GQHP Registered Hypnotherapist (GHC)
Member of the NHS Directory of Complementary and Alternative Practioners
Training undertaken with Paul McKenna and EOS Seminars

Hypnosis takes place in a state of intense relaxation and concentration so the mind becomes detached from everyday cares and concerns. In this relaxed state the subconscious part of the mind is able to respond to suggestion and imagery, it can focus on the things you wish to change and on the ways you can best do so, free from unwanted thoughts.
During hypnosis you are not asleep or unconscious, you are in an altered state of consciousness in which it is possible for things to happen in the sub-conscious rather than trying to make them happen with your conscious mind. Because you are deeply relaxed, the suggestions given to you by the hypnotist will be acted upon more easily by the subconscious. The conscious and subconscious minds have different functions. Our conscious mind helps with our daily decision-making processes working according to the reality principle. It is intelligent, realistic, logical and proactive, especially in new situations where we have to apply rational thought processes to work out what to do and how to do it. However, it can only deal with between five and nine things at any one time and is easily overloaded.
The subconscious works on ‘auto pilot’ i.e. reacting according to the pleasure principle in that it seeks to avoid pain and obtain pleasure and survival, regardless of external considerations. It is concerned with our emotions, imagination, and memories as well as our autonomic nervous system which controls our internal organs automatically. These four main functions are very closely interlinked - in other words the mind affects the body and the body affects the mind. It is powerful and very clever at dealing with many complex instructions at any one time but it reacts not thinks.
The hypnotist makes it possible to by-pass the conscious to the subconscious where it is possible to alter unwanted learned behavior patterns and reactions simply and effectively, amending issues in hours and minutes rather than struggling for maybe days, weeks or years.

We often use self-suggestion in everyday life in the form of spontaneous thoughts or observations. Thoughts such as "I cannot stop smoking, no matter how hard I try", or "I’ll never be able to do this" are often powerful but very negative self-suggestions.
We are also continually subjected to ‘unconscious hypnotism’ in our daily life by parents, teachers, peer pressure, politicians, etc If we are unaware of these negative suggestions we may cause ourselves all manner of disabilities or ailments. Thankfully suggestion is a two edged sword. Those who are instructed in its use can relieve the symptoms or unwanted behaviour patterns which negative suggestion may have caused.

Hypnosis and NLP can help you to:

Change negative into positive behaviours and increase confidence and self-worth; Improve self-respect; Handle rejection feelings.

Stop Smoking; Control Weight and Eating Problems; Eliminate Sleep Problems

Manage Stress in All Aspects of Life: Reduce high blood pressure; Promote relaxation

Master Public Speaking and Speech Problems: Gain confidence in conversation; Eliminate tension prior to interview; Reduce stage, speech or lecture fright

End Anxiety, Panic, Fears and Phobias: Eliminate a fear of something, such as lifts, air travel, crowds, spiders, disease, etc.

Improve Your Self and Quality of Life:Overcome Learning Difficulties; Increase educational skills, improve study habits, enhance memory and concentration; Instill positive attitude to learning. Improve exam techniques

Improve Sports Performance: Create sense of success, winning, achievement; Enhance overall attitude

Raise Personal Creativity: Motivate production; Aid insight, problem solving, etc

Control Pain: Control pain in chronic conditions such as arthritis or back pain

Break Bad Habits and Promote New Ones: Increase motivation; Become more positive; Eliminate negative thoughts; Release anger, grief, frustration.

These are just some of the stress related or psychosomatic conditions that clinical hypnosis, hypnotherapy and other proven techniques can help to overcome.