What is Cognitive Hypnotherapy?

Its a bit of a mouthful isn’t it? Cognitive Hypnotherapy. But the Cognitive bit makes all the difference. Cognitive Hypnotherapy, as taught by the internationally renowned Quest Institute, is a mix of Positive Psychology, CBT, Gestalt, NLP and Traditional Hypnotherapy. It is an evidence based approach that gives its therapists a structured, solution focused method of helping clients.

This means that each and every client who walks into the Therapy Room is an individual. You are not a label, not a condition, but a person who is, at this moment in time experiencing behaviour that limits them. There are a myriad of reasons why people “do” certain behaviours and no two clients are ever the same. The joy of Cog Hyp ( that’s a lot easier, isn’t it??) is that every client receives a bespoke treatment, tailored just for them.

So How Can it Help…and Who?

Who exactly is Cog Hyp for? Well… it is for anyone who has a problem behaviour that is limiting their life. For example, you might have a fear of something – be that flying or spiders or clowns, or something unique to you. You might be anxious and lacking in self confidence, feeling inadequate or depressed. You may be suffering from chronic illness that is bringing you down and you just don’t know how to cope. There are so many conditions which can be helped by Cognitive Hypnotherapy. You can be young or old, male or female. What matters is that the therapist will listen to you and work with you to achieve your solution state. By that I mean that the therapist enables you to use the tools you already have to be the best you.

A session begins with a conversation and often it is the first time people have really opened up about how they feel. Just talking can begin to stir the Unconscious Mind into realising how to create change. We work with the Unconscious to reframe and alter beliefs that may have been held since childhood, using WordWeaving™ and other gentle interventions in a safe, confidential environment.

Will I be Out of Control?

The answer to that is “Absolutely not!” We all go in and out of trance states during the day, every day. We might be driving a car and get to our destination with no memory of how we got there… we might be so drawn in by a tv programme that we forget we made a cup of coffee… all these are trance states. Our problem behaviour is also a trance state, but one which the therapist will help you break free from. At no point will there be chicken dancing!! You may shut your eyes and feel deeply relaxed, but at any point you could open your eyes and be in complete control of what you want to do.

What if I Can’t be Hypnotised?

Good news!! This is something which you don’t need to worry about. As Cognitive Hypnotherapists we are working with your Unconscious… the part of our brains which control 90% of our behaviour. Just by chatting, using WordWeaving™ patterns of suggestion, the Unconscious begins to realise that the behaviour it is using, in an attempt to protect you from a perceived danger, is mistaken. Sometimes an event from an earlier part of your life can have been misunderstood, misinterpreted by the Unconscious. This event triggers protective behaviours – fight, flight or freeze – and bingo, you are stuck in a negative loop. Cog Hyp works gently, like the Butterfly Effect, to make changes that start small and grow to become life changing.

If you think of “hypnotism” as deep relaxation then you can begin to understand the feeling you will experience. And if you find it hard to relax then the therapist will guide you. There is no pressure on you, no responsibility other than the desire to change and the willingness to do your best.

How Long Does it Take?

The first session will generally be about 90 minutes. After that sessions will be about an hour. The number of sessions you need will depend on the individual client. I can’t say “Oh yes, you are a smoker – that will take 2 sessions..” I don’t know until I meet you and we talk. Some behaviours are sorted in one session, others might take between 3 and 5, others still might take months. Each person is different. And, by the way, you are not your behaviour. You might smoke or worry or feel miserable at the moment, but that doesn’t have to be you forever. You can choose. You can start to become the person you really want to be.

How Do I Find a Cognitive Hypnotherapist?

Cognitive Hypnotherapists, who work in the way I have described, are trained by Trevor Silvester at the Quest Institute in London’s Regents University. Therapists can be found through the QCHPA , the professional association which ensures all its members agree to work to the specific standards set out by the organisation. You can find a therapist in your area by clicking on the Find a Cognitive Hypnotherapist tab. Every journey begins with the first step and the perfect place to start is here…

If you are interested in Cognitive Hypnotherapy and how it might help you or someone you know then you can contact me for a complementary telephone consultation on 07894564287  or email me on sarah@sarahariss.com