What is hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a combination of well known and normal psychological states – which when all put together creates the effects of Hypnosis and is used in hypnotherapy.  It is a completely normal state of mind that we all go into several times a day, day dreaming, driving home from work on auto pilot, reading a book, and forgetting what you just read after turning the page are all examples of the State of Mind called Hypnosis. Hypnosis is the name given to the formal application of various methods to place a person into this state on purpose.

Some people ask if they’ve really been hypnotised, just because it feels like such a normal state and they were expecting something very strange. The zombie-type states you see depicted in movies and on TV are pure fantasy.



What is hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy is an application of therapeutic methods while a person is in the State of Hypnosis. It adopts two altogether different forms in its clinical approach.

Suggestion Therapy

This clinical form of treatment is ideal for helping to cope with such things as self-development, particular fears, doubts, nerves, smoking, certain habits, some weight-control problems, stress, hypno-healing (working with the body`s immune and healing systems) and so forth.

Analytical Therapy

This is used for the more fundamental or deep-seated problems or issues. This approach aims to find and eliminate the underlying rudimentary cause of such things as irrational fears, emotional problems, relationship difficulties, psychosexual problems, lack of confidence, personality problems, sleeping difficulties, stuttering/stammering, anxiety, inferiority complex, unhappiness, phobias, etc. and most other problems and issues where there is a psychological factor at work.


How does it feel to be hypnotised?

It feels great! Hypnosis is a natural state that feels similar to that feeling you get right before you fall asleep at night.

When you awaken, you feel refreshed and revitalised.  You just feel as if you are relaxing in a very comfortable space with your eyes closed. You can hear everything my voice, the sounds outside the building, a car going down the street outside, whatever.

Because relaxation is a subjective experience (some people relax at the beach, for others it is chopping wood), so too is what each person feels when in a hypnotic trance. The feeling is the opposite to stress, so you will feel relaxed and calm. One of the simplest expression of the state of hypnosis is .. ‘while your aware of what is happening and going on, you just care to be bothered paying attention’


How do you put people into hypnosis?

I use the traditional approach of using words and imagery to guide your mind into a relaxed state but without the aid of a swinging watch. There are various other methods that other practitioners use.

Is hypnosis “Mind Control”?

Not at all. No one under hypnosis can be induced to do anything against their will. Whatever moral and ethical codes you hold in a normal waking state will still be in place under hypnosis. You can actually lie when in hypnosis.

Your unconscious mind's job is to protect and help you. Just like you cannot be made to do anything against your moral code, you will not say anything that is embarrassing and will not reveal more than you are comfortable doing. Usually, if a hypnotherapist`s suggestion conflicts with a client’s value system, the client simply brings themselves up out of hypnosis; they just “wake up.” You are in complete control at all times.

Hypnotherapy is a gentle  process and hypnotherapist’s are trained to not judge.  You will heal and change in your own timing.


What about those stage hypnotists that make people do strange and silly things?

A Stage hypnotist will carefully select people from the audience to find the ones who best respond to Hypnosis.  The “control factor” is still zero, the person on the stage allows the experience to be their main focus and find they are easily able to go along with the suggestions.

They stay with it and follow the hypnotist’s instructions, even when they’re not sure if it’s working.    Does anyone really think that if they volunteer to go on stage that the hypnotist will suggest they do something BRILLIANT? Anyone who volunteers is agreeing to play the part, whether they consciously admit it or not. 

Just for the record, I personally have never turned anyone into a chicken, but if that's what you want.....................



How much will I remember in hypnosis?

It totally depends, if you want to, you will remember everything that is said, however if you are used to the experience or find yourself drifting off into other thoughts you can allow your focus and attention to wander off and remember very little. Remembering the experience is entirely an individual thing, but the bottom line is if you stay focused and want to remember you will, either way it doesn't affect how the therapy works.


How deep will I go?

Depth of the hypnotic state is an idea that used to be a focal point, but lately the hypnosis community and hypnosis professionals have realised that depth (or not) has little bearing. My view on this is that my clients go as deep (or stay as light) as they need to and what is appropriate for them, and we still get good results.

