What is Hypnotherapy?
Some people are understandably a little apprehensive about considering hypnotherapy as a treatment, usually because of misconceptions by what they have seen on the television or in films. Hypnotherapy is a type of complementary therapy that uses hypnosis, which is an altered state of consciousness. Hypnosis is widely promoted as a treatment for various long-term conditions and for breaking certain habits. You're fully in control when under hypnosis and don't have to take on the therapist's suggestions if you don't want to. If necessary, you can bring yourself out of the hypnotic state. Hypnosis doesn't work if you don't want to be hypnotised. You shouldn't use hypnotherapy if you suffer from psychosis or certain types of personality disorder, as it could make these conditions worse and if you have any type of mental health problem or serious illness, such as cancer, make sure the hypnotherapist is trained in working with your particular condition.

Make sure you choose a qualified hypnotherapist with a solid healthcare background. Most health professionals who practise hypnotherapy belong to a professional organisation such as the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and are regulated by the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC).

When might it be helpful?
Hypnosis can help treat addictions – whether you're addicted to food, alcohol, drugs, smoking or gambling, Hypnotherapy is proven to help break addictions for good so that you don't relapse and become addicted again within a short time. Hypnosis can similarly help you lose weight and keep it off.

You can use hypnosis and meditation techniques when drugs and diet have not helped you manage your condition. Very often intense pain can be brought under quick effective control using self-hypnosis. Hypnosis can also greatly reduce the length of the episode as well as extending the time between attacks ensuring you are comfortable and pain free for as long as possible.

Hypnosis can help reduce stress. Stress can cause serious illness in people like heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and sleep disorders. If you have a lot of stress in your life and your body is constantly in a high alert state then one of the benefits of hypnotherapy would be learning some simple relaxation, hypnosis and meditation techniques that can change your life.

Hypnosis can help cure sleep disorders. Millions of people suffer from sleep disorders that range from full insomnia to night terrors, wakeful sleep, sleepwalking, and the inability to fall into the REM sleep which your body and mind needs. Hypnosis is a wonderful way to experience truly deep relaxation that will make you feel much healthier and alert. Hypnosis can help you change your behaviour patterns so that you can be healthier and happier. Often behavioural patterns are learned in childhood, but a hypnotic suggestion given while you’re in a deep hypnotic state can help you get rid of those old messages telling you to behave in certain ways and replace the with messages to act in new, more appropriate ways.

Hypnosis can help treat Anxiety and Depression. Many people are reluctant to take medication to treat these disorders because they don't want to become dependent on these notoriously addictive medicines. The benefits of hypnotherapy are that it is a drug free and effective way to calm anxiety and to treat the symptoms of depression. By using hypnotic suggestions to eliminate the triggers people that suffer from depression and anxiety can sometimes find relief from these conditions by using Hypnosis.