Many people are keen to increase their self confidence using hypnotherapy. Most clients have the idea that they lack confidence and that hypnosis and NLP will give it to them. I have a different take on this. I believe that we are all born with our full quota of confidence. Think of a young baby. Do you imagine that they suffer from low self esteem? That they wonder whether they can ask for what they want? Usually they let their needs be known with a demanding cry! What happens to most people who consider that they lack confidence is that their innate confidence has been undermined by their life circumstances – mostly when they were growing up. Hypnosis and NLP is simply a way of uncovering and empowering the client’s natural confidence. And it works extremely well.

Continuing my theme of discussing ‘What is Hypnotherapy?’ I thought it would be relevant to talk about the role of the mind in hypnosis.

The human mind is like an ocean and the very surface of this ocean is what we are conscious off. This is the ‘thinking’ or ‘working memory’ part of our mind which helps with our daily decision-making processes. It is realistic, logical and proactive, especially in new situations where we have to apply rational thought processes to work out what to do and how to do it. However, it can only deal with between five and nine things at any one time and is easily overloaded.

What we think about a situation is largely dependent on the information that is stored in the subconscious part of our minds, i.e. our past experiences or memories and how we responded to the events at the time.
The subconscious or main hidden layer of this ocean works on ‘auto pilot’, in that it moves in a direction away from pain (emotional, mental physical) and toward reward and survival. It is the seat of all our emotions, imagination, and instincts and stores all our memories, both remembered and forgotten. It governs our autonomic nervous system, which controls our internal organs automatically. These main functions are very closely interlinked – in other words the mind affects the body and the body affects the mind. It is powerful and very clever at dealing with many complex instructions at any one time but is not able to make decisions.
More about the relevance of this next blog.

As we recognise that the subconscious mind plays a very important role in the process of hypnosis and NLP, we continue with more ‘unconscious’ functions of the mind:

More on our wonderful subconscious mind next time and how hypnosis and NLP can influence our unconscious responses…

It would be impossible to talk about hypnosis and NLP without addressing the subconscious mind. So, is subconscious/unconscious that important and what does it do any way?
Here’s a list of some of the things we may take for granted that are the
responsibility of the subconscious.

Since without memory both thinking and learning would be impossible, the importance of the unconscious is far greater than may appear.

More subconscious/unconscious skills next time…

The actual meaning of the word hypnosis does not accurately reflect the nature
of ‘hypnosis’. The word comes from the Greek Hypnos meaning sleep. Let us
digress for a moment and consider this inactivity we take so for granted: Sleep
is a state of unconsciousness in which we rest our bodies and our minds. We
also dream in ways that make sense in the dream but if those events were
happening in a waking state we might think we’ve gone mad. Yet in an average
lifetime we spend a total of six years dreaming….. Is this a purposeless activity,
simply a side effect of rest or as has been suggested our unconscious sorting
and filing experiences that we didn’t have time for during our waking state?

Yet the hypnotic trance is very unlike sleep in at least one very important
respect. In hypnosis whether it is a light or deep hypnotic state we are actually
more aware, not less. In sleep our attention seems to have a mind of it’s own
but in trance it’s as though we choose what we experience. And as well as choice
we can also focus our attention in a way that is detached from our daily
concerns. This is extremely helpful, because then we are able to take a
perspective on problems in a more resourceful state and secondly consider what
life would actually be like without the problem.

What is hypnosis?
As a hypnotherapist and hypnotherapy trainer, I often get asked: What is hypnosis?
And so over the next few weeks I’m going to talk about hypnotherapy, Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) and psychotherapy.

1. It is no easy thing to succinctly define hypnosis. In some ways it easier telling
you what it is not. Hypnosis is tricky to define. Firstly it isn’t new. Hypnotic or trance states have been utilised in rites of passage or celebration by communities and tribes since
humans collected together in social groups. It was accepted that people could go into ‘altered states’ or ‘trance’ under the influence of music, chanting and drumming.

Why use this ‘trance’ state at all? What skilful hypnosis does is use this naturally occurring human ability in targeted and meaningful way. The part of the mind below the surface (the
unconscious) is best able to respond creatively to suggestion and imagery. A
hypnotic trance can by-pass the (often necessary) self limiting faculty of the
conscious mind, with the result that unwanted behaviours and habits can be
modified, self defeating thoughts transformed and even the body’s autonomic
healing functions can be influenced.

More on how this will benefit a ‘client’ later this week.
Find out more about Hypnotherapy training

More and more people are choosing hypnotherapy training and Neuro Linguistic Programming NLP courses as a career move. Hypnotherapy, which combines hypnosis and NLP, is fast becoming the most popular way to heal the past and create the future you want. Powerful life changes can be made in relatively few sessions with a professional hypnotherapist. Have you thought about training?

Our Diploma in Integrated Hypnotherapy provides a comprehensive course covering all aspects of hypnosis and NLP as well as psychotherapy, life coaching and counselling skills. Do you have what it takes to learn hypnotherapy and NLP? Would you like to earn good money doing a job you love? For myself, I find hypnotherapy to be the most rewarding and satisfying career. Seeing each individual client make such positive changes in their lives and observing each student of hypnotherapy grow in skill and confidence is exceptionally gratifying.

