5 things to know before you try hypnotherapy

Are you interested in hypnotherapy? Here are 5 things to know before you get started.

1. Hypnotherapy is not what you see on telly

Hypnosis and hypnotherapy are quite different things. While they may have the same roots, they are very different branches of the tree. The hypnosis you see on stage appears to control you: making you do things that you would never dream of if not in a trance. The reputation of clucking like a chicken comes from stage hypnosis and yet the reality of hypnotherapy couldn’t be further from this notion. You are in control of the outcome of your hypnotherapy. It’s a deeply relaxing, enjoyable experience. Its success is entirely reliant on you being in a peaceful state of mind and so your therapist will create an environment that enables you to chill and relax. It’s peaceful, private and positive. 

2. You are in control

As just mentioned, you are in control of your hypnotherapy journey. You determine your goal and your hypnotherapist will construct a course of sessions that enable you to achieve your target. Your therapist will ask about your preferences, likes and dislikes. They then facilitate your therapy with personalised scripts that are read to you while you’re in trance. For example, your trance might be set in a beautiful garden or on the beach. Equally, your challenges may be something from your past and so you might journey back to where an event took place. This will all depend on what you expressed in your initial conversation and so will be tailored just for you.

The level of control also extends to when you are in a trance. You can’t ever be made to do something you are not comfortable with as your subconscious protects you from suggestions that are not in your best interest. You can become fully conscious if something that is said to you is not to your agreement. Hypnotherapy only works if you fundamentally believe in what is being suggested so you are always in safe hands – both those of a qualified hypnotherapist and your own subconscious. 

3. It can help with a huge range of needs

Hypnotherapy can assist a huge variety of challenges and areas of your life you want to change, including:

Weight management

Hypnotherapy can assist you in gaining greater control of what you are eating and what you choose to eat. Your aim may be linked to food intolerance and finally cutting out a food group. Perhaps your challenge is to eat more of certain foods and less of others. Whatever it may be, hypnotherapy can empower you to make better choices so that you actually want to reach out for healthier options! Choosing the right foods for you can become easy and second nature with the support of hypnotherapy. As long as you are aiming for healthy weight management, hypnotherapy can assist you. 

Overcoming anxieties, fears or phobias

Even if you have suffered from debilitating phobias, hypnotherapy can help you to overcome them. No matter what the severity of your fear, a peaceful and positive outcome can be achieved. By replacing the associated fear with confidence and conviction, your therapist can empower you to move past what is holding you back and causing limitations to your lifestyle. 

Giving something up

Anything can be given up with hypnotherapy – even if your body is addicted to a substance such as nicotine or alcohol. It may be that you just want to cut sugar out of your diet. Your determination is still vital to success, but hypnotherapy can make this easier and achievable for you. Your therapist can root out the reason why you continue to use the substance and replace this desire with a greater motivation towards a healthier outcome for you. 

Gaining greater confidence or motivation

You may be hoping to feel more confident in your abilities, skills or persona. Alternatively, you may be striving for a particular goal and want great confidence to help you achieve it. With the support of your therapist, you can find out what may be holding you back, niggling away at your confidence and deal with it. There is nothing more liberating than letting go of old beliefs or experiences that have been holding you back.

Equally, you may not be aware of the reason behind your timid nature. That’s no problem: a good boost to your self-esteem can work wonders for your confidence levels and motivation. We can empower you to go out and achieve what you may be struggling to tackle. Gaining motivation can boost your productivity or enable you to finally tackle something you’ve been putting off for rather too long.

Breaking negative thought cycles

Self-defeating behaviours and thought patterns are only too common these days. We often tie ourselves in knots and can’t break a negative thought cycle which may then lead to behaviours we know aren’t in our best interest. Hypnotherapy can help by breaking down the thinking and rooting out what may be leading to the beliefs that fuel them.

Dealing with trauma or events from your past

This area of hypnotherapy has the ability to heal past traumas that may be affecting the way you think, feel or behave to this day. Your therapist will have a range of techniques that peacefully allow you to deal with what may have happened. Remember you are always in control and if you do not feel comfortable you can wake yourself from the trance. Your therapist will only go at the pace you are prepared to go. 

4. There are different types of hypnotherapy

Most hypnotherapy is similar – it relies on you being in a deeply relaxed state that allows your subconscious to be more accessible. Your therapist will talk you through the approaches that they use. Commonly, hypnotherapists use a range of metaphors and suggestions to communicate changes to your subconscious. An example of this would be if you were wanting to give something up, your therapist may take you along a path of your future if you were not to make this change – it may all be rather depressing and negative. But then you would walk the path where change has been made. As you can guess it will be far brighter, more positive and motivating. 

Alternatively, you may need to work with your real memories and deal with what has actually happened to you rather than using metaphors. Cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy (CBH) combines cognitive behaviour therapy approaches alongside hypnotherapy. 

For more information, read our article on the different styles.

5. Your hypnotherapist should be trained and registered

It’s always good to know a reputable place to find a qualified therapist and you’ve found it right here! Hypnotherapy Directory is a great place to browse qualified and experienced therapists across the UK and in your local area.

As explained by Hypnotherapy Directory, while not all hypnotherapists are members of a professional body, it can be reassuring for you as the client to know that your practitioner is working to a good standard of practice, and also that they have agreed to abide by both a code of ethics and a complaints procedure.

Learn more about the Hypnotherapy Directory proof policy.