Hypnosis/Hypnotherapy

What is hypnosis?
What is a trance?
What is hypnotherapy?
Can you give me some examples of how it works?
If hypnotherapy is so successful why isn't it used more?
Why do people turn to hypnotherapy?
What is the process of hypnotherapy?
What does a trance feel like?
How do you feel afterwards?
Does hypnotherapy work?
How long is each hypnotherapy session?
How many hypnotherapy sessions does it take?
Do you offer guarantees?
Can you provide success rates?
Do the effects of hypnosis last?
Can anyone be hypnotised?
How will I know if I have experienced a trance?
What if I don't experience trance?
Is hypnosis safe?
Can I bring someone along to therapy?
Why doesn't my GP offer hypnosis?
Is it necessary for a GP or psychologist to refer me?
How is hypnosis induced?
Are drugs used?
Will I reveal personal secrets?
Can I eat and drink before sessions?
What should I wear?
Will it be distressing?
How will I feel afterwards?
Are there any side-effects?
Will I need to do anything between sessions?
How do you maintain confidentiality?
Are there any people or problems you don't work with?
What locations do you work in?
Can you provide testimonials?


What is hypnosis?

Hypnosis is the process of inducing a trance. It is the key that unlocks the door to the unconscious mind, allowing therapy at a deep and lasting level. The term is sometimes used in place of 'hypnotherapy'. This is not strictly correct as hypnosis itself does not involve therapy (therapy is what the therapist does while the client is in a hypnotic trance). However, we use the term 'hypnosis' frequently on this website as it is widely used by the general public. top

What is a trance?

Almost everyone has experienced an involuntary hypnotic trance. Here are some examples:

• You are driving and you can't remember the last few minutes or you pass through some traffic lights before wondering if you really looked to see if they were green.
• Someone snaps their fingers or waves their hands in front of you to bring you back to full conscious attention because you are entranced by a book or film.
• You daydreamed and wondered where your time went.
• A child's eyes glaze over as they become engrossed in a bedtime story.
• Daydreaming while performing a repetitive task such as mowing the lawn or factory work.
• You locked a door but had to go back and check because you don't remember actually doing it. Your mind was elsewhere.
• You're enjoying a drink that you don't remember making.

All these are examples of natural trance states. A hypnotherapist induces this pleasant, relaxed state deliberately for therapeutic gain. In this heightened state of awareness you become very focused and able to concentrate only on the things that will bring about solutions to your problem. top

What is hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy is a combination of hypnosis and therapy. Hypnosis has been dealt with above so we'll look at the 'therapy' part. Therapy deals with the mind and this has two parts - the conscious mind and the unconscious mind. We use our conscious mind when we think. It is rational and we are aware of ourselves and our thoughts. The unconscious mind is hidden beyond our awareness. In addition to it's more positive aspects, it is the seat of our habits, impulses, irrational thoughts and some illnesses.

In most forms of therapy the therapist makes suggestions at a conscious level. The problem with this is that the conscious mind, whilst rational, is often defensive, challenging, overly critical, flooded by negative thinking, cynical or disbelieving of new ideas. Hypnotherapy is special. When in a trance the clients' busy conscious mind relaxes allowing their unconscious mind to come to the fore. Now the therapist can speak to a more receptive and focused unconscious mind to create a deep-rooted and lasting change of old habits, thoughts, pains, memories, emotions, etc.

Hypnotherapy isn't something that is done to a client by a therapist. There is no magic involved. Although there are often magical moments when unexpected changes occur, for the most part, hypnotherapy is a straightforward partnership between a client that is motivated to change and a therapist that uses their skills to help the process along. top

Can you give me some examples of how it works?

A smoker can consciously know smoking is harmful and yet find themselves compelled to smoke. For many people, conscious knowledge of government health warnings, increasing social unacceptability, the cost, smell and taste, etc. do not override the powerful unconscious habit. Hypnotherapy tackles the unconscious desire to smoke.

