You are here: Home > What can Hypnotherapy treat?


Navigation Menu (below)

Top  Smoking

Just stop smoking! It sounds so easy and yet it is one of the hardest things to do. I know - I smoked for years myself. Despite what people think, stopping smoking is one of the more difficult things to do by hypnosis. Too often people are not prepared to work at it - they expect the hypnotherapist to take away all the withdrawal symptoms and, for the majority of the population this is a bit unreasonable! You can be helped, but deep down YOU have to be determined to stop.

Another aspect of smoking is that it is an oral habit. It satisfies a deep need for comfort in the same way as a baby feels safer sucking a dummy. For many people, it is important to address why they need this comfort, and this means looking at their past to find out what happened that can still cause problems now. This takes time.

Many clients expect to get a quick "blast" of hypnosis and ("Tada!") they're non-smokers. Many hypnotherapists out there (almost) guarantee that they will make you stop, often after only one session. This creates an unrealistic expectation as to how easy it is to stop with hypnosis. Whilst some people are very responsive to hypnotherapy and may actually quit after one session, they will often start again after a few weeks. This is because nobody has tackled the reason why they couldn't stop by themselves. Whatever was going on in their minds is still there. For this reason, you are well advised to avoid any therapist who guarantees that you will stop smoking.

There is nothing rational about smoking! There is not one good reason to smoke, or not to stop. There are, however, scores of reasons not to smoke. You really don't need me to tell you again. If the need to smoke was coming from a rational part of your brain, you would stop in a heartbeat. There is no point in doctors trying to help people to smoke by explaining why they should. People know all this already. It may motivate them to want to stop, but it doesn't help to achieve it.

The need to smoke comes from the Unconscious Mind. This is the very secret, private part of your mind where all your feelings come from; all your memories; everything that's ever happened to you. This part of your mind is not rational. It doesn't respond to logical argument. (Consider the situation where you meet someone ... and you just don't like them. They don't feel right, somehow. There is no reason to dislike them - it just happens.) This feeling comes from somewhere. Something negative must have happened in the past - some event that is being triggered by something familiar. It could be the colour of the person's shoes, or the way he or she stands.

Another peculiar problem with the Unconscious Mind is that it doesn't really understand time. You feel feelings now! You're not hungry last year or next week - you're hungry now.

The trouble is, this same part of your mind also thinks that you need to smoke. It feels that something bad will happen if you don't keep having cigarettes. There is no logical reason for this either - again, it just happens.

The chances are that something happened, often in the dim and distant past, which created anxiety. If the event wasn't properly dealt with, it's still kind of "in the queue" to be dealt with - along with all the genuinely new stuff. In other words, traumatic events often remain stuck in the short-term memory. This means that the feelings of anxiety, fear, hurt, etc., feel as if they are in the present. Because the Unconscious doesn't understand what's happening, it associates the anxiety with the fact that you're not currently smoking.

It sounds weird - but there it is.

---

Top  Slimming - Losing Weight with Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy is very effective in helping people to lose weight. This is especially true with "snackaholics" - you know who you are! Hypnotherapy helps Slimming Treatments change aspects about your behaviour. Are you struggling to lose weight? Do you keep starting diets, going to the gym then failing again? Are you a Snackaholic? Do you feel miserable, useless, ugly, out of control, pointless? It's not your fault! There is a reason why you can't control your eating.

I don't believe in diets or slimming clubs. They only make you fixate on food all the time. Dieters are always working out how many calories or points they have to play with. If you eat lots of sugary or fatty foods; if you snack in the evenings, or when you feel "low" or bored, hypnotherapy changes the way you feel about such foods. For example, you feel full after a small plate of food. It simply doesn't occur to you to buy or eat snacks. The really nice thing about losing weight following hypnotherapy is that you really don't feel you're having to work at all.

What people want is to be able to get on with their lives without food being an issue at all. What I try to do is to change what's "normal" for you - it still feels normal. It really is a nice feeling to be able to walk past stuff in the shops, not only without buying it, but without really noticing that you did!

Hypnotherapy Weight Loss treatments really work. I see many clients with weight loss, lifestyle and motivation problems and most show a considerable improvement. In fact, helping patients with weight loss issues to take control of their eating is about the most successful treatment I do. It's unrealistic (and unethical) to guarantee a complete cure for anything. I will say, though, that you will discover, for probably the first time in your life, what complete relaxation feels like.

There are a number of factors involved in hypnotherapy treatment:

• SUGGESTION. This is the aspect that most people associate with hypnotherapy - it's what you sometimes see stage hypnotists doing on TV - and all hypnotherapists use it. This is the easy part and most of the dodgy therapists out there don't do anything else. Suggestions DO work but, more often than not, they wear off after a few days or weeks. For example, we all know people who have dieted for months or even years, and then started eating again.

