Can I help you?

If phobias are holding you back from living your life in the way you want, then I can help. Together we can get your mind working for you, not against you.

When you suffer from irrational fears and phobias you can experience extreme anxiety or panic when responding to a specific event e.g where you have a fear of flying and are on a flight or when you have a fear of spiders and see one.  You can also develop more complex phobias where you are thinking about the fear a lot of the time.  This can include social phobia which is an overwhelming fear of social situations and which can have a significant impact on day to day life and mental wellbeing. Agoraphobia is another example of a complex phobia characterised by symptoms of anxiety where the person perceives their environment to be unsafe with no easy way to escape.

As well as overwhelming feelings of anxiety you can experience psychological symptoms such as dread or a fear of loss of control.  You can also experience physical symptoms like sweating, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, tightness in the chest and trembling.

According to the NHS phobias are the most common type of anxiety disorder, with an estimated 10m in the UK people suffering from them.  There are over 3000 named phobias, 500 of which are most commonly experienced and you can actually develop a phobia over anything.

Phobias can be really distressing and can directly affect how you live your life.  Many people restrict their activities in order to avoid what they are fearful of.  Also, because the fears feel irrational and disproportionate many people don’t tell family or friends about them.  Even when they do it can be difficult for family and friends to appreciate the impact the phobia can have.

If a phobia is holding you back then I can help. I bring a warm, positive, confidential and supportive approach.  I recognise that it takes courage to come forward for help.  The approach I use with Solution Focused Hypnotherapy means that you can deal with your phobia and let go of your phobic approach without having to physically experience the situations that scare you the most. I will help you to understand why you feel as you do and what can be done.  This can include the use of powerful and positive visualisation whilst in hypnosis, or trance.  With this you will also experience a sense of calm and relaxation, which helps to reduce the underlying anxiety that can act as “fuel” for your phobia.

People who come to me for help with phobias often comment on how relaxing and positive the sessions can be.  They often get a huge amount of satisfaction in successfully getting to the position where they no longer have a phobia.

The number of therapy sessions needed for phobias depends on whether or not it is a specific phobia or whether it’s a complex phobia.  This can be established at the Initial Consultation.  For a specific phobia the treatment typically comprises three therapy sessions after the Initial Consultation.  For complex phobias most people generally achieve the outcome they are looking for when they’ve had  8 to 12 therapy sessions

If sleep problems are holding you back from living your life in the way you want, then I can help. Together we can get your mind working for you and not against you.

NHS Inform: “Insomnia is a common sleep problem that affects around 1 in 3 people in the UK.  It is defined as difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep for long enough to feel refreshed the next morning.”

Sleep problems are common. Everyone can experience a few nights of disturbed or sleepless nights. It becomes a problem when it’s more persistent and affecting day to day activities.  The reasons we struggle to sleep are likely to change throughout our lives.  Many of the people who come to me have difficulties with sleep.  Often this is difficulty in getting to sleep and/or waking up during the night and being unable to return to sleep.  Some feel they are getting a lot of sleep but still feeling sluggish in the mornings.

Sleep is essential for physical health and for the mind’s healing processes.  It helps us to make sense of stresses and problems. Sleep difficulties can have a significant impact on our quality of life.

Many of the people who come to see me are seeking help specifically with a lack of or too much sleep. Others will explain that, whilst that is not the reason that they are seeking help, they are unhappy with their sleep patterns. This is not surprising as many conditions are caused by or exacerbated by difficulties in getting a restful night’s sleep. People struggling to handle stress or those suffering with anxiety and/or depression are often the most likely to suffer.  Often once sleep patterns improve, which they inevitably will during a course of good Hypnotherapy, then other symptoms that may be troubling them will subside.

If sleep problems are holding you back then I can help. I bring a warm, positive, confidential and supportive approach.

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can help address some of the underlying causes of sleep difficulties and can help:

• Improve your ability to fall asleep more quickly.
• Help you to stay asleep during the night, or get back to sleep more easily if you do wake up.
• Improve your ability to enjoy deep, restful sleep.

The number of therapy sessions needed for sleep difficulties depends on many different factors.  This includes the nature of the sleep difficulties that you are coming for help with and your own active engagement with the therapy.  For example, I would give you an MP3 recording to listen to at night when you’re going to sleep.  It supports the work in the therapy sessions and it makes a difference.  If you do regularly listen to the MP3 recording you generally need fewer therapy sessions to achieve the outcome you want.

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy is not like some forms of therapy that people can enter into for a year or more.  In general, most of the time for most things, including sleep difficulties, most people achieve the results they want within 8 to 12 sessions of therapy.  Sessions are usually held a week apart so the therapy generally works quickly.  People often start to see improvements in sleep quality within the first few sessions.

