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!

I am really interested in this. It sounds very good. Thank you.

Does hponotherapy work on everyone? Or are some people immune to it?

@SPOFS everyone has some level of suggestibility so it's a case of finding out what works for each person. There are so many different ways to change a mindset and hypnosis is just one of them. I also like belief work (we act as a result of what we believe about ourselves), NLP, coaching skills and aversion therapy to name but a few of the tools that I use.

Traditional 'suggestion based' hypnosis can be quite limited in its application. The more methods your therapist is trained in, the more likely they are to change your mindset.

Clients that I've faced resistance from previously include people who don't want to be there (partner or family have made them do it) and people with limited mental capacity as a result of age and comprehension.

@bluetrampolines thank you 👍🏼

@SPOFS or people who don't really want to change! We have to discover in which case what the 'secondary gain' is from the issue.

An example being, a man with a flying phobia didn't want to overcome it as actually his marriage was in dire straits and he disliked his wife's company. It gave him the opportunity to stay at home and have a staycation whilst his wife and children went away... he was actually fine about this situation really!

What would you say to someone like me who has a psychology degree and has been taught and believes that hypnotherapy has no evidential basis and is the very definition of 'woo'.

Note you say you 'don't rate' CBT.... why is that given the many many many peer reviewed studies that demonstrate its efficacy?

So Paul McKenna says that people who endlessly diet are always wanting an excuse to sabotage their plans and fall off the wagon. Even though being fat makes them deeply unhappy. Why would anyone like me do that?

@Nakedavenger74 I would say that it's a sad perception and there is no woo to how I practise. I cannot speak for anyone else however- if they choose to decorate themselves with crystals and dream catchers then that is their choice!

I agree that the industry has got a bad reputation due to sub standard practice. However, this is also my opinion on therapy in general! It is shocking that literally anyone can call themselves a counsellor or therapist with limited or no training.

CBT is just one therapy and many of my clients have been through this system with very poor and negative results; often feeling like they've been number crunched. Those who have not had results using it perceived themselves to have 'failed' which is disappointing.

I studied CBT whilst I was training to be a counsellor (yes I have studied for years before going into hypnotherapy) and whilst I find it useful as a tool, I prefer to apply it in a flexible way. I cannot imagine using it as the only tool by which to create change.

Can children benefit from hypnotherapy?

@bluetrampolines I think it has to be a lifestyle change not a diet for long term success. When we start thinking about 'good' and 'bad' foods it becomes something that is 'either or' and 'on or off' the wagon to to speak.

That's a great response. I am intrigued however that when I read about your methods you sound much more like a therapist? We both know that hypnotherapy is just a type of CBT in reality and is not (in the right hands) a silly woo practice that suddenly in one session is a panacea to all issues.
Why not just call yourself a therapist?

Op

Have you ever hypnotised folk to eat cooking onions like apples?

I saw this on stage as a child and never quite got over it

@Crusoe yes I work with children. I have noticed much higher numbers suffering with anxiety and IBS. Relaxation techniques are great for teaching children how to chill out and let go of stress / tension from the body. With an increasing reliance on screens, our world has become visual and immediate. I also recommend mediation for children. MP3 audios are great for this too!

@Nakedavenger74 that is a good question! I use so many therapies that I guess I am more a therapist than purely a hypnotherapist.

I suppose that I noticed that when I started using hypnosis that my clients had very rapid results and for me that was rather magical to experience. In some sessions I don't use hypnosis at all, my belief is that not all hypnosis is 'close your eyes' type.

Once they've done the cognitive change work I tend to 'seal off' what we've done with some hypnosis. The client leaves feeling relaxed and empowered and in a brilliant mindset for positive change.

@MarthasGinYard that is terrible!!! 😂 no is not even done that to my poor partner who is lots of fun to hypnotise.

I used hypnosis as pain relief when I had a sleeve tattoo done last year. It was something I'd always wanted to do (no previous tattoos and I wanted to have one as a part of my life bucket list before I hit 40!). I was able to numb my arm and sit through 7 hours at a time of tattooing easily. (It's a beautiful watercolour tattoo by the way- I did an art degree and do love beautiful, colourful things!)

Meditation not mediation for children... darn autocorrect 🤦🏼‍♀️

Thanks felonia phew

I read an article once about a patient having surgery under hypnosis. I was amazed.

@MarthasGinYard I wouldn't want to personally try that, however, I do know people who have had dental work done using hypnosis as pain relief. (I've used it on clients to help overcome the fear of dentists rather than for pain relief however!)

Hi @felonia I have terrible anxiety about driving - although I passed my test (after hypnotherapy to past 4th test!) I have never driven - initially due to various partical reasons but now after more lessons due to fear - would hypnotherapy help? Have you helped anyone in this situation before?

An hypnotherapy be used to increase sexual desire?

Thanks Felonia, I’ve sent you a pm

Can you use it to detach from an abusive man (when your brain knows he's bad for you, your family, self esteem, finances, mental health, basically everything) but your heart hasn't caught up with your brain?

Sunsea

Wow. I want to know that too.

@Whitegrenache it can certainly be used to remove blocks as to why sexual desire is lacking, also to increase confidence and self esteem in yourself in general which will most likely help that area

The brain 'pattern matches' which is why we can get stuck into old ways and habits. By making new (imagined) pathways using hypnosis we can generate new behaviours... including increased sexual desire if that is what you visualise in the hypnosis.

@sunseasand25 I work with many women in abusive relationships, both physical and mental. We unpick the relationship and work out what is keeping you there.

We also work on coping strategies, esteem, confidence and mental techniques to work on changing the emotions and subsequent behaviours in the same way that I use with my cocaine addicts! I treat it like an addiction because in essence, part of you knows it is harmful and yet you continuously repeat the cycle.