There are multiple forms of therapy to choose from, whether it's mainstream or of the alternative variety. With all these seemingly endless options, why should anyone choose hypnotherapy?
As a board certified hypnotherapist, I've seen first-hand the incredible changes that this form of therapy can bring. I once had an Italian client with an intense phobia of flying who couldn't so much as utter the word without experiencing a strong physical and emotional response. But after just three sessions, he found that he was able to talk about flying comfortably and was also willing to watch videos of aerobatics without feeling disturbed. He was hardly able to believe his progress and has sonce become one of my main sources of international referrals.
Another client I worked with suffered from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) for several years. Her self-esteem, motivation and mood were at an all time low, and she was almost at the point where she had given up hope. When she decided to try hypnotherapy, her pain and food issues diminished significantly. She began to enjoy planning and cooking meals, something which she had previously avoided, and by the end of her hypnotherapy treatment plan she was no longer experiencing episodes of IBS at all. I just wish that she had come to see me sooner!
Here are three reasons why hypnotherapy could work for you, too:
1. Hypnotherapy is highly effective and transformative
Many of us know exactly what we should be doing to address the situations we're uncomfortable with. When we want to lose weight we know we shouldn't eat emotionally, and that we should finally get around to joining that Zumba class or hiking group. We understand that logically, it's extremely unlikely that we'll be involved in a plane crash, so we should just book that long-awaited holiday. And when we're ready to quit smoking we know that we simply shouldn't light up that cigarette! And yet... Sometimes those shoulds and shouldn'ts seem to only take us so far, before we reach a seemingly insurmountable hurdle that even the strongest willpower just can't quite conquer.
This is because we're trying to address these issues on a purely conscious level, which is similar to applying a bandaid over an internal wound. Sooner or later, we need to deal with the root cause. While other talking therapies deal with the conscious mind — the part you're using right now to read this — hypnotherapy engages your subconscious, which represents around 90% of your mind power. This is where all your experiences, knowledge, memories and habits and stored, even when you're unaware of them from a conscious point of view.
A phobia for example, may have been triggered by an event during childhood, perhaps seemingly innocuous at the time. The sufferer is usually unable to recall this trigger with the conscious mind. Hypnotherapy helps us to confront these memories and reprocess them, allowing phobias to be left behind for good.
2. Hypnotherapy is faster and more affordable than conventional therapy
"How long will I spend in therapy?", is like asking, "How long is a piece of string?" Everyone is different and everyone's individual needs and circumstances vary. There is no definitive answer. However, while some talking therapies can require commitments of a year or more, therapeutic hypnosis tends to be a much faster solution. The average length of time I spend with a client is around 4-6 weekly sessions, to create sustainable changes which some have been trying to implement for years.
That's not to say that hypnotherapy is a "quick fix." Unfortunately there is no magic wand, no miracle cure, and if I could just click my fingers and change lives then believe me, I'd be a lot richer! Hypnotherapy is something that we, my client and I, do together — they commit to their intentions and I give them the metaphorical assistance they need.
So, not only will a course of hypnotherapy not take up too much of your time, it also works out to be much more affordable. It would be nice if we all had unlimited time and resources to spend on ourselves but the fact is, most of us don't. Juggling family, friends, work and other commitments (never mind trying to squeeze in that precious "Me Time"), is difficult enough without adding a weekly therapy session for god knows how long.
3. Hypnotherapy is versatile and applicable to many different issues
It's difficult to think of an issue that hypnotherapy couldn't help with. You may be familiar with hypnotherapy being used for weight loss or smoking cessation, but did you know that it's also used before and during childbirth and increase self-esteem? Chronic pain, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, tinnitus, and IBS, are all issues I see on a regular basis. Moreover, a legitimate boost in academic or sports performance has also been proven. Students and athletes have found that a course of hypnotherapy increases their information retention and confidence for exams and competitions.
Therapeutic hypnosis teaches you how to relax and stay cool and confident under pressure, while also improving your communication skills. So if you've got an important interview or presentation coming up and you're worried that you'll forget what you wanted to say, hypnotherapy can give you the confidence boost you'll need to land the job.
Is insomnia keeping you up all night? Hypnotherapy helps find the cause of your sleeplessness, while giving you strategies to calm and quieten your busy mind, making it easier to drift off into restful nightsleep.
Does stress or anxiety prevent you from living the full life you long to lead? Hypnotherapy helps change the way you perceive stressful situations, and provides you with a toolkit to help you manage and prevent anxiety.
It doesn't matter whether your concern is about decision making, bereavement, obsessive compulsive disorder, addictions, relationship troubles or just about anything else — hypnotherapy could be just the cure you've been searching for.
I see clients in my Los Angeles office and also via Zoom, FaceTime and Skype. I offer a very easy going approach to therapeutic hypnosis. Please do not hesitate to call or email me with questions about the suitability of your needs and hypnotherapy as an agent of your change. Come comfortable, we'll focus exactly on what you need.