• HABIT. Some people automatically do things like snacking - because "that's what I do". You need a substitute for this. In hypnosis, I teach you how to perform a simple movement, such as holding a wrist, which instantly relaxes you. You use this movement in place of snacking.

• DEALING WITH THE PAST. We all have things in our past that we haven't dealt with. They can lead us to "Eat for Comfort". These are sometimes big issues, but can be bizarrely small. The trouble is, they all have an effect on how we feel NOW. Using hypnotherapy, I help you to finally deal with these events, and so to move on. The result is that you feel very relaxed and good about yourself, as well as getting control of yourself. For me, this is the most important aspect of treatment. There is a reason why you can't simply, for example, stop eating by yourself. Let's find out what it is - and fix it.

---

Top  Anxiety / Panic Attacks, Phobias and PTSD

The most common problem I see is anxiety in various guises, including PTSD. This can range from sudden debilitating panic attacks, to a constant feeling of danger and hyper-vigilance. Panic attacks can be sparked by certain situations, such as having to drive across a bridge. Plus, of course, there are a myriad of phobias. Even with phobias though, everyone's problem is unique to him or her. For example, there are many different types of flying phobia. Some sufferers are only scared on take-off or landing, some worry that someone will open a door; some feel panicky until the doors are closed, whilst others worry all the time. With many phobias: People usually panic about panicking. 

One distressing aspect of anxiety can be that it can sometimes feel almost like a child's fear. It feels completely alien and uncontrollable, almost as if the person is experiencing someone else's fear. This is often because the anxiety itself is coming from an old memory, often from childhood, and so it is a child's emotion. More information on Anxiety from Anxiety UK (formerly the Phobia Society).

Another major cause of anxiety is PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). It's a profound anxiety which results from a traumatic event or period of time, usually life-threatening or violent. The term was really first applied to Vietnam war veterans and was coined to try to get the public and politicians to recognise that what was once called "battle fatigue", "battle exhaustion" or "shell shock" is, in fact, a serious problem. UK forces have been involved in multiple conflicts recently and PTSD is, unfortunately, very prevalent among forces veterans. NB I have a special "Veterans' PTSD" rate.
More information from the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

The fact is that many non-veterans, even children, can develop PTSD. They suffer the same flashbacks, hyper-vigilance and situation avoidance. This is the mind's reaction to any psychological shock. It is quite common for victims of bullying, or physical /sexual abuse to present these same symptoms.

Many health problems can be attributed to anxiety. Chronic anxiety creates a high level of stress within the body. These include gastric problems, tension headaches & migraines, high blood pressure, some skin conditions associated with stress.

Anxiety is a terrible affliction that can ruin someone's life. It is often accompanied by panic attacks that can strike almost anytime. Anxiety and panic attacks occur more often when someone is travelling away from home, and can reduce when returning. I see many people who are anxious about having anxiety or panic attacks whilst driving.

---

Top  Grief

When a loved one dies, or a relationship comes to an end, all of us grieve. Even though it hurts, it's a necessary process we have to go through. Some people feel excessive grief for a longer period than is normal. Grieving is a process that takes time, often more than family or friends think is reasonable. In the beginning, friends are very supportive, however, after a few months friends can start to get a bit impatient that you haven't started to "move on" yet. With some people, the process really does stall and sufferers simply can't stop thinking about it. That's when hypnotherapy can help.

---

Top  Physical Conditions - Pain, Skin Disorders, etc.

The sub-conscious mind plays a major part in your bodily system. Whilst it may not always be possible for hypnotherapy to obtain a cure, it can assist in the relief of distressing symptoms and help subjects to come to terms with their illness so as to bring about a significant and beneficial change in their quality of life.

Some people can be taught to ignore their pain using self-hypnosis, although this will work only in around 20% of people. Pain is worse when you are stressed though, and significant improvements can be made by ensuring clients are relaxed and happy within themselves.

Hypnotherapy can help with stress-related skin conditions and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) responds really well to hypnotherapy, especially when the underlying psychological problems are resolved (see below).

---

Top  Pregnancy and Hypnobirthing

I see many women who are worried about the birth of their child. They may be dreading the pain and discomfort, or be worried about the future. Often they have a feeling that they are supposed to be enjoying this wonderful experience, and that they are missing out somehow.

The idea is to teach the client how to hypnotise herself very quickly and easily. It is possible to practice relaxation so often that you can relax during any ordeal - even childbirth!

My approach is first of all to ensure that there is nothing from the past that is at the root of the anxiety. This is very important. The roots of most or all insecurities and anxieties come from the past. I then teach my patients how to hypnotise themselves and to relax even during the birth. It is possible, with about half of the population, to use this self-hypnosis to significantly reduce pain.

There are some therapists who specialise in "Hypnobirthing". (Unfortunately, there are also some unscrupulous "therapists" who have tried to copyright this expression.) Sessions also will often include the birth partner. The idea is to show the partner how to encourage the mum to hypnotise herself. There is nothing different about the hypnotic techniques used for birthing.

