What to Expect

Your First Counselling Session

Your first session with the therapist will be different from future visits. The initial visit is a period for you and your therapist to get to know each other and get an idea of how to proceed. Future visits will be more therapeutic in nature. For example, in your second session, you may explore a specific symptom, problem, or past trauma you mentioned in the first session.

During the first session, your therapist may ask you:

• What are your symptoms?
• What brought you to therapy?
• What do you feel is wrong in your life?
• Some questions about your history, including your childhood, education, relationships (family, romantic, friends), your current living situation, and your career.

You and your therapist should also come to an agreement about the length of your treatment, methods to be employed, and ins and outs of patient confidentiality.

Length of Treatment

Depending on your issue and therapy goals, therapy can last a few sessions or several weeks. While you likely want to know how long it's going to take to "feel better," there's no simple answer. It's very individualized.

Hypnotherapy Sessions

Hypnotherapy uses hypnosis as a tool to treat various conditions or help change specific habits.

What Happens in a Hypnotherapy Session

• Initial Discussion: You’ll start by having a conversation with your therapist. This is to discuss your goals and agree on the methods your therapist will use to help you achieve them.
• Inducing Relaxation: The therapist will then guide you into a deeply relaxed state. This could involve breathing exercises or other techniques to help you feel calm and centered.
• Therapeutic Suggestions: While in this relaxed state, the therapist may use the agreed-upon methods, like suggesting that you no longer want to engage in a specific habit or thought pattern.
• Bringing You Out of Relaxation: At the end of the session, the therapist will gradually guide you back to a normal state of alertness. Most people feel refreshed and relaxed after coming out of hypnosis.

It’s important to note that you are always in control while under hypnosis. You don’t have to accept any suggestions from the therapist if you’re not comfortable with them. If needed, you can also bring yourself out of the hypnotic state at any time.

Key Points to Remember:

Hypnosis will only work if you’re open to it. If you don’t want to be hypnotized, it’s unlikely to be effective.

Important: Hypnotherapy is not recommended for people with psychosis or certain types of personality disorders, as it could worsen these conditions. Always consult with a GP if you have a personality disorder before considering hypnotherapy.