Hypnotherapy 

Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic approach that uses hypnosis to help facilitate changes in thoughts, feelings, behaviours and habitual patterns. Hypnosis involves focused attention and increased responsiveness to suggestion.In my practice, hypnotherapy sessions may also incorporate techniques from Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Mental and Emotional Release (MER®), and Timeline Therapy, depending on your needs and goals.

Mental and Emotional Release (MER®) is a therapeutic approach that incorporates techniques from Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and guided imagery to explore how past experiences, emotional patterns and learned responses may continue to influence how you think, feel and behave.MER® uses the concept of a personal “Time Line” as a framework for reflecting on past experiences and changing the way they are interpreted or responded to in the present. Rather than needing to revisit every detail of an experience, the process is intended to help identify recurring patterns, develop new perspectives and support meaningful emotional and behavioural change.MER® may be incorporated into hypnotherapy sessions when appropriate and is tailored to the individual and their therapeutic goals.

No. MER® is not intended to erase or alter your memories. Instead, the goal is to change the emotional response, beliefs, or patterns that may have become associated with a past experience.For example, someone who was attacked by a dog as a child may continue to experience significant fear around dogs many years later. The memory of the event remains, but therapeutic work may help reduce the intensity of the fear response and change how that past experience affects them in the present.

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is an approach to communication and behaviour change that explores how patterns of thought, language and behaviour may influence our experiences and responses.NLP uses a variety of techniques designed to help identify unhelpful patterns, shift perspectives, develop more useful responses and work toward personal goals. It was developed in the 1970s through observations of communication and therapeutic approaches and is sometimes incorporated into coaching, hypnotherapy and other behaviour-change work.

“Model of the world” is an NLP term used to describe the way each of us interprets and makes sense of our experiences. Our perceptions are shaped by many factors, including our past experiences, beliefs, expectations and learned patterns, so two people can experience the same situation quite differently.Becoming more aware of these patterns can sometimes help us consider different perspectives, responses and choices. In NLP, this is referred to as expanding or changing our “model of the world.”

Hypnosis can be described in different ways, but generally involves focused attention, absorption and increased responsiveness to suggestion.Similar states of focused absorption can occur naturally in everyday life. Think of becoming completely immersed in a movie or book: you know intellectually that the story isn't happening to you, yet you may become so absorbed that:your attention becomes intensely focusedyou become less aware of what's happening around youimagined events can produce very real emotional and physical responsesyour experience can temporarily feel more immediate than the outside worldOur attention naturally shifts throughout the day, and hypnosis intentionally uses this capacity for focused attention and absorption in a therapeutic setting.Most importantly, hypnosis is a collaborative, “do-with” rather than “do-to” process. You remain an active participant throughout the experience and cannot be made to do something against your will.

There is still ongoing research into exactly how hypnosis works, but we know that hypnosis can influence attention, perception, emotion and behaviour through focused attention, imagery and therapeutic suggestion.Many of our thoughts, emotional responses and habitual behaviours occur automatically, without requiring deliberate conscious thought. This is one reason simply deciding to change, or relying on willpower alone, isn't always enough to change an established habit, fear or response.During hypnosis, focused attention and absorption can reduce some of the usual analytical evaluation of our thoughts and experiences. In traditional hypnotherapy, this is often described as “bypassing the critical faculty” of the conscious mind. This doesn't mean that conscious awareness is switched off or that you lose your ability to think or make choices. Rather, you may become less focused on immediately analyzing or rejecting an idea and more able to engage with it through imagination, emotion and suggestion.Hypnotherapists often describe this as “working with the subconscious mind.” The subconscious isn't a separate part of the brain where memories, emotions and habits literally reside. Instead, the term is a useful way of referring to the many learned associations, automatic thoughts, emotional responses, expectations and habitual patterns that can operate without our deliberate conscious control.In this more focused and receptive state, therapeutic imagery and suggestion can be used to explore different perspectives, rehearse new responses, challenge established patterns and influence how certain sensations or experiences are perceived. The goal isn't to erase memories or “reprogram” the mind, but to help change patterns and responses that may no longer be useful.Research using brain imaging has also identified changes in patterns of brain activity and connectivity during hypnosis, particularly in networks involved in attention, self-awareness and cognitive control. Research continues to explore how these changes relate to the subjective and therapeutic effects of hypnosis.

