020 8351 2744
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is the process for inducing a trance. Your conscious mind is the rational part of your mind which allows awareness of yourself and governs your day to day thoughts however it can also be disbelieving, governed by negative thinking and filled with busy thoughts. When a person is hypnotised the conscious part of their mind is subdued allowing the hypnotherapist to talk to their unconscious mind which governs habits, impulses and irrational thoughts. Although people are often very consciously aware of their problems they often have difficulty making changes as this behaviour is so ingrained in their subconscious. The hypnotherapist will therefore through the use of suggestions, speech patterns and other techniques reframe their behaviours so that new and positive changes can be made.
What is a Trance?
A trance is something that we have all experienced at some point and most of us go into a trance on a daily basis. When we daydream for example we are often so engrossed in our internal thoughts that we shut out what is happening in the outside world. Perhaps your friends or family have tried to attract your attention whilst you were in this trance and it has taken some time before you have registered that someone has been talking to you. Hypnotherapy techniques simply allow you to go into this state of internal awareness more easily so that day to day distractions can be ignored. This allows your subconscious mind to listen to suggestions given by the hypnotherapist so that negative thought and behaviour patterns can be modified.
Will I be out of control?
You are always in control during a hypnotherapy session and you cannot be made to do something that you would not normally do. I always aim to create a working partnership with my clients so that you can ask questions at every step of the way enabling you to feel comfortable with the hypnotic process.
Can I get stuck in a trance?
No it is impossible for you to get stuck in a trance. You can come out of a trance at any time but generally clients feel so comfortable with the process that they are happy to remain listening to the hypnotherapist’s suggestions.
How long does each session last?
An initial assessment usually takes 90 minutes and during this time we will discuss in detail the background to your symptoms, how they impact you and what your final goal will be. If possible I like you to experience a trance by the end of this first session so that you are comfortable with the process however depending on the nature of your issue and the complexity we may chose to do this during the next session. Following the initial assessment each hypnotherapy session should last for 60 minutes.
Stop Smoking sessions are the exception to this and generally take place over one session which will last for two hours.
How many sessions will I need?
Beware of any hypnotherapist who tells you exactly how many sessions you may need as everyone has different symptoms and behaviours which will vary in complexity. We can say that on average 3 to 6 sessions are required to tackle most problems however this is likely to be longer in the case of depression. Our stop smoking session is completed in one session which takes two hours.
Do you offer guarantees?
No therapist, doctor or alternative practitioner can ever guarantee a total cure as certain treatments will work differently depending on the individual and the symptoms involved. What I can guarantee is that I will always have your best interests at heart and will use all the knowledge, skills and experience at my disposal to assist you. My conduct is strictly governed by the General Hypnotherapy Code of Ethics outlined in the link below.
