There are many misconceptions about the art of hypnosis. Let me deal with a few of the more common ones here.

Hypnosis is completely safe, is centuries old and in most cases remarkably effective. It is recognised by many branches of traditional medicine as an alternative to drugs, an effective catalyst in speeding up the healing process and as a highly effective method in the reduction of pain.

Hypnosis is a totally natural state which we will all experience regularly throughout our lives, although we may not have realised it. Most of us in fact experience this many times a day. If you find yourself daydreaming or being totally engrossed in a film or TV programme for example then you have experienced hypnosis.

Hypnosis occurs when you think of just one thing and your conscious mind goes into a kind of "standby" mode where other thoughts are temporarily switched off. There is certainly no loss of "control" though. You are fully aware and in control of yourself and your surroundings, you are able to speak, hear and at any stage return to full awareness or indeed end your hypnosis session.

This should reinforce the fact that nobody can be made to do anything they do not want to do. In fact many people in a hypnotic state actually find their senses to be sharper than usual.

There is no such thing as a "hypnotic feeling".
This is mainly because everything about it feels so "normal". To some this comes as a disappointment, but hypnotherapy isn't really about the hypnosis part, it's about the therapy!

Hypnotic induction in the therapy setting will usually take the form of the client listening to the voice of the therapist. We don't tend to use swinging pocket watches anymore but they do work - that one is true!

Most important of all is that a good hypnotherapist will tailor their approach to the individual. As a skilled Therapist, I can guide you into hypnosis and lead you to a solution that is the most suited to treat your problem. That is why hypnotherapy is referred to as an art and not a science.

Successful hypnotherapy relies on a two way communication process between client and therapist.