About Me... I originally qualified in 1999 with a diploma in Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy from the Centre International School. In 2007 I extended my training with a diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy from the Awaken School of outcome oriented psychotherapies. I have a degree in Psychology from the University of Durham and have recently worked for several years for a voluntary organization in a role offering support to extremely vulnerable clients. I am a member of the National Register for Hypnotherapists and Psychotherapists. They ensure that members adhere to a professional code of conduct and have a certain level of accredited training that includes continuous professional development. I am covered by professional liability insurance. My work is supervised by a qualified supervisor who ensures my practice is safe and professional. Everything that takes place during my hypnotherapy sessions is strictly confidential and will not be disclosed to anyone. Exceptions to this are as follows: I discuss details of my clients problems with my supervisor but do not reveal the clients identity. Sometimes clients may give permission for me to share information with other professionals they are also dealing with, e.g. doctors. If during a session information is revealed that suggests children are at risk or there is a terrorist threat I am legally bound to inform the authorities. If you have any concerns regarding my practice you may contact the National Register for Hypnotherapists and Psychotherapists. I aim to enable my clients to restore balance to their lives by freeing them from their limitations. I aim to assist my clients to achieve their goals by helping them find their inner potential What is Hypnotherapy... Hypnosis is a state of deep relaxation and altered state of awareness. In Hypnotherapy a trained Hypnotherapist is able to give suggestions to the client in order to change patterns of thinking or behaviour that the client finds is limiting them or preventing them from living their life to the full. Hypnotherapists view the mind as being both a conscious mind that is aware and an unconscious mind that controls many automatic processes, stores memories and much more. Many issues that hypnosis can deal with are stored at the unconscious level. In a hypnotic trance the hypnotherapist makes suggestions directly to the clients unconscious mind. These suggestions are designed to enable the client to move beyond the problem and focus on a solution or a more helpful way of being. Hypnotherapy is perfectly safe; you will usually experience deep physical relaxation. You will use your imagination to see, hear or feel experiences as you follow the hypnotherapist's suggestions. If at any time you feel uncomfortable you are completely in control and able to come out of the hypnotic trance if you choose to. What Can You Expect... The first session will involve getting to know you and understanding your particular problem. The session will give you the opportunity to discuss hypnotherapy fully. Then with your goals in mind the hypnotherapist will gently relax you. This will induce a state of altered awareness, where therapeutic work can take place. Following the session clients are given a CD recording to use. This is a great aid to relaxation and wellbeing. Repeated use will reinforce the suggestions given during the first session of hypnosis and will allow the client to enter a deep hypnotic state far more quickly during any further sessions. In many cases clients find the improvement they seek within two or three sessions. With some issues, particularly giving up smoking or overcoming nerves for a particular occasion, one session may be all that is required. Depending on the client and on their problem, occasionally clients will require more than three sessions. Where further sessions are appropriate these can often be spaced out over several months.