If you are reading this, it’s likely that you or someone you know is struggling with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), so you’re probably familiar with the following facts:

• The exact cause of IBS is unknown.
• It is typically diagnosed by ruling out other conditions.
• There are no universally effective treatments.
• Medications may work for only some individuals, or for a limited time, and they can be expensive.
• IBS can significantly impact quality of life, often causing anxiety and stress.
• Many doctors are unsure of the best way to treat it.

The good news is that hypnotherapy has been shown to significantly alleviate IBS symptoms.

Hypnotherapy Proven Effective for IBS

In February 2008, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), which provides guidance to the NHS on effective treatments, published guidance stating there was strong evidence that hypnotherapy was an effective treatment for chronic IBS. This makes it an option worth discussing with your GP.

Professor Peter Whorwell of Manchester University conducted research in the UK, showing high effectiveness in treating all IBS symptoms, with sustained improvements over long periods.

In the United States, hypnotherapy is included as a treatment for IBS on the Empirically Validated Treatments List, which is similar to the NICE guidelines.

How Does Hypnotherapy Work for IBS?

Hypnotherapy appears to work by reducing general levels of anxiety, decreasing the perception of pain, and providing positive suggestions directly to the gut.

The Enteric Nervous System (ENS), often referred to as the “second brain,” is responsible for gut function and operates independently from the central nervous system. This means that hypnotherapy can influence the gut through mental imagery and relaxation, which can help regulate the bowel's response to stress.

Is Stress the Cause of IBS?

While the cause of IBS remains unclear, it is known that stress can trigger or worsen the condition. People with IBS have a bowel that overreacts to stress, leading to spasms and increased sensitivity. Stress not only impacts bowel function but also exacerbates the symptoms, creating a vicious cycle of discomfort and anxiety.

The Key: Lowering the Stress Response

The key to managing IBS is reducing stress sensitivity and decreasing the pain perception from the gut. Hypnotherapy is particularly effective in:

1. Lowering anxiety levels, both general and related to specific stressful situations.
2. Reducing pain perception, which is crucial for IBS sufferers.
3. Eliminating symptoms, which addresses the root issue of IBS itself.

Treatment Process

The treatment process begins with a consultation. Following this, an agreed-upon program of sessions will be scheduled. Each session lasts up to 1 hour. During sessions, you’ll have the chance to discuss your condition and gain insight into the connection between your gut and brain. The hypnosis treatment is relaxing, and you’ll also receive a Hypnotherapy Relaxation Download with instructions to listen to at night between sessions.

Seek Medical Advice First, Then Consider Hypnotherapy

Although hypnotherapy has proven highly effective for IBS, it is still considered a medical condition. If you suspect you have IBS, it’s important to visit your GP for diagnosis and advice. Once you have a confirmed diagnosis and believe hypnotherapy could help, please feel free to contact me to discuss how I can support you.

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Ten Signs It’s Finally Time to Quit Smoking

1. Your smoking habit controls your life – Do you find yourself unable to sleep until you know there’s a cigarette waiting for you in the morning?

2. People notice – Have friends and family mentioned that your clothing, hair, and breath smell like an ashtray? If not, you can be sure they’re thinking it. Are you constantly masking the smell with mints or sprays? If you’re not embarrassed by your smoking, why go to such lengths to hide it?

3. Social isolation – Are your colleagues distancing themselves since they quit smoking? It’s no longer "cool" to smoke, and it can be seen as a lack of control—a trait that doesn’t help you professionally.

4. You’re preoccupied with smoking – Do you spend meetings eagerly waiting for the break to rush outside for a cigarette? Do you end conversations early just to sneak in a smoke?

5. Limited choices – Is your favourite restaurant no longer offering an outdoor smoking section? Non-smokers are the majority now, and they don’t want their social events tainted by smoke.

6. Isolation at home – Are you forced to stand outside to smoke because your spouse won’t allow it indoors? This could be affecting your relationship, and you may be spending more time smoking alone than with loved ones.

7. Health concerns – You might fear weight gain after quitting, but the risk of serious health issues like lung disease and cancer could be a more immediate concern. Have you reached the “critical pack years” of smoking? (1 pack-year = 1 pack a day for 1 year, and 25 pack years is considered the critical threshold.)

8. Aging appearance – Have you noticed fine lines around your mouth, or do you squint to keep the smoke out of your eyes? Smoking can cause visible signs of aging, and many cosmetic surgeons won’t perform procedures until you’ve quit smoking.

9. Unwanted smell – After showering and using deodorant, do you still feel like you might offend others with your smoky scent? People often react by stepping back once you’ve smoked, and this could be affecting your interactions.

