Guest Blog - What is hypnotherapy? How can it help me?
There are many complementary therapies and self-care approaches you can use when you embark on your intuitive eating journey. One I am fascinated by is hypnosis, as it can have a huge impact on anxiety and poor self image, which often underly disordered eating behaviours. I am excited that the lovely Celia Griver from Blossom Hypnotherapy has written a fabulous and informative guest blog for me, explaining how hypnosis works and how it can benefit you in a variety of ways. I am sure you will enjoy reading it!!
Hypnotherapy is simply a combination of therapy with hypnosis. It’s a way of harnessing the power of your mind and body to help you achieve your goals in life. During hypnosis, the part of our mind that’s making suggestions to ourselves all day long gets a chance to rest and be calm. This makes our brain far more open and receptive to new suggestions.
The power of suggestion
We may not be aware of it, but we make suggestions to ourselves all day long. Often, what our minds suggest isn’t very helpful. It can even something that is holding us back.
Our fears and worries, and how we feel about food, our bodies and ourselves, can all be traced back to our suggestions. These in turn, can affect how we act.
Using your imagination
When you visit a hypnotherapist, they will gently guide you to use your imagination to feel and think differently. This changes how you act. By using the mind to focus on ideas that help you, change occurs and it becomes easier to feel, think and act in a way that helps you to achieve what you want in life.
Hypnotherapy is very different to what you may see on television or in films. Hypnosis is a state of mind very much like meditation – using physical and mental relaxation techniques to achieve a state of deep mental focus.
While you are in this state of mind, you are fully in control of your thoughts and actions. You may experience a sense of quiet, as your mind has a break.
What does hypnosis feel like?
Hypnosis isn’t something that’s done to you. Rather, it’s a skill which you learn in your hypnotherapy sessions. You are then able to take control and use it whenever you need it.
You will usually be aware of everything that happens during hypnosis It’s not like being asleep or unconscious. And you can’t be made to do anything against your will or that goes against your values.
How do I know if I’m in hypnosis?
You’re in hypnosis when you’re able to respond more easily to suggestions. This lets the mind bring about changes to your thoughts, feelings and actions.
It doesn't matter how deeply you go into hypnosis as good results can be obtained even when you feel you were not deeply hypnotised.
Can I be hypnotised?
Almost everyone can be hypnotised - it helps if you relax, think positively and clearly imagine what is being suggested.
Hypnosis helps with a huge range of issues. Extensive research over many years, supports using hypnosis for anxiety, managing pain, improving sleep, for disordered eating and treating psychosomatic or stress related illnesses.
Hypnosis is also used to reverse habits such as nail biting or smoking and for personal development in sport, public speaking and creativity.
How can hypnosis help me with intuitive eating?
When you’re in hypnosis, you’ll find it easier to focus on the changes you want to make and experience acting differently as if it’s actually happening.
So, for instance, if you have always turned to food as a way of coping with stress, in hypnosis you may imagine coping differently.
Hypnosis helps you to be more open, receptive, and relaxed than normally. This enhances the effectiveness of the therapy and makes it easier for you to make changes.
Helping you to make changes
When I work with clients, my goal is always to help them to gain control. We work together so they become skilled at using the tools and techniques to become more in tune with their body and mind. For more, check out https://www.blossomhypnotherapy.com/the-benefits-of-body-awareness/
We work together as a team to understand what’s the root of your issue or problem. We then map out a working model of ‘how’ the issue or problem works. I support you to become aware of the thoughts and feelings that influence what you do and how what you do reinforces the thinking that keeps you stuck.
Once the cycle is understood, it can be broken, and new more helpful cycles can be put it its place.
I work in partnership with my clients to achieve deep levels of change. As we work together, we examine the ‘scripts’ that your mind is playing to you, and we create more helpful, positive and powerful ‘scripts’ that help to change the way you think and the things you do.
If you would like to find more about how I can help you, click here to book your free telephone consultation.
Celia is a hypnotherapist with clinics online and in Tonbridge and Sevenoaks in Kent. She specialises in helping people to approach life with more motivation, energy and confidence whatever is going on around them. Celia works hand in hand with her clients to help them to effortlessly create the life they’ve always wanted. Celia also helps companies to look after their employee’s mental health and wellbeing and teaches and mentors other hypnotherapists.
Celia Griver - Blossom Hypnotherapy