FAQs - YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Is it safe?

Hypnotherapy is very safe when practised by a trained professional.

Will I lose control of myself?

No. You remain aware and in full control at all times. Hypnotherapy involves deep relaxation in safe and controlled conditions.

Will I be able to communicate with my therapist whilst under hypnosis?

Yes. You will be able to speak to your therapist at all times and in addition, the therapist can set up some hand signals for you to make if you become distressed.

I've seen people on TV doing strange things under hypnosis. Is that what will happen to me?

No, stage hypnosis is something completely different. For a start, the people you see are all volunteers, chosen because they are highly suggestible. An ethical therapist would never ask you to do anything you're uncomfortable with, and you can always say no or ask to stop if you're uncomfortable.

What does hypnosis feel like?
Deeply relaxing! It is often reported as a pleasant dream-like state similar to daydreaming or lying out in the sun, sunbathing..

What if I can't be hypnotised?
Almost anyone can be hypnotised as long as they're not under the influence of alcohol, drugs or have a very serious mental health problem. In any event, ensuring you are hypnotised is down to your therapist.

What if I get stuck in hypnosis?
You won’t, because this is impossible. To emerge from hypnosis all that is required is for you to open your eyes.


Does the hypnotist have strange powers
No, you are completely in control. This question arises due to mis-conceptions about hypnosis as a result of its use in entertainment. A hypnotherapist undergoes proper training in hypnotherapy and therapeutic techniques. Reputable therapists are members of a professional body which has a code of ethics.

Can hypnosis help with medical conditions?
Yes, however this should only be considered provided the medical condition has been properly diagnosed and your doctor has been consulted prior to seeking hypnotherapy. Although you do have the right to refuse medical treatment we will only agree to work with you, where a medical condition is involved, with the full knowledge of your doctor.

How many sessions will I need?
That is difficult to say. It's a good idea for you to attend for a single session initially to ensure you feel the therapy is right for you. At that session, your therapist will give you some idea as to how many sessions might be needed based on what you are aiming to achieve. It will be weeks, rather than the months or years usually required by other psychotherapeutic interventions.

Who can be helped by hypnotherapy?
The answer to this question is undoubtedly “virtually everyone”.

It is the innate healing capacity of our own body that may be stimulated by hypnotherapy. Consequently, the list of problems which may be amenable to hypnotherapy is far too long and varied to catalogue but certainly includes: stress, anxiety, panic, phobias, unwanted habits and addictions (e.g. smoking, overeating, alcoholism), disrupted sleep patterns, lack of confidence and low self-esteem, fear of examinations and public speaking, allergies and skin disorders, migraine and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Additionally, it has proved of value in the wider sphere of pain management and in the areas of both sporting and artistic performance enhancement. As an adjunct to other counselling techniques, it can also assist in helping to resolve relationship difficulties and be useful within anger management strategies.

This claim must, however, be qualified by the observation that some are more readily hypnotisable than others and that it will also depend upon one’s willingness to be hypnotised at the time.

This willingness will itself depend upon a number of factors, not least of which will be the strength of the person’s particular need and their trust and confidence in the therapist concerned.

What level of trance is required in order to achieve a beneficial outcome?
Although there remains some disagreement over the answer, most therapists agree that the actual depth of trance does not relate to the beneficial results that might be obtained.