7 surprising uses of hypnotherapy, and how they’d help you

surprising uses of hypnotherapy

boy with surprised expression

You’re probably aware of the uses of hypnotherapy in areas like stopping smoking, treating phobias, or for weight loss. But there are some things that hypnosis can help with do that might surprise you…

7 unusual uses of hypnotherapy
  1. Learn a new skill, or enhance an existing one. It all starts in the mind. Athletes and performers know the power of mental practice to help with motivation, self-confidence, and reducing competitive anxiety. What the mind can believe, the mind can achieve. So visualising yourself employing your chosen skill can forge a strong subconscious path to start you on your way.
  2. Enjoy different foods. So you know that greens are healthy, and wholegrain bread is better for you – but what if you just don’t like the taste? A little hypnosis could change this, and change your eating habits for the better.
  3. End cravings or addictions. Conversely, hypnotherapy can help you turn down the brownies, stop drinking so much, or even say goodbye to unhealthy relationships.
  4. Enjoy public speaking. Being an effective speaker can boost your career in your company, your industry, and beyond. Once-shy clients are surprised at the changes in themselves – and the benefits they reap. As quitting smoking stops you draining money, becoming a good speaker puts money in the bank.
  5. Exercise longer, stronger, and more efficiently. Hypnosis can help turn your lack of enthusiasm for working out into get up and go. Ask yourself: ‘What would exercising give me? What would it make possible in my life?’ A powerful motivational story for your subconscious can make it so desirable that you can’t wait to shop for running shoes.
  6. Attract a partner. You think finding the person of your dreams is about mesmerising him or her? Not at all: it’s about starting with yourself. Hypnosis for confidence gives you a powerful feeling, and that confident sense of self can be very appealing to others.
  7. Get more done in less time. It’s not all about organising your files or upgrading your technology. Productivity, effectiveness, and enjoying what you do all start in the mind. And specifically, in your subconscious mind.
Breaking old habits and creating better new ones

One of the most common uses of hypnotherapy is creating or breaking habits. These might be habits of action, or habits of thought. Grabbing a biscuit, and another, and another – perhaps without really noticing – is a habit of action. But that action may have been due to a habit of thought. Perhaps you were dwelling on a painful, sad, or angry thought, or an unfulfilled desire and wanted to distract yourself. And you found that eating did that for you temporarily. You may not realise why you’re reaching for the biscuits again. You might think ‘I’m just peckish’. But it’s often connected with an unconscious habit of mind.

Hypnosis is ideal for working for working with the subconscious mind. The process of hypnosis is pleasant, relaxing, and empowering. Clients often say they feel deeply refreshed, more alive, and committed to their lives after a session. They are amazed at feeling so rested and optimistic after just an hour.

Why not see how hypnotherapy can help you? Whether you want to break old habits, create new ones, gain confidence, or be more productive, it might just be the answer. I am a qualified hypnotherapist, experienced in supporting clients to help them make the changes they want in their lives (see my success stories). I am based in Canterbury and London; and also undertake online sessions, wherever in the world you may be. I offer a free no-obligation 15 minute phone consultation, so call me on 07947 475721 and prepare to be surprised at what hypnotherapy can do for you!

Hypnosis for sports performance: how to be a winner

hypnotherapy for sports

woman athlete smiling

The Premiership football season started this weekend (I am an Arsenal supporter, for my sins) – and whether you follow it or not, chances are you’ll be hearing about its ups and downs over the next 9 months. Humans have always been fascinated by competitive sports, and sportsmen and women can become legendary figures and icons for future generations. But what is it that makes these individuals so unbeatable? How do they turn in one winning performance after another? And is it possible for anyone to get the same winning streak? Actually yes: the average human being can still develop sporting prowess through hypnotherapy for sports performance.

Hypnotherapy for sports performance: training the mind

While professional sportspeople undertake continual rigorous physical training of course, it’s less well-known that hypnotherapy is a much-favoured coaching technique. Hypnotherapy mentally helps a player to winning performances in several ways. Firstly, it can improve concentration. Hypnotherapy for sports performance is all about increasing a player’s ability to focus. Through methods such as autosuggestion, visualisation, and Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), hypnotherapy works on a subconscious level to help a player be calm in the face of tension, and give 100% concentration to their game.

Secondly, hypnotherapy relieves stress through helping players to relax. When a person is calm their mind is clear, and they are able to focus more effectively. This allows the player to concentrate on the ultimate goal of winning.

Also, hypnotherapy also uses the technique of visualisation to help players improve their strategy. In this way, they can break down their best techniques to the smallest parts and replay them in their minds over and over again. For example, a cricket player can go over a shot repeatedly to memorise every move in his body while he makes it. And this will enable him to perform the same shot to perfection in the future. Hypnotherapy for sports performance also helps players to anticipate an opponent’s moves, and to plan strategies to counter them.

Want to up your game?

