Settling the gut – group hypnotherapy for IBS
- Six weekly sessions, 90 minutes each
- Ongoing — new groups formed according to demand
- £349 (complete programme)
Living with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can affect much more than your digestive system. When symptoms are unpredictable, even ordinary activities such as travelling, eating out, going to work or meeting friends can become difficult. For many people, the worry about when symptoms might occur adds another layer of stress to an already uncomfortable condition.
Settling the Gut is a six-week group hypnotherapy programme in Skipton, designed to help people with IBS manage their symptoms and feel more confident in everyday life.
Gut-directed hypnotherapy is a recognised approach to IBS management, supported by clinical research and included in guidance from NICE and the British Society of Gastroenterology. It focuses on the relationship between the digestive system and the nervous system, using hypnosis, guided imagery and therapeutic suggestions to help people develop different responses to digestive sensations and discomfort.
What will the programme cover?
The programme consists of six weekly sessions, each lasting approximately 90 minutes. Sessions take place in small groups of between three and six people, providing a comfortable and supportive environment.
During the programme, we'll explore how the gut and brain communicate, why symptoms can sometimes become more troublesome during periods of stress or anxiety, and how hypnotherapy may help.
Each session includes guided hypnosis, with a particular focus on digestive comfort, calming the nervous system and managing the physical and emotional effects of IBS.
We'll also look at the anticipation of symptoms. If you've ever worried about being caught without access to a toilet, avoided particular journeys or turned down invitations because of IBS, you'll probably recognise how much the expectation of symptoms can influence your decisions.
Alongside the hypnosis, you'll learn techniques that you can practise between sessions and continue using after the programme has finished.
Although the sessions take place in a group, this isn't group counselling. You won't be expected to discuss intimate details of your symptoms or personal circumstances with other participants. The focus is on learning and experiencing the therapeutic techniques together.
Who is the programme for?
Settling the Gut is intended for adults who have been diagnosed with IBS and would like to explore hypnotherapy as an additional way of managing their condition.
It may be particularly helpful if your symptoms are affecting your confidence, restricting your activities or leaving you feeling that IBS is making too many of your decisions for you.
Before joining, we'll have an individual conversation to make sure the programme is appropriate for your circumstances and to answer any questions you might have.
What can you hope to achieve?
Everyone experiences IBS differently, so the changes people notice will vary.
Some people may experience improvements in digestive symptoms or discomfort. Others may find that they become less anxious about their symptoms, more confident about going out or better able to manage situations they previously found difficult.
The aim is to help you develop practical ways of managing IBS and, wherever possible, reduce the amount of disruption it causes in your life.
Hypnotherapy isn't a guaranteed cure, and it doesn't replace appropriate medical care. However, it offers an additional approach that may be beneficial, particularly when IBS symptoms continue to interfere with everyday activities.
Programme details
Location: Craven Clinic, Skipton, North Yorkshire
Sessions: Six weekly sessions of approximately 90 minutes
Group size: Three to six participants
Cost: £349 per person for the complete six-week programme, support workbooks and audio recordings
When does the next group start?
Settling the Gut is an ongoing programme, with new groups arranged whenever enough people are interested in taking part.
This means there are no fixed enrolment deadlines. You can register your interest at any time, and once there are sufficient suitable participants, we'll arrange dates for the next six-week course.
Everyone who has registered their interest will be contacted by email with details of the proposed dates and how to reserve a place.
Registering your interest doesn't commit you to attending or paying anything. It simply means you'll be kept informed when the next group is being organised.
Find out more or register your interest
If IBS is having an impact on your everyday life and you'd like to find out whether gut-directed hypnotherapy could help, you're very welcome to get in touch.
You can read more about the programme and register your interest on my website.
The programme is run by John Taylor, an experienced clinical hypnotherapist and psychotherapeutic counsellor with over 12 years' experience in private practice, based at Craven Clinic in Skipton.