People seek therapy when they reach a place in their lives when they no longer have the answers or their own resources, mentally or emotionally, to continue.
 
People seek therapy when they:

• would like to understand themselves better and want to find out who they really are.
  
• are trying to understand and make sense of past experiences
  
• have unhappiness in their own life, and don’t know why.
  
• are feeling depressed and/or isolated
  
• are unhappy in relationships with partners or other people in their lives.
  
• may be going through or recovering from a relationship breakdown.
  
• are suffering from a low level of self-confidence or self-esteem.
  
• want to make things better for themselves in many ways but don't know how to start and where to turn or what to do.
  
• may be are suffering and addicted to substances such as alcohol or drugs. Perhaps they are concerned about other people in their lives with addictions or who show signs of emotional problems.
  
• are suffering and distressed with their sexuality and want to know their true sexual identity.
  
• have a deep dissatisfaction in their work, or are dealing with unemployment.
  
• are perhaps burdened by responsibility in looking after someone with long-term illnesses and need help to cope.
  
• are unable to deal with the death and loss of a loved one, not able to put behind them their burden of grief.

Most of use have had the experience in life that "we get what we pay for" often to our own loss and heartache!  "FREE" most of the time means, we don't know what we will be getting, or indeed at the very least this often falls short of our own expectations. This in turn leads directly to increased anxiety and heartache.
 
When we require professional services such as those of the private medical profession or if we need legal services, we expect to pay a price for the service involved. Indeed if we want our car to be repaired we go to an experienced mechanic, and pay what is required.
In life we expect to pay for so much. We do not generally object to receiving genuine value for money. Yet, unfortunately, most people forget about their emotions and feelings, and about their mental health. Every once in a while our psyche needs a tune-up too. Sometimes it can help participating in a support group, or reading self-help books or information.
 
However most problems and situations are individually complex and tougher to deal with effectively on our own.
Psychotherapeutic techniques have been developed to help, to support and to offer opportunities to change your life and help to find a way to assist during times of difficulty, when answers and solutions seem to elude you.
It is worth paying for the service of a professional registered skilled therapist who has such specialised knowledge, training, skills and experiences to help.
 
Sometimes counselling can be obtained through a charitable or religious organisation and this may even be free, although often in such circumstances a donation is asked for rather than a fixed fee. However in such cases there is often a waiting list, and the therapy may be with trainees who are not necessarily on a recognised training course that leads to a professional registered qualification. Where religious organisations offer counselling it is worth bearing in mind that, from their very standpoint, they cannot be without bias.
 
For Your Safety:
A registered professional therapist will adhere to a professional code of ethics and practice and complaint procedure, and will regularly have supervision to ensure practice is professionally regulated.

• be happy to provide opportunities for qualification verification.
  
•  give clear workable guidelines regarding therapy and what to expect.
  
•  encourage you that you are responsible, and the one to make choices.
  
•  will not tell you what to do or think.
   

What is Therapy?

Psychotherapy
Psychology is the study of human behaviour. It seeks to look at the motivational drives within an individual and offer an explanation to the behaviour that is demonstrated.
Psychotherapy is the use and application of psychological knowledge to help people understand themselves and begin to make appropriate changes, or to be comfortable with who they are.

Psychotherapy has several different theoretical models that have developed over time, the most commonly known being psycho-analysis. The therapy that I practise uses some of the best ideas from these differing schools of thought in order to help people achieve not only a rapid rate of improvement but also a lasting one. It has its basis in a cognitive–analytical model that seeks to look at the process behind thought, and understand how it has developed, and of course how to change negative thought processes into positive ones.

Hypnosis
Hypnosis is a very effective method of treatment.  It is a state of altered consciousness with increased and heightened awareness, which is often accompanied by deep relaxation; this in itself can be beneficial. Contrary to popular belief it does not involve becoming unconscious and has nothing to do with sleep.

Hypnosis cannot be forced upon people, but it is a state which people allow themselves to enter. It is important to understand that, during hypnosis, people cannot be forced to do things that they would choose not to do.

Hypnosis or "trance" as it is often referred to is similar to the experience of day dreaming, when you lose a sense of time and may without thought continue a task that routinely requires concentration, such as driving from one place to another but not actually remembering the journey. This is an example of an altered state of consciousness that we experience every day of our lives.
 
What is Hypno-psychotherapy?
Hypno-psychotherapy is the practice of psychotherapy with applied hypnosis being the primary approach.
The United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy, the lead body for the provision of Psychotherapy in the United Kingdom, recognises the practice of hypno-psychotherapy.
 
Is there a difference between just Hypnotherapy and Hypno-psychotherapy?
 
Both utilise hypnosis in a therapeutic form, however an individual that only practises as a hypnotherapist may not have undertaken training in psychotherapeutic theory and practice.
For therapists to be able to register with United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy requires an extensive programme of 4 years training.
 
Short courses of study that are readily available may give an insight into the techniques and practice of hypnosis, but they do not in themselves enable the practitioner to be able to address all forms of presenting emotional difficulties.
It is therefore advisable that people check the qualifications of the therapist they wish to employ. 
 