An overweight person may be overeating or eating unhealthy foods despite consciously thinking it is unhealthy and wanting change. The unconscious mind has different ideas but these are hidden from view. The person cannot understand why they yo-yo diet. This is because the unconscious desire to eat unhealthily keeps silently pestering despite the conscious efforts to stop. Hypnotic suggestions to eat healthily can change this.

Everyone, including a person with a phobia, knows spiders in the UK pose no threat whatsoever. Despite this conscious knowledge, they still find their unconscious fears taking over when a spider is present. Hypnotherapy builds confidence and deals with the causes such as early exposure to a screaming parent, having one thrown on you, etc.

As a final example, hypnotherapy can be used for medical problems. Western society, including modern medicine, has split the mind and body as if they are separate entities. More and more people, including medical professionals, are seeking holistic explanations. It is well known that stress in the mind can cause ulcers in the body. Merely thinking about something can make your heart race. Clearly, the mind and body are highly interrelated or better seen at a higher logical level as part of the same system. Hypnotherapy has been used successfully to treat, manage or improve lots of medical complaints including, asthma, burns, wounds, skin problems, menstrual problems, IBS and many more (see a more comprehensive list here). Hypnosis has been used for dental work and even major surgery where people are allergic to anaesthetic. top

If hypnotherapy is so successful why isn't it used more?

Film and TV portray the hypnotist as a magician who controls people's minds through some kind of mystical power or spell. In fact, the client always stays in control. They can refuse to enter a trance, bring themselves out of trance and reject suggestions. Stage hypnotism also gives the public a false impression. Clinical hypnosis very client-centred and professional (as opposed to ridiculing people for entertainment). Stage hypnosis is very much about acting and social roles. Subjects are carefully chosen for their extraversion and willingness to please rather than embarrass the entertainer. There will often be a certain number of chairs and an excess of volunteers is sought. People often compete with one another to be chosen. Non-compliant people are swiftly returned to the audience. Subjects could walk off stage at any point but there is pressure to perform. Stage is a place for performance and entertainment. No one wants to appear to not be playing ball or to embarrass the hypnotist. You won't be asked to 'milk a chicken' or do anything else that is demeaning in hypnotherapy!

The difficulty in explaining the process scientifically is also a problem for some people. It is important to remember that there was a time when people didn't know that air contained oxygen but oxygen still existed and proved rather useful! The absence of a scientific explanation for something is not sufficient reason to dismiss it. No one really knows how hypnotherapy works but it works for most people most of the time and the results can be astonishing. top

Why do people turn to hypnotherapy?

There are lots of reasons. Here are some of the common ones:

• Sadly, often as a last resort. This does motivate the client however.
• The client has tried other therapies and they are seeking something with proven results.
• Recommendation from another person who has benefited.
• Referral from a GP or another hypnotherapist.
• The client wants to tackle unconscious problems.
• Responding to an advert that triggers the person to act on something.
• Medicine is failing the client and they want something additional. top

What is the process of hypnotherapy?

First you will be invited to an initial assessment. This is a chance for us to get to know one another and for your therapist to find out more about your problem. You will be asked to fill in a questionnaire including contact details, any medical problems, etc. We agree the main goal e.g. to stop smoking. The initial assessment allows the therapist to formulate a plan of action for future sessions. These will be a mixture of:

1. You talking about your problem/s
2. The therapist asking questions
3. The therapist offering hypnotic suggestions while you are hypnotised top

What does a trance feel like?

A trance state is pleasant, relaxing and peaceful. Some people experience mild tingling sensations, lightness or heaviness. It is so pleasurable that some clients have sessions purely for relaxation rather than therapy and some clients begrudge being brought out of trance! top

How do you feel afterwards?

Relaxed, refreshed, positive and ready for the challenges ahead. top

Does hypnotherapy work?

It works for most people and most problems most of the time. It is not a magic wand or miracle cure. The idea that the therapist snaps their fingers and cures you belongs to Hollywood and religious cults. The therapist does not 'do hypnotherapy on the client'. It is very much a partnership with the therapist acting as a facilitator - helping you into a voluntary trance, offering suggestions while you are in trance and generally empowering you to achieve your goals and bring about the change you desire. top

How long is each hypnotherapy session?