10. You smoke alone – Are you willing to stand outside in all kinds of weather just to smoke? Would you do the same for something else, like having a warm drink with a colleague? The fact that you’re willing to endure uncomfortable conditions just to smoke might be a clear signal it’s time to quit.

Your Unconscious Mind Holds the Key

When it comes to quitting smoking, your unconscious mind is a powerful force that controls your habits and beliefs surrounding the habit. These beliefs might be so ingrained that you aren’t even consciously aware of them, yet they keep you smoking. Even with your best efforts, your conscious mind alone can’t override the subconscious, causing you to return to smoking.

The Hypnotherapy Approach

Relaxation and Focus: Hypnosis is a natural state of focused attention combined with heightened awareness. You experience this state daily—whether you're daydreaming, immersed in a book or show, or even while driving. In this relaxed state, you’re open to making significant changes in behavior.

Speaking to the Unconscious Mind: Unlike traditional therapies that focus on conscious thoughts, hypnotherapy works directly with the unconscious mind, where deep-rooted habits and emotional triggers are stored. Most therapies only address symptoms, but hypnotherapy can address the underlying causes of your smoking.

Creating Lasting Change: Through hypnosis, we bypass the conscious critical faculty—the mental barrier that typically blocks new information. By speaking directly to your unconscious mind, we can reprogram the beliefs and behaviors that fuel your smoking habit, helping you stay motivated to quit and making those changes stick.

How Hypnotherapy Can Help You Quit Smoking: To make permanent changes in your life, it’s crucial that your unconscious mind aligns with your conscious desire to quit smoking. Hypnotherapy is a powerful tool that helps achieve this, making quitting smoking much easier and more effective than trying to fight against it.

Quit Smoking with Hypnotherapy: The session lasts up to 1.5 hours. It includes a Hypnotherapy Relaxation Download to help calm your mind and body, supporting you in staying in control. If you're ready to make the change and break free from smoking, contact me today to schedule an appointment.

Legal Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Hypnotherapy is a complementary therapy, and results may vary depending on individual circumstances. It is recommended that you consult with your doctor or healthcare provider before beginning any new treatment or therapy, especially if you have any pre-existing medical conditions. The effectiveness of hypnotherapy in quitting smoking is not guaranteed, and success depends on the individual's commitment and readiness to change. By booking a session, you acknowledge and accept that you are responsible for your own health and well-being during the process.

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Helping with Depression and Anxiety Through Hypnotherapy

For individuals experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety, traditional forms of counselling or psychotherapy that encourage deep introspection or emotional arousal can sometimes be counterproductive. Research shows that these approaches may unintentionally exacerbate symptoms, leading to greater distress. As an integrated Hypnotherapist, I draw on techniques from a range of effective therapies, including interpersonal therapy, cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), and the Human Givens approach. These evidence-based methods work synergistically with hypnotherapy to help clients create new, positive expectations and regain a sense of control over their lives.

Gaining Clarity and Understanding

A key part of my approach is helping clients gain clarity about their situation. I provide a "metaphorical" explanation of how the brain works, this can often help clients understand what depression is, how it develops, and the common factors contributing to it, without resorting to complex jargon. This straightforward understanding can be profoundly therapeutic. For many, simply knowing that their feelings are a natural response to certain life circumstances can help to reduce feelings of isolation and confusion.

Addressing Emotional Needs

When required, I conduct an informal emotional needs audit with each client, exploring past achievements, personal strengths, and qualities. It’s essential to recognise that these positive resources deserve just as much attention as the challenges and difficulties that may have led to these symptoms of depression. If there is evidence of trauma or specific emotional wounds, I use solution focused hypnotherapy to help clients reshape negative beliefs and expectations into more realistic, empowering ones.

The aim is to reconnect you with previously enjoyable activities and help you rehearse these actions in your imagination first. This builds confidence and encourages a mindset shift, enabling you to take the necessary steps towards fulfilling your emotional needs and making positive changes in your life.

Creating Positive Change

Meeting these core emotional needs is a crucial step in managing symptoms of depression and anxiety. As we work together, you may notice a reduction in your symptoms, while also establishing healthier patterns that promote long-term well-being and a balanced lifestyle.

If you are ready to take the next step in addressing your symptoms, I invite you to contact me to discuss how solution focused hypnotherapy can support your journey towards recovery.

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Managing Anxiety with Hypnotherapy

Anxiety is a natural and essential response designed to protect us from danger. It helps us assess risks and make safer choices. However, when anxiety becomes excessive or overwhelming, it can interfere with daily life, leading to distressing symptoms that feel difficult to control.

