Consultation

What is this thing called hypnosis?!

I want to spend some time helping you to really understand a bit about hypnosis, dispel any myths you may have brought with you and explain what will happen in our time together. Some people think that hypnosis is a little like being in some altered state of consciousness where you hand control over to a spooky man with a goatee beard, who then dangles a watch in front of you and makes you do weird things! We won’t do anything like that unless you bribe me with vast amounts of sweeties! I want to explain a little bit to you about how your mind works and what hypnosis really is. You may be surprised to know that you already go in and out of trance like states all day long so, really, this will be nothing new to you.

Two levels of your mind

It is important to understand the difference between our conscious mind (where we are right now) and what happens just below that in our unconscious mind (which can also be known as the subconscious). The conscious mind is where we spend most of our waking life. It’s where we make everyday decisions and analyse things. The unconscious mind operates just below our level of consciousness and generally manages the things we do automatically, like breathing and digesting our food.

We may consciously decide to put on our shoes, but our unconscious ties the shoelaces – assuming it knows how to. When I think about my daughter learning to do up her buttons on her new school coat and the concentration on her face to start with, it is because her conscious mind is remembering what to do and how to do it next time. It is not long before she is does it seemingly without thinking whilst also managing to sing a song, dance around, pull silly faces and antagonise her parents!! That is because she has learnt to do her buttons and now is able to do it with her unconscious mind.

Your unconscious mind is a bit like a computer. Throughout your entire lifetime it has programmed itself with every skill you have ever gained, all your experiences, relationships, interpretations of the world, influences and beliefs. All this has culminated in your computer functioning with that programming. Hypnosis is simply a way of accessing that computer and understanding and updating that programming so that it becomes instinctive and intuitive for you to make the changes that please you. Your unconscious mind is the seat of your emotions and where your behaviours exist and it is the part of you that we work with in hypnosis.

As I mentioned at the beginning, you may be surprised to hear that hypnosis is not new to you. I know that you will have experienced natural trance states many times before. For example, when you have been driving in a car and thought to yourself 'how did I get here?' or when you have been reading a thrilling book or watching an exciting film and found yourself completely absorbed and with your heart pounding. The only difference between these naturally occurring states and those that we use in hypnotherapy is that with the hypnosis you intend to enter the state, you are in control of it and it is just like a slightly amplified, deeper version of the state. That’s it. Sometimes it is simply like sitting in a chair with your eyes closed, experiencing a state of deep and profound inner focus.

I do really want you to know that you are always in control. It is important – very important – to know that you cannot be made to do anything in hypnosis that you don’t want to do or wouldn’t normally do. If I ask you to stand up, you will probably do it. If I told you to go and kiss every stranger in the street, you wouldn’t, unless that was your normal habit in life and you were comfortable to do it again on my say so! If your answer to this is yes, then we seriously have some big issues for you to work though!!!

Will I be running around pretending to be a monkey eating a banana??!

Errrrrr, not unless you think this is a really good idea! Often people ask me how hypnotherapy differs from what happens when hypnosis is used for entertainment. This is an important question and one I want to answer. Most people who get up on stage 'to be hypnotised' are extroverts who want to be the life and soul of the party. Typically a good stage hypnotist will select those people who want to be on the stage and then go through some sort of selection test to pick the ones that really want to perform. They also create an uninhibited atmosphere where everybody expects them to act silly anyway. I do not believe that the hypnotist makes the people on stage do anything they don’t want to.

Can I get stuck in hypnosis?

People are often concerned about what happens if I get stuck in a trance? The simple answer is that you can come out of trance any time you like, regardless of the hypnotherapist. It may be that you are so comfortable in trance that you may not want to come out immediately when the hypnotherapist asks you to. It’s your choice when you come out.

But what if I can’t go into hypnosis?