Each session lasts around 60 minutes. Professional hypnotherapists that value their time and their client's time are very careful about this. They manage the session carefully to ensure the client gets maximum benefit in the minimum amount of time and that the session ends appropriately. Some people feel attracted to therapists that will spend an afternoon chatting but this is not a professional relationship and could signal that the therapist is trying too hard to be liked or has few clients to fill their time. top

How many hypnotherapy sessions does it take?

This depends on the nature and severity of the problem, whether there are lots of related problems or just one, the client's motivation, how challenging the client's goals are, and many other factors, some of which can change during the course of therapy.

A definite and known number of sessions can sound appealing if you are on a budget or short of time but this can cause problems. To offer a definite number of sessions, a hypnotherapist would have to do one of the following:

1. Put everyone through the same course of treatment and ignore their individual needs and differences.

2. Bring therapy to a premature close if necessary to meet the promises made.

3. Surprise the client by adding more unplanned sessions.

4. Overestimate the number of sessions required to buffer any problems that arise.

Experience has shown us that our clients would rather us invest in them individually and work flexibly to achieve a lasting solution. As a rough guide, however, most issues take between 3 and 6 sessions. Smoking is usually tackled in a single longer session. Depression can take 10 or more sessions depending on its severity. Hypnotherapy is far speedier than other major psychotherapies. CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) can last 8-20 sessions and psychoanalysis can last years! It is important to invest in yourself and your future happiness rather than treat therapy as a 'shopping-for-a-bargain' exercise!

The decision to end therapy is ideally negotiated between client and therapist. We guarantee that we will 'terminate therapy at the earliest time, commensurate with the good care and continuing welfare of the client' (National Council for Hypnotherapy ethical guidelines). Of course, you are free to terminate therapy at any time if you choose to leave sooner. top

Do you offer guarantees?

No responsible hypnotherapist would offer a guarantee of 'cure' as this would be unethical. Hypnotherapy is not a 'miracle cure'. All forms of therapy, whether they be hypnotherapy, cognitive therapy, chemotherapy, relate, alcoholics anonymous, reiki, medicine, etc. work differently on different people and can fail to bring about the desired change in some people.

What we do guarantee is that we will bring all our knowledge, experience, skills and effort to bear on the problem and we will always have your best interests at heart.

Ultimately, therapy requires a partnership in which the client is highly involved and committed. top

Can you provide success rates?

This is a common and perfectly reasonable question to ask. It would help you decide whether hypnotherapy per se, or a particular therapist, is right for you and for your particular problem. However, therapists are not supposed to provide success rates for a number of reasons:

1. Quoting a high success rate for a problem can leave people who don't succeed feeling even worse about themselves.
2. Quoting a low success rate for a problem could mask the fact that the therapist has recently taken on a batch of de-motivated clients or client's with very complex problems, perhaps from another therapist who has referred them on.
3. It is you that matters. Other people are different and they are not a reliable guide as to whether you will be successful. Everyone has a different set of problems, personality, support structures, motivation, etc.
4. Verification of a therapist's success rates is awkward. Unscrupulous therapists could lie about their success rates and there are no independent auditing procedures.
5. How should we measure 'success'? The therapist might think they were successful but the client might not. The client might think they were successful but the therapist thinks the result could have been better. How long does a client go without smoking, putting on weight or experiencing a panic attack, for example, before they can be sure hypnotherapy has been successful? Is success a partial removal of the problem, enough to make it more manageable, or a full cure? Measuring success is very complicated (in other therapies and medicine too)! top

Do the effects of hypnosis last?

The pleasant relaxation effects of an individual session can last hours depending on the person and what life throws at them after they leave the therapy room. Techniques can be offered to enable the client to return to these feelings at will. There are no negative effects on driving, operating machinery, etc. You will feel wide awake, refreshed and ready for the challenges ahead.

