Hypnosis and hypno-psychotherapy

For over two hundred years the technique of hypnosis has been used in medicine to treat a wide range of physical, psychological and emotional disorders. It has long been recognised that hypnosis may successfully be combined with other approaches and techniques in counselling and psychotherapy. In 1997, the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) formally endorsed the new term. hypno-psychotherapy, as 'the branch of psychotherapy which uses hypnosis'.

Hypnosis and the mind

Hypno-psychotherapy, recognises that there are many ways of looking at how the mind works. Some people, for instance, take the view that our thoughts and actions are mainly affected by the way we look at the world and how it treats us. Others believe that we are mostly driven by our 'subconscious' mind, which is taken to be the store of all our past experiences and emotions. Whatever theory of the mind is applied, hypnosis can be integrated with appropriate psychotherapeutic approaches to help bring about positive changes.

Helping bring about change

Hypnosis customarily creates a deeply relaxed state in which mental stress and bodily tension are reduced. In this relaxed state, the mind is usually more open to the process of change. As such, client and therapist can safely work together, using an agreed approach, to enhance mental, physical and emotional well-being.

Hypno-psychotherapy can help to achieve positive and lasting results in:

Cessation of dependencies and habits

e.g. Smoking
Eating disorders
Nail-biting

Management of stress related disorders
e.g. Phobias
Panic attacks
Insomnia
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Managing personal crises
e.g. Accident/trauma
Miscarriage
Bereavement
Redundancy
Divorce

Terminal illness

Optimising psychological well-being
e.g. Stress
Anxiety
Depression

Achieving personal growth

e.g. Building/rebuilding self-esteem,
Resolving relationship difficulties
Enhancing job/career satisfaction
Improving sporting performance

Only a selection of the many challenges we face, as fallible human beings, are mentioned above. There are many others and they can be discussed in strict confidence with the therapist.

Please note, however, that there are significant doubts about whether a medically oriented approach (i.e. diagnosis/treatment/cure) is applicable to the above 'problems of living', and that the presenting issue may reflect or cover additional issues.