A spotlight on the therapy service offered from Perspective Health and Wellbeing’s hypnotherapist, Lu.
One of the things that I, Lu, get asked most often is the question around what hypnotherapy actually is. It is usually followed by people telling me that they don’t like the idea of someone being in control of their mind and making them do things, I mean, who does?! This is a very common and completely understandable thought, especially amongst those of us from the era of Paul McKenna shows; where he would seemingly control members of the audience dance like ballerinas or speak like Martians… (showing my age a bit there aren’t I?!) 🙈
I find the idea that I could control someone’s mind and make them do things absolutely terrifying! Why would I want to take control of someone’s mind – something so personal to them – and make them do things that are potentially against their will?! No thank you! I’m not in for that. We do giggle, however, that if it were possible that I could control someone, Ross would’ve agreed to me adopting ALL.THE.ANIMALS by now. 😍 But alas, my desire to adopt animals that need a safe and loving home, is not something that will happen. (Which is for the best in reality given that we’ve already got 3 rescued pets, but please don’t tell him that he’s right – I’ll never hear the end of it!) 🤫
But anyway, getting on to the topic of hypnotherapy, I’d like to start with the main, and I feel most important point, I cannot control anyone’s mind or make them do things that they don’t want to do or that doesn’t match with their core values, nor will I ever try to.
The NHS actively lists hypnotherapy as a complimentary treatment and their website shares the following, ‘Hypnotherapy uses hypnosis to try to treat conditions or change habits,’ but, sadly, it doesn’t share what hypnotherapy, or hypnosis, actually is. I also feel that it does the therapy a disservice when it says that it uses hypnosis ‘to try to treat,’ when there has been countless numbers of people treated (myself included) and significant research and data collated to show that hypnotherapy is a hugely effective therapeutic treatment for a whole host of issues and difficulties. What I shall aim to do in this post is explain what hypnosis is and what hypnotherapy can do.
To break it down into its simplest form, hypnotherapy is the joining of hypnosis and psychotherapy. Psychotherapy is a form of talking therapy. A therapist creates a safe space in which a client can freely discuss items such as, issues that are affecting them or goals they wish to achieve. Using a variety of techniques, the client and therapist work together in order to move towards the desired goal or break free from any issues or find new ways to handle situations in the future. Hypnosis is when a therapist safely guides a client into what is known as a ‘trance-like state,’ very similar to when someone is asleep, but the client is actually awake and aware of everything that is happening. There isn’t a swinging watch anywhere to be seen! In fact, every one of us can go into this trance state several times a day – when we are completely lost in a good book or those times when we’ve driven somewhere and then upon reaching our destination, we’re not able to recall much of the journey, to name a couple of scenarios. It is perfectly natural and you can now perhaps recall times that you have experienced it.
The way that hypnotherapy works is that whilst you are enjoying the deeply relaxing state, the brain is in a heightened state of focus and concentration, which we know makes it highly susceptible to suggestion and ideas that usually the little voice in our minds would be incredibly quick to dismiss. As the mind is quietened from its daily chatter, the therapist utilises their skill and knowledge to make suggestions of the things that have been discussed, making it possible for those changes to happen. If something that the therapist suggests contradicts the client’s core beliefs, such as a suggestion to steal from a bank, the subconscious simply does not allow it. Whereas, if the client wants to achieve a certain goal, the suggestions from the therapist are in line with the client’s desire, so are not rejected, enabling success.
For this type of therapy to work, the client and therapist need to be open with each other and the client come to the therapy sessions with an open mind, that is ready to make the changes they want to. This is actually the same as with any form of therapy practice really – you get out what you put in. One of the benefits of solution focused hypnotherapy, that I utilise in my practice, is that it is a very positive and (I’m told) pleasing experience. The client and therapist set achievable targets in order for the client to reach their full potential in their healing journey.
Hypnotherapy has been used for many, many years, over many different ages. (with children being some of the best at getting into a hypnosis state!) It has been successful in a variety of areas, such as helping people to overcome phobias, improve sleep, for pain and weight management, to quit addictions such as smoking or drinking and also as a treatment for insomnia, migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, depression and anxiety, to name a few. It is very effective at reducing our stress levels which can never be a bad thing!
My personal journey of hypnotherapy with a lovely lady who I am now fortunate to call my friend, is what lead me to retrain as a hypnotherapist. I have always had a huge interest in how the brain works and what we can achieve, but after experiencing hypnotherapy for myself and how it transformed my life, (cliché I know, I’m sorry, but it’s true) I was desperate to bring hypnotherapy into more people’s lives. I count myself lucky to have been able to access hypnotherapy as it really was the right therapy for me when many others hadn’t worked. I am thrilled that I can now facilitate a space for others in the same way.
If you have any questions or want to know if hypnotherapy is right for you, please do get in touch. You can find all our details on the ‘contact us’ page and I look forward to hearing from you and working with you in the future.