There are a lot of misconceptions about hypnosis and hypnotherapy, which sometimes lead potential clients to feel unnecessarily anxious or confused about what to expect. We hope that the following will help alleviate some of those anxieties and make things a little clearer - but if you still have questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Hypnotherapy is an extremely effective therapeutic tool, and is used in conjunction with counselling, psychotherapy or and other therapeutic techniques, according to your particular needs. Hypnosis is a state of profound relaxation that allows your mind, with guidance, to alleviate symptoms, resolve problems and alter unwanted patterns of behaviour.

No - hypnosis is not sleep at all - it is a state of profound relaxation, in which you allow yourself to enter a very relaxed state. You will not be unconscious, you will not lose control and you cannot be made to do anything that you do not want to do. You will be aware of everything which is happening, and may even feel that your senses are more alert than normal. There is no such thing as a ‘hypnotised feeling’ - during hypnosis, your eyes may close, but you will remain alert and will be able to hear everything that is said to you.

No - successful hypnosis is a two-way activity, and requires your cooperation. You cannot be compelled to do anything against your will. For hypnosis to be successful, you must expect it to happen, want it to happen and let it happen.

Willpower is certainly very important in hypnosis - but it is your willpower, not that of the hypnotherapist, which plays a significant part. If hypnosis was produced by the therapist using willpower to dominate the client, then it follows that only very weak-willed people could be hypnotised. In fact, the weak-willed person is harder to hypnotise, due to a short attention span and poor concentration. The purpose of hypnotherapy is to help clients, not to control them - and for hypnosis to be successful, the client has to want it to happen - and allow it to happen.

This is most unlikely - very few subjects are able to achieve the depth of trance required to produce amnesia, and in most cases this would not be desirable. It is far more helpful and constructive if you are aware of everything that has taken place, and you are likely to retain full and accurate recall.

You may be asked to communicate with your therapist, or to answer questions in hypnosis. However, you will be aware of everything that happens - and in complete control of what you say, or whether you wish to answer any questions - you need have no fear of revealing anything which you do not wish to reveal.

Sometimes, clients are anxious about hypnosis, and this anxiety may interfere with the process. Some may even laugh or giggle during the induction of hypnosis - often a sign of nerves and anxiety, and quite understandable, especially if this is the first experience of hypnosis. However, we like to do our best to explain everything fully, so if you have any other questions or concerns about hypnosis, please, don't hesitate to ask questions at any stage - we will do our best to explain anything which you are unsure about.