If you have any questions about hypnotherapy or talking therapies which are not answered here, please get in touch via the contact page.
Which type of therapy do I need?
The most appropriate type of therapy for you depends on your situation and the problem or issue you would like to address.
Most therapy sessions involve a blend of different psychological therapies depending on your situation. We will discuss your situation at your first session and decide on the best approach for you.
How long is each session?
Standard therapy sessions are 50 minutes in order to maximise concentration and get the best from the process. Your first session is usually a little longer (approximately 60 to 90 minutes) to allow sufficient time to discuss your situation and answer any questions you may have.
What happens in a therapy session?
Therapy sessions provide a safe, supportive and confidential space for you to explore your situation and talk openly about the difficulties you may be facing.
During your first session, we will discuss a range of areas connected to your situation, which may include current challenges, thoughts, feelings, past experiences, patterns of behaviour and the changes you would like to make moving forward.
At each session, we will review your progress since we last met and use a combination of therapeutic approaches and techniques tailored to your individual needs, with the aim of helping you move towards the changes you would like to achieve.
You may be given exercises or suggestions to work on between sessions. These are designed to build on the work we do together during therapy and can help you develop new skills, perspectives and ways of responding to situations more effectively.
How often do I need sessions?
Hypnotherapy sessions are typically 2 to 3 weeks apart as this allows sufficient time for your subconscious mind to process new ideas and for you to start making changes.
Other types of talking therapy sessions such as Counselling, are usually weekly, especially in the early stages.
We will discuss the frequency and number of sessions during your first session.
Are therapy sessions confidential?
Everything that we discuss during your sessions, on the phone, via Zoom call or via email, remains confidential and is not discussed with anyone else without your permission.
There are a few exceptions to this, for example, if you or someone else was at risk of harm or where a referring healthcare professional required a progress update or report. In such cases, I would endeavour to discuss this with you first before any information was disclosed.
Further information regarding confidentiality can be found in the Client Agreement.
What types of therapy do you offer?
I use a variety of different talking therapies, depending on your individual situation. Each type of therapy works in a different way to help you change the way you feel about an event or situation and some types of talking therapy are more suitable for some situations than others. The talking therapies that I often use include:
- Hypnotherapy
- Counselling
- Mindfulness
- Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP)
- Rewind Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
Everyone’s situation is unique and I often use a combination of different therapies to help you make the changes that you need to achieve the outcome that you want.
Can I book an appointment for a friend or relative?
You are very welcome to enquire about therapy on behalf of a friend or relative and it is understandable that you may want to support someone who is struggling.
However, motivation, commitment and participation are important parts of the therapeutic process. For hypnotherapy and other talking therapies to be effective, the person themselves needs to feel ready and willing to make changes for their own benefit, rather than because they feel pressured by someone else. For example, someone wanting to stop smoking needs to genuinely want to stop for themselves, rather than solely because family members or healthcare professionals would like them to.
For this reason, it is important that the person seeking therapy contacts me directly before any appointments can be arranged. This helps to ensure that therapy is appropriate for their situation and that they feel comfortable and ready to engage with the process.
Please note that appointment bookings made on behalf of another adult cannot be accepted. The exception to this is where the client is under 16 years old and the appointment is being arranged by a parent or guardian.
Do you offer online sessions?
Yes. I offer online sessions via Zoom and work within The National Hypnotherapy Society’s guidelines for the provision of online therapy.
Please note that online therapy is not always suitable for every person, depending on their individual situation. If online sessions would not be appropriate for your situation, you will be offered a face to face appointment at the clinic. Alternatively, if you are unable to travel to Leeds, I can provide advice on finding a therapist nearer to your location.
How much does it cost?
Please see the fees page for more information.
How many sessions will I need?
There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to therapy, so the number of sessions required can vary from person to person. Everyone’s situation is different and some people experience changes more quickly than others.
The number of sessions you may need will depend on a range of factors, including the nature of the problem or issue, your personal circumstances and your level of motivation, commitment and participation throughout the therapeutic process.
Hypnotherapy works on a subconscious level and is often considered a relatively short-term approach, with many people finding between 4 and 6 sessions helpful for a variety of issues. However, this will depend on your individual situation and the changes you would like to achieve.
With talking therapies such as Counselling or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), an initial course of 6 sessions is often recommended, followed by a review of your progress. Some issues can be resolved within a relatively short period of therapy, while others may benefit from longer-term support. Many people find that meaningful progress can be achieved within 12 sessions or less.
