnosis is learned as part of the session and you can use this afterwards for relaxation and in many other ways. See "What if..."

What is Neuro-linguistics? (NLP)

NLP was developed by studying and modelling the strategies of successful people. Because we think mainly in sequences of pictures and words, when you make changes to these you can gain control over how you feel and behave in situations. It can be very simple.
For example: NLP is also very useful for motivation and wherever you want to achieve a goal. Making the picture bright, large, moving and colourful, it becomes more compelling and real. This picture could be of the holiday you are planning. When you think of the flight itself, you could make that picture grey and indistinct, and zoom it off into the distance, removing most of its power over your feelings. When you zoom in the bright holiday picture, the flight starts to become relatively unimportant. Likewise with sound: changing tone and location will affect the strength of feeling.

How does Hypnosis work?

Hypnosis works with your unconscious imagination to find an effective solution and enable you to regain control over your own responses.
For example: panic attacks, usually an unconscious response to stress and anxiety. Consciously, you may be aware that panic behaviour is an unnecessary limitation but this doesn’t stop the symptoms recurring. Hypnosis and NLP can help you to update what your subconscious mind has learned, and find alternatives to the symptom or behaviour. Beneficial changes then happen quickly and easily.

Why use Hypnosis?

Hypnosis is used for quick, effective and lasting change.
Ericksonian hypnosis works rather like a guided dream, where you are able to imagine what life will be like after you have made changes.
Once the conscious and unconscious minds are in agreement, it is easy to find ways to achieve this, using your own imagination, experience and resources.
For example: fear of flying. Sometimes a problem develops gradually, perhaps after a few bumpy flights. As a retired airline pilot, Anne is in a unique position to explain how an aeroplane flies and to help you to relax on future journeys. You may also have memories of a time when you were able to fly and feel comfortable and relaxed. Hypnosis helps your unconscious mind to access this relaxation and re-set the system, as it were.
Another example: smoking cessation. Your session is tailored for you and includes coping with friends and family now that you are a non-smoker, and also weight stability. Maybe you want to quit (conscious mind) but believe that smoking is relaxing (unconscious mind). Once you realise that you can be even more relaxed using hypnosis, this argument fades away and it is easy to stop smoking, and remain a non-smoker.
Or you might say: “I’ve got no will-power!” as the reason for seeking help. Where the imagination and will-power are at odds, the imagination will usually win. Hypnosis uses the power of your imagination, aligned with your own motivation and goal-seeking abilities to make quitting easy and lasting.

What is involved?

Each session lasts about an hour. The first session is scheduled for an hour and a half, to allow time to answer any queries and gather information. Techniques are a combination of hypnosis and NLP, and include instruction in self-hypnosis. After one session you can expect to notice beneficial changes. Sometimes a few sessions are necessary, for example in re-learning good sleep patterns.
Smoking cessation is scheduled as a two-hour session.

Will it give me what I want?

Hypnotherapy is suitable for all ages and is used for many types of problem and also for achieving more of what you want in life. Your hypnosis session is tailored to you and the outcome you want to achieve. For example: Fear of flying can be a combination of many factors, because everyone’s experience is different. Often it is a fear of losing control, or a combination of previous flying experiences and insufficient technical information to feel comfortable about flying.
Information on how to make an appointment: Contact

What if I used Self-hypnosis to make changes in my life?

There are many exciting ways that you can use self-hypnosis.
“Power-napping”, ten or twenty minutes of self-hypnosis, enables you to feel refreshed and rested during a long day. How about sleeping when you want to? No more jet lag! Creative ideas, maybe for that important meeting. Using what you learn in other areas of your life. Improve your game of golf. To name but a few...

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