What is Hypnotherapy?
Below you will find the CNHC's official explanation of Hypnotherapy. For me, it's really simple, it's an 'altered state' One where you are in complete control, but I make some suggestions to your 'Unconscious Mind' in order to change your current thought process.
So rather than your mind going from A to Z to H, It will now go from A to B to C as you want it to - Tony Clarke-Holland
Collins English Dictionary - Hypnotherapy is the practice of hypnotising people in order to help them with a mental or physical problem, for example to help them give up smoking.
Hypnotherapy
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Hypnotherapy is a skilled communication aimed at directing a person’s imagination in a way that
helps elicit changes in some perceptions, sensations, feelings, thoughts and behaviours.
In a typical hypnotherapy session the hypnotherapist and client will discuss the intended
alterations or therapeutic goals desired. The hypnotherapist will ask questions about previous
medical history, general health and lifestyle to decide on the best approach for the individual.
Hypnotherapy may be found to be helpful for those seeking relief from a range of problems and
is used alongside a person’s own willpower and motivation to seek a desired goal. It is often
used to help relieve anxiety, aid sleeping, help to address bedwetting, address attitudes to
weight, and help clients achieve behavioural change to stop smoking. It may also help with
minor skin conditions that are exacerbated by stress and confidence issues, and may also be
used to enhance performance in areas such as sport and public speaking. Hypnotherapy may
help people to cope with and manage the relief of perceived pain.
Hypnotherapy has also been used with both adults and children to help manage the pain
associated with irritable bowel. There is evidence to support its use in this condition for both
adults and children and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Guidance (NICE)
recommends the NHS should consider referring patients for hypnotherapy if their irritable bowel
is persistent and has failed to respond to simple prescribed medicine.
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Choosing a practitioner
It is important to choose a qualified hypnotherapist who has undertaken all the necessary
training to understand the theory and practice of hypnotherapy.
You can check whether a hypnotherapist is registered with the Complementary & Natural
Healthcare Council (CNHC) by searching the register at www.cnhc.org.uk. By choosing
hypnotherapists registered with the CNHC you can be confident that they are properly trained,
qualified and insured.
