How does hypnosis work? Our minds operate on two levels – the conscious and the subconscious.
The conscious mind is logical, analytical, and responsible for everyday decision-making. It’s the part of you that reasons, plans, and evaluates.
The subconscious mind stores your habits, memories, beliefs, and emotions. This is where automatic behaviours are programmed, such as brushing your teeth, tying your shoelaces, or reaching for a cigarette.
Hypnosis is a safe, natural state of focused attention and deep relaxation where we can bypass the critical conscious mind and communicate directly with the subconscious. Because habits and emotional responses live in the subconscious, hypnosis allows us to create positive change at the root level. This is why long-standing issues can often be resolved far more quickly and easily with hypnotherapy than with willpower alone.
Will I be asleep?
No. Hypnosis is not sleep. It is a state of deep relaxation combined with focused awareness. Most people describe it as similar to being so absorbed in a book or a film that the outside world fades into the background.
You will be aware of what is happening.
You can hear everything that’s said.
At the end of the session, you will usually remember what took place.
Rather than losing control, you actually gain more control over unhelpful habits, fears, and responses.
Can everyone be hypnotised? Almost everyone of normal intelligence (IQ above 70) can be hypnotised if they are willing. In fact, hypnosis is a natural state that we all enter every day:
When you daydream.
When you “zone out” while driving on a familiar route.
When you’re deeply absorbed in music, TV, or a film.
These are all mild forms of hypnosis. In a therapeutic setting, we simply use this natural state deliberately and with purpose.
Is hypnosis safe? Yes – hypnosis is completely safe. It is very similar to meditation, visualisation, or guided relaxation. You remain in control at all times:
You cannot be “stuck” in hypnosis.
You cannot be made to do anything against your will or values.
You can end the session whenever you choose.
During a hypnotherapy session you will usually sit in a comfortable chair, close your eyes, and allow yourself to become deeply relaxed – but fully aware. It is a safe and pleasant experience for most people. What is Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)? Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) was developed in the early 1970s by Richard Bandler and John Grinder. It is often described as “the study of excellence” – observing how successful people think, communicate, and behave, and then modelling these patterns so others can achieve similar results. In practical terms, NLP is a collection of tools and techniques designed to help people:
Change unwanted habits and behaviours.
Improve communication and confidence.
Resolve fears, phobias, and limiting beliefs.
When combined with hypnosis, NLP can be a powerful way to create lasting, positive change.
What is meant by “Advanced Hypnotherapy”? “Advanced Hypnotherapy” goes beyond traditional hypnosis by integrating the most effective elements of hypnotherapy, NLP, and other therapeutic approaches. This allows sessions to be tailored to each individual, addressing not only surface-level habits but also the deeper emotional patterns that drive them.
How can hypnotherapy help me change a behaviour? Habits such as smoking, overeating, or nail-biting are not controlled by the conscious mind. If they were, you would have stopped the moment you decided to. Instead, they are driven by subconscious patterns. Because hypnotherapy works directly with the subconscious, it helps reprogramme the mind at the source of the behaviour. That’s why people often find they can let go of habits that have lasted for years, sometimes in just one or two sessions.
How can hypnotherapy help with emotional issues? Whether it be anxiety, stress, guilt, or some other feeling, they all have a cause. Often the subconscious mind holds on to past experiences, memories, or learned responses that trigger unwanted feelings or behaviours today. Through hypnosis, we can:
Access and resolve the root cause of the issue.
Release the negative emotions or associations connected to it.
Reprogramme the mind with healthier, more positive patterns.
This means you are not just “managing” the problem but actually resolving it at its source.
The effectiveness of hypnosis Hypnotherapy has moved a long way from stage shows and old myths. Since the 1950s, both the British Medical Association and the American Medical Association have recognised hypnosis as a legitimate therapeutic practice. Historically, the term “hypnosis” was first coined by Scottish doctor James Braid in the 19th century. Today, hypnotherapy is used not only in private practices but also in hospitals and clinics to support patients with conditions such as:
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
Chronic pain.
Anxiety and stress-related conditions.
Outside of the NHS, clinical hypnotherapy is widely used to help people stop smoking, overcome addictions, lose weight, manage stress, and resolve a wide range of emotional and behavioural issues.
