James Tiley

Hello and welcome. My name is James and I"m a Hypnotherapist based in Northampton.

Originally, I trained in Health Psychology and worked as a researcher at both Bristol and Cardiff University where I was involved with a number of research projects looking at the effects of stress, caffeine and illness on well-being and performance.

I then had a career change due to an opportunity arising and qualified as a solicitor. It was during this time that I began to see the effects of stress, in particular work place stress, on people and how this could lead to an array of psychological and physical conditions. I wanted to help and I therefore commenced training and subsequently qualified in hypnosis.

I specialise in the treatment of habits and addictions, IBS, psychosexual problems, especially premature ejaculation(PE) and delayed ejaculation (DE), stress, burnout, self-esteem and confidence and phobias. For more information please see my website.

Habits

We all develop habits and many are essential to our everyday lives. For instance, turning off the car engine and engaging the handbrake when we park, brushing our teeth each morning and evening to looking each way before crossing the road.

Habits are learned behaviour which are formed by repeating such behaviours that they then go into our unconscious minds and our actions become ‘automatic’. Psychologists and neurologists maintain that each habit is formed by three processes. The first is the Reminder, this is the trigger which initiates the behaviour; the second is the routine, this is the behaviour itself i.e. cleaning your teeth and the final stage is the reward, the benefit you derive from doing the behaviour. These 3 processes lead to a neural pathway being formed in the brain which lay the foundations for the habit to be stored.

Research has found that habit-making behaviours are formed in a part of our brain called the basal ganglia. This is the area of the brain involved with the development of emotions, memories and pattern recognition. This explains why habits can become so difficult to break as they are usually deeply interwoven with our emotions. For instance checking your phone for messages or facebook for ‘Likes’ may become so habitual that a person feels agitated or anxious if prevented from doing so.

Hypnosis can greatly assist in the ‘undoing’  of such habits. This is done by direct or indirect suggestions which are made by the hypnotherapist whist you are under hypnosis and which goes deep into your subconscious to ‘unlearn’ and ‘undo’ the habits.

Hypnosis can treat a whole host habits, such as:

• Nail Biting
• Viewing pornography
• Quit smoking
• Viewing Social Media and/or internet
• Playing with your hair
• Hoarding/cluttering
• Snacking
• Overspending
• Time keeping

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional disorder of the gastrointestinal system. IBS is thought to be due to changes in the way the gut functions and is associated with symptoms such as bloating, diarrhoea, constipation and abdominal cramps and pain. A person suffering IBS may also experience lethargy, insomnia, headaches and nausea which can seriously intrude into their lives. The condition may also flare up under stress and can become so acute that a person may have to take time off work. Moreover, it can affect their personal life, especially if they are suffering from diarrhoea that they avoid leaving home or travelling long distances which may cause problems in relationships or with work colleagues.

Currently there are no tests to detect IBS however if you experience any of the above symptoms you should always make an appointment to see your GP to rule out any other underlying cause and for a diagnosis of IBS before seeking out treatment to help with this debilitating disorder.

Hypnosis can assist greatly with IBS and research in both the UK and the USA has found that it is effective in over 70% of cases and that the effects of hypnosis are long term. Further, hypnotherapy has proven to be more beneficial than medication and relaxation alone for the treatment of the symptoms.

How can hypnosis help?

Hypnosis helps the reduction of IBS symptoms by relaxation which in turn reduces an individual’s anxiety which means that the bowel will react less in ‘stressful’ conditions and thus the painful cramps, diarrhoea and constipation will lessen. Further, hypnosis affects the pain associated with this disorder which can be acute and deliberating at times. Many people derive much benefit from hypnosis from this disorder.

Psychosexual Problems

Psychosexual problems can have serious debilitating affect in our relationships and also effect our lives which may lead to depression, anxiety and a loss of confidence and low self-esteem.

People often remain silent about such conditions to avoid embarrassment or for the fear of undermining their own sexual identity i.e. a woman’s femininity and a male’s masculinity.

Hypnotherapy can help with psychosexual dysfunctions/disorders where there is an underlying psychological origin.

Psychosexual disorders are often the result of anxiety about sexual activity. This may relate to sexual performance, trauma or past experience. There may also be issues of shame or feelings of being judged either because of our culture, peers or parents. At times people do not put themselves first when it comes to sex and are always putting partners first to the detriment of their own sexual desires.