It is a fact that the more hypnosis one undergoes, the greater and easier one drops down into the altered state. It is a skill and like all skills – improves with practice.


How do I know if I can be hypnotised?

Everyone can be hypnotised but one has to be willing to do it. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis, which means if you want to do it, you will. The very small minority of people who have difficulty in a session are usually those who

a) don’t really want to be hypnotised (perhaps to debunk the idea); or

b) can’t relax and let go enough (perhaps fearing loss of control, which we know is a myth, or fearing the unknown) to go with the experience.

What does hypnosis feel like?

A: The answer is that hypnosis probably feels different for everybody. Many hypnotists (researchers & clinicians) use elements of relaxation procedures, so people commonly associate a feeling of relaxation with hypnosis. Different people have all sorts of bodily responses to relaxation instructions - some feel as though their body is very heavy, whereas some can feel very light, almost as if they were floating. Mentally, again people have all sorts of responses. People typically report feeling very focused or absorbed, often effortlessly so. Since instructions for imagery are often used people can have very vivid imaginative experiences - many report feeling 'as if they were there'.  Some people struggle with imagery, but it isn't necessary to have vivid images, just a sense of what is being described is enough.



Can I “get stuck” in a hypnotic trance?

No. Again, hypnosis is a very natural and normal state and cannot hold anyone against his or her will. If a client were to go so deep as to enter a truly unconscious state (a very rare occurrence), they would simply go into natural sleep and awaken when they were rested. It is impossible for anyone to be `left or lost` in hypnosis.

After hypnosis, a person awakens naturally, just as they do after sleep! If the hypnotherapist were to leave before counting them awake, the subject would eventually realise that the session had ended and would awaken on their own.  During the session, if there were an emergency, or the subject no longer wished to participate, they could easily awaken themselves at any time and simply stop.


Can hypnosis hurt me?

In over two hundred years of recorded hypnosis history, there is no documented case of anyone being hurt with hypnosis. Hypnosis can only be used in a positive way. If anyone tries to give you suggestions against your morals, religious beliefs or anything you feel strongly about, you could instantly emerge from the state of relaxation on your own.


Is hypnosis a 100% consent state?

If at any time you want to emerge from the state of hypnosis, for any reason, you will instantly, naturally open your eyes and become fully alert. No one can keep you in hypnosis against your will.



What if I’m under a doctor’s care or taking medication?

If you have any questions about whether or not hypnosis will help or conflict with a present medical condition, ask you GP.

Hypnosis can often complement traditional medical care and it can act as an adjunct to medical treatment. The rule of thumb is that unless the medication prevents you from sleep and relaxation then you will be fine.

Can hypnosis help me?

“Helping me get past my fear of public speaking?” “Improving my golf game?” “Helping me relax during exams?”

“Curing my insomnia?” Etc. Let’s put it this way: think for a moment about any issue in your life that you’d like to improve and ask yourself, “Does my mind interact with this issue/activity in any way? Do my thoughts/beliefs affect my performance?

Do my feelings contribute to my experiences in this area? Have I had past experiences that are reinforcing my beliefs/thoughts/emotions in a negative way? Is it  my expectations that I will NOT get the results I desire?”

Are you getting the picture? The mind, body and emotions are all connected. Therefore, I’m not aware of ANY issue that can not be at least significantly improved/relieved through the regular use of hypnosis.

Hypnosis is used to change attitudes, beliefs and behaviours. It will not make you grow taller or change the colour of your eyes or cure cancer.  But it will help with emotional states of mind that contribute towards the healing of conditions and works with ‘Attitudes, Beliefs and Behaviours’


How quickly will I experience results from hypnosis?

There’s a lot of factors at work here. First, and foremost, there’s your motivation level and commitment. If you’re “trying” to quit smoking because your partner has put you up to it, you’re not really all that motivated yourself, now are you?