The overall effects of therapy can last a lifetime. Quick fixes generally treat the symptoms rather than the problem (unless you are undergoing a long and comprehensive smoking cessation therapy session). Where there is an underlying emotional problem it can take a few sessions for us both to understand it. The results of hypnotherapy can then spread throughout many areas of your life.

Problems can return on occasion but they are usually 'new' problems. For example, treatment for a phobia of dogs would make a person comfortable stroking a dog like most people are. However, if a dog bit them, they could develop a new phobia of dogs just like anyone else could - even if they had never had a phobia previously.

In sum, you won't become reliant on hypnotherapy to maintain the new you. However, you will still be subject to life's pressures, such as aggressive dogs! top

Can anyone be hypnotised?

Anyone who has experienced daydreaming, being totally 'lost' in a film, book, music, boring or repetitive task has already experienced a trance. People with severe learning difficulties and children under the age of 5 may find it more difficult to benefit from a 'talking therapy'. We would not hypnotise you against your will. top

How will I know if I have experienced a trance?

Trance states vary. Some people experience profound relaxation, feelings of warmth, peace, drifting, floating, strong imagery, etc. Usually clients find themselves going deeper in subsequent sessions. Any concerns usually disappear once the client realises how positive the experience is. Some people hardly notice the trance, or think they haven't entered a trance because they just felt their mind wander a little. There are certain clues that the therapist will notice and can discuss with you afterwards to assess this. top

What if I don't experience trance?

This is not likely to happen. Even the most sceptical and analytical clients enter a trance if they want to, including people who believe they 'cannot be hypnotised'. In fact, such clients have a strong will and they can use this mind control to their advantage and choose to enter a trance when they feel ready. If you have a good rapport and trust in us, a desire to enter a trance, and you have ever daydreamed or got lost in music or a film, you can experience a trance. You don't have to want, or be able to relax, although you might as well take time out and enjoy the process even more! The depth of trance is unimportant for most types of work we do.

Imagine it is bedtime. If you try hard to stay awake you will. Yet if you try too hard to sleep you will also stay awake. Either way you are paddling hard against the flow. Although hypnosis is not sleep, the problem is the same. The client should neither resist hypnosis nor try too hard to enter a trance. The client will enter a trance if they accept their thoughts and feelings as they come, allow themselves the chance to relax, and communicate any concerns to the therapist so they can help.

That said, we also offer NLP, EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) and an array of psychological techniques that can be used on most problems without ever inducing a trance so you can't lose! top

Is hypnosis safe?

Hypnosis and trance are 100% natural and safe - you already undoubtedly experience trance regularly in day-to-day life. You cannot get 'stuck' in a hypnotic state - you would naturally return to your normal state of consciousness after a short while even if the therapist walked off! You remain aware of yourself and your surroundings and you can voluntarily terminate the trance at any point. You can also speak at any time.

Only a therapist can be unsafe. You must make sure your therapist is qualified, experienced, insured, in supervision, and a member of a professional body so that they adhere to a code of ethics. top

Can I bring someone along to therapy?

A parent or guardian must be present with children aged 16 or under or people with learning difficulties or certain mental health problems. If someone else is highly involved in the problem you are experiencing it can sometimes be beneficial to work with you both and this will be discussed if necessary. For almost every other scenario you should come alone. We regret that we do not have a waiting area. There is a library, pub, park and shops nearby and the Peak District is 5 mins drive if your friend, partner or relative needs to pass some time (about one hour). top

Why doesn't my GP offer hypnosis?

Most GPs simply do not have the time to spend with patients. They usually refer people on to a professional hypnotherapist. top

Is it necessary for a GP or psychologist to refer me?

No. However, if your problem is a medical one such as an allergy, IBS or skin complaint it should be properly diagnosed by a doctor first and you should continue taking any medication. If it is psychological, again, you should continue with any support you are currently receiving and see hypnotherapy as an additional form of help. We might want to speak to your doctor or psychologist before proceeding in some cases to make sure we thoroughly understand your condition and to make sure we compliment their work. We will only contact them with your permission. top

How is hypnosis induced?