Then you will be the only person in the world that can’t and I suggest you cash in on your uniqueness by going to the papers with your claim! No seriously, anyone can be hypnotised as long as they want to be, even insomniacs and people who are convinced that they cannot relax or be hypnotised. They all can and they all do. All that is required is that you have an open mind, that you expect it to work and have progressive, motivated thoughts about the processes, follow the sessions and allow them to help you to help yourself to make the changes you want and deserve.

How can I help you?

You have come here for a reason right? I would guess it’s not just because you wanted to see a photo of me and listen to my voice?! There are far prettier faces and more engaging voices out there for you! I would imagine you are here because there is some change you want to make in your life? Many of the people that come through the doors of my therapy practice do so because they have become stuck - stuck in old behaviours, old ways of thinking, stuck in continuing to live out of old experiences and events in their lives and they want to change. They want more. They want something better. The way I work and the models I use can help.

Perhaps you are looking to:

Let go of unwanted behaviours, emotions and feelings
Update old patterns of thinking
Address issues of low self confidence or self esteem
Manage issues with your weight so you can feel, look and be healthier
Overcome addictions and the hold they appear to have over you
Create a more authentic you, so you can live a happier and more fulfilled life
Change your behaviour in order to overcome depression, release stress or achieve more life balance
Become a more skilled and engaging speaker

Whatever it is that you feel you want to work on and improve, give me a call on 01202 766655 or drop me an email now and we can discuss it further. The people I work with are amazed at how much more they can achieve and get out of life when they really want to.

What’s it really like working with me?

I have been working in this field for a long time and I have learnt a lot about what really helps people get the results that they desire. My clients often talk of my high integrity and the way I create comfort for them to be able to speak and express themselves freely. I believe this is vitally important when you open yourself up to address, in some instances, very deep rooted experiences. I also have fun! Some would say an odd thing to find in a therapist. People spend a great amount of time being very serious and ensuring that their issues remain in the ‘serious’ box. You will find though that, when you begin to look at your issues in a different way and play with them with some energy and fun, you begin to deal with them very differently.

I won’t collude with you! Again, some therapists do. This is how I see it: you will be paying me good money for me to help you develop, change and progress yourself and therefore I need to challenge you on the patterns that you run. I will hold the mirror up and yes, sometimes that can be uncomfortable. Here’s the thing, my intent for my clients remains positive at all times. All that I do is chosen to help you achieve your outcomes.

So, you should expect a lot from me. I will also expect a lot from you. Don’t imagine that you turn up, sit in my comfy chair, I zap you into hypnosis and your world is back in balance again! It tends not to work like that. Before our first session together, I will ask you to put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard, and give me some real insight about you, what you want from working with me plus a potted history. All of this helps me begin to structure some sessions and ensure that you get the most out of our time together. What happens between our sessions is paramount; you will need to practise, write things down, listen to audio hypnosis sessions that I give you, keep journals, follow assignments I set you, read further notes or books that I send onto you…a whole host of things that will ensure you are moving forward.

I normally work with people for somewhere between 3 and 6 sessions, each an hour in length. Some therapists claim to ‘zap you into shape’ in 1 hour. I believe that for you to really make sustainable changes it takes a greater amount of commitment and time. Ideally, the sessions are spaced about 1 week in order to enable you to go and consolidate your learning and begin bringing the changes to life.

As I have explained before on this site, I am very strict about the time I set aside for individual therapy sessions and dedicate 2 days per week only for my clinic. I believe this is the way I can offer the best experience for you with the most powerful results. It does also mean that the sessions tend to get booked up very quickly.

I will make a commitment to you to be rigorous and thorough in my approach and style. I need you to be committed to your own development also. Working with me will ensure that you can make profound and sustainable changes in your life. You may cry, you will certainly laugh and you are guaranteed to shift yourself. I say to all clients, choose your therapist with care, as it is an important relationship. My style and approach will not be right for everyone.

So, if you are even more curious now, just give my office a call on 01202 766655 or email me on info@richardtyler.co.uk I will then send you out some more information about working with me and my fees.