Healing by trance state has been acknowledged for centuries and has been observed, in one form or another, in virtually every culture throughout the world. "Hypnosis is a state of mind, enhanced by (although not exclusively) mental and physical relaxation, in which our subconscious is able to communicate with our conscious mind." This state of mind may be brought about either by oneself unadied (self-hypnosis) or with the help of another person. If this other person is a trained professional, who utilises the resultant state to encourage beneficial change to occur, the process is referred to as Hypnotherapy.

    In a typical session, we wil begin by spending a few minutes discussing your reasons for coming. After being able to identify your skills and resources that you can draw upon, we then move toward the induction- the practice of relaxing our restless thinking minds allowing a deep state of inner peace and awarenes using gentle body relaxation and visualisation techniques.

    In this hypnotic state there is a hyper-awareness and receptivity where the mind is open for suggestions to help bring about the change you are looking for.

    The answer to this question is "virtually everyone". Given that hypnotherapy can be utilised to access a person's inner potential and that probably no one is performing to their actual potential, then this answer is literally true.

    However, it it not just potential which Hypnotherapy is well placed to address but also one's inner resources to effect beneficial change.

    In this regard, it is the innate healing capacity of our own body that may be stimulated by Hypnotherapy. Consequently, the list of issues which may be amenable to Hypnotherapy is far too long and varied but certainly includes:

• anxiety
• panic attacks
• phobias
• unwanted habits and addictions
• disrupted sleep patterns
• lack of confidence and low self-esteem
• fear of examinations
• fear of public speaking
• allergies and skin disorders
• migraine
• irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• surgery
• pain management
• sporting & artistic performance enhancement
• relationship difficulties
• anger management

    Clients are sometimes concerned that they will 'lose control' in hypnosis. However, general consensus indicates that regardless of how deeply people may go into trance and however passive they may appear to be, they actually remain in full control of the situation.

    The following elements are essential for good emotional health. We need to be able to:

• tolerate ambiguity
• use critical thinking to challenge emotional states
• relax
• draw on resources
• manage our resources
• envisage life without the problem
• gain distance from the problem
• think creatively (including holding multiple veiwpoints of events)
• learn and remember
• communicate effectively

*definition of Hypnotherapy is from the General Hypnotherapy Standards Council
** essestials of Emotional health and well-being from Uncommon Knowledge