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What to Expect in Hypnotherapy

As an active participant in the process, we will work together to achieve your goals.

I will provide you with the tools so you can then be responsible for your own healing.

Hypnotherapy Myths

Hypnotherapy is a quick fix and can resolve deep-seated issues you've had for a while in one session.

 

You're in a sleep-like state, completely under my control and my command. 

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Hypnotherapy is basically 'mind control' where the hypnotherapist can make you do anything, even if it's against your will.

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You lie there passively receiving suggestions or commands from me about what you will stop or start doing in the future.

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As the Hypnotherapist I'm doing the therapy to you i.e. I'm changing what's in your mind for you.

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You simply drift off in to a dream-like state with no input in to what happens in the sessions.​

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​Hypnotherapy erases unwanted thoughts and feelings from your mind and instantly replaces them with happy thoughts.​

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Hypnotherapy Reality

Hypnosis is simply a state of focused relaxtion.

 

The depths of relaxation go from "just dipped below the surface" all the way to "in a deep trance-like state". Anywhere on this scale is perfect for hypnotherapy to be effective.

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Hypnotherapy is a two-way process where you are actively involved in the healing process.

 

You either lie or sit in a comfortable position with your eyes closed. Using repetition and verbal cues I help you to relax. I then guide you to use your imagination in constructive and healing ways. This could be imagining past events going differently and/or future events going amazingly well.

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As a trained Transformational Hypnotherapist I'm essentially your guide and your ally. I know the modality to help change negative/limiting beliefs stored in your subconscious. 

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Transformational Hypnotherapy is About Healing Your Past in Order to Change Your Future.

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I Simply Show You How.​​​​

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Session One: up to 90 minutes (1.5 hours)

Goal: Firstly a pre-hypnosis talk to discuss in detail what you'd like to address, what you hope to achieve from the sessions and my subsequent assessment of your needs. This is an exploratory conversation where I will find out when your symptoms first started and help piece together why you might be feeling and experiencing the things that you're struggling with. This is an important element of the therapy before the hypnosis part - I want you to feel comfortable enough to delve deeper in to why you might be thinking, feeling or behaving in a way that is troubling you. We will work together in order to understand what might be holding you back - and how to make the changes that you want to see, feel and experience.

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I'll introduce you to common hypnotherapy concepts, models of how the mind works, how hypnotherapy works and of course help you understand how it could help with your issues. There will usually be time to have a short introductory hypnosis session towards the end. This will be a relaxing, pleasant and enjoyable experience. The session will conclude with a discussion about how the session went for you. 

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Occasionally my initial assessment may result in a recommendation that hypnotherapy is not the best path forward for you and other approaches can then be recommended. A 15 minute phone call first can help to find out if hypnotherapy is right for you. Note this is not a complete assessment and I reserve the right to recommend alternative approaches based on ethics, my expertise and my experience.

Session Two: up to 90 minutes (1.5 hours)

Goal: With familiarity of hypnosis from your first session and with your goals in mind, we agree together how to approach this next hypnotherapy session. By continuing to explore your history, past experiences and environment, we can further understand how they have shaped your thinking and behaviour now - and actively work to challenge and transform limiting self beliefs in hypnosis. 

Session Three: up to 90 minutes (1.5 hours)

Goal: Discuss and review how things have been progressing for you since your last session, agreeing together how to approach this third hypnotherapy session. Hypnotherapy with me is goal focused so we will check at the end of this session whether you feel you have reached a full resolution to your issues or whether further sessions may be required. As everyone is unique with their own experiences, histories and learning styles, some clients may find that three sessions is enough to shift their subconscious sufficiently, whilst others find they need more than three sessions. On average, clients have between three and nine sessions in total. With my expertise I can help advise you on the course of action to take but ultimately how many sessions you have is your decision.

** Your health and well-being are always in my best interest. I reserve the right to withhold the use of hypnosis until such time I feel it is appropriate for you. For clients in acute emotional distress or presenting significant symptoms of trauma, I may recommend the use of active discussion in the waking state to unravel core issues and complex patterns prior to using hypnosis. In some cases, this may result in hypnosis not being used in the first session. **

Linda Carter talking to hypnotherapy client

Preparing for Your Sessions

You need to be available to commit to at least three sessions, spaced one or two weeks apart.

 

At least three sessions are required for anyone who desires to bring about significant change or improvement so I offer sessions in packages of three. You will have 5 weeks from the date of your first session in which to take all three sessions. 

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It's a good idea to try and arrange your sessions when you are:

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  • Well rested (good night’s sleep) and have a naturally high mental energy (not from lots of caffeine). If you are not well rested, the mind has more challenge in focusing and a more difficult time accessing positive perspectives.

  • Not caffeinated. Avoid coffee two hours before a session. Caffeine activates the nervous system and the mind, which can work against the hypnosis which is focused relaxation.

  • Less stressed than at perhaps other times in your day or week. This makes it easier to relax. For people with a stressful day job during the week, an end of week or weekend session is often an optimal time.

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We know that life doesn't always allow for the 'optimal conditions' therefore don't worry too much about finding 'the perfect time' to have hypnotherapy. Just bear the above advice in mind when booking your sessions.

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