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FAQ

You may have lots of questions about the process.

What matters most is your motivation and commitment.

Will it work?

The outcomes of any treatment or therapy depend on a number of factors. Success requires self-awareness, being able to see one's own shortcomings and, with the help of a therapist, committing to working on those. Good outcomes in therapy are often the result of strong motivation, wholehearted commitment and regular practice of what you’ve learnt in therapy outside the therapy sessions.

Being “psychologically-minded” is really helpful as you are more likely to engage with the theory behind therapy. Having a good working relationship with your therapist is very important too. So, it’s worth spending time looking for the right one that is a good macth for you personally.

Why does therapy "fail"?

There’s also something called, the “cycle of change”. According to this theory, it may take someone some time to get “therapy ready”. It may be a good few years before one gets to a stage where one is utterly committed to putting in the hours, and ejrn they are working hard to break the old habits.

At present, I may still be too attached to My Life Story (as I keep repeating it to myself) and believe my every thought to be true. This may stop me from truly engaging with therapy that seeks to challenge what I take for granted. This is partly why and when therapy “fails”. The mind isn’t yet soft and receptive enough (and/or I haven’t reached the level of being sick and tired of my own head and behaviour!). It’ll come. Just maybe not now.

You may find this article helpful: https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2018/06/03/eight-reasons-why-therapy-might-not-work-for-everyone/

How long will it take?

Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy focuses on agency and self-sufficiency. Its goal is to make you walk out of therapy being equipped with the tools and strategies to be your own therapist. This is my approach as well.

While some therapists believe in longer-term treatment, and that’s what some people need, I am best at supporting you at having a tangible short to medium-term goals (“In 12 weeks time, I will…”). Naturally, you are always more than welcome to come back and do a bit more work as and when. I rarely go beyond 12 sessions.

As most types of therapy require regular “homework” from you, you’d be pleased to have a break after 6-12 weeks' worth of hard work, anyway.

What is hypnosis?

This partly depends on the type of hypnosis and who is delivering the session. Stage hypnosis that makes people forget things, and regression therapy where hypnosis is used to make people remember things, is very different from hypnosis as it is being used in Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy (CBH). In CBH, hypnosis may be part of your treatment plan to train your body and mind to relax at a report level. It is frequently used to sharpen your focus and concentration, so that you can process any new learning in a more helpful “rest and digest” mode of functioning. Hypnosis also helps to use your imagination to explore difficulties, rehearse new copying skills and/or to visualise goals.

I practise Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy. It combines CBT tools (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) and hypnosis with mindfulness and meditation. There are different forms of hypnotherapy out there, so it’s best to do some research to see which one you like best.

Is hypnosis safe?

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, mindfulness and meditation, and hypnosis itself are well researched areas of mental health and well-being. They are considered to be low in risk and high in therapeutic value. You can find information about Hypnotherapy on the NHS website (National Health Service, UK). It is also approved by the BPS (British Psychological Society, UK).

I actively pursue and receive regular training in safeguarding, supervision, and CPD, to ensure that my practice is safe and up-to-date with the latest research.

What does hypnosis feel like?

Hypnosis is famous for its potential to induce a state of deep relaxation, and some people seek it for that purpose alone. It can bring a sense of peace, calm, snd stillness in body and mind. However, the therapeutic power of hypnosis goes beyond that.

When working on skills other than relaxation, you may experience hypnosis as a state similar to daydreaming, while you remain very alert and attentive at the same time. Each person experience hypnosis in their own unique way, and this has little effect on the outcomes of hypnotherapy.

Can I achieve the same results doing self-hypnosis on my own?

Self-hypnosis is a must whether you work with a therapist or entirely on your own. In CBH, we consider habitual unhelpful patterns of thinking to be a form of self-hypnosis. Hence, training in self-hypnosis is at the very core of hypnotherapy.

Listening to tapes is certainly helpful, and can have a beneficial effect if you develop a regular practice for that. A therapist will be able to provide you with more unique recordings to listen to at home. They will coach you in self-hypnosis skills and developing your own statements and affirmations so you don’t have to rely on any resources other than the power of your own mind.

What happens in a hypnotherapy session?

No two hypnotherapy sessions are ever the same. Each session will reflect your unique needs, goals and preferences. This is even more so in Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy where we use tools from CBT, mindfulness and meditation as well as hypnosis.

You treatment plan may include self-hypnosis, mindfulness and relaxation techniques, and/or role play and role enactment in hypnosis as part of training in assertiveness, and/or graded exposure in vitro (i.e. using your imagination) to address issues like anxiety and phobias, and/or cognitive/thinking error analysis, hypnotic pain management exercise, and much more.

We will discuss the options with you once you’ve had your assessment session and have decided on your goals and expectations. Your first/assessment session is likely to be 1-1.5hr long, following the short initial consultation that will help to determine if hypnotherapy, and working with that particular therapist, is right fit you.

What do you do with a sandbox?

You are offered a tray of sand and a selection of figurines to choose from. You may arrive and be drawn to create a scene, or you may be invited to respond to a question or to simply explore the sand, its texture and feel with your hands. Either way, we hope that what comes out your sandbox work is not some pre-planned cerebral response. But something that is deeper and more authentic to you, something beyond the usual “negative automatic thoughts” or “cognitive errors”. This helps to improve the quality of hypnotherapy as less time is consumed going around in circles, retelling the old unhelpful narrative.

What are the figurines for?

For tens of thousands of years, we have used symbols - in our cave drawings, dance performances and myths - to express beauty and horror, to celebrate and to grief. All of us engage with this heritage in our own way. For example, when someone makes a tattoo on their body, they choose a symbol that is powerful and meaningful to them. They don’t type up their whole life story on their arm or their leg. They choose an image that is a condensed version of their beliefs, joys and scars earned along the way as they have travelled through life.

Figurines in a sandbox work a similar way, only they go even deeper than that. You create a scene that somehow contributes to the healing process in the here and now. It’s not just a product of the thinking mind that manipulates words and concepts into producing a removed and often inaccurate picture of of your past, your present and your future. Sandbox work helps you to imagine what may not be obvious to your "rational" mind that is often tired and confused.

How do I know if this approach is right for me?

Sometimes, it’s helpful to think of what hypnotherapy is not. What it cannot offer you. It’s not counselling, it’s not directed toward the past. It’s not for those who are not keen to do follow-up work in between sessions. It may not be suitable for more complex, clinical-level issues (it is best for mild-to-moderate level difficulties). It is not so much about changing the environment around you; it is about refining your character which means things in the environment adapt to your new way of being. If you are put off by things like mindfulness and meditation, hypnotherpy with sandbox work may not be your cup of tea either. However, if there’s curiosity and a genuine desire to work with and on yourself, sand-based hypnotherapy may be your friend and guide and healer.

What if I don't like CBT?
Or I'm not too keen of hypnosis?
Or find the sand thing a big weird?

CBT is not for everyone. Some of us just can’t relate to its goal-focused approach that is mostly about coaching and working on skills outside of sessions. Perhaps, it’s the “H” in CBH (the hypnosis and the creative exploratory approach that it brings) that attracts you most. If this is the case, you may want to try sandplay-based hypnotherapy instead.

The bottom line is - I myself do not have enough faith in the power of words to offer conventional counselling. If that is something that you personally would find more hepful, then my approach may not be the best one for you. However, if you too are keen to go beyond the old narrative that can be explored via more creative means, then please do get in touch.