About Hypnotherapy
Hypnosis can be traced back to earliest times and continues to be a source of interest and wonder. There is little mystery to it, but there is a misunderstanding mostly because of the sensational treatment it has received in books and magazines, and from stage and TV shows. However, it has withstood the test of time, and increasingly it is gaining acceptance by the medical profession. As more people understand that the art of hypnosis is simply an extension of everyday techniques used by us all, the irrational fears that some people have towards its use will disappear. The more accurate the information we have about hypnosis, the better we can appreciate and utilise it. In view of this I give some answers to the most frequently asked questions about hypnosis.
What is Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is simply a relaxed daydream condition in which a person remains fully aware of their surroundings and in charge of their actions. Many experts believe we enter hypnosis as much as 80% of our day! It is as natural as breathing. It is just a profound deep relaxing state. In fact 15 minutes of hypnosis can be the equivalent of one hour of restful sleep.
Will I be asleep or unconscious while in hypnosis?
When you are in hypnosis you are awake and aware – you are not asleep. Your mind is still active; your thoughts are under your control. You can hear, speak, laugh, scratch and remember everything that has happened.
Can I be made to do embarrassing things as on TV or stage shows?
While in hypnosis, you wouldn’t do anything that you wouldn’t normally do. It is important to remember that subjects of stage or TV shows are all volunteers, thus willing to be uninhibited while on stage.
Can anyone be hypnotised?
Yes, if they want to be. The only people who cannot reach a ‘formal’ hypnotic state are those who are too young (babies), those suffering from severe brain damage, or those who won’t allow it to happen.
What is hypnotherapy?
To put it simply, hypnotherapy is the practice of working with the subconscious mind while a person is relaxed. It is a dynamic therapy suitable for resolving many problems and in many cases can be very effective in just a few sessions.
What Happens in Hypnotherapy?
During hypnosis you allow yourself to become completely relaxed, choosing to respond to the suggestions of the hypnotherapist. In this relaxed condition you are in contact with your subconscious mind, the seat of emotional and behavioural problems. If we understand that the subconscious mind is about 90% while the conscious mind is about 10% we can easily understand that it is more effective to work with the subconscious mind. It is now widely recognised by doctors and therapists that mind and body are inextricably linked together, and that disease and tension in the mind can lead to disease and tension in the body. With hypnotherapy we are able to get in touch with the subconscious mind and so deal directly with the cause of the problem rather than dealing simply with the symptom.
How many sessions would I need?
Of course, this depends on the problem. However, many issues like smoking can be dealt with in only 1 session but most are 4 – 6 sessions to ensure old behaviours and habits are changed.
About Hypnotherapy
Bridget English is a qualified counsellor and hypnotherapist who is located in Parramatta, NSW, treating a range of issues including anxiety, stress, weight loss, fertility and birth.
Hypnosis is simply a relaxed daydream condition in which a person remains fully aware of their surroundings and in charge of their actions. Many experts believe we enter hypnosis as much as 80% of our day! It is as natural as breathing. In fact 15 minutes of hypnosis can be the equivalent of one hour of restful sleep.
When you are in hypnosis you are awake and aware – you are not asleep. Your mind is still active; your thoughts are under your control. You can hear, speak, laugh, scratch and remember everything that has happened.
To put it simply, hypnotherapy is the practice of working with the subconscious mind while a person is in hypnosis. It is a dynamic therapy suitable for resolving many problems and in many cases can be very effective in just a few sessions.
During hypnosis you allow yourself to become relaxed, choosing to respond to the suggestions of the hypnotherapist. In this relaxed condition you are in contact with your subconscious mind, the seat of emotional and behavioural problems. If we understand that the subconscious mind is about 90% while the conscious mind is about 10% we can easily understand that it is more effective to work with the subconscious mind. It is this characteristic of acceptance that can bring about changes in behaviour, banish fears or change habits.
This trance like state is when learning and openness to change are most likely to occur – which is why hypnotherapy is so effective.
The hypnotherapist plans to ‘plant’ ideas in the subconscious and give suggestions that enable the desired changes. For instance one could hypnotically condition the smoker that he is now a non-smoker and that cigarettes are revolting and dangerous. One could hypnotically persuade the overweight person that they no longer enjoy bread, potatoes, rice, sweet foods etc. These new ideas can become embedded in the subconscious and lead to the desired change.
Bridget has trained with the National College of Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy (NCHP) and is a Certified Hypnotic Birthing Process Practitioner as well as a licensed Hypno-band Practitioner and has a diploma in Counselling from the Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors.
Her training includes varied approaches including: psychoanalytic (Freudian), Jungian, Adlerian, Behaviourism, Humanistic, CBT, Ericksonian hypnotherapy and Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) as we are all different and require different kinds of approaches depending on the personality of the individual.
Her focus is to provide you with a high quality service where you are seen quickly for assessment and offered clinically effective talking therapies appropriate to your needs, within a supportive and understanding professional relationship.
The first appointment is a bit longer than an hour where she spends half the session getting to know you and the reasons for your visit, and the rest of the session will be hypnotherapy to alleviate any of the issues discussed in the session.
Some sessions may only require hypnotherapy – especially if you know exactly what the issue is and other sessions require a bit more psychotherapy (counselling) but between us we will build a trusting and open relationship where you will feel comfortable in discovering who you are and where you want to be.
If you would like to make an appointment please email embracehypnotherapy@gmail.com or call/text anytime on 0478 110 344.
Rates
Initial Consultation: up to 1.5 hours $100
Following Consultations: 45 minutes to an hour $100
Drug and Alcohol Addiction: 90 minutes $150
Smoking Cessation: 90 minutes $500 (includes free back-up session if required within 12 months of initial appointment)
Hypnoband: 4 sessions $500
Hypnobirthing: 4 sessions $500
Hypnofertility: 4 sessions $500