Hypnosis helps by not only reducing anxiety but helps by reconditioning or re-learning by removing the negative self-fulfilling thoughts with positive suggestions and allowing the client to accept who they are and their own sexual feelings.

Common Psychosexual problems for Men are:

• Erectile dysfunction
• Premature ejaculation
• Delayed ejaculation
• Lack of sexual desire
• Not being able to achieve orgasm

For Women, this may involve:

• Lack of sexual desire
• Not being able to orgasm
• Vaginismus, an unconscious spasm, or tightening of the muscles around the vagina
• Experiencing pain during sex

It is important that if you suffer from any of the above symptoms to always seek medical help before psychosexual dysfunction can be explored, in order to rule out any underlying physiological cause.

Stress

Stress is not always negative we need a certain amount in which to go about our day-to-day activities. It can help us to meet challenges, to stay focused, energetic and alert. However, if there is too much stress and it becomes overwhelming then this can damage our health, effects our mood, our relationships and the quality of your life.

What is Stress?

Stress is your body’s way of responding to any kind or demand or threat.  For instance when you feel threatened your body goes into a ‘fight or flight’ mode. This is where adrenaline and other chemicals are realised to help you deal with a situation. Whilst these responses are excellent in protecting the body in emergency situations they can also cause damage to us over time. The reason for this is that the autonomic system system which releases the chemicals when we are under stress, cannot distinguish between daily stressors and life-threatening events i.e. whether you’re having a disagreement at work, stuck in a traffic jam to running away from a wild animal. When you body repeatedly reacts to stress i.e. goes in a ‘flight or fight’ mode then this causes the blood pressure to raise, raise cholesterol, increases the risk of heart attacks and suppress the immune system resulting in you suffering more illnesses.

What are the symptoms of stress?

Individuals respond to stress differently, however research has found the following symptoms are usually present:

• Anxiety
• Chronic Worry
• Depression
• Lack energy
• Lack motivation
• Pessimism about the future
• Loss of enjoyment in activities
• Negative thinking
• Unrealistic expectations
• Perfectionism
• Increase in the perception of pain

How can hypnosis help with stress?

Hypnosis can help with relaxation and to assist with reducing negative stress in your life and to be calmer. This can be achieved by incorporating new responses deep into your subconscious either by direct or indirect suggestions. Hypnosis can also assist in motivation for goal management to assist with stress

Burnout

Most of us may have read or seen programmes about burnout and assumed it only happened to the upper echelons of management or successful business people. This could not be further from the truth. Burnout is on the increase and many psychologist maintain that it is due to the pressures that modern technology has brought us. Whilst there is no denying the ease in which the internet, email and word processing and computers have given us in doing our work, it has also speeded up many of the day-to-day work activities to the point that everything is becoming almost instantaneous which companies may cherish as it may mean a high turnover of profits. However, it puts a huge burden on employees as they try and keep up with the speed and work load which increases pressure and stress.

What is Burnout?

According to Herbert Freudenberger, who coined the original phrase he defined it as “A total extinction of motivation or incentive” and is more prevalent than once thought and seems to affect the most willing and committed people and is considered an extreme form of stress that builds up over time.

What are the symptoms of Burnout?

Burnout happens in stages from the compulsion of having to prove yourself in the workplace. This leads to working harder and neglecting your own needs such as not having sufficient sleep or missing meals. This leads to a revision of values where work plays a greater importance than family. This leads to feelings of withdrawal and an inner emptiness which may lead to depression and burnout syndrome which can lead to suicidal thoughts.

Phobias

A phobia is an intense fear of something, that in reality, poses little or no danger. Whilst a phobia to the outside world may see irrational it is a real fear to the phobic who may suffer terror and an overwhelming feelings of anxiety and stress.

Examples of phobic responses could be:

• dentists
• heights
• illness
• spiders
• crowds
• flying
• public places

What are the physical and emotional symptoms of a Phobia?

Someone with a phobia may suffer from any of the following:

• Difficulty breathing
• Feeling dizzy
• Racing heartbeat
• Trembling
• Sweating
• A churning stomach
• An overwhelming feeling of panic
• An overwhelming feeling of anxiety
• A desire to escape
• Fear of losing control

How can hypnosis help with Phobias?

