Frequently Asked Questions
How many sessions will I need?
Everyone is different and it depends on the scope of the work we set out to do. Sometimes if a clients problems are relatively contained or situational things can change quickly, and other times the problem is deeply rooted and weaves through many aspects of their life can therefore can take a bit more time to unravel. As a rule I try not to offer any quick fixes, even though in one sessions things can shift quite dramatically. My focus will always be on making healthy permanent change which sometimes takes a bit more time.
If you are working on a specific area and perhaps have done some therapeutic or personal development before a short burst can really make a difference. However I will say that the clients who have benefit the most tend to work with me for at least 7 sessions. Many clients like to working with me on a on going basis as the relationship that develops means the work can have huge impact and be truly life changing.
How long are sessions?
All sessions are 50 minutes. It would be my advice to give yourself a bit of time after the session to reflect, and gently return to your schedule.
What will I get from 1:1 sessions?
When working with me you can expect a mixture of confidential talking therapy and coaching, a mixture of exercises, education on the brain, hypnosis exercises and take-away tasks, giving you the tools to be your own therapist when you need it most. My clients walk away with clarity, self-help tools.
What type of therapy do you use?
As an Integrative Therapist & Coach, I bring together many types of therapeutic practices that I have training in and am always in continued professional development. I use a combination of talking therapy, CBT, hypnotherapy and coaching tools. The type of Hypnotherapy I am trained in is called Cognitive Hypnotherapy which draws knowledge from Evolutionary and Positive Psychology, to traditional therapy styles such as CBT, Psychotherapy, Transactional Analysis, Gestalt and Ericksonian Therapy. CH also closely links its training and education to Neurological Science and cutting edge research about how the brain works. I am also a qualified Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) Practitioner, which means I have a developed knowledge of how language affects the brain and use this in every session of my work to help you move towards your goals.
Where do sessions take place?
Sessions currently take place either online via Zoom, or at The Practice Rooms in Bath, UK.
What are your professional Accreditations?
Continued Study: AIM Accredited: Level 4 Integrative Counselling
Diploma in Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy/ REBT
NCH Accredited: Cognitive Hypnotherapy Diploma (DipCHyp)
NCFE Accredited Level 4 Hypnotherapy in Practice Diploma (HPD)
Certified NLP Practitioner (NLPP)
NCFE Accredited: Level 3 In Counselling Skills
NCFE Accredited: Level 2 In Counselling Skills
What if I can’t afford the fees but really need some help?
If you would like to work together but are under financial strain or receiving benefits please get in touch via email to enquire about a reduced fee. This can only be offered to a limited number of people so please be mindful before getting in touch.
Is it confidential?
All sessions are confidential and any information collected during our sessions by me, is protected securely inline with my accrediting bodies. However information can be disclosed in the event that I believe you to be of serious harm to yourself or others, or under a Court Order (civil, criminal or coroner’s Court). As a member of the National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH), I follow a professional code of ethics and maintain a high standard of care to all my clients.
What is a Tailor-Made Hypnosis Audio?
This is a 10-15 minute MP3 created specifically for you, using hypnotic language based on NLP and other language tools used in Cognitive Hypnotherapy. It is an audio track that I will ask you to listen to for 30 days upon receipt, or as often as you can or is appropriate. To ensure the highest quality I always write these individually, and record them outside of our session. Hypnotherapy is a useful tool, but when it is tailor-made, it has so much more power to guide the subconscious mind.
What is the difference between the Conscious and Subconscious Mind?
The conscious mind can be understood as things that we feel, think and remember right now, in the present moment. These things are in the forefront of our mind now that we can relate to, discuss and have awareness of. However the storage capacity of the conscious mind is vastly smaller than that of the unconscious mind, also known as the subconscious. The unconscious mind holds desires, beliefs, memories and feelings that have either been hidden away from the conscious mind in order to protect it or have just been filed away as unimportant.
A good way to understand the dynamic between the two is to imagine an iceberg in the ocean; we can see what we think is the entirety of the iceberg at sea level, i.e. the conscious mind, but once we look beyond the surface, to see what lies under the water, we find out that we have only been looking at about 10% of the total, and there is a further 90% more berg below the surface, i.e. the unconscious mind. This is a metaphor for the unconscious mind often related to the work of Freud.
The idea is that many drivers of our behaviours lie beneath the surface, where we cannot see them. For example, a person may say from their conscious mind that they want to quit smoking, but at a deeper level a conflicting belief may be held in the unconscious mind, that prevents the person from changing their behaviour.
What is a Hypnotic trance?
Trance is an everyday experience for almost all of us. A trance is not a special state that only a hypnotherapist can get you to achieve nor a state where someone is out of control of their behaviours. It can be understood as an altered state of focus, or as the opposite of a mindful state whereby the unconscious mind weaves into our experience. Every day we move in and out of focus of things in our lives; things happening in the present moment which remind us of the past, as well as our mind’s processing potential outcomes of our future.
A common example of a hypnotic state is when someone is driving and they suddenly arrive at their destination with no clear memory of the journey, this would be explained as experiencing a hypnotic trance where perhaps the mind has wandered off into a playing a past memory and therefore taking the focus off from experiencing the present moment. Hypnosis is a safe and natural experience which we can use in a therapeutic setting to resolve problems in our lives and create more joy.
What does a Hypnotic trance feel like?
Most people go in and out of trance many times a day. It is easy to understand as something similar to daydreaming, or listening to a guided visualisation. You will not be unconscious or be out of control, you can return to the room safely at any point and are always able to do so at any point should you feel you need to. In Cognitive Hypnotherapy, we mainly work with light trance states, which have been found by some to be as effective as deeper trance states. The experience of trance will feel natural and it is a powerful way to access different levels of the mind.
Is hypnotherapy suitable for everyone?
No. Unfortunately Hypnotherapy is not suitable for anyone who has ever had a medical practitioner or mental health professional diagnose them with any of the following, as these are contra-indicated for hypnotherapy: Epilepsy, Narcolepsy, Bipolar Disorder, Personality Disorder, Psychotic Episodes, Schizophrenia, or any other psychiatric condition, nor those who have previously taken steps to serious self-harm or suicide.
What else is on offer in Bath that might support my wellbeing?
Bath has a huge range of activities and offerings, you might find the website Visit Bath helpful, or look into body treatments available at places like our amazing Thermae Spa or the Soul Spa. Additionally, where I work, The Practice Rooms, there is a wide selection of therapists, body workers, and holistic therapies on offer.