What is Hypnotherapy and what can it do for you?
Hypnotherapy uses the power of positive suggestion to influence a change in our behaviour and the way we respond to our thoughts, feelings and emotions. Hypnotherapy is a form of complementary therapy that uses talking therapy and hypnosis to help people make positive change, promote relaxation, and have a better quality of life. A recent ‘Clinical Review’ of hypnosis and relaxation therapies published in the BMJ (British Medical Journal) looked at the existing research on hypnosis and concluded, ‘There is good evidence from randomised controlled trials that both hypnosis and relaxation techniques can reduce anxiety […]’, the same report also concluded that hypnosis was proven to be effective in treating panic attacks and phobia. (Vickers & Zollman, ‘Hypnosis and relaxation therapies,’ BMJ 1999;319: 1346-1349)
A skilled Hypnotherapist is in a unique position of actually being able to communicate with, and positively influence the subconscious mind. 95% of our behaviour and decisions are controlled by the subconscious mind, according to a study by Dr. Julia Mossbridge and associates. In a therapeutic setting, hypnosis provides a powerful tool to access our subconscious thought patterns and behaviours, and resolve issues that lie beyond the capabilities of the conscious mind.
There are multiple reasons why someone may turn to Hypnotherapy to help overcome certain personal issues and improve their overall well-being. With relaxation in mind, Hypnotherapy is often used as a method of dealing with cases of anxiety, stress and depression. It can also be extremely beneficial when looking to conquer persistent fears and phobias, including fear of public speaking. This can be particularly useful for jobs that require you to perform and give presentations on a regular basis. Hypnotherapy can significantly benefit your overall mental well-being, therefore, helping to encourage positive thinking, improve self-confidence, and deal with stress.
There are also some physical issues that can be treated through a course of Hypnotherapy. Weight Management can be an extremely difficult task, and if you find it difficult with standard diet and exercise regimes, then Hypnotherapy could be a great alternative. Rather than changing your habit directly, Hypnotherapy can change how you feel about food and the types of food you eat, as well as addressing why you think and feel the way you do about food. This will subsequently make it easier to be more mindful, stick to a diet and exercise regime, and ultimately achieve your weight loss goals. Hypnotherapy can also be used to help improve physical ailments such as IBS, as well as medical conditions that are made worse by anxiety and stress such as Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Annette Sloly is a Registered Clinical Hypnotherapist in Clifton Bristol. Over the years, he has worked with everyone from professionals suffering from stress to world-class artists looking to improve their performance. For more information, get in touch to find out how hypnotherapy could help you today.