Hypnosis can help with relaxation. This is important as when someone is relaxed the ‘fight and flight’ response is deactivated. I will explore ways of coping and give positive suggestions whilst under hypnosis. This will help a client to manage their behavioural responses in order to bring a phobic response under control. Sometimes there is an underlying cause of the phobic response that may need exploring. If this is the case then hypnoanalysis will be used. This involves regressing the client back to the point to the event that caused the phobic response.

I am based in Northampton area and my practice is easily accessible.

I offer a free 20 minute telephone consultation. Please email me on jmthypnosis@gmail.com or call, on 07596101613. This gives you an opportunity to ask any questions you may have and for us to discuss how hypnotherapy can help you. Or contact me through Facebook: James Tiley Hypnosis

I charge £55 for the initial consultation which usually lasts up to 70 minutes. This involves taking down a comprehensive history of the issue/s along with a plan of action and an initial treatment of hypnosis. I can only accept cash or cheque, payable at each session.

In respect of cancellation of a session, I charge the full fee due if less than 24 hours notice is given.

Subsequent sessions are charged at £45 and lasts up to 60 minutes.

For quit smoking I charge £150 and this usually lasts between 2 to 2.5 hours. I also offer quit smoking in two sessions at the same price but the both sessions must be completed within a 48 hour period.

I also undertake insurance work which is charged at £50 per session. This excludes smoking cessation courses.

What is hypnosis?

Hypnosis is often referred to as an altered state of awareness which is characterised by an increased suggestibility to instructions. It is a natural state which is usually accompanied by feelings of deep relaxation and/or sense of a ‘loss of time’.

We may have all experienced being ‘spontaneously hypnotised’ at some point during our lives without consciously being aware. For instance, driving to work each day we may have little recollection how we get there. Most people talk about being on ‘automatic pilot’ but ostensibly what they are saying is that they have no conscious awareness of how they’ve managed to drive somewhere without remembering the journey. This may also occur when reading a really good book and you lose all sense of time, or perhaps when watching a riveting television programme. These types of experiences demonstrate how powerful our subconscious mind really is and how it comes into play when our conscious awareness switches into an altered state.

Unfortunately, there are numerous myths and misconceptions of hypnosis, much of which has come from the media or depicted in film and television. Most of such claims are over sensationalised and owe more to artistic licence rather than fact. People have a choice if they want to be hypnotised as it comes down to rapport and cooperation between client and therapist and no-one can be hypnotised if they do not wish to be so.

Can anyone be hypnotised?

Generally yes, although it all depends on whether a person wants to or not

Will I be made to cluck like a hen or made to look stupid?

No! Hypnotherapy is a valuable therapeutic tool for the treatment of disorders, problems and/or issues. Moreover, I am a member of The National Hypnotherapy Society which has strict ethical guidelines which I adhere to in respect of the treatment of my clients.

Hypnosis on television and/or in theatres is known as Stage hypnosis and is for entertainment purposes only. The people who take part in such performances have been specially selected prior to the performance to test their motivation and how suggestable they will be on stage. Only people who are highly motivated and who are highly suggestable are generally selected to take part.

How will I be hypnotised?

I use a variety of methods in which to hypnotise clients although I generally use a progressive muscle relaxation technique. This method is the one more often not used by hypnotherapists in which to induce a hypnotic state. The instructions I give to the client are said in a low melodic tone which has been found to assist a person enter a hypnotic state. It is sequential and normally takes between10-30 minutes. This is known as the induction phase. I then deepen further by using a number of metaphors in which to deepen the trance level.  When the person is in a trance this is when the major part of hypnosis takes place and is called the suggestive phase. Suggestions are given to the client whilst under trance which then go deep into their subconscious. The types of suggestions, whether direct or indirect will depend on the issues/problems the client has presented.

How do I come out of a trance?

The therapist counts you out by counting up and uses a faster louder voice.

What happens if I cannot come out of trance?

Everyone will come out of a trance although sometimes if a person is in a deep trance they may take longer to come round. In such cases the therapist will simply take longer to count them round to give them time to come back to complete awareness. On very rare occasions a client may simply slip into ordinarily sleep and have a nap, and then wake up. In either case, there is no reason for concern.