Persistent worry, panic attacks, phobias, obsessive thoughts or behaviours, and post-traumatic stress reactions are all forms of heightened anxiety. If you are struggling with any of these, or if ongoing low-level anxiety is affecting your quality of life, it may feel as though your thoughts and emotions are no longer within your control.

Understanding Anxiety

Anxiety typically involves three key components:

• Physical sensations – such as a racing heart, dizziness, or muscle tension.

• Emotional responses – including fear, unease, or a sense of dread.

• Thought patterns – often focused on worst-case scenarios or perceived threats.

How Hypnotherapy Can Help

Hypnotherapy can be highly effective in managing anxiety by helping to break unhelpful thought patterns, reduce the intensity of physical symptoms, and promote a sense of calm and control. As a trained hypnotherapist, I use evidence-based techniques to support you in reprogramming anxious responses and restoring balance.

If you are ready to take positive steps towards managing anxiety and stress, I invite you to get in touch to discuss how hypnotherapy and psychotherapy may help.

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Managing Anger with Hypnotherapy

Anger is a natural response to perceived threats, triggering the body’s fight-or-flight reaction. Stress hormones such as adrenaline increase, heart rate and blood pressure rise, and breathing becomes rapid. At the same time, rational thinking can be impaired, leading to impulsive or regrettable actions. While anger serves a purpose in certain situations, uncontrolled or frequent anger can negatively impact health, relationships, and overall well-being.

Why Manage Anger?

Persistent anger has been linked to physical health risks, including high blood pressure and cardiovascular issues. It can also contribute to strained relationships, workplace difficulties, and increased stress levels within families and communities. Learning to manage anger effectively can improve emotional well-being, enhance communication, and create a more balanced life.

How Hypnotherapy Can Help

Hypnotherapy provides an effective approach to understanding and managing anger by:

• Identifying underlying triggers, including past experiences or patterns of thought.
• Using guided relaxation and imagery to develop healthier emotional responses.
• Rehearsing calm and constructive reactions in situations that previously led to outbursts.
• Teaching long-term techniques to promote emotional balance and reduce overall stress levels.

By addressing both the immediate symptoms and the root causes of anger, hypnotherapy can support lasting positive change.

Take the Next Step

If anger is affecting your life, I offer professional hypnotherapy and psychotherapy techniques that can help you regain control and develop a calmer, more positive outlook. Contact me to discuss how I can support you in making meaningful changes.

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Achieving a Healthy Relationship with Food Through Hypnotherapy

Many people struggle with overeating due to emotional or habitual reasons rather than physical hunger. Whether it’s eating in response to stress, boredom, or simply consuming larger portions than necessary, there is often an underlying reason behind these habits. Understanding and addressing these patterns is key to developing a healthier approach to food.

A Sustainable Approach to Weight Management

Successful weight control is not about restrictive diets or depriving yourself of the foods you enjoy. Instead, it’s about creating a positive, balanced relationship with food and adopting healthy habits that are both sustainable and effective. Hypnotherapy supports this process by:

• Increasing motivation and self-control.
• Addressing emotional triggers that lead to overeating.
• Encouraging mindful eating and portion awareness.
• Reducing cravings and emotional eating.
• Enhancing self-esteem and body confidence.

By combining hypnotherapy with guidance on nutrition, exercise, and goal setting, you can achieve lasting changes that positively impact both your physical health and overall well-being.

How Can Hypnotherapy Help?

Hypnotherapy works by accessing the unconscious mind to change unhelpful eating patterns and establish healthier behaviors. It can help you:

✔ Break free from restrictive dieting and instead develop a natural, balanced approach to food.
✔ Overcome food cravings and reduce emotional eating.
✔ Feel more in control of your appetite and eating habits.
✔ Increase motivation for exercise and a healthy lifestyle.
✔ Improve body confidence and self-esteem.

How Many Sessions Will I Need?

Every individual is different, and the number of sessions required depends on the nature of your eating habits and personal circumstances. Some people notice significant changes after just a couple of sessions, while others benefit from ongoing support, particularly if emotional factors are contributing to their weight concerns.

Take the First Step Towards a Healthier You

If you’re ready to change your relationship with food in a positive, sustainable way, hypnotherapy can help. Contact me today to discuss how we can work together to achieve your goals.

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There are two kinds of bad memories. Some fade slowly, so that a year or so later the memory of the car crash, or whatever it was, is no longer intrusive, and in time it goes away only to be recalled as an ordinary narrative memory about some unfortunate incident you once experienced.

