What is Clinical Hypnotherapy?
Clinical Hypnotherapy is a psychotherapy induced through an effective aid of clinical hypnosis in a direct and evidence-based intervention. It has a wide range of benefits in treating mental health issues, addressing unwanted behaviours and learning new habits for a more skilful relation to the outside world.
Hypnosis in Behavioural Change
You may wonder how is Clinical Hypnotherapy different from other therapeutic approaches and how can the state of hypnosis access our brain’s natural tendency to create patterns and habits. Due to the highly associative mechanism of the brain processes, Hypnotherapy is used to help patients access the subconscious processes and automatic responses of our daily life through the many associative memories which form our habits and behaviours. The state of hypnosis can help patients access those highly associative processes in the subconscious mind and help create new patterns and pathways. Paired with your choice of Psychotherapy, hypnosis serves as a direct catalyst to bring the desired change to the course of maladaptive and often automatic responses.
Common issues and uses of Clinical Hypnotherapy include:
- Stress, anxiety and sleep issues
- Compulsive and/or unwanted behaviours
- Anger management and emotional regulation
- Post-traumatic stress disorder, Bereavement
- Unresolved past issues and trauma
- Weight-management and cravings
- Body image issues
- Fears and phobias
- Public speaking and sports performance
- Unexplained complaints of physical pain or somatic symptoms
- General well-being and relaxation
What to expect from Clinical Hypnotherapy sessions and FAQ:
You should expect to be treated with respect to your confidential privacy and individuality as with any form of Psychotherapy. Hypnotherapy is often a direct and relatively short intervention of 3 to 6 sessions, but can also be used over a longer period of time depending on your issues and a preferred treatment approach.
The first session will include a comprehensive introduction to the science and states of hypnosis and a history of your presenting issues will be carefully assessed by our practitioner. A short Hypnotic experience might take place in the very first session and most people find their first hypnotic experience to be very relaxing and leaving one feeling calm and settled. Once all the necessary information is gathered and the goals for the sessions are established, your practitioner will prepare you for the start of your treatment. Should you still have any concerning questions or doubts about the Hypnosis before the session, your therapist will provide with an open space to address those.
Will I remember what happened during the session?
Contrary to many misconceptions about Hypnosis, it is neither magic nor a sleeping state. The client will have the alert awareness throughout the session.
One does not lose control in Hypnosis, and cannot be manipulated to say or do anything against their own will.
Hypnosis is a highly focused state of awareness at the subconscious level (which you often naturally experience many times on any given day, without actively knowing).
What if it does not work?
While many clients will experience improvement after just two or three sessions, similar to any psychotherapy work, the effectiveness of Hypnotherapy will depend on the type of condition and how committed you are to work towards the therapeutic change. That is to say that Hypnotherapy is a highly collaborative approach requiring your committed engagement. Your trained Hypnotherapist will apply best judgement and patience to facilitate your Hypnotic experience with all necessary techniques and provide you with the best environment for you to feel safe and receptive to its effects.
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