This partly depends on whether you want to be. No one can be hypnotised against there will so if you want to resist hypnosis you can. Allowing yourself to be hypnotised is important as all hypnosis is self hypnosis. When you are in hypnosis you remain in control and can choose to bring yourself back to present awareness at anytime.

Some people are more easily hypnotisable than others but it is believed that 85% – 90% of people in any age group readily respond to hypnosis. It is not recommended for those with a severe mental illness and those with diagnosed depression should make that known. Those under the influence of drugs or alcohol will not be treated with hypnotherapy.

No. You are always emerged back to the present at the end of hypnosis session. If you were left in the hypnotic state, and as it is a natural state of being, one of two things would eventually happen: you would either fall asleep or you would naturally emerge to a normal state of awareness.

Hypnosis is considered a safe therapy when carried out by a qualified professionally trained hypnotherapist. Hypnotherapy is not recommended for those with severe mental illness.

When suggestions and hypnotherapy is given, if there is a major issue going on in your life, for example, a loss, there is potential for this issue to arise during or after the hypnotic session. However a comprehensive case history is taken before therapy begins and during this we discuss many parts of your life so as to appropriately tailor the hypnotherapy and suggestions given. Details, where necessary, will be discussed carefully and with consideration.

You may have sensations within your body of lightness or heaviness, tingling or dissociation from your body. Laughing or crying can occur, this is normal and both are a release of emotion. You may fall asleep during the session, in which case you would gently be woken.

There are many positive side effects of hypnotherapy afterwards that increase as the days and the weeks go by, including relaxation, sleeping well, improved confidence and self esteem. You may experience the halo effect which is a wonderful, euphoric feeling of positivity afterwards. This can last for hours or days though lessens the more hypnosis you have. You may feel drowsy immediately afterwards and most people sleep well afterwards. Some, who aren’t used to being relaxed, may associate the new, especially relaxing feeling with light-headedness. Some may feel low afterwards, though this is often a way of your mind dealing with difficult or important issues therapeutically and most people then  experience a gentle upward journey in the feelings of positivity. Pleasant feelings including those of relief and a sense of freedom can also occur when difficult issues have been dealt with through hypnotherapy.

No. When you are asleep the minds waves are different and your subconscious is less suggestible than when you are in hypnosis. Hypnosis is similar to when you are just about to fall asleep and when you are just about wake up. These are excellent times to give yourself positive suggestions each and every day.

If Amy thinks you or someone else is at risk or if you are having hypnotherapy for certain medically related conditions then your GP will be informed in writing. This is usually discussed with you.

If your GP has diagnosed depression then we would ask you to discuss hypnotherapy with them in the first instance. Notes on the sessions would be shared with them if they required it. Depression is a common illness and is usually treated with the practical method of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and / or antidepressants. CBT is sometimes a part of hypnotherapy sessions at The Power of Your Mind.

This can happen and is normal. This is your conscious mind talking. Hypnotherapy works on your subconscious mind so your conscious mind can be quiet or chatty and both are equally fine. It doesn’t necessarily mean you aren’t hypnotised.

The people who are ‘picked’ for stage hypnosis know they are going to be used for entertainment. They are still volunteering. Only those who are happy to do this will be hypnotised and then chosen and the other people in the audience won’t be. Hypnotherapy involves giving suggestions that are appropriate for the changes you want to make. Sessions are for therapeutic benefit and it would be unethical to have clients do anything silly, unless that is what they want of course.

Amy will only see you if you choose hypnotherapy for yourself. It is important that the goals are your own and that the presenting issues are those that you want to change. Your subconscious would reject suggestions that it doesn’t want and that don’t line up with your conscioius mind. So making an appointment for changes that are purely for the benefit of someone else is a waste of your time and money.

Of course, it is always up to you what you choose to tell Amy. If there is something you want to keep to yourself it is worth looking at why that is. Amy is not here to pass judgement she will listen to anything you have to say from a professional objective. The more open you are the more she is able to help you to resolve the issue. Sometimes there can be a link with ‘that thing’ though it may not be obvious to yourself. It is also up to you whether the past is dealt with too or we focus on moving forward.

Confidentiality is a complex and serious matter. The majority of the time everything is confidential and completely private. Amy would like to say that whatever you tell her is always confidential but that is untrue. There are times, as your therapist, when Amy may be legally obliged to break confidentiality and disclose information to certain parties, for example:

• If there is a serious risk of harm to yourself or to others, the client’s GP or the Police may be informed (it may not always be possible to talk to you first).
• If you come to see Amy for help with a medically related issue she may have to write to your GP before hypnosis can begin, for example when seeking hypnotherapy for back pain, migranes or high blood pressure. This i usually discussed with you.
• If it is suspected that the client is unsafe to drive, e.g under the influence of drugs or alcohol, then the DVLA may be contacted.
• Amy is legally obliged to contact the police, without informing the client, if she suspects terrorist acts have occurred or are being planned. (Terrorism Act 2000, section 38B)
• The courts can also order disclosure of information in a number of other circumstances. It’s a very complex area and as your therapist, Amy would always seek advice from her professional hypnotherapy body, and her supervisor, before breaking confidentiality on a legal matter, as it is not always clear cut.
• On occasion, it may be necessary for Amy to discuss the therapy sessions with her clinical supervisor. This is always done without the mention of any names and is to aid her professional development as a Clinical hypnotherapist.