What is Forward Focused Hypnotherapy?
The forward-focused approach to hypnotherapy is exactly that - looking forward rather than backward and focusing on achieving your goals, rather than dwelling on the problem and delving into past traumas. Evidence shows it is generally much more effective to work 'towards' a solution, as opposed to 'away' from our issues.
The forward-focused hypnotherapy model uses practical strategies based on the latest neuro-science research and utilises solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) and NLP techniques such as anchoring, reframing and visualisation to help clients envisage and work towards their desired future.
Forward-focused hypnotherapy is a collaborative process where the therapist and client work together to identify goals and develop strategies. This approach fosters a sense of empowerment in the client - establishing positive neural pathways and thought patterns to create and work towards achieving the desired goal.​​​
What is Hypnosis?
Hypnosis, or trance is a really enjoyable and naturally occurring altered state of consciousness where the client is guided into a deeply relaxed, yet heightened state of focused attention.
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In trance, you will not be asleep and you will remain aware and hear everything that is said to you - it feels pretty much like daydreaming or the feeling just before you drift off to sleep or just before you wake up.
Once hypnosis has been induced, the conscious mind can relax and 'take a break', allowing us access to the phenomenal powerhouse that is your subconscious mind and where thoughts, feelings and behaviours are stored. In trance, your subconscious mind becomes highly responsive and assumes responsibility for receiving and accepting positive suggestions, ideas and concepts for the lifestyle changes that you want to make in order to achieve your goals.
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In a nutshell, the hypnotherapeutic goal aims to rebalance the subconscious and conscious mind allowing them to work together in harmony, which gives you greater control over your behaviour, emotions and wellbeing. ​​​
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We do just need to dispel one common myth though! Many people believe that hypnotherapy is something that is 'done' to them, that they explain their issue to the therapist who then magically hypnotises their problem away. In truth, the change happens because you want it to and because you are prepared to take the necessary steps to allow it to happen - we can't 'make' you do anything you don't want to do for yourself. Also, our subconscious mind loves repetition, which is why we highly recommend listening repeatedly to your completely bespoke hypnotherapy recording.
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For further reading, check out our blog - Some hypnotherapy FAQs.
What can hypnotherapy help with?
The most common reasons for seeking help from hypnotherapy are:​
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Weight management
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The reduction of stress and anxiety
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Smoking / vaping cessation
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However, hypnotherapy is proven to be effective in helping with many issues including:
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Building confidence and self-esteem
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Fears and phobias
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Insomnia
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​Pain management - N.B. Please see your doctor first as pain should always be medically investigated prior to hypnotherapy.
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Alcohol moderation - N.B. In the case of physical addiction, a medically supervised
.detox is essential for your safety prior to hypnotherapy
The above list is not exhaustive, so if you would like help with any other issues, please get in touch.
What happens in a hypnotherapy session and how many will I need?
The initial consultation (via Zoom, Messenger or WhatsApp) is a relaxed and informal chat for us to meet each other, talk about your goals and how hypnotherapy can help you achieve them.
We'll also discuss how many sessions you are likely to need and this really depends on your particular issue as well as you as an individual. For example, smoking/vaping cessation is typically 1 x 120 minute session.
If you dream of achieving your ideal weight, we offer a variety of tailor-made packages, including the virtual gastric-band which is installed in 1 x session and then you may require further optional 'adjustment' sessions.
Anxiety related issues may take between 3 - 6 sessions, however, this is very much client-led as the expert on your own life and in knowing how you are feeling is of course - you!
You are welcome to book 1 x session at a time, a 3 x session package (10% discount), or the most popular option of 1 x in-person or online hypnotherapy session and then allow us to create for you a completely custom-made hypnotherapy audio for you to listen to in your own time - ideally daily or twice daily if possible!
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Subsequent Hypnotherapy sessions involve much more than Hypnosis. During the first part of each session we’ll talk about the progress you have made, and I’ll be encouraging you to express yourself positively, focusing on solutions rather than dwelling on problems. I’ll help you to imagine your preferred future, a future where you have a more useful perspective on the quality of your life. I’ll then guide you into a relaxed state of Hypnosis so that we can consolidate what we have discussed.
Hypnotherapy FAQs
1. Will I still be in control of myself?
This is a reasonable fear. If you really submit to the relaxation of hypnosis and enter a trance, will you lose control? No, you will be still fully in control when you are hypnotised. You will still be conscious, but your conscious mind is extremely relaxed. No one can take control unless you allow it.
2. Am I surrendering my free will if I go into a trance state?
No. When you are in a hypnotic or trance state you are more aware and more focused on yourself than you are in a normal state. You are in full possession of all your faculties throughout the hypnotherapy session and you are not under a “spell” or the direction or control of someone else. You will not do anything under hypnosis that you wouldn’t do under any other circumstance.
3. Can I be hypnotised without my consent?
No one can hypnotise you without your consent. Hypnosis is a state of very deep relaxation. If you don’t want to be hypnotised, then you won’t be able to relax and you won’t enter a hypnotic state.
The process of entering a hypnotic state takes time to allow your body and mind to reach the deep relaxation that is necessary for hypnosis. You can stop the hypnosis session at any point during that process if you are not comfortable or if you don’t want to be hypnotised. It takes some time to gently relax and to relax fully. Hypnotherapists do not use "rapid induction" as you will see with stage hypnotists.
4. What happens if I can’t come out of trance?
It’s impossible for that to happen because you are not unconscious at any point. You will be in a deeply relaxed state but fully conscious and you can come out of that state at any time that you want to. You can also come out of that state when given a verbal cue by the hypnotherapist.
Sometimes you may not want to come out of a trance, because the relaxed state you are in feels so good! When that happens it may take you a few minutes to return to your normal awareness but that is only because you want to stay in the relaxed state, not because you are being forced to stay in it or because you can’t come out of it on your own. You are always in control, even when you are deep in a hypnotic state.
5. Can I hypnotise myself?
Yes, you can hypnotise yourself! All hypnosis is a form of self-hypnosis as you are in control of what you are doing. We will provide a mp3 recording of a language pattern to use regularly to practise entering a state of deep relaxation.
6. Does hypnosis work on children?
Yes, hypnotherapy is often used to treat children and will work well with children with behavioural disorders, anxiety, school phobia (and phobias of any kind), night terrors, sleep disturbances and many other issues.
7. Is hypnosis real?
Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic technique that has been used with proven success to treat medical and psychological disorders in millions of people. It is important to understand that the techniques are based on clinical research and are evidence-based. Anyone can be treated with hypnosis, and in most cases, hypnosis is a very effective form of treatment for many different disorders. Hypnosis has a long history of being used to treat illness; it’s not a new or untested therapy.
8. How many problems can I cure at once using hypnosis?
Hypnotherapy isn’t a magic cure that will get rid of all your problems at once. However, problems often have a common cause and reducing anxiety is often the first step needed.
9. Do I need to see a hypnotherapist more than once?
Another frequently asked question about hypnosis is “How many sessions will I need?” For anxiety-related conditions around 6-8 sessions will be needed but can be more or less as required. Therapy to help a client quit smoking is done usually in one or two sessions.
10. Is hypnotherapy safe?
Hypnotherapy is perfectly safe. You are always in control, and you never lose consciousness. Unlike drug therapies hypnosis has no possible side effects and, in most people, hypnotherapy will have a very positive outcome, unlike drugs which may or may not work depending on body chemistry.