Frequently Asked Questions

What is hypnotherapy?

Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness – a natural state of heightened focus and attention.

Whilst you are in this state you are highly suggestible, both consciously and unconsciously. Therefore the therapist will make verbal suggestions to the client in line with their goals whilst they are in hypnosis. This forms new neural pathways in their brain, increasing their neuroplasticity, helping them to adapt their thought processes to create therapeutic change.

In my sessions, I use the CBT model to assess your thoughts feelings and behaviours before guiding you into hypnosis, and this helps me devise suitable suggestions in line with your goals.

Hypnotherapy is not a talking therapy. It is a relaxing therapy in which you are guided to imagine a process or target situations within your mind. You may occasionally be asked to speak when you are in hypnosis, so that the therapist can gauge responsiveness, but for the most part the therapist does the talking.

Can everyone go into hypnosis?

Yes, everyone can go into hypnosis. You will have been into hypnosis before, but just haven’t used it to your advantage. Have you ever been so absorbed in your mind that you ‘zoned out’ completely from reality?Maybe your friend had to tap you on the shoulder to bring you back into the room? Or maybe you even walked or drove home in autopilot and you don’t totally remember how you arrived home? That’s hypnosis!

That being said, some people may resist particular suggestions if they do not want to take them on board. They may even resist hypnosis entirely if they are not comfortable in their environment or with the person trying to hypnotize them. Eg. a person may not want to participate in stage hypnosis, in case they do something embarrassing.

Will I be in control during hypnosis?

Yes you are totally in control in hypnosis, and are under the guidance of the hypnotherapist. You will work collaboratively as an active participant with the therapist to help you achieve your goals. You will only accept the suggestions that resonate with you, and will only make changes that you want to make. Contrary to popular belief, you cannot be forced to do something against your will whilst in hypnosis.

Is hypnotherapy safe?

Hypnotherapy is completely safe and natural. It is nothing to fear, and it really can be life changing. Everyone will experience hypnosis differently. Many people come to hypnotherapy concerned that they may not ‘do it right’, but you can’t actually do it wrong, so don’t worry. Your role is just to imagine along as best as you possibly can while the therapist guides you through the process.

What type of issues/symptoms do you treat?

I treat mostly anxiety, stress and trauma related issues and symptoms, however these can manifest in a number of ways. You brain will often develop its own coping mechanisms to manage the impact of stress and trauma. Eg. nail biting is a behaviour often used to cope with feelings of anxiety. It is therefore important for me to assess your thoughts feelings and behaviours throughout treatment, to determine the likely cause of the issue, so we can address it directly.

Here are some of the issues I commonly treat:

Anxiety, mild depression, PTSD, panic attacks, phobias, stress, insomnia, low self-esteem, nail biting, bruxism, bad eating habits/weight management, stop smoking/vaping.

Hypnotherapy can also be helpful for anxiety which is caused by certain medical conditions, however it is not a cure for medical conditions.

Disclaimer: I do not treat drug/alcohol addictions, clients who have epilepsy, bipolar, psychotic or personality disorders.

Where are the sessions held?

Option 1: Face to face (visit me): The sessions are held either at my home in Upminster, Essex UK. Clients often tend to enjoy getting away from distractions and stresses at home, so that they can completely switch off.

Option 2: Face to face (I visit you): I can come to see you in the comfort of your own home (if you live nearby enough).

Option 3: Zoom: The sessions can be held on a Zoom video call in the same way. You will need your device to be plugged in and positioned so that I can see the majority of your body. Holding sessions over Zoom has no impact on the result, however my preference is to see you in person if you live close enough.

Prior to having your sessions I will always conduct a zoom video consultation with you first, to assess your situation and determine suitability for hypnotherapy. The consultation is 30-40mins and is free of charge.

Each hypnotherapy session is approximately 1hr30 – 1hr45 mins.

How much will it cost me?

Face to face:

£125 per session for your first 4 sessions, should you need any further top up sessions after 4, the price lowers to £100. It is worth noting that the average client will have approximately 4 sessions, however clients with deeper routed issues may have more. Please note you must sign up to a minimum of 2 sessions, and pay for those upfront.

Zoom Video Sessions:

Is hypnotherapy the right therapy for me?

Do you really want things to change for you? If the answers is yes, hypnotherapy could be the perfect solution for you. Unlike counselling and talking therapies, hypnotherapy is not a long term therapy, it is a rapid transformational therapy. You therefore do not generally need more than a few sessions in order to make significant changes to how you think, act and feel*.

*Results may vary, dependant on how much you want to change, how much you believe you have the ability to change, and if you have secondary gains to the issue you are experiencing.

Are there any side effects from having hypnotherapy?

You may experience headaches, vivid dreams or nightmares, fatigue, heightened emotion or irritability for a couple of days after each session. This is nothing to worry about and these symptoms will subside, it is just a natural response to your brain processing suggestions.

Can I have hypnotherapy if I am pregnant?

Yes, you can have hypnotherapy whilst you are pregnant however you should avoid having it during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

If I have medical conditions, am I allowed to have hypnotherapy sessions?

Most medical conditions are not contraindicated in any way with hypnosis. However, there are a few which can be contraindicated. Epilepsy is one of those conditions. Hypnotherapy can induce seizures on clients that have epilepsy, and therefore they are best treated by a hypnotherapist working in the medical field. Persons with severe psychiatric disorders such as bi-polar disorder, psychosis, schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder should not be treated with hypnotherapy, as it could aggravate these conditions*.

*EJ Hypnotherapy reserves the right to decline treatment to any client at any point if the client is not deemed suitable for treatment.

If I am on medication, am I able to have hypnotherapy sessions?

There is no issue with you having hypnotherapy if you are on medication, however you are best to inform your hypnotherapist of any medication you are taking.