About Hypnosis
A Brief History of Hypnosis
Hypnosis is one of the oldest therapeutic techniques known to humankind and has been practised in
various forms for thousands of years. References to healing trances can be found in ancient Sanskrit texts,
and there is evidence of healing temples in India and Egypt where trance-like states were used as part of
treatment and ritual. From the sleep temples of ancient Egypt through to the cultures of Greece and Rome,
some form of hypnosis has played a role in healing practices across civilisations.
In the early 20th century, hypnosis unfortunately became associated almost exclusively with stage performance, creating a distorted and misleading impression of what is, in reality, a powerful, safe, and therapeutic tool.
In 1955, the British Medical Association (BMA) formally recognised hypnosis and approved its use in
medical training. Since then, clinical hypnosis has increasingly been used alongside conventional medical
and therapeutic approaches.
About Clinical Hypnotherapy
When practised by a properly trained and qualified therapist, clinical hypnotherapy is a safe and ethical
therapeutic approach. It is recognised by professional and medical bodies, including the British Medical
Association, and is often used where more conventional approaches alone have not brought the desired
results.
Hypnotherapy can be helpful in a wide range of situations, particularly where emotional factors, habits,
behaviours, or stress responses are involved. The list of conditions it may support is broad and not
exhaustive.
Treatment Sessions
I offer a free initial consultation, giving you the opportunity to ask questions, discuss your goals, and
decide whether hypnotherapy feels right for you.
- The first full session usually lasts around two and a half hours.
- Subsequent sessions vary in length depending on the issue being addressed.
- Stopping smoking is typically completed in a single session of approximately three hours and vaping is 2 sessions.
- The Virtual Weight Loss Jab programme usually involves four sessions.
The number of sessions required depends on individual circumstances and the nature of the issue.
Everything is discussed clearly and openly so you know what to expect before beginning treatment.
What is Hypnosis. How does it feel?
Hypnosis is not sleep and it is not stage hypnosis. It is a natural, focused state of awareness, often compared to daydreaming or becoming deeply absorbed in a book, film, or piece of music.
Most people experience hypnosis as a deeply pleasant state of relaxation, where the body is calm and the mind is attentive. You are neither fully awake nor asleep, but comfortably in between. Throughout hypnosis, you remain aware of your surroundings and in complete control at all times. You cannot be hypnotised against your will.
Trance is a completely natural state – nothing magical or mysterious. We all experience forms of what is sometimes called waking hypnosis during everyday life. A common example is driving along a familiar route and suddenly realising that you have no memory of the last few miles because your mind was focused elsewhere.
Around 90% of people can achieve at least a light hypnotic trance, and everyone experiences it differently. Some people notice gentle tingling sensations, others a feeling of heaviness or lightness in their limbs, or a sense of drifting or floating. Whatever the experience, it is generally described as calm, comfortable, and deeply relaxing.
What is Clinical Hypnotherapy?
Clinical hypnotherapy refers to the therapeutic use of hypnosis to support people with a wide range of
issues, including those where emotional, psychological, or behavioural factors play a significant role. It
can also be helpful alongside medical treatment, particularly where stress, habits, or mindset influence
symptoms or recovery.
During a hypnotic trance, the body is relaxed while the mind remains focused and alert. This allows the
conscious mind to step back slightly, creating space for positive and constructive communication with the
unconscious mind.
The unconscious mind stores our habits, beliefs, emotional responses, and learned behaviours, and it
strongly influences how we think and act. Through hypnotherapy, clients may be guided to access inner
resources, gain new perspectives, and gently change unhelpful patterns of thought or behaviour.
By changing perception and response at this deeper level, many people find they are better able to move
towards lasting and positive change.