If panic attacks or a fear of panic attacks are holding you back from living your life the way you want, then I can help.  Together we can get your mind working for you and not against you.

Everyone experiences feelings of anxiety and panic at certain times during their lifetime.  It’s a natural response to dangerous or stressful situations.  However, sometimes you can go through times where it’s as if our natural fear response has been magnified.

Experiencing a panic attack is distressing and can be overwhelming.  For no apparent reason you can experience intense waves of anxiety.  Symptoms differ for different individuals with common symptoms including:

• Sudden, intense feeling of fear
• Chest pain or palpitations
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness or nausea

They usually last between 5 to 20 minutes but can reoccur in waves for up to 2 hours and can be overwhelming.  If you have 4 or more panic attacks you may be diagnosed with panic disorder, which is where you have regular and recurring panic attacks. This can mean you’re in a vicious cycle where the fear of having another panic attack can act as a catalyst for further attacks.  This can cause considerable distress. It can build to the point where it’s affecting your daily life at home, work, school or in relationships. It may cause you to avoid or withdraw from certain situations or areas of your life. 

If panic attacks or the fear of panic attacks is holding you back then I can help. I bring a warm, positive, confidential and supportive approach.

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy reduces the underlying anxiety that acts as the “fuel” for the panic attacks.  It also works at a subconscious level to replace the thought patterns and unhelpful behavioural templates triggered in the brain when under stress. The approach is designed to reduce your anxiety and calm the mind.  It focuses on solutions and positive steps towards your preferred future.  People who come to me for help often comment on how relaxing and positive the sessions can be. 

The number of therapy sessions needed for panic attacks depends on different factors.  This includes the nature of the panic attacks or panic disorder that you are coming for help with and how well you engage with the therapy.  For example, I would give you an MP3 recording to listen to at night when you are going to sleep.  It supports the work in the therapy sessions and it makes a difference.  If you do regularly listen to the MP3 recording you generally need fewer therapy sessions to achieve the outcome you want.

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy is not like some forms of therapy that people can enter into for a year or more.  In general, most of the time for most things, including panic attacks and panic disorder, most people achieve the results they want within 8 to 12 sessions of therapy and start to experience significant improvements within the first few sessions.  Sessions are usually held a week apart so the therapy generally works quickly. 

If you have compulsive behaviours or obsessive thoughts that are holding you back from living your life in the way you want, then I can help. Together we can get your mind working for you, not against you. 

 An obsession is an unwanted and unpleasant repeated thought, image or urge that causes feelings of anxiety, disgust or unease. A compulsion is a repetitive behaviour or mental act that you feel you need to do to temporarily relieve the unpleasant feelings brought on by the obsessive thought.  

 Compulsive behaviours can be developed around anything but the most common compulsions are contamination compulsions e.g washing hands, checking compulsions e.g checking locks, symmetry obsessions e.g ordering and counting, and hoarding compulsion. 

 Compulsive behaviours can have a severe impact on daily activities at home, work, school and in relationships.  Compulsions can drive people to spend a lot of time carrying out those compulsions which can interfere significantly with the ability to get out of the house and manage normal day to day activities. Some people with compulsions may on the surface appear to be coping with life but are actually feeling hugely distressed from obsessive thoughts. 

 If obsessive thoughts or compulsions are holding you back then I can help. I bring a warm, positive, confidential and supportive approach. 

Talking therapies have been shown to be very effective in reducing anxiety and helping to change your thought patterns.  These are crucial to coping with, reducing and sometimes eliminating compulsions and obsessions.  As part of Solution Focused Hypnotherapy I use talking therapy techniques based on the most recent evidence emerging from neuroscience.  The approach is designed to reduce your anxiety, calm the mind and develop positive new thought patterns.  

The sessions are future focused so there’s no need for you to revisit painful memories or past problems. You cannot change what has already happened, but you can change your way of thinking about it, as well as the way you think about the present and the future.  The approach focuses on solutions and positive steps towards your preferred future.  People who come to me for help often comment on how relaxing and positive the sessions can be.  

I also add in the use of hypnosis, also known as trance. The addition of trance allows you to accelerate the learning and positive progress gained from this talking therapy. Whilst in trance your mind is more open to suggestion.  Trance allows your mind to focus on and become much more receptive to beneficial suggestions and positive change.  You can also experience a sense of relaxation and calm while in a trance state. 

The number of therapy sessions needed for compulsions depends on many different factors.  This includes the nature and severity of the compulsions that you are coming for help with and your active participation in the therapy.  For example, I would give you an MP3 recording to listen to at night when you are going to sleep.  It supports the work in the therapy sessions and it makes a difference.  If you do regularly listen to the MP3 recording you generally need fewer therapy sessions to achieve the outcome you want. 

