FAQ’s

If you fall asleep during hypnosis, you do lose some of the potential benefits of the session as your subconscious mind does become less receptive to suggestions by the hypnotherapist.

The best state of internal focus is when you are feeling deeply relaxed to the point of heavy drowsiness. It’s like being half awake and half asleep. Being in a deep trance-like state is like daydreaming. In this state you are able to access your greater imagination and your mental imagery is very vivid – and you are more susceptible to suggestion in this state.

Once you are in a deep, dreamless sleep you are unconscious with very slow brainwave activity you are less likely to benefit from the session.

Neuro Linguistic Programming is much more interactive and focusses on linguistic elements that affect the neurological processes.

Hypnosis uses an induction process to put a patient into a trance-like state. NLP does not have an induction process.

There are more similarities than differences. Both speak to a person’s subconscious mind and guide them to healing through positivity. Only the tools and methods differ.  In both cases the person must want the goal or the change otherwise the result may not be internalised in their subconscious mind and therefore not permanent.

Both are beneficial to mental and physical health and they both involve changing the mindset in different ways.

Both connect the mind with the body and there is a clear overlap.

Meditation is a technique that uses the conscious mind to deal with issues in a logical and rational way and works on you being present and in the moment. It’s aim is to increase clarity and calmness of the mind.

Hypnosis is a state of focussed attention and uses the subconscious mind to deal with issues in a more creative way using visualisations, and imagery.  Thereby, a person becomes more responsive to suggestion.

Essentially why we believe hypnosis works so well on our patients is because our habits are formed so strongly by our subconscious state that we need to speak to that part of you to make the necessary change.

For example, in your conscious state you probably know what foods are best to eat and what foods you should avoid but you still eat unhealthily. Through hypnosis we talk to your subconscious mind and plant new suggestions with food alternatives and positivity around your future well-being that break those habits and old beliefs to forge positive changes.

At Zen Hypnotherapy we use a combination of both.

Hypnosis is a state of relaxation and self-focus at one with a state of heightened awareness induced by suggestion. As human beings we go into this natural state up to 120 times a day. It’s part of the sleep cycle – that state just before we fall asleep and as we again every morning as we become fully awake. We may experience this trance-like state when we watch TV or drive a familiar route or read a book and we are so engrossed or our mind drifts away. Through hypnosis and the power of suggestion we can change lives by talking to that unconscious mind.

At Zen Hypnotherapy the first hypnotherapy session is a pre-session and is FREE. It is approximately 30 minutes and used to talk about your goals and the processes by which you can be helped. You will be advised on the cost of the proposed session or programme at this time.

Once, we ascertain your goal is achievable through hypnotherapy and you are ready to commit to change we will set up an appropriate time to either meet face to face or via zoom again.  Note some initial consultations may reveal that your situation is not best served through hypnotherapy, and we may refer or advise you to seek alternative methods of treatment.  However, if you are deemed suitable for hypnosis, we will set up a session or programme of sessions to help you towards your goal/s.

During a hypnosis session, we will go through your goals and aspirations again in a comfortable and safe environment. Hypnotherapy involves repetitive verbal cues to help guide you into a trance-like state where we will work through ways to help you achieve certain goals, through visualisation and suggestibility.  You will leave feeling relaxed and with a positive vibe towards positive actions.

You will feel deeply relaxed both mentally and physically, very calm and zoned out like you are in a trance.

Your muscles are limp, your rate of breathing is slow and you will feel drowsy.

But you will be awake.

In this state your focus will be accentuated and more susceptible to positive suggestions to guide you to change.

Hypnosis can treat many conditions or issues.

There is strong evidence that hypnosis is used to treat

•         Pain
•         Insomnia
•         Depression
•         Anxiety
•         Cessation of smoking
•         Weight loss
•         Phobias
•         Cessation of unwanted habits

·         Mindset positivity

Complicated question because there are so many issues that hypnotherapy can help with and in some cases, hypnotherapy is enough, but in more complicated cases you are best to seek medical help and regular counselling.

As an example, one session with a hypnotherapist can help a client to stop smoking, stop biting their nails or curb their fear of flying. However, weight loss, anxiety issues and sports performance (to name a few) may take a few sessions.

Yes. Hypnosis has been used for centuries, initially for pain relief. It is a genuine psychological therapy process whereby the hypnotist puts the client into a trance-like stage to make them more open to suggestibility.

A Hypnotherapist guides you into a deep sate of relaxation (a trace-like state) and when you are in this state, they can make suggestions designed to help you become more open to changing habits or behaviours.

If you’ve ever zoned out whilst driving the same way to work every day or when watching TV then you’ve been in a similar trance-like state.

First online consultation is free. This is where the price is confirmed once the goal is ascertained, and the best course of action is determined.

One size does not fit all.

However, as an indication, costs can vary greatly depending on the complexity of the issue and the number of sessions. Quit Smoking is typically one or two sessions, and the session/s are 1.5-2 hours each. Weight loss is a more complicated issue because there are many reasons why an over-eating habit was formed and therefore can take 3-6 session. It’s best to purchase a package when there are more than 2 visits required. Phobias are typically one session although a follow up may be required.

One session can be helpful for some people, but generally four to five sessions are required depending on the phobia, fear or the cessation or re-setting of a habit. Remember you didn’t form that bad habit overnight so it might take a few sessions to create a new habit to yield the best results.

Sadly, people come to our practice after they’ve tried everything else, and hypnotherapy is their last resort. They are frustrated and many are expecting an instant fix.

Do not stop going to counselling but the lesson here is to not wait to try hypnotherapy, they can work very well together and help get you to your end goal much quicker.

Each session can be from 1-2.5 hours depending on the programme.

Whilst a person is in hypnosis, the hypnotherapist is able to communicate directly with the subconscious part of the mind. This part of the mind is always active and responds to positive suggestions thus accepting powerful possibilities for change of individual behaviours and habits.

Online hypnotherapy sessions do work.  They are a safe and convenient alternative to face-to-face sessions.  At Zen Hypnotherapy our initial consultant is via the online provider Zoom.

However, it is essential that the patient has a quiet, comfortable and private place at home to talk and relax without the stress of travelling and parking.  Your suitability will be determined at the first online consultation.

Here’s what you will need if you are accessing hypnotherapy online_

•         Reliable and fast internet connection
•         Laptop/PC with good sound and camera
•         Quiet comfortable place where you will not be disturbed by people, animals or any external noises
•         Headphones will allow for full immersion and concentration
•         Turn off your computer’s notifications on your devices and phones

·         Turn off your phone/s

Hypnosis is usually safe as long as it is performed by a trained and experienced professional. Hypnotherapy can help treat some medical conditions without the need for invasive treatment or medication. It is a safe alternative therapy option and almost anyone can be hypnotized.  Hypnotherapy does have some risks. The most dangerous is the potential to create false memories. Please note that our practice doesn’t use hypnosis for memory retrieval. Such therapy can cause side effects such as anxiety and distress.

Hypnosis is not for everyone and every problem/issue. People suffering from delusions, hallucinations, or other psychotic symptoms must consult their doctor or psychiatrist.  A hypnotherapist cannot make you do anything against your principles.

At Zen Hypnotherapy, we take the utmost care to bring out only the most positive results to give you a comfortable, safe and life-enhancing experience.

No you cannot be controlled or manipulated when induced in a hypnotic state. You are not ‘asleep’. You are in a heightened state of focus and your senses function far more efficiently than normal. You cannot be made to do anything that you don’t want to do, you will only accept suggestions that conform to your own morals and beliefs.