Trauma and Phobia

Traumatic memories dont always fade in the same way, and as time goes by they may become worse. These memories are usually connected with a life threatening or other serious event and are more deeply embedded in the brain as a 'survival template'. If they are not treated they may continue to fire off strong emotional reactions at inappropriate moments and thereby cause trouble for the rest of your life.

What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

Trauma, as a medical term, refers to any injury or wound violently inflicted on the body. Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition that often follows a terrifying physical, life threatening, or perceived as life-threatening, event. It causes the person who survived it to have persistent, frightening thoughts and memories, or flashbacks, of the ordeal. Persons with PTSD often feel chronically, emotionally numb. Once referred to as 'shell shock' or 'battle fatigue', about 25 per cent of people involved in major traumatic events go on to develop long-term PTSD symptoms. This percentage rises if life-threatening incidents are almost constantly repeated, as in front line fighting during sustained battles in war.

What kinds of event can cause it?

Violent attacks on the person. Rape. Sustained verbally aggressive attacks. Sudden illness events like a heart attack. Traffic accidents. Industrial injuries. Witnessing sudden violent death, as in train crashes, bombings and war-zone incidents. Panic attacks where the person thinks he is dying. In fact, any event that triggers a strong fear (phobic) response can lead to PTSD. Children have even developed PTSD symptoms from watching horror films on TV.

What is a phobia?

Any uncontrolled, persistent, irrational fear that is accompanied by a compelling desire to avoid the object, activity, or situation that provokes the fear, is called a phobia. As far as the brain is concerned it is no different from PTSD. The same neuronal pathways are involved.

Hypnotherapy for phobias & fears

Hypnotherapy can help you to leave behind the debilitating effects of fears and phobias which are no longer serving you positively in your life. If you would like to discuss this more, please contact me.

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It all started with the work of English obstetrician Grantly Dick-Read (1890?1959), and culminated in his book Childbirth without Fear, first published in 1942. The work was further developed by Jacqueline Vincent Priya, Michelle Leclaire O'Neill and later Marie Mongan and Kerry Tuschhoff in America.

General use during pregnancy

Practitioners understand that during pregnancy and prior to birth, the use of hypnosis may significantly shorten labour, reduce pain and reduce the need for intervention. Practitioners also understand that babies born to mothers who have used hypnosis to relax and calm themselves will sleep and feed better.

Hypnotherapists who specialise in hypnosis for childbirth can offer a tailored approach geared towards individual women. This is especially important if they have additional phobias or fears associated with childbirth. This can include needle phobias, fear of hospitals or even fear of pregnancy itself.

Hypnosis for labour

Hypnosis can also be used as a pain relief method during labour. Obstetrician Grantly Dick-Read first wrote about the phenomenon in the 1930s in his work on natural childbirth and since the 1980s a range of different techniques have been developed that utilize hypnosis in a natural childbirth. These include The Peaceful Pregnancy Program, Hypnobirthing (as originally coined by Michelle Leclaire O'Neill), The Mongan Method (also known as "HypnoBirthing"), Hypnobabies, the Lamaze method, Confident Childbirth (cognitive hypnotherapy), Natal Hypnotherapy, FreshStart and the GentleBirth program.

All of these programs promote the wellbeing of mother and baby but all programs are not created equally. Many programs do not require practitioners to be certified hypnotists, master hypnotists or clinical hypnotherapists. All Peaceful Pregnancy Practitioners are accredited hypnotists, master hypnotists or clinical hypnotherapists and have participated in training for the use of hypnosis specifically for pregnancy and childbirth.

Research

A post-review of patients who had used hypnotherapy for labour was published in 2004 in the British Journal of Anaesthesia 2004 (93(4):505-511) by A.M Cyna, G.L. McAuliffe and M.I. Andrew. The review suggested that there was evidence of the reduced need for pharmacological analgesia but a more substantial trial was required. In 1993, a randomised control trial by M.W. Jenkins and M. H. Pritchard, 'Hypnosis: Practical applications and theoretical considerations in normal labour' reported that hypnosis, combined with childbirth education:

• Reduced the length of labour
• Reduced the incidence of pain medication use

I have received training in Hypnobirthing and can help you with the following:

• Breathing techniques that may help the birth - and it's not the panting that most people think they have to do. Why would anyone want to hyperventilate during labour?!
• How to reduce the need for any medication
• How to release any fears you might have about childbirth...regardless of where they come from
• Most importantly, you'll know how to relax and stay calm and in control - regardless of what's happening around you

Hypnotherapy for childbirth

If you would like to discuss having hypnotherapy to help with childbirth, then please contact me today.

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