COGNITIVE HYPNOTHERAPY

Cognitive hypnotherapy is an evidence-based solution-focused therapy that incorporates traditional hypnotherapy practices with other effective therapeutic techniques from Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), Talk Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Parts Work and Somatic Therapy.

This blended approach allows us to hone in on the limiting beliefs, compulsive behaviours, negative thought patterns, emotional responses and underlying fears that may be driving a client's problem state. Working with both the conscious and unconscious mind, we can help our clients to understand themselves and where their patterns come from. We can reframe and transform the events of their past, and develop new perspectives. Using hypnosis and hypnotic suggestion, we can empower our clients to build new beliefs and patterns of behaviour that promotes the positive change they want to see in their lives.

Cognitive hypnotherapy is not prescriptive, there are no scripts or one size fits all solutions. Each and every session honours the uniqueness of each client’s experience with their problem and utilizes that to build a personalised solution-based road-map. Its versatility makes it effective at treating many things, from performance anxiety and phobia to complex trauma and addictions. See below for a more comprehensive list of what Cognitive Hypnotherapy can be used to treat

Mental and Emotional Health:

• Anxiety and stress

• Panic attacks

• Depression and low moods

• Fears and phobias

• Low self-esteem and confidence

• Trauma and complex trauma

• Negative thinking and negative self-talk

• Performance anxiety

Compulsive Behaviour:

• Substance addictions

• Process addictions

• Smoking 

• Eating disorders

• OCD

• Weight management

• Unwanted habits (e.g. Nail biting, skin picking, etc.)

• Hoarding

• Other compulsive behaviours that you feel powerless to control on your own (spending, isolating, sexual or emotional acting out, etc.)

Pain and Medical Issues:

• Chronic pain

• Migraines

• Physical conditions

• Skin conditions

• Pain during medical and dental procedures

• Side effects of cancer treatments

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

• Menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes 

Sleep and Physical Health:

• Insomnia and other sleep problems

• Blood pressure

• Childbirth

Don’t see what you’re looking for? Don’t worry, this is a general list. If you’re seeking treatment for a condition that isn’t on the list, feel free to contact me. I’ll let you know if it’s something I can help you with.

Generally, if you suffer from any of the following conditions, it’s not advised that you use Cognitive Hypnotherapy as a complimentary treatment:

• Epilepsy

• Psychosis

• Schizophrenia

• Dissociative disorders

• Some personality disorders

Yes, when conducted by a qualified Cognitive Hypnotherapist, it’s absolutely safe. Hypnosis (trance state) is a natural state of mind that clients can only enter into willingly, no one can force it on you and you’ll remain fully in control at all times.

Yes. A qualified and registered hypnotherapist is bound by the same moral duties and codes of ethics as any other therapist. They have a duty to honour their client’s right to confidentiality and to protect their client’s personal and private information. However, like other therapists, they also have a duty of care towards their clients, which includes safeguarding their clients against harm to self, harm to others and the abuse or exploitation of children or vulnerable adults. If a therapist has reason to believe their client may be at risk, or is a risk to others, then they may break confidentiality in order to prevent harm. But even a disclosure of this nature has to be done in a way that protects the client and ensures that only the relevant information is shared with those authorised to see it.

Generally, the side effects of hypnosis as part of a Cognitive Hypnotherapy program are positive. You'll develop better control over your problem state and your ability to recognise and regulate the emotions, fears and beliefs that drive it. You’ll improve your ability to access the resources you already have inside yourself, whenever and wherever you need to. The biggest risk (like in all therapies) is that you may experience strong or uncomfortable emotions due to a significant emotional event from the past. But a trained Cognitive Hypnotherapist will help you manage and process those emotions as and when they come up.

Generally, in the first session you’ll discuss what brought you to therapy and what you would like to be doing differently or feeling differently by the end of your sessions together. The therapist will explain their methods and what you can expect from the sessions. After the first “history take” session, the therapist will use the following sessions to guide you into hypnosis using the method which they believe is most appropriate for you. They will use a series of hypnotic suggestions tailored specifically to you in order to help influence the positive change you’re looking to achieve. After a session you may feel uplifted, lighter or relaxed. Change is often very subtle, so you may only notice a small shift in how you are feeling at first, the therapist will build on this over the course of your sessions together.

It all depends on each individual person's needs and the issue they are looking to address. Some clients experience positive change after as few as three or four sessions, while others may require more sessions to achieve their solution state. Cognitive Hypnotherapy isn't a magical quick fix, but it can help you create positive change in a relatively short period of time. Typically 6 - 8 sessions is a good place to start. You can always discuss your progress with your therapist and adjust according to whether or not you feel you’ve achieved your goals.

Everyone can (and in fact, everyone does) experience trance-like states in their daily lives. Be that getting into a hyper focused creative flow or zoning out on the train to the extent that you no longer really hear or see what’s going on around you. But the ability to experience those trance-like states under hypnosis is greatly dependent on the individual client’s motivation, openness to the experience and willingness to commit to the process. No one can be forced into hypnosis against their will, but fear and resistance can sometimes prevent people from relaxing enough to benefit from the treatment. Most times, this can be remedied with a little bit of time and patience, as the client begins to feel safe with their therapist and more comfortable with hypnosis, they’ll naturally overcome any resistance they previously felt. In general, most people can benefit from hypnosis, but the degree of responsiveness can vary from person to person.

Hypnosis is a state of focused attention, similar to being in a creative flow or daydreaming. It can feel familiar, as it’s a natural state many people slip into on a daily basis without realising it. Some clients are surprised to find that they can hear every word being said, or that they can open their eyes, move and speak freely if they want to. Other clients may feel deeply relaxed, like they’ve been in a meditative state where they lose track of time, or find that their surroundings fade away as they go inwards or that their mind wanders. Everybody has a different experience of hypnosis, but how aware or unaware a client is during the process doesn't affect the efficacy of the sessions.

No. Hypnosis is a streamlined state of focused attention, sometimes referred to as “absorbition”, similar to the absorption felt when lost in a book or in a creative flow. And in the same way you can choose to break out of those states, you can break out of hypnosis any time you want to. Your therapist is there to facilitate the trance experience, and to guide you through it towards your self-defined solution state, but they are not in control. You are, and you always will be.

No. Despite what pop culture and stage hypnosis may try to suggest, it’s impossible for you to get stuck in a state of hypnosis or zombie-like trance. Even if the therapist were to disappear without a trace while you were in a deep state of trance, you would regain a full state of consciousness after a few minutes. It would be just like coming round from a daydream.

Yes, it absolutely is. However, there may be a few extra factors to consider when doing therapy online. For example, having a quiet, private space with stable WiFi is important. If you have any doubts about your set up or technological abilities, this can all be discussed in your consultation before the session begins. Contact me to book a free 30 minute consultation.