A Typical Session
FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION
I offer a free initial consultation with no obligations, usually lasting 20-30 minutes. This will give you the opportunity to find out if hypnotherapy is right for you, to ask questions and to discuss anything you feel may be relevant about your problem.
It is important to feel comfortable and at ease with your hypnotherapist and the free consultation will allow you to find out if I’m the right therapist for you.
PRE-SESSION
Prior to your appointment, I will send you a pack of information which includes:
1) A letter confirming your appointment details and some useful information to read prior to your appointment.
2) A questionnaire for you to complete so that we can save time by completing a detailed client record beforehand.
3) An audio CD with two or three tracks depending on the issue you wish to address.
a) Track 1 explains how hypnosis works and some of the things we may do during a session.
b) Track 2 has some facts about what you are coming in to see me about.
c) Track 3 is a self-hypnosis session for relaxation so that you can learn how to go into trance.
YOUR FIRST HYPNOTHERAPY SESSION
The first session will start by talking about the information you have provided on the questionnaire so that we can organise a strategy to treat the symptom and any other underlining dynamics of that symptom.
The first session usually lasts for up to two hours to facilitate rapid early change in the symptom, and to gather enough information to assess which techniques and strategies will be best to deal with the underlying dynamic of the problem.
Some problems may be dealt with in a single session but others may take several, depending on their complexity. Although, compared to traditional psychotherapy, hypnotherapy takes a lot less time to resolve most issues because hypnosis works with the unconscious mind.
After discussing the strategy, the hypnotherapist will answer any questions you may have about hypnotherapy or your issue.
This part of the session also helps to loosen up the cement of the problem and most people see their problem differently before the hypnotherapy starts.
THE THERAPY PART
Once the therapist has the relevant information and has answered any questions you may have, it is time for the therapy part of the session. Sometimes I ask the client to sit in a recliner chair so that they can be relaxed while hypnotised.
I’m not sure how you will feel while being hypnotised because everyone is different, but most people feel very relaxed. Your eyes may be closed and you may hear everything that is going on around you. The sounds will fade into the background as you pay attention to my voice.
Some therapists use sound systems with headsets for the client to wear so that anything the client or the therapist says can be recorded clearly, and so that the voice of the therapist is enhanced and background noise is not heard.
In the first session, the hypnotherapist will normally use suggestion therapy to help you to go into trance faster and deeper on each consecutive induction and will also give you some suggestions and techniques you can use to relieve stress and to build confidence. You may also receive suggestions to reduce the severity of the symptom or to change the symptom to something more positive.
SUBSEQUENT SESSIONS
In subsequent sessions, the symptom and any underlying issues will be worked through, using a variety of techniques that will mean the problem is permanently taken care of.
BETWEEN SESSIONS
Between sessions, you may be asked to carry out tasks that will help you to embed behaviours outside the therapy room, which is where the real benefits will be seen.