What Can Hypno-Psychotherapy Achieve? 
Clinical Hypnotherapy can be used for many purposes.
 
It is estimated that 85% of all people will readily respond to Clinical Hypnotherapy.
It is often successful when other more conventional methods of medicine and treatment have failed. 
 
Hypnotherapy is indicated as a practical treatment for:

• Stress & relief from anxiety symptoms
  
• Breaking unwanted habits (smoking, nail biting)
  
• Phobias, compulsions, insomnia, inhibitions, guilt and anxiety.
  
• Obtaining relief from symptoms such as asthma, migraine, IBS, eczema, also pain control for dentistry, arthritis, aches and pains.
  
• Sexual dysfunction, impotence, premature ejaculation, frigidity
  
• High blood pressure and reduction of the risk of associated diseases.
  
• Personal growth and self development.
  
• Freedom from religious guilt.
  
• Increased mental awareness.
  
• Enhanced sporting performance

There are certain clinical indications when hypnosis is an unsuitable form of treatment.
To ensure your own safety always ensure that your therapist has recognised registered qualifications.

Understanding Stress & Anxiety 
The stress and anxiety that are created by life in general, our work and our relationships are not always easy to shake off.
The negative effects of such stress can often quickly accumulate.
The feelings from one difficult encounter can easily colour what happens throughout the rest of our day.
This in itself leads to increased feelings of tension and upset.
 
However, sometimes our stresses and anxieties can be traced to our own perceptions. Often this is a direct result of our learning throughout our lives
These attitudes can become deeply embedded in our own minds, at an unconscious level, and therefore without forethought, can affect our decisions and ability to enjoy life to its full.
 
Is life any more stressful now than it was for our ancestors?   Probably not, but it is different.
We may not have to worry daily about the cold or starvation, but our society with all its modern technologies requires the same physical and mental mechanisms to enable us to deal with our environment as it presents and indeed changes itself.
 
Managing stress is all about survival in the face of adversity; it is all about having the necessary resources to deal with the presenting or anticipated environment.  Without these resources then feelings of inability, hopelessness, and therefore reduced motivation arise out of lack of control.
 
We can never eliminate stress, therefore if we have to face a certain type of negative stress on a daily basis we need to learn coping mechanisms that will give us the necessary resources.
 
Our stress reactions are our physical and emotional responses to the changing demands of our present and anticipated environments, both internal and external.
 
An individual’s stress and limits to stress are unique.
 
To help us to combat the stress we encounter we therefore need to be continually aware of our own stress levels and limits and our reactions to these, both emotionally and physically.
 
Physical signs and symptoms: dry mouth, shaky voice, flushing, palpitations, rapid/deeper breathing, sweating, tremor, butterflies in stomach, tingling in extremities of hands and feet
 
Psychological : poor/lack of concentration, low motivation, irritability, tension, avoidance tactics.
 
Stress can be both positive and negative – and similarly is the effect.
 
Positive stress is essential for good performance and motivation, and indeed it is beneficial as it will compel us to action.
 
Negative stress demotivates and will lead us to thoughts of inability, lack of control, and self esteem, and that in turn will lead us to further feelings of stress – therefore a dangerous cycle has begun.
Negative stress can be often be directly related to circumstances where the individual feels isolated, unsupported, not valued, out of their depth.  However it can also be evident of personal internal conflict.
 
If the circumstantial factors are addressed, the negative stress can be significantly reduced.
 
Our perception of the stress will directly influence our behaviour, and therefore our ability to deal with the circumstances as they occur.
 
If an individual feels and thinks  “I can’t, and no one can help me“, chances are they won’t achieve and a negative attitude prevails, and will continue to do so if not given reason to change.
 
However, even if they struggle with a task but they know that a support structure exists, an attitude of trying and a positive outcome is imminent,
 
Such an attitude is vital to the continued development of any organisation.
 
Why are we stressed and what can we change?
Is it work-related or personal? – It will overlap.
 
Are we attempting something beyond our abilities? 
 
Can exposure to stress by time and frequency be reduced? 
Is help available?
 
Our individual reactions to stress: are they correct or out of proportion?  
What can be done?
 
Awareness and insight are key to understanding; we can then if we choose make choices and/or change.
 
Do you want to gain control?
Make changes for a better life?
 
Is This You?
 
" I feel trapped "
" I wish I could overcome my fears "
" I am knotted up with worry and tension "
" I feel insecure… afraid…unhappy… and misunderstood "
" I feel frustrated and guilty "
" I am burdened and confused by religion”.
" I have to live up to the expectations of others"
" All my relationships go wrong "
" I wish I could change"
 
Our experiences lie not in the world but by the methods and thoughts through which we perceive it.
 
You can change all these things.
How?
By learning to have greater satisfaction with life in general.
By learning how to have more control over life’s difficulties.
By not letting obstacles get in your way.
By learning how to manage, deal with and address the underlying factors that contribute to the overall problems or difficulties.
By learning how to take control of your own life and circumstances.
By being true to yourself.
By achieving peace of mind.

You can begin to take control of your life and make the important changes you desire.