Did you think that hypnotherapy only helps with things like quitting smoking or getting rid of phobias? … Think again … Hypnotherapy can help with all sorts of complex mental issues such as anxiety.
Anxiety stems deep from within our subconscious in an automatic mechanism designed to help us keep our eye on danger. This is very useful when living in a dangerous world. It is an automatic reaction designed to keep us out of trouble. However, in a world that is relatively safe, anxiety can stop us leading the life we wish to lead.
Hypnotherapy can help because it deals with processes that lie deep within our subconscious. These processes are the ones that happen automatically and so we have little or no conscious control over them.
When I see a client, I spend the first half of the one-hour session simply talking about everyday life – what has been going on in their lives and what do they expect to do in the coming weeks. In doing this, I lead them into thinking about a positive future that they might have for themselves – one without anxiety where they can be calm and regain control.
This means that in the second half of the session, where they go into a nice relaxing trance, their subconscious will turn to sorting out the issues that are causing them anxiety. They may not be aware of this happening as it is entirely at a subconscious level. The success of this process means that I usually see clients for between five and ten sessions before they reach a stage where they’re happy that they have their lives back in control again.
I practice solution-focused hypnotherapy. This means that I ask my clients to focus on the solution to their anxiety rather than the problem that caused the anxiety in the first place. Many of my clients tell me about the things that have caused them stress and anxiety, but I am far more interested in hearing about how they want to be instead of being anxious.
Hypnotherapy is not the only treatment for anxiety – there are other therapies available, as well as medication. Hypnotherapy is very effective. However, you need to find the right treatment for you.
I work out of my clinic in Fleet, Hampshire – as well as online. If you would like to have a chat about your anxiety and what hypnotherapy might do for you, contact me and I will be happy to have a chat to help you decide what is the best path for you to take.
Photo courtesy of Vivien Griffiths, Mental Health Foundation