During hypnotherapy for anxiety, you will be guided into a relaxed and focused state conducive to calm and clarity.

I will be able to suggest positive changes in thought patterns or behaviour, which you will follow only if you want to.

For example, I might suggest that you feel calm and relaxed in situations that typically cause anxiety, or that you respond to stressors in a more positive way. By accessing the subconscious mind, I can help shift deep-seated patterns of thought and behaviour that may be contributing to anxiety.

Hypnotherapy can also help reduce physical symptoms of anxiety, such as muscle tension and rapid heartbeat, by promoting relaxation and calming the nervous system.

It’s important to note that hypnotherapy is not a cure-all for anxiety, and it may not work for everyone. However, it can be a valuable tool for managing anxiety symptoms and improving overall well-being.

As with any form of therapy, it’s important to work with a qualified and experienced therapist who can tailor the treatment to your individual needs.

Relaxation takes us to a more positive state of mind, and it is an important tool in addressing stress, but it doesn’t do much on its own other than temporary relief.

The stress we experience comes from the stories we tell ourselves.

We tell ourselves stories of danger: “Losing this job would be terrible.”

The bottom line of such stories is that they are framed to confirm existing core beliefs.

Awareness is about identifying the stories we are telling ourselves and how they are making us feel. It is largely up to you to choose how you see your own story, and you can become aware of it and change it.

You can take control of your thoughts and actions when you become aware of what is driving you.

Parts Therapy is a type of hypnotherapy that involves communicating with different parts of the client’s mind or psyche to resolve inner conflicts and promote positive change. It is based on the idea that each person has different “parts” or aspects of themselves that can have different beliefs, emotions, and behaviors.

In Parts Therapy, the therapist guides the client into a hypnotic state and then communicates with different parts of the client’s psyche, such as the part that is causing the problem or the part that wants to change. The therapist helps the client to understand and resolve the conflict between the different parts and to integrate them into a more cohesive whole.

Parts Therapy can be used to address a variety of issues, including anxiety, depression, addiction, and trauma. It is often used in combination with other types of therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or psychodynamic therapy, to help clients achieve lasting change.

Hypnosis is a state of consciousness characterized by focused attention and heightened awareness. 

Hypnosis aims not to access the subconscious mind and install positive suggestions but to help the client access their inner resources and promote positive change. 

The client is always in control and can choose to accept or reject suggestions given during a hypnotherapy session, regardless of their state of mind. Contrary to how hypnosis is depicted in fiction, suggestions are only accepted if a person wants to accept them.

Research supports the idea that suggestions made during hypnosis are only accepted if the person wants to accept them. 

For example, a study published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology found that hypnosis does not increase a person’s suggestibility beyond their normal waking state (Lynn, Rhue, & Weekes, 1990). Another study published in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis found that highly hypnotizable people may be more susceptible to suggestions. Still, even they can reject suggestions they do not agree with (Barber, 2000).

References:

• Lynn, S. J., Rhue, J. W., & Weekes, J. R. (1990). Hypnotic involuntariness: A social cognitive analysis. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 99(4), 391-399.
• Barber, T. X. (2000). Hypnosis, suggestion, and suggestibility: An integrative model. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 43(1), 5-11.

• Hammond, D.C. (2010). What is Hypnosis? Evidence from Contemporary Science. Contemporary Hypnosis, 27(1), 12-23.
• Kirsch, I., Montgomery, G., & Sapirstein, G. (1995). Hypnosis as an adjunct to cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy: A meta-analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 63(2), 214-220.
• Mendoza, M. E., & Capafons, A. (2009). Hypnotherapy in the Treatment of Anxiety. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 57(3), 336-357.
• Schoenberger, N. E., Kirsch, I., Gearan, P., Montgomery, G., & Pastyrnak, S. L. (1997). Hypnotic enhancement of cognitive-behavioral weight loss treatments–Another meta-reanalysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 65(3), 411-422.
• Spiegel, D., & Spiegel, H. (2004). Trance and Treatment: Clinical Uses of Hypnosis (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing.