Frustrated at your failed diet; your inability to stop smoking; your feeling of being anxious and stressed? For these and many other problems we all face from time to time, hypnotherapy can help and has been proven to do so over the long term and not just as a quick-fix solution. 
The NHS also advises people to ensure they choose a qualified hypnotherapist with a solid healthcare background. Most health professionals who practise hypnotherapy belong to a professional organisation and are regulated by the Complementary and Natural Health Care Council.
The National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH) is a professional body which holds one of the largest registers of independent Hypnotherapists in the United Kingdom and strives to maintain the highest standards among its members.
Hypnotherapy is an evidence based therapy, says the NCH, with over 70,000 research references worldwide. However, it is often misunderstood by the public.
“It is important to understand that hypnotherapy is not a magic pill. It requires that the client be committed to change and prepared to make the effort to make that change a reality,” says the NCH.
While hypnotherapy helps people to make changes in their behaviour, it cannot force anyone to make any changes against their will.
Hypnosis is a natural state of mind and, contrary to what many people believe, it is not always a trance state or a deep sleep even though a person in hypnosis may appear to be sleeping.
“Hypnosis is really natural state of mind and is an important part of everyday life. Whenever our mind wanders, daydreams or is focused on something, such as reading a book, driving a familiar route, watching a film we are in a state of hypnosis,” says the NCH.
While the client is in a state of hypnosis, the hypnotherapist will make suggestions for change for specific behaviours.
For example if the client wants to stop smoking, suggestions would focus on detail like not wanting a cigarette after a meal or outside with friends, not liking the smell or taste of tobacco and so on.
Since the unconscious mind is being directly addressed it is easier to accept those suggestions and change behaviour. This is because we are not thinking critically and are more open to changes in behaviour.
It is proven that clinical hypnotherapy helps with conditions like problem behaviours (including bad habits); fears and phobias, stress and anxiety, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and management of pain, including child birth.
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