What happens
What happens.
Nothing dramatic. A conversation, a good chair and your eyes closed for a bit. Here it is, step by step, so that there are no surprises.
The steps
You ring or write
Mair or Gareth rings you back for a ten-minute chat, which is free. We ask what you are hoping for and whether anything means you should see your GP first. You can decide after that.
The first session
Ninety minutes, mostly talking. What you want to be different, what has happened so far, your health and any medicine. We explain what we would do and answer whatever you want to ask.
Relaxing in the chair
Towards the end you sit back, close your eyes if you want to, and we talk you into a quiet state, a bit like being absorbed in a book. You can hear everything and can move or stop whenever you like.
Coming back
We count you back, you sit up, and we have a cup of tea. Some people feel sleepy for a few minutes. Wait until you feel fully alert before you drive.
In between
You get a recording to use at home. Ten or fifteen minutes a day is enough. This practice is where a lot of the work happens, and we will ask how it went.
Knowing when to stop
We agree at the start how you will know if it has helped. We review at the third session. If it has not shifted anything, we stop and talk about what might suit you better.
Common questions
What people worry about.
Will I be asleep?
No. You are awake and usually more aware, not less. Most people remember nearly all of it.
Can you make me do something?
No. You could stand up and walk out at any point, and you would not do anything you did not want to do.
What if I cannot be hypnotised?
People vary, and some respond more than others. If it is not doing much for you, we will both notice, and we will say so.
Is it safe?
For most people, yes. It is not suitable for everyone: psychosis, some forms of dissociation and severe depression need other care first. Tell us, and see your GP.
About the evidence
What the research does and does not say.
Hypnotherapy has been studied for many problems, and the quality of those studies varies a great deal. Some are encouraging, many are small, and some find no clear benefit. For a number of things we see, such as insomnia, smoking and specific phobias, other treatments have stronger evidence.
We think that is worth saying out loud. People come to us anyway, for good reasons: they have tried the other things, are on a waiting list, or just want to learn to settle themselves. If we ever seem to be promising you a result, please tell us.
Start with ten minutes on the phone.
Free, and no obligation. We ask what you are hoping for and tell you honestly whether we think we are the right people, or whether you should see someone else.