HypnotherapyWhat is Hypnosis?Hypnosis is a natural occurring phenomenon. It is usually, but not always brought about, through deep relaxation. It is used to maximise our potential, facilitates in accessing erroneous beliefs about ourselves and changing them and a host of other extraordinary benefits. It is frequently used as a replacement in dental and medical operations, for anaesthetics. (See ‘What can Hypno-CBT help me with?’ for further information see below). The word ‘Hypnosis’ was invented by the Scottish surgeon, Dr. James Braid, in the early 1840s.What is Hypnotherapy?Hypnotherapy is the use of therapeutic techniques or principles in conjunction with hypnosis. Dr. Hippolyte Bernheim used the word ‘Psychotherapy’ in the 1880s, to describe Hypnotherapy. Subsequently 'psychotherapy' developed into some three hundred branches of thought. However, always ensure that your hypnotherapist is duly qualified.Am I still in control of myself in Hypnosis?Absolutely. Under no circumstances can a hypnotherapist make you do anything which is against your moral or religious principles. You remain totally aware throughout and can leave the session when you wish. Do not be misled by television or theatre performances. In these cases, those concerned are willing participants and have already given permission to the hypnotist.What does Hypnosis feel like?Click the video below to watch a National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH) video of a typical person talking about her experience of Hypnotherapy.Cognitive Behavioural HypnotherapyWhat is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy?The easiest way to describe this most potent and modern therapy, is to quote Epictetus who lived shortly after Christ: 'It is not things which upset us, but how we perceive them'. We find out why we think, act and feel in a particular way, and change it accordingly.What is Hypno-CBT?Hypno-CBT is a proprietary system of cognitive-behavioural hypnotherapy which combines classical hypnosis with cognitive and behavioural techniques and concepts consistent with a philosophy of evidenced-based eclecticism. Its founder is Donald Robertson of the UK College of Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy.How long does Hypno-CBT take?That, of course, depends strictly on the problem and the individual. It is considered to be the fastest therapy available. The average number of sessions is between 4 and 6.What can Hypno-CBT help me with?It can help you to realise your own potential. Because it utilizes the natural healing capacity within us, it can be used for the most extraordinary problems, such as anxiety, stress, lack of confidence, habits (e.g. smoking), addictions, depression, eating disorders, chronic pain, personality disorders, phobias, Obsessive -Compulsive Disorder, anger and many more. It is most helpful in overcoming the fear of public speaking and examinations, social phobia, stage-fright and so forth.It is also used to combat IBS, allergies and skin disorders. Hypnosis is frequently used in various medical and dental operations, in place of anaesthetics. It is not generally used in cases of epilepsy, psychosis and a few other illnesses. Can you explain a little more about Hypnotherapy ?The conscious mind is capable of a very limited number of thoughts at any one moment. The rest of the mind (usually referred to as the 'unconscious' or 'sub-conscious'), is engaged in millions of activities every second of our lives. It controls the lungs that breathe us alive, the heart, our sight, hearing, feeling and etc.. A good example of these two worlds is when driving a long distance, listening to the radio, or lost in thought or simply admiring the scenery as we pass by, we suddenly realise that we have lost track of where we are. We look at our watches and realise that we have been driving for perhaps an hour and wonder where we are. In all that time, our 'conscious' mind has been totally absorbed by the radio, thoughts, scenery or whatever. The rest of the mind, (the so-called 'sub-conscious'), has been looking after the speed, the changing of gears, the acceleration - everything, including our wellbeing, breathing, digestion, sight and etc.. In this incredible and magnificent ‘computer’ of ours (i.e. the brain), there are areas to which all learned actions are allocated. For example, when we learn how to tie our shoe laces, that pattern then becomes totally automatic. We don’t have to think consciously any more about how we tie our shoe laces. The same applies to driving a car or any automatic activity. However, if someone points out that we are driving incorrectly, then ‘driving’ is once again brought back into the conscious part of the brain and we retrain ourselves, until the new driving pattern is sufficiently learnt to become, once again, automatic. In the same way, a picture of ourselves is being constantly formed since our birth. What we learn about ourselves becomes a map by which we AUTOMATICALLY behave. Just as any learned activity is performed without thought, so we will act according to this map (of our beliefs about ourselves), WITHOUT CONSCIOUS AWARENESS. What does this mean? It means, that if we have been told constantly that we are good, attractive, intelligent and all lovely things, that we will believe that about ourselves and ACT ACCORDINGLY. If, on the hand, we have been constantly told that we are stupid, ugly, ignorant and goodfor- nothing, then unfortunately, we will act accordingly and will retain a sense of these things throughout our lives - IF WE DON’T UPDATE THE MAP. Remember, once a pattern becomes automatic, then it remains so. It does not think, rationalise, or debate. We simply act according to that pattern. A sense of inadequacy may not rare its ugly head until much later in life, when, for example, we might be subjected to pressure at home, business or wherever. A map might be so self-fulfilling that we become good-for-nothings, act stupidly or resort to crime. Children of criminal families are much more likely to live a life of crime, as their maps have been constructed in such an atmosphere. Children of professional people are more likely to become qualified in some profession than others. This seems quite obvious. But a child, irrespective of who their parents are, will act according to the map that has been drawn by their experience of life and what they have been told and absorbed about themselves and more importantly, WHAT THEY TELL THEMSELVES about themselves. Hypnotherapy, and in particular Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy, is the most effective means of removing aspects of ‘the map’ we have formed about ourselves, and replacing these erroneous beliefs with more positive, constructive and realistic beliefs.     
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.......HypnoAware.......