Areas of work

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can help with a range of conditions that have a psychological element. In the section below are some specific conditions, but do contact me even if your particular issue is not on the list as there’s a very good chance I will be able to assist. I offer a free initial consultation, with absolutely no obligation.

Stress and Anxiety

Stress and anxiety affect most of us at some point in our life. It can sometimes be necessary, enabling our bodies to release adrenaline which helps us accomplish projects or life events and can even enhance our problem solving ability or performance. However, sometimes it can feel that our life is being consumed by stress and anxiety. The sustained affects of such chronic stress and anxiety can be very negative- affecting our sleep, our concentration and memory, our eating behaviours, our drug and alcohol consumption and our personal relationships. Indeed certain problems are exacerbated by stress and anxiety such as migraines, nail biting, blushing and obsessive compulsive behaviors.

High levels of stress hormones, or ‘cortisols’ over a long period of time can have a negative impact on the body, contributing to heart disease, a weakened immune system, skin problems, weight issues and high blood pressure. Thankfully, Hypnotherapy is highly effective in helping clients to reduce their level of stress and anxiety and better manage life’s ‘stressors’.

Depression and low mood

Depression and persistent low mood is similar in a lot of ways to a negative trance state, in which  a person can feel overwhelmed or flooded by a barrage of negative thoughts. So much so, that a person may withdraw from the things they normally enjoy doing and not notice or ‘filter out’ experiences and situations that are actually positive. My Solution Focused approach can be very effective in enabling clients to move out of their negative trance state. Returning clients to a sense of balance and perspective, irrespective of the underlying cause of the depression or low mood.

Fears, Phobias and Traumas

It is estimated that about 12% of the adult population experiences a phobic response at some point in their life and 3% suffer from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). At Fresh Leaf Hypnotherapy, a popular and highly effective technique is used called the Rewind Technique (or Fast Cure for phobia and trauma) to address all known specific phobias and traumas.

The technique changes how the brain responds to the stimulus or a painful memory and moving this negative, emotional ‘template’ from the lower, primitive regions of the brain, to the higher intellectual areas where that template is changed in to an ordinary, rational one and one we have control over. The Fast Cure for Phobia and Trauma is carried out in a controlled and safe environment where no actual physical exposure to the stimulus is necessary.

Sleep Disturbances

Insomnia or hypersomnia, night terrors, nightmares and sleep walking can often be helped by Hypnotherapy. Alongside therapy, each client will be given access to a relaxation recording which will facilitate relaxation, enabling the client to enter a positive, peaceful trance state before the onset of sleep. Interestingly, clients I work with for a range of other issues often find that over the course of therapy, their sleep is positively improved as a by-product of hypnotherapy sessions. Read more about how Hypnotherapy may help sleep on my Blog page www.freshleafhypnotherapy.co.uk/blog.

Stopping Smoking

Hypnotherapy can be a very effective way in helping those who genuinely want to stop smoking but are finding it difficult to do so. By quitting smoking a client can expect to feel not only physically healthier but psychologically much more positive and empowered by their decision to take control of their life.

The 1.5- 2 hour session involves an analysis of typical smoking habits followed by discussion of the positive reasons for stopping smoking. Hypnosis then follows, using visualisation, positive suggestions and building confidence and motivation whilst accessing the powerful subconscious mind. In doing so, it is possible to help create positive change to overcome thoughts and habits about smoking which can then be carried forward into everyday life as a ‘non smoker’.

Work with Children

I am qualified, insured and have a DBS check in place to work with both adults and children. Children, generally from the age of six years, can respond very well to Hypnotherapy and it can be a very useful intervention in addressing sleeping problems, anxiety, self-esteem, bed-wetting (nocturnal enuresis), fears of Doctors and Dentists and nervous habits to include nail biting or thumb sucking. It can also be a useful technique in helping children overcome academic exam and performance nerves. Including driving tests.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Commonly known as IBS, this is incredibly common, affecting up to 1 in 5 people in the UK at some point in their life. IBS can be debilitating, preventing you from achieving simple tasks such as going shopping or travelling. It may also be cause serious discomfort and embarrassment on a regular basis.

We now understand that IBS can be made worse or brought about by anxiety or stress, and that people feel trapped in a vicious cycle of the worrying about the effects of IBS. Hypnotherapy can help break the cycle of pain and anxiety related to IBS by using positive suggestion to reduce sensitivity in your gut and relieve the stress triggers can be responsible for the onset.

Hypnotherapy is now acknowledged within the wider medical profession as an evidenced-based therapy that can help reduce the symptoms of IBS, and sometimes alleviate those symptoms entirely. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) also lists hypnotherapy as one of the treatments to help with IBS as its’ success has been validated on thousands of people.
Research by Professor Whorwell, a gastroenterologist at Wymthenshawe Hospital, shows that hypnotherapy can make significant contribution to the treatment of IBS. Whorwell began investigating the use of hypnotherapy for management of IBS in the 1980s and his research shows that over 60% of IBS sufferers who undertake hypnotherapy see long term improvement, or complete disappearance of symptoms, often with no recurrence.

Pain Management, Surgery and Dental Treatment

Hypnotherapy can be effective in managing chronic pain or discomfort on a day-to-day basis. there have been numerous research studies outlining the usefulness of Hypnotherapy in reducing anxiety and physical pain during and after surgery and dental treatment. It has also been reported to reduce recovery times.

Techniques can be taught to you to help you manage chronic pain as well as preparation for surgery.

Habits and Compulsions

Another area in which I commonly work is in enabling clients overcome a range of irritating and sometimes disabling habits and compulsions which range from nail biting, skin picking and blushing to the more extreme examples of hair-pulling, over-checking and compulsive cleaning. Hypnotherapy has been found to be particularly useful in these areas for arming clients with a new set of resources for identifying the triggers, introducing more helpful behavioural responses and building confidence and self esteem in overcoming the negative side effects. It can also reduce stress and anxiety which underlie the habit or compulsion.

Chronic Health Conditions and Cancer

Hypnotherapy can be very effective in helping clients cope with an adjust to long-term, serious medical conditions. Whilst Hypnotherapy is not able to offer a cure, there is evidence of the usefulness of Hypnotherapy in supporting people undergoing treatment and surgery for cancer, improving quality of life and managing the side effects of Chemotherapy including anticipatory nausea and sickness.

As with all therapies, there are no guarantees of success and clients are encouraged to discuss with their GP or Consultant before beginning Hypnotherapy.

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