Hypnotherapy for sports performance is useful in a variety of fields, from teams sports to individual competition. It has the potential to hone your technique and performance effectively, by harnessing the power of the mind. I have dealt with a number of clients looking to improve their focus and sporting performance in my career, and the effects of hypnotherapy are striking. Gone are the mental blocks that held them back, once they become more confident in themselves. And nothing supplies the winning quality more than self-belief! Why not test it out right now, with this hypnosis download?

I am a qualified life coach and hypnotherapist, experienced in coaching clients to help them make the changes they want in their lives (see my success stories). And I can help you move forward too. I am based in Canterbury and London; and also offer online sessions, wherever in the world you may be. Please feel welcome to call me on 07947 475721 for a free no-obligation 15 minute phone consultation to see how I can help.

Depression in young people

depression in young people

teenager with sad face mask

School holidays can be a testing time for families. Parents try to find new ways to keep children and teens occupied, while young people themselves may be missing school friends. They may try to assert their own independence. Or they may simply be bored, no matter what activities are available. But what if problems are a symptom of something more concerning?

Many people wonder if depression in young people is real. In the case of teens, adults may attribute symptoms of depression to normal teen emotional swings. But experts and paediatricians point out that children and teens really can get depressed, and may be afflicted with the true illness of depression.

What causes depression in young people? 

As in adults, depression in young people may have multiple causes, or one cause that varies among individuals. There are some factors that are unique to certain stages of life, however.

Children

Children, like adults, may become depressed because of genetics. They may have inherited a tendency toward depression, and perhaps there was a trigger that caused it to surface.

Children may become depressed due to parents’ relationship difficulties, as they are uniquely affected by their immediate family’s dynamic.

Bullying at school is also something children may have to face that is not a factor for adults. The same goes for cyber-bullying, which can have devastating consequences. Low self-esteem can also develop through comparing themselves to peers on social media.

A child with a tendency toward perfectionism may be more prone to depression as well. Children with this tendency may ‘beat themselves up’ unnecessarily over failures or perceived failures.

Teens

This age group is considered particularly prone to depression, possibly due in part to the hormonal upheavals of the teenage years. But be careful. It’s easy for adults to take this information and think ‘it’s just hormones’ and therefore think the depression does not need to be addressed. Experts agree that depression, regardless of its cause, is something that should be addressed and treated.

Teens may also be dealing with the bullying/self-esteem issues mentioned above, or even just ‘harmless’ teasing. They may be experiencing their first crush; or rejection from the opposite sex, or indeed same sex. And realising one’s sexuality and then facing the prospect of coming out is an additional and potentially enormous minefield for those affected. (This download might help in this instance.)

Other causes may be purely physiological. Maybe nothing is particularly wrong in the teen’s life, but his or her brain just seems to run in a depressed mode.

What are the signs?

Here are some warning signs of depression in young people.

Children

Parents should be vigilant for any talk about suicide or morbid fascination with death. Other sources point out that television and films should be carefully monitored. Parents should be wary both of potentially depressing subject matter, and of the psychological effects of TV viewing in general (studies show that children who watch six or more hours of TV a day are more prone to depression).

  • Sleep disturbances or changes in sleep habits
  • Sudden increase or decrease in appetite
  • Angry outbursts and/or irritability
  • Lack of interest in social activities or friends
  • ‘Touchy’ about perceived rejection
Teens

Some of the signs of depression in teens are like those in children; some are different. As with children, parents of teens should be keenly aware of any indications of suicidal thoughts. Music, films, and television are also sources of potentially depressing images and subject matter – although it’s important to emphasise that an attraction to these may be a symptom rather than a cause. Also, many teens attracted to ‘alternative’ subcultures can find solace and support there. Non-mainstream interests can be a positive indication of independent thinking and inner confidence.

Other signs may include:

  • Weight loss or gain
  • Over-exercise
  • Binge eating and/or obsessive dieting
  • Angry outbursts/yelling at parents
  • Withdrawal from social activities and family
How can hypnotherapy help?

If your child shows some of these signs over a period of time, consider whether they would be open to seeing someone who could help them. Hypnotherapy can be an extremely effective way of working with depression in young people on a number of levels. In particular, it’s significant that in hypnotherapy they don’t have to talk about their issues if they don’t want to, or feel able to. But, like adults, they appreciate the deeply calming relaxation involved in hypnotherapy. And this can help them gain perspective and develop control over their issues, and then work towards clarity and understanding. If they want to give it a quick try, this download might be a good starting point.

I am a qualified hypnotherapist, experienced in working with depression (see my success stories). I’ve completed the acclaimed Uncommon Knowledge course ‘How To Lift Depression Fast’. And I have good experience in with working with young people, including treating depression. I am based in Canterbury and London; and also undertake online sessions, wherever in the world you may be. I offer a free no-obligation 15 minute phone consultation, so please do get in touch on 07947 475721 if depression affects you or your child – I can help.