Finding expert help for your problems

The chances are you are reading this because you or somebody you know has a problem of some kind. That ‘problem’ can be anything at all. It could be anxiety, stress, sleep, weight control, smoking, relationships (past or present), phobias, confidence in yourself and your capabilities, fear of driving following an accident or scare, bullying or nerves about an upcoming event, plus so many more things that can cause anyone distress or upset.

You could be thinking, “Should I do something about it? It’s not as big an issue as some people’s problems. I should be able to cope, just get on with it.” Please remember though what is a big problem to someone else, could be a small problem to you and vice- versa. Everybody’s problem is unique to them and the resulting stress it may cause is also unique to them.

Basically, if something or someone is proving detrimental to a person’s life, it’s a problem and needs to be sorted/corrected/put right. I have put several phrases there on purpose: different problems or issues may need to be dealt with or thought of in different ways.  

You are probably wondering where all this is leading to. It’s leading to clinical hypnotherapy.

What is clinical hypnotherapy?

Is it like the stage show? Will they fiddle with my brain? Can I slide back into hypnosis if somebody clicks their fingers or says a certain word? The answer to those questions is a resounding no! This is hypnotherapy, a therapy. As the saying goes, 'It does as it says on the tin' it doesn’t hurt you and it doesn’t cause you embarrassment. It heals you.

There are many clinical hypnotherapists that can help you and there are bound to be some near you. Go and visit a few and talk to them until you find one you are comfortable with. It needs to be someone whom you feel you could talk to about anything that bothers you. You should feel completely relaxed with your chosen therapist. A good therapist won’t make you feel like they are judging you or criticising you in any way, they won’t 'blame' anyone. How can they? Nobody knows how they would react given the same set of circumstances.

What to expect from your first session?

Ok, you have found your chosen clinical hypnotherapist, so what happens next? Will he/she tell you to lie down on a sofa and then swing a watch in front of your eyes and tell you you’re getting sleepy, and then you will 'wake up' and will have lost all your excess weight? No, it doesn’t quite work that way, although you may relax on a couch or a comfortable chair.

Your first session will be all about you, what’s bothering you when you first noticed these problems and what was going on in your life at the time. Your therapist will ask you normal questions about you and your life, allowing you to feel comfortable and to talk about your problem in your own way and time.

Many people don’t know or realise when it all began, but talking to a good therapist is often when it comes out. If your issue is speaking in public or something similar, your therapist can boost your confidence and maybe even give you some tips on how to boost your self-confidence in whatever situation you may find yourself in.

Did you know many problems including phobias or eating problems often start when you are a very small child? Up to the age of six, a child’s mind is like a sponge and takes everything in. Sometimes the mind takes in an innocent comment and mistakenly holds it as a criticism, and the comment stays in the mind well into adulthood affecting the adult’s behaviour and thoughts. Of course, there are exceptions to this when something traumatic happens in later life, this is also an area your clinical hypnotherapist will help you with.

What happens in clinical hypnotherapy sessions?

Well as we discussed earlier there are usually no swinging watches involved. Many people have no idea when their particular issue started or don’t feel able to talk about it because they feel they are being disloyal to their loved ones. But this is why you need to find a clinical hypnotherapist you are totally comfortable with. They will talk gently to you, encouraging you to talk about issues that can be painful to you, but a good therapist will never push you to discuss things until you are ready.

Your chosen clinical hypnotherapist will outline the way he/she will move forward with your sessions. Remember you are a part of these sessions, your therapist will value your thoughts and opinions.  

It feels like a wonderful feeling of relaxation, if you have ever meditated it feels a little like that or when you are half awake, half asleep, a space of peace and contentment.

During a clinical hypnotherapy session, you will feel completely relaxed and you’ll be able to hear every word your therapist says. You are free and able to end the sessions at any point and you can leave as soon as you finish your session. You are quite safe to drive, as I said earlier you cannot ‘slip back into hypnosis’.

Reasons you might see a clinical hypnotherapist 

1. Smoking

If you are visiting your chosen therapist about smoking, they will begin by asking you several questions about your smoking habits ie how many a day you smoke, where and when you smoke etc. They will work out if you’re a habit smoker - when you have a coffee break - or a compulsive smoker who uses cigarettes as a lifeline for coping with everyday life. Both scenarios need handling in different ways.

It’s possible for some people to stop smoking in one session or it may be necessary to reduce the number of daily cigarettes smoked over a period of weeks. Whichever way your clinical hypnotherapist recommends, you can be sure he/she has had a lot of experience with this and knows the most effective and beneficial way for you to stop smoking. 

Clinical hypnotherapy cannot ‘brainwash’ you, you have to want to stop smoking. It doesn’t matter how many times your loved ones ‘nag’ you if you don’t want to stop you won’t.

2. Bullying

Very sadly, more and more children are being affected by bullying. This affects children and their families. A good clinical hypnotherapist can often help in these situations, helping both the children and the families involved. The therapy used is often based on self-confidence, and dealing with verbal or physical attacks.

Parents whose child is involved in bullying need help as well to handle the situation. I did say every parent involved because the parent of a child who is doing the bullying needs help and even the child doing the bullying needs help. They are bullying for a reason.

It's not only children who sometimes have to endure bullying. Adults in workplaces very often experience bullying and although there are supposed to be measures in place to deal with is, sadly these measures aren't always favourable. It can still take courage and confidence to report it. Again a clinical hypnotherapist can help with the confidence needed to deal and report such happenings

So whatever your issue is, no matter if you feel it is too small or too big to handle, no one will laugh at you or criticise you, don’t suffer a day more.  After all, what have you got to lose? Nothing, except your problem.