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CLINICAL HYPNOTHERAPY ‘Hypnosis is as old as mankind’
In the past hypnosis has conjured up the image of entertainment. Nowadays more and more people are seeking its successful use in the clinical setting.
Contrary to popular belief, hypnosis is not a state of deep sleep; it is a common everyday experience that people dip in and out of, like being lost in a book or engrossed in a good film for example.
Think of times when you have been half awake/half asleep, before you fully wake to start the day. You may be dreaming, but at the same time aware that you are dreaming; simply more interested in focusing on the dream rather than on any external sounds or influences. Then there is that sometimes alarming experience when you realise that you have been entirely unaware of the last stretch of motorway you have just driven along. [Incidentally - be reassured, you are perfectly safe when receiving hypnotherapy, if anything happens when you are in a trance that requires your attention, you will instantly switch from your inner landscape to whatever it is that needs your full attention.] You may also recall times of apparently, aimless daydreaming. Yet it has often been at those times that you've had great ideas or have found solutions.
‘Hypnosis is safer than many conventional medicines’
A combination of the three above examples of naturally occurring trance illustrates many of the benefits of working on this level. We have so many more resources, qualities and abilities than we consciously realise. We are also so much more creative, inventive and imaginative than we think we are. We are able to think far more laterally, logically and rationally than we had thought we could.
You will be ‘in control' at all times and be able to snap out of your trance, should you choose to. In this way, you can see that no one can hypnotise you, it is natural and gentle and always your choice. I have never heard of any negative side effects, like ‘getting stuck in trance’ or revealing private information against your will. Almost unanimously, people consider this a pleasant relaxing experience that they are reluctant to end.
HOW DOES HYPNOSIS WORK?
Working with the Conscious mind AND the Unconscious mind...
We have all heard of our mind being divided into two parts, we use the terms 'conscious' and 'unconscious' to clarify our understanding of how the mind is organised. To simplify this further consider an iceberg, with the pinnacle visible above the ocean relating to the conscious mind; whilst the most powerful and vast part being below the surface - this refers to the seemingly unfathomable unconscious mind that remains unseen.
This makes sense because the conscious mind is the part we are aware of using, it is responsible for critical thinking; analysing, making judgments and decisions based on the information in focus. The conscious mind is also responsible for self-talk and seeks answers to “why”? Whereas the unconscious mind knows why, does all your perceiving and feeling and is associated with memories, habitual behaviours and intuition.
The unconscious mechanisms are much more difficult to explain. William James [American psychologist] said that the unconscious mind is the horse and the conscious mind is the rider. It is the relationship and communication between the two that is most important in the process of hypnotherapy. The horse and rider will soon part company when each wants to go in a different direction, looking for different things without regard for the other.
'Hypnotherapy can restore harmony'.
By now, you are probably beginning to realise that hypnotherapy it is about communicating with your inner world and working with what is already within you, utilising your strengths, capabilities and experiences in a more useful way.
So, knowing that you already have the resources within you makes the task of change far easier for you and the best part is; that hypnosis itself requires no conscious effort from you.
Many people fear that they “will not be able to be hypnotised” - actually anyone who can focus their attention, use their imagination and have a desire to change using hypnosis, will experience a unique form of trance forming.
Some report profound experiences of relief and comfort, expressing amazement at the seemingly rapid, effortless nature from their perspective. Comments are frequently heard such as “I don’t know how it worked, but I feel so different now.”
The whole process will be explained to you beforehand and you will further understand the collaborative nature of the work we will be doing together and how confidentiality and respect is at the heart of all that we will be doing.
NEURO-LINGUISTIC PROGRAMMING [NLP]
Why are some people more able to cope with events and situations, while other people allow those same events to affect and control their lives? Some people “just get on with it” whilst others, when faced with the same situation, remain troubled and upset.
The discipline of NLP examines how people can experience exactly the same event and yet interpret, react to, and remember it differently.
If the strategy you are using to interpret the world and events is not working well, this may mean you are “feeling stuck”, or consider "it is just the way I am” and “I just have to live with it...”
People tend to live their lives in patterns. NLP helps you to recognize and break those patterns. You can be taught various NLP techniques to influence your unconscious to enable you ‘to change your mind’ and do things differently.
NLP may sound a little daunting, in simple terms it breaks down to:
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