Imagine your mind to be like an iceberg, with about 10% showing above the water and 90% below the water. The 10% of the iceberg that is visible represents your conscious mind – the part of your mind that deals in logical, rational thoughts and behaviours. The 90% of the iceberg below the surface – that’s your unconscious mind. The unconscious mind is responsible for your emotions, memories, dreams, automatic functions (i.e. breathing), and automatic behaviours (i.e. habits).

Hypnotherapy is a type of psychological therapy that takes you into a deeply relaxed state so that we can address the unconscious mind. Through communicating with the unconscious mind, we can uncover the reasons why you have the problems that you do, whether that be anxiety, self-doubt, low self-esteem or unhealthy habits. Once we have done this, we can use a variety of techniques to reframe or let go of unhelpful thoughts or beliefs. You will then find it much easier to make the changes you want. You will no longer be battling against yourself, but acting in accordance with your true, authentic wants and desires.

Good question! On a physical level, there seems to be little to no difference between hypnosis and meditation (according to changes in brainwave activity). However, they are used differently. Meditation is typically used to empty the mind to create a deep sense of inner peace whereas hypnosis is usually goal-orientated.

Hypnosis feels different to everyone and there’s no ‘right way’ to experience hypnosis. Some people become hyper-aware of their surroundings; some people become hyper-aware of themselves; some people find their mind wanders and they worry that they haven’t been ‘paying attention’. Some people come out of trance feeling elated and like they’ve had life-affirming revelations, and others come out feeling nothing. It doesn’t matter. The unconscious mind is always paying attention and things will become clear when the time is right, whether that be minutes, hours or days later.

Erm, no! This is an old stereotype that goes back to the early days of theatrical stage performers. Eye-fixation is certainly one way to induce someone into a state of hypnosis, but this can be done by staring at any object – it just so happens that the hypnotists of the 19^th century were well-to-do gentlemen who carried swinging pocket watches.

Again, no. These stage hypnotists have a lot to answer for! Let’s go back to the iceberg analogy – that 20% of visible iceberg is your conscious mind and the 80% below the water is your unconscious. Now let’s add a filter on the water line – yes, that bit between the conscious and the unconscious. The filter is known as the critical faculty, and its job is to accept or reject information that is consistent with our data banks in the unconscious. For example, if you find Karen in Accounts overbearing and you hear she’s been bullying a colleague, you are more likely to believe that to be true rather than if you heard it was Sue in HR who always goes out of her way to help you. It doesn’t mean it is true, of course, but your conscious mind has checked with the data banks, and the critical faculty will either accept or reject the information based on what your unconscious already knows to be true.

Now, when we are in hypnosis, one effect is to bypass the critical faculty. That’s how we can start making real changes. So as an example, let’s take our fictitious client Amy. Amy has a very successful career – she holds a senior position; she is well-respected; she is known as someone who gets results. Despite being recognised by the company and clients; despite being promoted; despite bonuses and regularly exceeding targets – Amy feels like a fraud. Her conscious mind receives all this information about her positive performance, but her critical faculty checks with the data banks in her unconscious mind, and it says ‘no’. For whatever reason, her unconscious mind KNOWS she is not worthy; in fact, she’s a fraud. It will tell the critical faculty to REJECT any praise or any information alluding to Amy’s success, and it will tell her she’s just ‘lucky’. However, through hypnotherapy, we can bypass this pesky critical faculty and begin to work with the unconscious mind to challenge her beliefs, and ultimately to change them. Once Amy has done this work, she can now enjoy hearing positive information about herself, and her critical faculty will ACCEPT it as truth.

Now, back to the mind-control. Even in hypnosis, a small part of the critical faculty will remain. This prevents people from accepting harmful suggestions, or those that are against their moral beliefs. Remember, we are using hypnosis to get back to the root of the real you – the you before society got its mitts on you! So, don’t worry – hypnosis is not mind control and I can’t MAKE you do anything that you don’t really want to do.

YES! But only if you want it to. If you are considering hypnotherapy to prove someone else wrong, or because someone else wants you to change (hypnotherapists see this ALL THE TIME with clients whose partners want them to stop smoking), then I can guarantee you that it WON’T work. As we mentioned above, your critical faculty will stop you from doing anything that you don’t actually want to do. So, if this is you – save your money!

Absolutely. Hypnosis conducted by a trained professional is perfectly safe. However, if you suffer from certain conditions, such as psychosis, then hypnotherapy is unlikely to be the best route for you. If you are suffering from any mental health condition, I would always recommend that you see your GP first.

Online sessions are a really convenient way to experience hypnotherapy. They take place in the comfort of your own home via a secure Zoom connection, and we can still see and hear each other just as we would if we were face-to-face.

Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is etymologically from Japanese reiki (霊気), meaning ‘Universal Life Force’ or ‘Spiritual Energy’.  Today, in the West, we know Reiki as a form of hands-on complementary therapy that can be used to heal a range of physical and emotional issues.  The practitioner channels the Reiki energy (the chi) through their hands and the recipient consciously or unconsciously directs the energy where it’s most needed for the greater good.

Absolutely. Reiki is a completely safe and natural complementary therapy that can be used alongside conventional medicine and other complementary therapies, or as a stand-alone treatment.

The recipient relaxes on a reiki couch (similar to a massage table) fully clothed, whilst the practitioner places their hands on, or just above, parts of the body and channels the reiki energy through their hands to the recipient.  It is a relaxing treatment, and the recipient remains awake throughout.  Everyone experiences reiki differently, and there’s no ‘right way’ to feel, but many people report seeing colours or images, others feel a buzzing or warmth, and some people experience an emotional release, such as tears.  However it feels, it’s important to surrender to the feelings and know that your body is processing and letting go of what it no longer needs and that however you feel is exactly right for you at that time.

I am a qualified Clinical Hypnotherapist, with a Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis & Hypnotherapy (DIP. CHH), a Certificate in N.L.P Skills (CERT NLPS) and a Master of Science Degree in Psychology (MSC. PSYCH). I also hold Reiki Level 1 and Reiki Practitioner Level 2 qualifications.  I am also a qualified and experienced Teacher of English (PGCE) and have a Bachelor’s Degree in English Language with Linguistics, which is where my love of the power of language originates.