Frequently Asked Questions about Hypnotherapy.

Q. Do I have to remember things from my past in order to recover from my problem?
A. Not necessarily, but if the cause of your problem is a repressed memory, then bringing it back into conscious awareness can help you to feel differently about it. If you find the idea of revisiting old memories painful then I can help you to dissociate from them so that you can remember the experience without experiencing the emotions associated with them.

Q. When I am 'under' will I be asleep?
A. You will be aware of everything that is happening and being said the whole time, however you will be so deeply relaxed that you may find yourself drifting into different levels of awareness. Remember, your subconscious mind is active throughout and it is this that we will be working with.

Q. Will I remember everything afterwards?
A. Generally most people do remember everything. You will find that suggestions which have been given to you in hypnosis will resurface in your conscious mind after your hypnosis session and these will be the thoughts that produce changes in your behaviour or way of thinking and feeling.

Q. Will I give away any secrets whilst I am hypnotized?
A. No, you won't say or do anything at all that you don't want to. If you were given suggestions that you didn't morally agree with you would come out of hypnosis or disregard the suggestions.

Q. Could I get stuck in hypnosis?
A. No-one has ever remained in hypnosis indefinitely. Even if something were to happen to the hypnotherapist halfway through the session, you would still 'come out' of the trance state once rapport had been broken.

Q. Are there any side effects from hypnosis?
A. The only side effects are the beneficial ones of feeling more relaxed afterwards and feeling more positive about whatever it was you sought hypnotherapy for. Hypnosis is a perfectly natural state.

Q. What is hypnosis?
A. Hypnosis is a state of altered awareness during which our subconscious mind is more open and receptive to suggestions that are given. We drift in and out of different levels of awareness many times a day, absorbing information on a subliminal level as well as a conscious one. We will work with your imagination to help you to achieve your goals.

Q. How does it feel to be hypnotized?
A. Every person is unique and different. Some people say that their body feels like a lead weight, others say they feel as though they're floating away. Most people will agree that it's a lovely feeling because they are more relaxed that they have ever been before.

Q. Can I be hypnotized against my will?
A. No, anyone can resist and it won't work. Hypnosis is cooperation between two people - I will show you the way and you can choose if you want to go there or not. If you are not prepared to accept that hypnosis could benefit you then your best option would be to seek alternative treatment. However - in my own experience - sceptics are often the best subjects.

Q. I went to a hypnotherapist once before and it didn't work. Does this mean I'm not able to be hypnotized?
A. The most common reason for failure to induce trance is lack of rapport. To overcome this problem, I offer a free initial consultation to determine if your case is one that wil respond to Hypnosis.

Q. Can I be treated for different problems at the same time?
A. You can - if they are interrelated, however because hypnosis requires a complete focus of attention it is far better to concentrate on one problem at a time. People wishing to stop smoking (for example) who are afraid of doing so in case they gain weight can be helped with the correct approach. This is because many of us experience 'symptom substitution' - we can substitute one addiction for another. Your therapist should have the skills to recognize if this is the case and deal with the issue at its core.