My advice there: just quit wasting your time and money and be honest. There’s no such thing as “trying to quit.” You’re either ready to be a non-smoker or you’re not. Same is true with just about anything. If your motivation and commitment level is HIGH, you’ll likely experience  results straight away or very quickly. If it’s low, you may stop going to the hypnotherapist or stop listening  to that new tape long before you see any results. Other factors that determine your success can include your comfort-level and respect for the hypnotherapist you’re working with, as well as the regularity of your hypnosis sessions. Hypnosis is NOT a magic pill. Sorry!

You will actually have to do some WORK along the way, such as attending your  hypnotherapy sessions or listening to your self-hypnosis tape on a daily basis. If you are expecting to be “put to sleep” and awaken “never wanting to eat chocolate again,” you’re probably destined for disappointment. It just doesn’t happen that way. On the other hand, I have many clients who quit smoking after my `one smoking session`, they were what I’d call HIGHLY MOTIVATED and have COMMITMENT.

I would like to stress here that if you are having hypnotherapy for PTSD, emotional trauma, or anything along those lines, you will experience a rise in negative thoughts and feelings between sessions, but it vitally important that you DO attend your next session in order to deal with those thoughts and feelings.  It may also be possible to move your next session to an earlier time to help you.

In What Areas Can Hypnotherapy Be Helpful?


Anorexia Treatment
Antidepressant Withdrawal
Assertiveness Training
Asthma Treatment Hypnosis
Be Less Critical
Be More Patient
Being Yourself Socially
Birthday Blues
Blaming Others
Breast feeding Relaxation
Building Self Confidence
Building Self Esteem
Caffeine Addiction
Cannabis Dependence
Chewing Tobacco Addiction
Chocolate Addiction
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Confidence in Class
Controlling Emotions
Cool Down Blushing
Dealing with Disappointment
Develop Optimism
Diabetic Diet
Don’t Take It Personally
Drink More Water
Ease Eczema
Ease Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms
Ease Raynauds Disease
Eat More Vegetables
Eat Slowly
Essential Tremor
Exercise Motivation
Feel Attractive Now
Feeling Down
Fitness Class Motivation
Forgive Yourself
Gain Weight
Get Back on Track
Gym Motivation
Hay fever Relief
Healthy Lifestyle

High Blood Pressure
Hot Flashes
Ignore Snoring
Improve Posture
Impulse Control
Inferiority Complex
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Jet lag Reliever
Know Yourself
Let Go Of The Past
Let It Go
Lip Biting
Love Your Pregnant Body
Morning Sickness
MRI Scan Anxiety
Musicians & Singers Nerves
Nervous Talking
No Embarrassment
No More Mr Nice Guy
Overcome Envy
Overcome Indecision
Overcome Insecurity
Overcome Lethargy
Overcome Perfectionism
Overcome Selfishness
Overcome Superstition
Overcoming Shyness
Pee Pressure
Perfect Body
Personal Power
Portion Control
Positive Menopause
Positive Pregnancy
Positive Thinking
Pregnancy After Miscarriage
Prepare for Surgery
Put Yourself First
Quit Smoking – Stay Stopped
Reduce Salt Intake
Relieving Constipation

Remember Your Medication
Saying No
Self Acceptance
Self Consciousness
Self Hate
Self Sabotage
Speaking Clearly
Stage Fright
Stand Up for Yourself
Stay Calm with THAT Person
Stop Apologising
Stop Arguing
Stop Being Defensive
Stop Being Fussy
Stop Being Irritable
Stop Comparing Yourself
Stop Cracking Knuckles
Stop Cursing / Swearing
Stop Drinking Soda
Stop Facial Tics
Stop Fidgeting
Stop Gossiping
Stop Judging by Appearances
Stop Negative Thoughts
Stop Nervous Laughter
Stop Nose Picking
Stop Popping Zits
Stop Scratching
Stop Self Blame
Stop Thinking the Worst
Stop Thumb Sucking
Stop Worrying
Tension Headaches
Travel Sickness
Victim Mentality
Walk More
Watch Less TV
Weight Loss – Eat Healthy
What Others Think
Worry Less About Your Kids
You’re Not Stupid

To name a few!   But also many more……

If you have a specific question not in this list please feel free to contact me....