If low mood is holding you back from living your life in the way you want, then I can help. Together we can get your mind working for you, not against you.

Life has its ups and downs and most people go through periods of feeling down for a few days every now and then but sometimes those feelings can stay with us and we can’t “snap out of it”.  Sometimes low mood can be initiated by life changing events such as a significant bereavement but sometimes it can occur without any obvious reason.

People experience low mood differently.  There can be tearfulness and feelings of flatness, unhappiness or hopelessness. Some people no longer gain enjoyment from activities they used to like and find themselves irritable or intolerant of other people. Some can experience low self-esteem, have no motivation and find it difficult to make decisions.  Some can experience physical symptoms including low energy or poor sleep.

Low mood can impact on your everyday home, work or school life and on relationships. If low mood is holding you back then I can help. I bring a warm, positive, confidential and supportive approach.

Research has demonstrated that Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can help address low mood.  As part of Solution Focused Hypnotherapy I use talking therapy techniques based on modern neuroscience.

The sessions are future focused so there’s no need for you to revisit painful memories or past problems. You cannot change what has already happened, but you can change your way of thinking about it, as well as the way you think about the present and the future.  The approach focuses on solutions and positive steps towards your preferred future. 

I also add in the use of hypnosis, also known as trance. The addition of trance allows you to accelerate the learning and positive progress gained from this talking therapy. Whilst in trance your mind is more open to suggestion.  Trance allows your mind to focus on and become much more receptive to beneficial suggestions and positive change.  You can also experience a sense of relaxation and calm while in a trance state. People who come to me for help often comment on how relaxing and positive the sessions can be. 

The number of therapy sessions needed for low mood depends on many different factors.  This includes the nature of the low mood that you are coming for help with and your commitment to engaging with the therapy.  For example, I would give you an MP3 recording to listen to at night when you are going to sleep.  It supports the work in the therapy sessions and it makes a difference.  If you do regularly listen to the MP3 recording you generally need fewer therapy sessions to achieve the outcome you want.

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy is not like some forms of therapy that people can enter into for a year or more.  In general, most of the time for most things, including low mood, most people achieve the results they want within 8 to 12 sessions of therapy.  Sessions are usually held a week apart so the therapy generally works quickly. 

If trauma is holding you back from living your life in the way you want, then I can help. Together we can get your mind working for you and not against you.

 It’s estimated that around half of people will experience a trauma at some point in their life. Most people exposed to traumatic events only experience some short-term distress.  However around 20% of people who experience a trauma go on to develop longer term symtpoms.  This frequency is higher for those working in certain professions e.g the military.

It can stem from a one-off traumatic event such as an accident or assault, from repeated exposure to trauma e.g amongst emergency service workers, or from personal life events such as a difficult child birthing experience.

Symptoms don’t always appear immediately. It can take months or even years for them to surface. Some common symptoms include:

• Involuntarily and vividly reliving the traumatic event.
• Avoiding people, emotions or places that remind you of the trauma.
• Feeling jittery, angry or irritable or always alert and on constant lookout for danger.
• Difficulty sleeping and concentrating.

The way you think about yourself and others may also change because of the trauma.

You may have complex post traumatic disorder (C-PTSD) if you have symptoms of PTSD and also have problems managing your emotions and having relationships.

Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing can be helpful in trauma. Solution Focused Hypnotherapy brings something different and is a great complementary therapy.  It had some significant success when it was deployed in a police force as part of a recent research study.

If trauma is holding you back then I can help. I bring a warm, positive, confidential and supportive approach.

The sessions are future focused so there’s no need for you to revisit painful memories or past problems. You cannot change what has already happened, but you can change your way of thinking about it, as well as the way you think about the present and the future.  The approach focuses on solutions and positive steps towards your preferred future.  People who come to me for help often comment on how relaxing and positive the sessions can be. 

I also add in the use of hypnosis, also known as trance. The addition of trance allows you to accelerate the learning and positive progress gained from this talking therapy. Whilst in trance your mind is more open to suggestion.  Trance allows your mind to focus on and become much more receptive to beneficial suggestions and positive change.  You can also experience a sense of relaxation and calm while in a trance state.

The number of therapy sessions needed for trauma depends on many different factors.  This includes the nature of the trauma that you are coming for help with and how well you engage with the therapy.  For example, I would give you an MP3 recording to listen to at night when you are going to sleep.  It supports the work in the therapy sessions and it makes a difference.  If you do regularly listen to the MP3 recording you generally need fewer therapy sessions to achieve the outcome you want.

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy is not like some forms of therapy that people can enter into for a year or more.  In general, most of the time for most things, most people achieve the results they want within 8 to 12 sessions of therapy, although sometimes more.  Sessions are usually held a week apart so the therapy generally works quickly.