There are lots of techniques and we use the one that is most suited to the individual. A common approach would be closing your eyes, breathing exercises, relaxing your muscles and then a pleasant visualised journey along a beautiful stream, beach or up a mountain, etc. Another induction involves staring at a picture or object. All methods are harmless and pleasant and we do not intimidate or ridicule you like a stage hypnotist! top

Are drugs used?

Definitely not! We would even encourage you to avoid caffeine (tea, coffee and cola) before therapy so you can relax more. You should tell us (in complete confidence) if you are taking recreational or medicinal drugs. top

Will I reveal personal secrets?

Not unless you want to! You remain in control; hypnosis is not a 'truth pill'. top

Can I eat and drink before sessions?

Yes. However, please avoid alcohol. It might help to avoid stimulants such as tea, coffee, cola (and cigarettes) to help you relax more. top

What should I wear?

Whatever you feel most comfortable in. Occasionally people remove hard contact lenses if they are worried that rapid eye movements (like those you experience when falling asleep) will be uncomfortable. Most people leave them in without any problems. top

Will it be distressing?

Hypnosis is a very gentle, non-invasive process. However, the nature of some problems may mean revisiting memories or imagining things you are fearful of in order to treat them. You can stop any therapeutic technique at any time - you are always in control, even when in a trance. top

How will I feel afterwards?

Very relaxed! Sometimes tired if there has been some difficult issues to deal with. top

Are there any side-effects?

Only positive ones such as being more relaxed, realising your potential, problem-solving, being happier, less fearful, more content and/or sleeping better. top

Will I need to do anything between sessions?

We sometimes give clients simple and manageable assignments (e.g. eating diaries for weight loss). Assignments are sometimes for the client's direct benefit and sometimes to help us to understand the problem better. top

How do you maintain confidentiality?

Client's notes and contact details are not shared with anyone. In exceptional circumstances we may be forced to by law or if it is in the client's interests because they pose an immediate danger to themselves (e.g. considering suicide) or to others (e.g. paedophilia). We may discuss cases with our clinical supervisors so they can help us if need be. They are bound by the same responsibility to maintain confidentiality. top

Are there any people or problems you don't work with?

We need to feel comfortable and safe as therapists. We would not work with someone we felt posed a risk to us. Anyone who became abusive would be asked to leave therapy immediately and permanently, for example.

There are always problems that a hypnotherapist feels comfortable dealing with in terms of their knowledge, skills, interests, personal values, etc. and other problems they are not comfortable with. If a therapist is not comfortable with a problem they refer the client on to another therapist. We work with most people and most problems. Please feel free to get in touch to ask.

If someone became attached to the therapist they would be referred on to another therapist and, with permission, their case notes would be passed on.

We do not work with:

Children under the age of 5
Clients suffering severe mental problems where they pose a risk to us or themselves
Clients who are forced to come to sessions against their will e.g. by a partner. top

What locations do you work in?

Private therapy is almost always conducted from our therapy room in Totley, Sheffield. We are based within easy travelling distance of Sheffield, Chesterfield and elsewhere in South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire.

We travel widely for corporate group work. Please contact us with your proposal. top

Can you provide testimonials?

Some therapists provide testimonials but they shouldn't. Unfortunately, there is potential for fabrication. To combat this the Advertising Standards Authority insists that testimonials must be based on dated and signed documents that are available to be checked. Making them available for checking, however, would break client confidentiality. Even where the client agrees to marketing using their comments, the therapist's role is to provide a service to the client, not the other way around. A testimonial falsely extends the therapeutic relationship - a relationship that should end as soon as treatment ends. top

We hope you have found these hypnotherapy and NLP FAQs useful. If you would like to know anything else please do not hesitate to contact us.

© 2007 Paul Peace and Karen Bartle, Sheffield Hypnosis