IMAGINE hypnotherapy
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is Hypnosis safe?
A. Yes!
For a fuller account please refer to the Hypnotherapy Myths and misconceptions page. You can go straight there from the index on the left side panel of this page.
If at any time you want to emerge from the state of hypnosis, for any reason, you will immediately and naturally open your eyes and become fully alert. No one can keep you in hypnosis against your will, or make you do anything you would not normally want to do, despite what many TV shows might suggest.
Q. Can Hypnosis help me for any condition?
A. Think for a moment about any aspect of your life and ask yourself the following questions
Does my mind interact with this issue or activity in any way?
Do my feelings contribute to my short- comings in this area?
Have I had past experiences that are reinforcing my beliefs, thoughts or emotions in a negative way?
I believe that you will not truthfully be able to answer 'No' to any of the above questions. Mind, body and emotions are all interconnected. I believe that any condition can be improved by hypnotherapy if the recipient wishes it to be.
Q. What is Hypnosis?
A. Hypnosis is a very normal and relaxed state of consciousness that we all experience from time to time in which the mind remains clear, alert and focused, and the subconscious becomes amenable to suggestion.
Have you ever become really absorbed while watching TV or reading? Or driven to work on autopilot unable to remember landmarks or events along the way? Well, during those times you were being looked after by your subconscious mind. Your experiences during these times are the same kind of altered, but natural state that hypnosis is. People will sometimes ask if they've really been hypnotised, just because it feels so normal and they were expecting something very strange. The zombie-type states you see on TV are pure fantasy.
Q. Is Hypnosis "mind control?"
A. No one under hypnosis can be induced or cajoled to do anything against his or her will. Whatever moral and ethical codes you hold in a normal waking state will be those you hold under hypnosis. By the same token you cannot be made to do anything against your moral code, you will not say anything that is embarrassing and you will not reveal more information than you are comfortable with. If a therapist's suggestion conflicts with a client's values system, the client simply brings themselves up out of hypnosis and wakes up to full consciousness. You are therefore in complete control at all times. Hypnotherapy is a peaceful and enjoyable process and its practitioners are trained to be nonjudgmental.
Q. What if I'm under a doctor's care or taking medication?
A. If you have any questions about whether or not hypnosis will help or conflict with a present medical condition, ask your GP. Certainly there is a danger that in some situations such as pain control, the use of hypnosis would reduce or eliminate symptoms, thereby masking the signs necessary for proper medical diagnosis and treatment. This would be discussed prior to your session. I am not a medically qualified doctor and believe that physical symptoms should be referred to your medical practitioner. Nevertheless, hypnosis can often complement traditional medical care and many doctors favour it as it can act as an effective adjunct to more conventional medical treatment.
Q. Are there harmful after-effects?
A. There is not one case on record of anyone being harmed because of hypnosis. After the session, most people feel relaxed and mellow, in control of all of their faculties and able to perform any task such as driving or working. In fact, most people experience a rise in their energy levels after the session.
Q. Is hypnosis effective in stopping smoking?
A. According to the respected New Scientist magazine hypnotherapy is, by a long way, the most effective means of giving up smoking . Hypnosis helps avoid the discomfort that you might expect to experience during quitting. (See my Freedom from Smoking page for more details).
Q. Is hypnosis effective in weight loss or control?
A. Without a doubt, but not by itself.
Hypnosis and NLP can help you visualise the slimmer, more attractive you, and that is a great motivator in weight loss. But again, you need to want to change. My system involves you deeply in the understanding of overeating and how new habits can be easily and effectively assumed. I do not use scales, weigh-ins, humiliation or the guilt-trips that are used by some other methods. NLP (Neuro-linguistic programming) is used during these sessions and my goal is that the results are effective for life.
Please see my Slim for Life page
Q.What is self-hypnosis?
A. Self-hypnosis is simply making positive suggestions to yourself while you are in a relaxed and suggestible state. Reaching this state can be learned and forms a part of most of my sessions. Q. What is the best way to contact me?
A. Please see all the contact options on the Contact Us section. You can go straight there from the left-hand side panel of this current page.