A first time experience with Hypnotherapy...

Written by Fiona Stewart

​Are you nervous about trying hypnotherapy? Not sure what to expect? Worried you will be dancing around the room clucking like a chicken? Here is my first time experience with hypnotherapy.

What happened in the appointment…
Sandy was warm and welcoming, we filled out an initial patient questionnaire that detailed past illnesses to current struggles, what my lifestyle and diet was like as well as any potential areas that may need to be worked on. Sandy explained that hypnotherapy is completely safe and that she can’t make you do anything that subconsciously you don’t want to do – so there would be no chicken dancing today.
I then lay down in the chair and was covered in a blanket (it was a semi cool day and when in a relaxed state your body temperature drops). Sandy turned on some tranquil music and began to relax my mind and body through the breath and focusing on each aspect of my body one at a time (similar to meditation or yoga nidra).
Sandy explained that it was not her job to rewire your brain – but to create an environment where you can change your usual conscious thoughts from something that may be negative (anxiety, self-doubt, smoking ect) and unconsciously change them to productive and positive thoughts. She is the facilitator in this and was able to tap into the subconscious and ‘plant the seed’ so to say.
The time went so quickly, that when I opened my eyes I almost didn’t believe that it was over.

So is hypnotherapy for you?
Hypnotherapy is proven be effective in helping the process of quitting addictions such as smoking. Sandy has been trained in the IBS unit at the Alfred Hospital where it been clinically shown to have long term improvement for IBS.
Sandy has also got a background in elite sport, where the difference between athletes is 90% mental and 10% physical. Hypnotherapy for sport performance is practiced throughout the world amongst both professional and amateur athletes.
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If you are someone who knows (or even suspects) that your thoughts are holding you back (in any aspect of life) Hypnotherapy could benefit you.