We certainly intend to continue to provide top quality hypnotherapy, NLP and hypnotherapy training in the Uk. Do you have some questions about training in hypnotherapy and NLP? Give me a call on 0800 458 4791. I’ll do my best to answer your queries and, who knows, we may meet soon! I look forward to hearing from you.
Christina Mills

10 Top Tips to Help you Stop Smoking and Beat Cravings

More and more people are trying to quit the smoking habit every day. I guess, as a nation, we’re becoming better educated about health related issues: what we eat, the amount of exercise we do and so on. If you, or anyone you know has been struggling with quitting, read my tips and pass them on – they really do work!

And if you need a little help, call the experts: 01273 626644. Good Luck!
All the Best
Christina

More and more people are choosing hypnotherapy training and Neuro Linguistic Programming NLP courses as a career move.
How to Choose the Right Course
When you first started looking into Hypnotherapy Training Courses, perhaps you were amazed by the vast array of potential choice? It can be a mammoth task sorting your way through the Good, the Bad and the Just Plain Ugly! You start scrolling down through the information and go into a trance??I’ll decide later you say? feeling dazed and confused.

Almost every day potential course delegates pose queries to me and express their concerns. The following guide grew out of the common concerns and desires that most people have. Don?t book your course until you?ve read my
TOP 10 TIPS!

1. APPROVED & ACCREDITED
Ensure that the hypnotherapy course has been externally accredited and approved, preferably by one of the independent hypnotherapy bodies set up to ensure that standards prevail in the profession. The General Hypnotherapy Standards Council, The Hypnotherapy Association and The Hypnotherapy Society all require high standards. They set criteria such as course content and class room and study hours.

2. ESTABLISHED COURSE
Many hypnosis schools come and go and you don?t want the course folding half way through your training! Find out how long the course has been running.

3. COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING
If you want to become a professional hypnotherapist, does the course cover everything you need in order to set yourself up in practice? Some courses just focus on smoking cessation or weight loss and don?t address the myriad issues that are presented to a practising hypnotherapist.

4. CLASS SIZE
Some courses cram as many students as they can into a classroom. Are you just one of the crowd? Will the tutor be too remote to answer any questions you have? If you?re one of 50 or even 100 students, do you think you will get the support and feedback that you need?

5. COURSE CONTENT
Are the study modules carefully designed to ensure maximum comprehension of the theories presented and written by professional, practising hypnotherapists? Are the subjects then covered by more modern teaching methods such as presentation, demonstration, examples and practise or are you subjected to a boring lecture? Are the subjects covered wide ranging to include Positive Psychotherapy methods as well?

6. FREE RESOURCES
Is the main Hypnotherapy Coursebook included in the price of your training? Do you have Free Membership to a resource library so that you can develop your learning fully? Hypnotherapy text books can be very expensive and if you are expected to pay for several, it can be an added cost that you hadn?t reckoned for.

7. POST-GRADUATE SUPPORT
Does the training school offer good post-graduate support? Starting out in practise can be daunting experience and you want to know that you can count on your trainers to give you advice when you need it. In addition, you will want to choose a school that offers Hypnotherapy Masterclasses so that you can continue to develop and grow in your skills.

8. FRIENDLY HELPFUL STAFF
First impressions count. It?s important to feel looked after right from the word ?GO?. If the training establishment has a motivated team of staff then your calls, emails and requests for information will be responded to promptly.

9. COURSE FEES
Price. Does the course seem good value for money? Remember, price does not necessarily correspond to value. Does it seem either very expensive or too cheap? Take a good look at what you?re actually getting on the course and ask yourself if it fulfils all your needs.

10. ACCESS TO COURSE TRAINERS
And finally, wouldn?t it be great if you could have a conversation with your tutors before you actually commit yourself. Have those questions that are really important to you answered personally. Here at Isis you can, because we recognise the value of making informed decisions.

Did you find this guide helpful? If you did, please click on comments below and let us know what you think.

More and more people are choosing hypnotherapy training and Neuro Linguistic Programming NLP courses as a career move. Hypnotherapy, which combines hypnosis and NLP, is fast becoming the most popular way to heal the past and create the future you want. Powerful life changes can be made in relatively few sessions with a professional hypnotherapist. Our Diploma in Integrated Hypnotherapy provides a comprehensive course covering all aspects of hypnosis and NLP as well as psychotherapy, life coaching and counselling skills. Do you have what it takes to learn hypnotherapy and NLP? Would you like to earn good money doing a job you love? For myself, I find hypnotherapy to be the most rewarding and satisfying career. Seeing each individual client make such positive changes in their lives and observing each student of hypnotherapy grow in skill and confidence is exceptionally gratifying. We certainly intend to continue to provide top quality hypnotherapy, NLP and hypnotherapy training for 2008. Do you have some questions about training in hypnotherapy and NLP? Give me a call on 0800 458 4791. I look forward to hearing from you.
Christina