Many people might be unaware of what hypnotherapy really is. Some see it as mumbo-jumbo and something which can mess with your mind.
This is not true. Hypnotherapy is an evidence-based therapy, with over 70,000 research references worldwide.
Hypnotherapy is not some form of magic pill or quick fix either. It requires that the client be committed to change and prepared to make the effort to make that change a reality.
The National Council for Hypnotherapy the UK’s leading not-for-profit hypnotherapy professional association, representing over 1,800 professional hypnotherapists.
Every NCH practising member is fully insured and trained to the highest standards and a common factor they all share is that they want to help people to make changes in their lives.
Hypnosis is a different state of consciousness which you can naturally enter so that, for therapeutic purposes, beneficial corrections may be given directly to your unconscious mind. In this way, hypnosis is an effective way of making contact with our inner (unconscious) self, which is both a reservoir of unrecognised potential and knowledge as well as being the unwitting source of many of our problems.
Clinical hypnotherapy means using advanced methods of hypnosis and other techniques to treat a variety of medical and psychological problems and upwards of 85 per cent of people will readily respond to clinical hypnotherapy.
Those who disparage hypnotherapy and hypnotism say people under hypnosis can be ‘forced’ to do something against their will. This is not true. At all times, the therapist’s client is aware of what is going on around them.
It must be remembered that clinical hypnotherapy is an established complementary therapy with an excellent track record. A number of medical university hospitals now offer an overview of clinical hypnotherapy as a Selective Study Unit.
Clinical hypnotherapy is highly cost effective with patient benefit often being achieved rapidly. Also clinical hypnotherapy can be successful where other interventions have not produced the desired outcome.
So, how does it work?
Hypnotherapy can be used to treat a wide range of issues like fears and phobias, anxiety and stress, panic attacks, insomnia, lack of self-confidence, weight management, smoking cessation and even physical conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, skin conditions and migraines.
Once you have found a hypnotherapist near you (use the NCH directory by clicking here), there is usually an initial consultation to explore your issue and for you to ask any questions that you might have. The number of hypnotherapy sessions required thereafter ranges from 1 to 3-5 sessions of approx 1-2 hours duration. If formal trance is used during the session you will probably experience the pleasant, relaxing feeling of being in trance for approx 30-45 minutes.
Hypnotherapy sessions are generally customised to your individual needs and wants, and your beliefs are respected at all times. If you want a specific technique or approach to be used or avoided then mention this to your hypnotherapist and your treatment plan will be adjusted in accordance with your wishes.