Often, Hypnobirthing training seems much more about the medical processes and various stages of childbirth, than actual hypnosis techniques. I must say that I don't really see the point in concentrating on the medical side, as the hypnotherapist won't need to double as a midwife! The mum-to-be would be best served by obtaining this kind of information and help from someone who is properly qualified and has years of training in midwifery. Specialist Hypnobirthing can be pretty expensive, especially as it sometimes involves the therapist actually attending the birth.

---

Top  IVF Stress

IVF treatment can be very stressful. The thought that one may not be able to conceive can come as a dreadful shock. For many women, all other aspects of their lives seem to take a back seat. The feeling of being "incomplete" or a "failure" can be overwhelming.


The focus on the ovulation cycle, together with the terrible highs and lows of the treatment itself can tear couples apart. Sex becomes a mechanical act with a single purpose.

It is at this time that some women discover that their partners may be ambivalent about children. This makes them feel terribly let down.

The powerful drugs used can knock a woman's body for six! They can result in depression and weight gain - adding to her bad feelings about herself.

 In nature, many animals do not conceive if they are stressed in any way. Many animal studies confirm this. It makes evolutionary sense not to add an extra burden to life, if things are already difficult. This means that the very process that tries to help women conceive may undermine itself by being so stressful.

Hypnotherapy can really help. Research has shown that hypnotherapy can double the success rate for IVF. A team from Soroka University, Israel, found 28% of women in the group who were hypnotised became pregnant, compared with 14% of those who were not.

---

Top  Low Confidence/Public Speaking/Exams

Hypnotherapy can help people feel more confident and help them face difficult or stressful situations.

Many people start to find that they get worried about speaking in public and meetings. This can happen even to those who were previously confident. I frequently help people to perform well at interviews, driving tests and exams. In fact, everyone who has come to me because they are worried because they are facing a 'must get' job interview has, so far, always got the job!

It is important to understand that, as with many things in life, there are no guarantees. As I say throughout this website, everyone is different! (See also Anxiety on this page). 

---

Top  Habits: Biting Nails, Thumb Sucking, etc.

I see many clients who have embarrassing habits. Things such as nail biting, sucking their thumbs; people nibble at the skin inside their mouths, etc. For most, this is about comfort. As I have described in aither parts of this website, the Unconscious Mind often seeks to use an "oral habit" to give it comfort, in the same way as a baby will take to a dummy, or will suck on a blanket. As an adult, these habits can be very embarrassing, especially when,as in nail biting, it ios so obvious to other people.

Most of these habits can be either eliminated or, at least, significantly reduced quite easily. As long as there is no underlying problem, some people can be "fixed" after only two or three sessions. I find, though, that pretty much everyone is troubled by something in their past and benefits greatly from having this investigated. (Suggestion therapy alone really can help, but the effect often fades and the problem returns unless the cause is dealt with.)

---

Top  IBS: Hypnotherapy Recommended by Leading Gastroenterologist

IBS is an awful affliction. It can affect people in a variety of ways. Often there is pain or discomfort. One of the biggest problems is the sudden need to go to the toilet, which can strike at any time. Sufferers become afraid to go out. Every trip requires pre-planning as to where the toilet facilities are on the route - an absolute nightmare!

A leading expert in IBS, the editor of a specialist magazine for the British Medical Journal, has stated in a podcast to doctors: "there is no doubt in my mind that hypnotherapy, in the right hands, is effective even in patients with severe forms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome".

During a wide ranging discussion of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) in a British Medical Journal (BMJ) Frontline Gastroenterology podcast on 18^th March 2010, experts revealed that, in a significant proportion of cases, hypnotherapy clears up IBS symptoms altogether.

Dr Roland Valori, who is editor of the BMJ's Frontline Gastroenterology, said the research evidence which shows that hypnotherapy could help sufferers of IBS was first published in the 1980s. He thinks it has been widely ignored because "many doctors find it hard to believe that it does work or to comprehend how it could work". Dr Valori, who is the Consultant Gastroenterologist at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, recently won a prestigious NHS Leadership award.

Cutting out certain foodstuffs may help alleviate the problem, but this usually only works for a while, says Dr Valori. This is because dietary measures don't tackle the root cause - an overly sensitised gut. One of the best ways to do that is to use hypnotherapy, he says.

He began referring IBS patients for hypnotherapy in the early 1990s and has found it to be highly effective. He conducted a medical audit into 100 IBS cases where hypnotherapy was used. He found that hypnotherapy significantly improved symptoms in nine out of ten of them.

It stopped symptoms altogether in four out of ten, while the remainder said they felt more in control of their symptoms. "To be frank, I have never looked back," he said.

I treat many IBS sufferers in my practice in Fife - IBS Hypnotherapy (Fife) is one of my most successful treatments!