Hypnosis is a collaborative process. You can't be forced into hypnosis, you need to be willing to participate and engage in the experience.The ability to experience hypnosis is very common, although people vary in how they experience and respond to it. For therapeutic hypnosis, what matters most is that you have a goal you genuinely want to work toward and are motivated and willing to engage in the process. Openness to using your attention and imagination is also important.Creating a hypnotic state for therapeutic purposes is quite simple. It involves intentionally focusing your attention and directing your thoughts, imagination and responses in useful ways. Similar experiences of focused absorption happen naturally in everyday life, like when you're completely immersed in a movie or book, lost in a daydream, or so focused on something that you temporarily tune out what's happening around you.Hypnosis isn't something that is “done” to you. You remain an active participant throughout the process, and the goal is to use that focused state in ways that support the changes you want to make.And no, there are no swinging watches involved!

There isn't one particular feeling that tells you you're in hypnosis. People experience hypnosis differently, and there is no “right” way it is supposed to feel.Some people feel physically lighter or heavier, while others simply feel like they're sitting comfortably in a chair. You may become deeply absorbed in the experience, almost like being immersed in a dream or vivid daydream, or you may remain very aware of your surroundings and notice your analytical mind continuing to observe, narrate or ask questions. Some people remember the experience in great detail, while others recall less of it afterward.Many people experience a sense of deep relaxation during hypnosis and finish a session feeling refreshed. However, relaxation isn't required for hypnosis, you can be fully hypnotized without feeling particularly relaxed.The important thing is not to judge whether you're “doing it right.” Your experience may be subtle or quite immersive, and it can also vary from one session to another.

No. You maintain the ability to accept or reject suggestions while in hypnosis and remain in control of your own choices and actions throughout the process.Hypnosis is collaborative. The hypnotherapist guides and facilitates the experience, but you are always an active participant.

No. You cannot get stuck in hypnosis. Hypnosis is a state of focused attention and absorption, not a state in which you lose consciousness or control.You can emerge from hypnosis whenever you choose. If a hypnotherapist stopped guiding the session, you would naturally return to your usual state of awareness or, if you were very relaxed and tired, you might simply drift into sleep.

No. Hypnosis is not a state of unconsciousness or sleep. You remain aware and able to hear, think and respond throughout the experience, although your attention may become deeply focused or absorbed.Some people feel very relaxed or experience a dream-like quality during hypnosis, while others feel surprisingly normal and remain fully aware of everything happening around them. Both are completely normal experiences of hypnosis.

The number of sessions varies depending on what you'd like to work on, how complex or longstanding the concern is, and how you respond to the process. Some focused concerns, such as nail biting or a specific fear or phobia, may require only one or two sessions, while more complex concerns or patterns typically benefit from additional sessions.Because every person and situation is different, we'll discuss your goals and what I would recommend before beginning therapy.You can also book a complimentary consultation to discuss your needs and whether hypnotherapy may be a good fit for you.

Yes. Hypnotherapy sessions can be done effectively online. All you need is a reliable internet connection and a private, comfortable space where you won't be interrupted.In-office sessions aren't necessary for hypnotherapy, and many clients enjoy being able to experience the process in the comfort and familiarity of their own environment.

Hypnotherapy can be used to support a wide range of therapeutic goals. Depending on the individual and the concern, these may include:stress and anxietyfears and phobiashabits and behaviour changesmoking cessationsleep and insomniairritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and digestive symptomspain managementemotional eating and weight-related behaviour changedifficult emotional patterns, such as persistent guilt, hurt, grief or angerlimiting beliefs and negative self-perceptionsprocrastination and other patterns that can interfere with achieving goalsnavigating internal conflict or difficult decisionssports performance and performance-related goalspersonal goals related to health, relationships or careerHypnotherapy can be used on its own for some concerns or alongside other appropriate medical or psychological care. Whether it is suitable, and what role it may play, depends on the individual and what they are hoping to address.