Hypnotherapy Explained

By Ruth Nathan

Hypnotherapy and Hypnosis

Many people have multiple preconceptions and misconceptions surrounding hypnotherapy and hypnosis. The most popular opinion is that hypnotherapists use a magical watch and tick-tock all your pain and worry away. This is completely untrue and here at Setanta Hypnotherapy Clinic, we use a combination of hypnosis and psychotherapy in a clinical setting to help people have a better quality of life.

What is Hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy is a natural alternative therapy that seeks to understand and deal with the underlying root cause of a problem. Rather than simply treating the symptom it deals with the whole person. Hypnotherapy uses hypnosis to guide the client into a relaxed state and allows access to the subconscious mind. While the client is in this relaxed state they are more open to changing perceptions and entertaining new ways of seeing and dealing with discomfort and stress. Hypnotherapy, in recent years has become a popular form of therapy and is used to treat numerous problems from addictions, anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia and phobias to name just a few.

What is Hypnosis?

We all experience hypnosis naturally every day whether we realise it or not. When you’re driving, daydreaming or doing anything that does not require your conscious awareness. When you first learned how to drive you had to concentrate but eventually you now drive without having to think about all the things you had to concentrate on when you started.

Your mind has two main states, conscious and subconscious. The main difference is the conscious mind is aware and is in control of rational decision making. The subconscious mind is in control of actions which we are not focussed on such as breathing, digestion and memory. For example, if you fall and cut your knee your conscious mind prompts you to get a plaster and your subconscious controls all processes that will clean and heal the wound from the inside. During hypnosis the therapist teaches the client to relax the conscious mind and provides your subconscious mind with the opportunity to make changes you want for yourself.

Unlocking Your Subconscious Mind

The subconscious mind is in control of actions you want to change. An example of this is you being frightened of public speaking and you wish to control your trembling legs, heavy breathing and sweating. Simply wanting to consciously change these behaviours isn’t enough because it is not your conscious mind in charge of these subconscious behaviours. Doesn’t it then make sense to address these unwanted behaviours at the subconscious level where they reside?

When you are in a state of hypnosis you are in direct contact with the subconscious and your conscious mind is quietened. In this state of heightened unconscious awareness you are in a position to make the positive changes you want. This is because the subconscious mind is without judgment, reason and is ‘black and white’. Therefore, if you give yourself a positive suggestion that is in line with your principles and morals the subconscious will take it on. Some believe that any suggestion can be taken on by an individual even against their own will. However, this is another myth. In order for suggestions to be internalised the individual must want to make this change and have the required desire.

Hypnotherapy at Setanta Hypnotherapy Clinic

Here at Setanta Hypnotherapy Clinic, we offer a free consultation to discuss the problem and how the therapy works. We offer two types of therapy, Analytical and Suggestion Therapy which we have practised successfully for over 15 years.

Analytical Hypnotherapy aims to address underlying and deep-rooted emotional issues. By dealing with the root cause we address the problem at the subconscious level and this is why the treatment is so successful. Analytical Hypnotherapy takes a minimum of 12 sessions.

Suggestion therapy involves the subconscious mind taking on positive suggestions which the client decides on while in a relaxed and hypnotic state. This type of therapy works well for problems such as smoking, exam nerves, weight problems, confidence and many more. Suggestion therapy usually requires three to five sessions depending on the problem.