What is Hypnotherapy?
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Many people are surprised to discover that trance states are a normal part of everyday life. We slip into them more often than we realise, even the transition into ordinary sleep involves a type of trance. Hypnosis is similar, it is a normal human state between waking and sleeping, much like daydreaming, accompanied by a comfortable sense of deep relaxation.
This natural altered state of consciousness allows therapeutic suggestions to be communicated directly to the unconscious mind.
Hypnotherapy provides a powerful means of accessing the inner, unconscious self, a source of untapped potential and inner wisdom, but also the origin of many difficulties we experience. The hypnotic induction helps you enter a state of calm, focused attention, where critical thinking naturally softens. In this state, it becomes easier to engage with positive images and ideas that can gently replace unhelpful beliefs and emotional patterns. Many of these patterns were formed earlier in life and may no longer serve you well in adulthood. Hypnotherapy works through what is known as top-down regulation. This simply means that the therapeutic words and suggestions used in hypnosis influence how you think, feel, and respond emotionally. In this way, hypnotherapy can help you regain control over where your attention goes, strengthening helpful responses and reducing the impact of unhelpful ones.
From neuroscientific studies we know that the brain can rewire itself, by way of neuroplasticity. Hypnotherapy facilitates the conditions to spark changes at a neural level.
Hypnotherapy works with the natural relationship between the conscious and unconscious parts of the mind. Through life experience, the unconscious mind stores habits, emotional responses, and automatic patterns, while the conscious mind is responsible for everyday awareness and decision-making. Hypnotherapy bypasses the conscious critical faculty, which is the part of the mind that analyses, questions, and judges information by keeping it busy with visualisations. During hypnosis, this critical faculty becomes more relaxed, allowing helpful ideas and suggestions to pass more easily into the unconscious mind, as we naturally and ordinarily want to resist change, even positive change, on an unconscious level. These suggestions to the unconscious, which is now listening and more receptive, can then support positive and lasting changes in thoughts, feelings, and behaviour once you return to normal waking awareness.
Brain research also shows that hypnotic suggestions are associated with measurable changes in activity in specific areas of the brain, supporting the effectiveness of hypnotherapy at both a psychological and neurological level.
Hypnotherapy is not like what the media portrays it to be and it is not stage hypnosis, which makes use of other techniques and illusions.
Importantly, no one can be hypnotised against their will, and even while in hypnosis, a person remains fully aware and capable of accepting or rejecting any suggestion. You cannot get stuck in hypnosis and there are no swinging watches, just relaxation and science-backed techniques.
Therefore, Hypnotherapy is a collaborative therapeutic journey and I am here to guide you every step of the way.
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Hypnotherapy is a versatile therapy type and can be used to help with a wide variety of issues and challenges. The below list are a few example of Hypnotherapy services I offer.
Smoking and Vaping Cessation, Motivation, Fears and Phobias, Burnout, Habits, Stress Reduction, Anxiety, Public speaking, Sleep Issues, Anger Issues, Rejection Sensitivity, Pain management, Self-esteem Issues, Weight loss, Gastric Band/ Weight Loss Injection, Confidence, Inner Child Healing, Imposter Syndrome, Athletic Performance, Bereavement, Memory and Learning, Past Life Regression, Hypnotic Mediumship, Mindfulness and Meditation Coaching and Workshops.
If your struggling with something not listed here, please contact me and we can discuss your situation confidentially.
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Our brain operates at different frequencies depending on our state—busy and alert (Beta), relaxed (Alpha), deeply relaxed or meditative (Theta), and asleep (Delta).
Hypnotherapy uses deep relaxation to bring your brain into Alpha or Theta states, allowing direct communication with your subconscious. In this state, helpful suggestions can take root, leading to real behavioural and emotional change, as the brain becomes neuroplastic in hypnosis, neural connections can be rewired.
Each time you act differently because of these suggestions, you reinforce new neural pathways—essentially rewiring your brain. Making real change not only possible, but sustainable.
Its not too good to be true, its neuropsychology.
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Your subconscious drives up to 90% of your behaviour. It stores all past experiences and patterns—even those you don’t consciously remember.
For example, early rejection (like not being picked for a team) can create unconscious fears of rejection in adulthood. Hypnotherapy works by identifying and gently reprogramming these patterns so you can respond differently and break free from limiting beliefs.
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Hypnosis has ancient roots—in Egyptian temple healing, shamanic rituals, and Buddhist meditation. It was later developed in modern medicine by figures like Mesmer, Freud, Milton Erickson, and Dave Elman. It was used as anesthetic before modern medicine was developed.
Today, it's a scientifically recognised therapeutic tool, blending ancient wisdom with modern neuroscience and trials within the NHS are underway.
From the Royal Family to Celebrities- Hypnotherapy has been used worldwide with proven results.
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Yes, I also run a gentle Pilates and guided relaxation sessions
You can find more here:
I also offer Mindfulness Coaching and Workshops.
You can find out more here:
Mindfulness and Meditation Coaching
I also offer Solution Focused Walking therapy.
I have also published books and you can purchase them and instant download hypnotherapy recordings from my store.
Click here: Gabrielle’s Store
You can find out more about me and my background here:
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