What can be expected from a hypnotherapy session? Initially a full case history will be taken. Any questions or clarification about clinical hypnosis and the therapy can then be answered. Time is taken to fully identify the issues causing distress and the desired goal for therapy. This first session includes an appropriate level of hypnosis and lasts for approximately one and a half hours. Subsequent sessions are of one hour duration. All treatment is negotiated and agreed with you, mindful of the set goal. You remain in control throughout. Feedback about progress, and between session practice, are encouraged so that treatment is tailor made for you.

Modern Clinical Hypnotherapy draws from a number of therapeutic disciplines. These include: psychodynamic, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT); counselling and neurolinguistic programming (NLP). This eclectic approach helps to ensure that treatment is designed to fit the needs of the individual and the condition being addressed. Each approach has its strengths, for example, it may be necessary to: gain insight into past events to understand current emotions and behaviours; rationalise and weaken fears about the future; explore patterns of thinking and how these can be changed to meet set goals; review mental frameworks and communication style; and most importantly to achieve these with respect and compassion for the self and others involved. The final aim is to ensure that you move from understanding to being fully at one with the changes made.

Clinical Hypnotherapy can also be deeply relaxing and it is sometimes this combination of increased focus and relaxation which can produce the altered states of awareness which provides the environment for therapeutic work.

Clinical Hypnotherapy is brief therapy. The main focus for change is on the present day barriers to desired changes. In some cases, account is also taken of the importance of past life events which may have a bearing on current distress and future progress. Certain conditions are treated in just a few sessions (with the exception of stop smoking) with a follow-up maintenance review. The majority of conditions however benefit from between 4 to 12 sessions depending on problem complexity and other factors. Therapeutic work always deals with one issue at a time.

Practising Clinical Hypnotherapists registered with the British Society of Clinical Hypnosis are clinically supervised in their work with clients. Furthermore therapists are bound to maintain client confidentiality, except in very rare cases; these are discussed with the client before therapy commences.

Therapeutic work is always negotiated between patient and therapist for best results. Clinical hypnotherapeutic work is a partnership between the therapists and client which continues for the duration of their work together. Often this involves practice work between sessions to increase benefits and speed of required change.