Hypnosis

What is hypnosis?
Hypnosis is, quite simply, a narrowed focus of attention. You may be surprised to learn that we all go in and out of trance throughout the day. At 90-120 minute intervals, we naturally experience peaks of energy and concentration, interspersed with troughs of low energy and inefficiency. When we experience a dip in energy and concentration, we find ourselves gazing out of the window or slipping into a daydream. In other words, we go into a trance state.

Similarly, we are all familiar with those times when we are completely absorbed in, or fascinated by, a hobby, interest or project when we don’t even notice the minutes ticking by, such as reading a good book, playing a sport or even baking a cake. Again, we are experiencing trance.

Trance can also occur during an emergency or attention grabbing situation, when a great deal of external concentration is required, for example during a car crash, often experienced as time slowing down.

How does hypnosis work?
During hypnosis, the attention becomes focused, the normal ‘chatterings’ of the conscious mind quieten and it becomes easier to guide our thoughts in the direction we want.

The therapist lulls the client into a REM (Rapid Eye Movement) state, mirroring nature’s way of entering the dream state, by using hypnotic language. The client is highly receptive to positive hypnotic suggestions whilst retaining access to conscious processes. So, hypnosis can be understood as a way of accessing the REM state for beneficial purposes.

Most people describe hypnosis as deep relaxation and report that they enjoy a wonderfully calm and pleasurable experience. Clients often look ’lifted’ after a session and some say they feel as though they have had a good night’s sleep!

What is Brief Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy?
I aim to assist clients to achieve their goals in one session, wherever possible. Depending on the nature of the problem, and the surrounding circumstances, two or more sessions may be required to reach desired goals. Usually, beneficial change takes place after just one session, with clients also reporting noticeable differences in other areas of their lives.