Will I be aware of what is happening?
Yes. Hypnosis is not the same as being asleep. You will be able to hear noises that occur around you and if at anytime you wished to exit trance you would be able to. You are likely to remember some of what was said but probably not every word. This is normal. After all, even under non-trance situations it is extremely unlikely you would remember everything that had been said for an hour period or more.
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Will I be in control?
Yes. You will be in full control at all times. No one can control your mind unless you let them. The therapist guides you to the resolution of your issue and cannot make you do anything you do not want to do. Your unconscious protects you and so will not allow you to accept any suggestions that go against your ethics or morals. It can be likened to the client driving a car with the therapist sitting beside them navigating. If the therapist says "turn left" and the client doesn't want to, they will continue driving straight ahead.
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Could I remain hypnotised?
No. If trance was not terminated, the person would either fall asleep and awaken naturally or they would simply get bored and get up and leave.
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Do you use drugs?
No. Never. Hypnosis is a natural state and does not require drugs of any sort.
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Can you help with medical issues?
Yes - very often. It is however imperative that you first consult your Doctor regarding the issue. Many problems of a physical nature, including controlling pain, respond well to hypnosis.
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What can I expect to happen?
You will be made to feel comfortable, at ease and any questions you have will be answered. You will be asked questions about yourself and your issue. The process of expected treatment will be explained. At this stage you may be gently guided into trance by listening to my voice, so that your mind and body are relaxed. Various techniques may then be used for the benefit of the client and when appropriate the trance terminated. There will then be a discussion about the experiences you had and if necessary, how we need to proceed. Finally, payment for the session is made and any further appointments agreed.
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How often will I need to see you?
This depends on the type of problem and the progress made. Some simple problems can be resolved in 1 or 2 hours. Sometimes, with more deep-rooted issues, longer is required. On occasions this can require regular weekly or fortnightly sessions for a period. Each person and each presenting problem is unique and will be treated as such. This means it can be difficult to say in advance that everyone with a similar issue will need the same length of treatment. Please call me to discuss your particular situation and I will be happy to offer free advice. Also see examples of recent successes by clicking the Press button and having a look at the Success Stories page. This shows how long it took to resolve a particular issue with that individual.
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Has any research been done to substantiate
the beneficial effects of Hypnotherapy?
Many years of questioning can be answered by the scientific research which is now being carried out. The evidence shows that important brain functions change when somebody is hypnotised. Using functional brain imaging, John Gruzelier, a psychologist at Imperial College in London, recently found that hypnosis affects parts of the brain that respond to errors, evaluate emotional outcomes and are involved with processing and behaviour.

The finding is one of the first to indicate a biological mechanism underpinning the experience of hypnosis. Gruzelier and his colleagues studied brain activity using an fMRI while subjects completed a standard cognitive exercise. He concluded that, under hypnosis, these brain areas are working harder. "This is confirming our model of hypnosis with very direct evidence of brain function," he says. Peter Naish, at the UK's Open University, says "We have a technique that has now moved towards evidence-based treatments. Gruzelier's work is showing that the brain is doing quite different things under hypnosis than in normal everyday existence."

Another study, with 80 children in Greece, all with cancer, showed that those under hypnosis suffered less pain than the control group who had simply been engaged in comforting conversation. The children were undergoing treatments such as lumbar punctures - where a long needle is inserted into the spine - and they were suffering continual pain from cancer. Dr Christina Liossi of the University of Wales in Swansea said "Hypnosis improves the quality of life for children and adults with cancer. We now have experimental evidence that hypnosis is an intervention, at least with children who undergo painful treatment procedures." Although hypnotherapy is made available as an alternative therapy, the work by Dr Liossi suggests that it should become part of standard practice. She is now about to start a second full study in Swansea.

New Scientist and Independent, 10th September 2004
www.newscientist.com

How effective is hypnotherapy for smoking cessation?
Research comparing many different studies of hypnotherapy has shown that on average smokers are over 5 times more likely to break the habit with hypnosis than by willpower alone. Hypnotherapy in general is also proven to be more than twice as effective compared with nicotine gum. If you really want to stop smoking, then one session of hypnotherapy could be all you need.

How does Cognitive Hypnotherapy compare to other forms of Therapy?
This graph shows the results of the biggest and most influential meta-analysis of studies conducted (by Smith et al. in 1980) to show the effectiveness of the different therapeutic approaches. It shows that cognitive and hypnotherapy approaches are by far the most effective. Please click here to view the graph.