I'm a Hypnotherapist. AMA

[felonia]

Been full time for 10 years, have appeared on TV shows and radio as well as training new therapists. I've worked with all kinds of issues and feel fairly unshockable these days!

[MistressDeeCee]

Hi felonia

What's the most common reason people come to you for Hypnotherapy?

& do you believe it can work for everybody?

[MrsMozart]

How long did it take you to train? What route did you take?

[felonia]

Probably anxiety. I've seen cases of anxiety increase over the last 4 years. Anxiety is also behind almost all 'presenting problems'

[felonia]

Mrs Mozart I studied for 2 years and then took a lot of short, intense courses on specialist subjects and other psychological methods.

[felonia]

Mistress Cee Cee, most change work is done before the actual 'closed eye' but. I consider therapy like sales. It's all about getting people to see things differently.

[felonia]

*bit not but!

[Snowspeckledeyelashes]

Can you cure IBS, anxiety and low self esteem with hypnotherapy and if so, how many sessions would it take?

[felonia]

IBS is anxiety related and would resolve once the anxiety was tackled. Low self esteem usually needs the root causes examined (what beliefs about yourself have you got running and where do they come from?). Probably about 4-6 sessions (my sessions are also 90 mins)

[Hairyhat]

Can you help people with over eating? Can you change their portion size habits?

[HollowTalk]

What do you have most success with?

[felonia]

Yes we re-program your brain to eat differently. 3 small meals a day and use food aversion techniques to stop you craving junk foods. We change the response to emotional eating which is a learned habit. Babies don't over eat!

[Snowspeckledeyelashes]

Thanks felonia my IBS is definitely anxiety induced. I’m saving up for hypnotherapy it’s very expensive but I’m hoping to try it one day.

[felonia]

Most success... most things work tbh when I've got enough time to get to the root of it! I've had incredible results with weight loss, anxiety, phobias, cocaine addiction and confidence issues.

[felonia]

It's expensive but you shouldn't need loads of sessions either- it's not a long term therapy. Investing in yourself is the best investment you can make.

[LaurieFairyCake]

Would you recommend your initial course provider - the 2 year one?

[felonia]

Yes definitely. When I trained I qualified after the first year (subject to 350 practising hours) and then I took an additional year with the same provider as they had launched a new course. They have just created an integrated 2 year course which looks great. My training was top notch and I did an enormous amount of research and reading on top.

Many therapists don't earn enough to support themselves as they struggle to get the business off the ground. I do have quieter months (July being one of them!)

[wizzywig]

When you are under, are you supposed to be totally aware of whats going on around you? I went to a hypnotherapist and knew he went to the loo whilst i was under. I was really pissed off but he was very bolshy (a tv hypnotherapist) so i felt i couldnt say i am here you know!!

[JaneJeffer]

Can you get rid of agoraphobia as in the fear of open spaces not the can't leave the house one?

[gingertom11]

Do you do hypnobirthing and do you have positive experiences?

[blackbirdbluebottle]

Can you hyponotise England into winning tonight, thanks!

[LaurieFairyCake]

They sound great - could you recommend them then ie. who are they?

I’m interesting in adding this to my therapy - been trying to decide between this and Emdr

[DearTeddyRobinson]

Why doesn't it work for me? I tried it for weight loss, I don't think I even 'went under', just sat there with my eyes closed feeling a bit silly . Are some subjects/patients just not suitable?

[Loopylou6]

When you see all these people acting like they're chickens etc, do they really believe they're a chicken?

[felonia]

Wizzywig that's too funny! I've never heard of a therapist going to the loo whilst working with a client?! Hmm I know quite a few TV Hypno's... my mind is going now

Anyway back to your question, everyone has a different experience depending on what they are doing. It's more usual to 'drift off' if a therapist is doing some kind of relaxation / suggestion based therapy than if they were doing something more cognitive.

Most of the change work occurs before we even do the hypnosis as I use a lot of NLP and other therapies to start the mindset changing.

[felonia]

Janejeffer yes both are achievable with hypnosis