• Hypnotherapy is a completely safe and harmless form of psychological therapy
• Hypnosis is a state of altered awareness, not sleep or unconsciousness
• You are still in control of own body and mind during hypnosis
• Hypnotism is officially recognized and approved by British Medical Association

What is hypnosis?
Hypnosis is a method by which any person may be guided into an altered state of conscious awareness (‘hypnotic trance’) in which psychological and physical changes, beyond normal conscious capability, may be achieved.

What does it feel like?
The experience is different for different people. For most people, however, hypnosis is a pleasant state of deep calm and physical relaxation. Deep hypnosis is similar in many ways to the kind of profound trance found in expert yoga or meditation practitioners.

Where does it come from?
Modern psychological hypnosis was first developed in 1843 by the Scottish physician James Braid. However, it has its origins in an earlier form of trance healing called ‘Mesmerism’, after the famous Eighteenth century Austrian Franz Anton Mesmer.

What is hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is basically any therapy done in conjunction with hypnotic trance. It is often classed as a form of complementary medicine but is perhaps better viewed as a branch of psychotherapy.

When a registered psychotherapist employs hypnosis alongside other forms of psychotherapy this is technically known as ‘hypno-psychotherapy’. Hypnotherapists tend to use an integrative approach, which may combine programmes of direct verbal suggestion or visualization with ‘analytic’ psychotherapy techniques such as age regression.

Does it work?
Yes. Hypnosis has fascinated psychologists and medical professionals for over a century and has been subject to a great deal of rigorous testing and research. It also has an enviable and long-standing reputation for effectiveness among the general public.

Is it officially recognized?

• ‘Hypnotism’ is legally acknowledged and defined by the Hypnotism Act 1952, in the UK Book of Statutes.
• In their 1892 Hypnotism Report, the British Medical Association (BMA) officially recognize the hypnotic trance: ‘The Committee, having completed such investigation of hypnotism as time permitted, have to report that they have satisfied themselves of the genuineness of the hypnotic state.’ The Committee also acknowledge that ‘as a therapeutic agent hypnotism is frequently effective in relieving pain, procuring sleep, and alleviating many functional ailments’(BMA,1982).
• In 1955 a follow-up report was commissioned which endorsed the findings of the original 1892 Committee, and added the conclusions that hypnotism is of value and may be the treatment of choice in some cases of so-called psychosomatic disorder and psychoneurosis. It may also be of value for revealing unrecognised motives and conflicts in such conditions. As a treatment, in the opinion of the Subcommittee it has proved its ability to remove symptoms and to alter morbid habits of thought and behavior… […..] In addition to the treatment of psychiatric disabilities, there is a place for hypnotism in the production of anesthesia or analgesia for surgical and dental operations, and in suitable subjects it is an effective method of relieving pain in childbirth without altering the normal course of labour.’(BMA, 1955)

Is hypnotherapy like stage hypnosis?
Stage hypnosis is slightly different from hypnotherapy, however it is real hypnosis and the effects produced are possible for everyone to experience. Some stage hypnotists do good work but others generate misconceptions about the nature of hypnotic trance, which may lead to unfounded fears about hypnosis. In clinical hypnotherapy clients are never asked to do anything embarrassing or against their will.

Is hypnosis safe?
Absolutely. There are no known records of anyone having been physically or mentally harmed as a direct result of hypnosis itself.

What benefits can be achieved through hypnotherapy?
Some of the main benefits of hypnotherapy can be classed as follows (there are many more):

Stopping Habits
Stop smoking cigarettes.
Stop drinking alcohol
Overcome drug dependency
Lose (or gain) weight, enjoy a healthier diet.
Get rid of, and/or obtain insight into, other habits.

Management of Anxiety and Stress
Control panic/anxiety attacks
Remove, and/or obtain insight into, fears and phobias
Overcome fear of public speaking
Deal with stress/anxiety related conditions: IBS, tinnitus, feeling low, anger, irritability, insomnia, lack of concentration, tiredness, muscle pain, headaches, various skin problems, digestive problems, etc.

Psychological and Emotional Well-being
Manage depression or grief
Build confidence and self-esteem
Control embarrassment or blushing

Improve Physical Conditions
Learn to suppress or control unnecessary physical pain or discomfort
Hypnosis has been shown to be effective in the treatment of a wide range of physical conditions.

Personal Development
Obtain personal insight through dreams, automatic writing, automatic sketches, etc.
Achieve personal change through positive suggestion, visualization, affirmation, etc.
Increase feelings of self-esteem, confidence, self-worth.
Improve sporting performance, concentration, learning ability.
Overcome writer’s block, access subconscious creative resources, for writing, painting, etc.
Regress the mind back to childhood, or past-lives.
Learn skills for self-hypnosis, meditation, and general mental self-improvement.