• What happens in a session of Hypnosis? I will guide you into a relaxing hypnotic state and then talk to your subconscious mind. Your subconscious mind is receptive to new ideas and behaviours when hypnotised, as that is the part that deals with automatic behaviour and is the part that is allowing the unwanted behaviour to happen.

You are in control all the time, I cannot make you do anything you don't want to do. You may wish to have hypnosis to overcome a difficulty, perhaps a phobia or to reduce your stress or even to change something in your life or about yourself. You have to want the change for it to be effective.

After hypnosis, you will probably feel energised with a sense of calm in addition to the benefits of the therapy you have specifically requested. You will not feel drowsy after a few moments and you will be perfectly able to drive yourself home.

• Follow up - What Happens then? A little while after your session I will send you my contact details and any instructions regarding the therapy as well as a self hypnosis CD recorded especially for you. If you use this it will strengthen the hypnosis and can act as a boost at anytime you may require it.

After 1-3 weeks I will make a personal follow-up call or email to see how you are, this is also a way for me to get feedback to confirm my effectiveness and success.

• Can anyone be hypnotised? Virtually anyone can be hypnotised if they want to be hypnotised. It is essential they have the desire to be hypnotised as it is very difficult to hypnotise someone against their will. It is also important that they are feeling reasonably relaxed. Some highly analytical people can be harder to hypnotise, but there are techniques which any experienced hypnotherapist will understand and be able to utilise to overcome this.

• How does it feel to be under hypnosis? Most people feel very relaxed and comfortable, and once they have come out of hypnosis they feel refreshed and fully alert again within a minute or two. Some sources claim that 30 minutes of hypnosis gives the mind and body benefits equivalent to several hours of sleep. When in hypnosis you are not unconscious nor asleep, if that occurred it would not be helpful for the therapeutic suggestions to take effect in the subconscious part of your mind. When under hypnosis you will hear every word the hypnotist says to you. You might mentally drift off a bit or not - it is very individual. If you chose to you could open your eyes and come out of hypnosis at any time you wanted. The feeling of being under hypnosis is sometimes described as being similar to the relaxed state experienced just before falling asleep.

• Will hypnosis work for me? For most people hypnosis works very effectively. Hypnosis is effective for many purposes, bringing changes and improvements.

You are still in control but having hypnosis makes it easier to do what you have decided is right for you. It changes the automatic behaviours we all have, our little 'programs' where we repeat the same behaviours or have habits we wish to change or overcome.

• How does it work? You can change your habits, feelings and behaviour using logic, learning, willpower and practice, but it is very difficult and even if you have very good willpower you may find it virtually impossible. This is because the subconscious mind is very powerful and is responsible for a lot of behaviours, habits and feelings. It is difficult to successfully influence your own subconscious to this extent, and this is where hypnotherapy can be highly effective. Hypnosis works by influencing your subconscious mind in line with your conscious desire to make the change you want.

Therapy starts with an initial consultation where we can discuss the problem or change you wish to make in complete confidence. We may look at why the problem exists, what started it and look at how you want to feel.

Some problems result in anxiety, stress and intense worry - all these symptoms can be alleviated through the use of hypnotherapy. Sometimes the problem may have existed for some time, years perhaps, and thinking constantly and negatively about it can perpetuate it and make it feel insurmountable. The negative feelings you get from the problem can make you feel hopeless, that you will never be able to change and will never resolve it. Hypnosis can change all of these negative thinking patterns and change your subconscious auto-responses enabling positive change to be not only achievable, but in most cases much easier than you would have dreamed.

Positive suggestions whilst under hypnosis instill a positive attitude to make you feel you can overcome anything, deal with any problem, it can make you feel back in control, in control of yourself and in control of your life.

• How do I choose a hypnotherapist? Ideally choose a hypnotherapist recommended to you by someone you know. Choose a hypnotherapist who is registered with a professional registration body. I am a fully Validated Practitioner, registered with the General Hypnotherapy Standards Council (GHSC). I also am happy to discuss your requirements over the telephone or by email, and then if you wish you can arrange an appointment with me which begins with a free no obligation consultation.

• What is Hypnosis? Hypnosis is an altered state of mind, it is a state of deep relaxation where you go into a trance. A trance is a very natural state and not so mysterious - we all go into trance for example if you become absorbed in a good book you are to all intents and purposes cut off from the world you live in albeit temporarily. The same thing can also happen when watching television, thinking over the past or day dreaming, or driving home on a familiar route and realising you do not remember getting there.

Although hypnosis is natural and simple in a sense, it is also powerful therapeutic and highly effective at adjusting wrong or negative thinking deep in the subconscious part of the mind. Changing negative thoughts and behaviour patterns into positive ones that can help you get more out of life.

• Will I be aware of what is happening? Yes. You do not lose consciousness at any time. You will hear everything that takes place.

• Could I be influenced to do anything against my will? No. Hypnotherapy is a way of guiding you towards your goals, I cannot make you do anything you do not wish to do, you have to be fully compliant during the process, you would not do anything which conflicts with your moral code or your beliefs. Hypnosis can only get behaviours from you that you wish to do and make changes that you wish to make. You do not lose control at any time.

I combine Hypnosis with NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) and Time Line Therapy as powerful therapy tools, useful for personal transformation, goal attainment and emotional and psychological healing. I also occasionally use EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) often known as the 'Tapping Therapy' or TFT.

I aim to bring about the changes my clients desire as quickly and thoroughly as possible. Incredible changes can be facilitated in a single session of hypnotherapy. I give my clients a completely personalised session, I do not use "one size fits all scripts", each session is tailored individually to meet your personal requirements and needs. Please contact me by email if you have any questions, or telephone for an informal chat.

I have a busy practice and I also treat customers across the world via remote or web cam hypnosis. I am also the director of a self-hypnosis Mp3 downloads and CDs website; www.hypnosdownloads.com