During your first session, we will discuss your situation in more detail and consider the most appropriate therapeutic approach for your needs.
Will therapy work for me?
If you are motivated and committed to making changes, hypnotherapy and talking therapies can be highly effective. However, because every person and situation is different, it would be unethical to guarantee a particular outcome or result.
There are a number of factors which can influence how successful therapy may be and people often respond differently depending on their circumstances, readiness for change and level of participation in the process.
In general, there are several reasons why therapy may sometimes be less effective than hoped for:
- You may not yet feel fully ready to engage with the process or make the changes you would like to achieve.
- You may be attending therapy primarily because somebody else would like you to, rather than because you personally want things to change. For example, you may feel under pressure from a partner, friend or family member to attend therapy.
- There may be underlying or subconscious ‘secondary gains’ connected to the behaviour. This means that, despite the difficulties it causes, the issue may be serving a protective or beneficial purpose in some way. For example, fear of flying may be linked to worries about being away from home or separated from loved ones.
Hypnotherapy and talking therapies have helped many people to create positive and lasting changes in their lives. However, therapy is a collaborative process and your motivation, openness and participation are important parts of achieving the best possible outcome.
Why do I need to complete therapy tasks between my sessions?
Many of the problems or difficulties people seek therapy for can develop as a result of past experiences, unhelpful patterns of thinking or learned ways of responding to situations. In order for lasting change to take place, it is often necessary to develop new ways of thinking, responding and behaving.
During therapy, you will be introduced to a range of self help tools and techniques designed to support the work we do together within your sessions. These approaches can help you build greater understanding, develop new coping strategies and make positive changes in the areas you would like to improve.
The way these techniques are used between sessions, along with your level of motivation, commitment and participation, can have an important influence on the progress you make. Therapy is a collaborative process and active involvement often plays a key role in achieving positive and lasting change.
I'm interested in hypnotherapy, but I'm worried about what it involves...
There are a lot of myths and beliefs about hypnosis and many of these stem from what people have seen or heard about stage hypnosis.
In reality, hypnosis is actually a completely normal and natural psychological trance-like state which we all experience several times a day. Every time you day dream, drive to work and can’t remember the journey or lose track of time whilst reading a good book, you’re experiencing hypnosis.
You can read more about some of the myths about hypnosis in this blog post here.
What types of therapy do you offer?
I use a variety of different talking therapies, depending on your individual situation. Each type of therapy works in a different way to help you change the way you feel about an event or situation and some types of talking therapy are more suitable for some situations than others. The talking therapies that I often use include:
- Hypnotherapy
- Counselling
- Mindfulness
- Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP)
- Rewind Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
Everyone’s situation is unique and I often use a combination of different therapies to help you make the changes that you need to achieve the outcome that you want.
Can hypnotherapy help with medical conditions?
Hypnotherapy may be helpful for a range of medical and stress-related conditions, including issues such as migraines, tension headaches and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
However, it is important to understand that hypnotherapy is not a cure for medical, physiological or psychiatric conditions. While there are many claims online about hypnotherapy treating physical illnesses, including serious medical conditions, hypnotherapy should not be viewed as a replacement for appropriate medical care or treatment.
Where hypnotherapy can often be beneficial is in helping to reduce stress, anxiety and emotional distress, which may in turn influence how symptoms are experienced and managed. By helping people feel calmer and more in control, therapy can sometimes improve coping strategies and overall wellbeing alongside any medical treatment they may already be receiving.
If you are seeking hypnotherapy in relation to a medical, physiological or psychiatric condition, it is important that you consult your doctor beforehand to confirm that they are happy for you to receive therapy. Depending on your individual circumstances, I may ask for your permission to contact your doctor in order to discuss the suitability of hypnotherapy for your situation.
Do you offer a free consultation?
I offer a free 20 minute initial consultation online via Zoom. This provides an opportunity for us to meet, briefly discuss your situation and answer any questions you may have, helping you decide whether therapy feels right for you.
The consultation is informal and supportive in nature, although it does not include any therapy itself.
If you would like to arrange a consultation, please visit the contact page to get in touch.
Experience hypnotherapy wherever you are
Whether you want some time to relax or you’re looking for help with a problem or issue, a range of hypnosis audios are available to buy from the downloads store.
