Being More Confident

What is confidence? What does being confident mean?

It means being able to remain relaxed in situations that, for you, are potentially stressful. By remaining calm and in control in these situations, we can fully engage with others and feel and be confident.

In my Bournemouth Hypnotherapy practice, probably the common situation I help clients with is building their confidence and self esteem.

Overcoming Exam Nerves

It's the time of year when students of all ages are starting to prepare for their exams.For many people, the nerves that build up in the anticipation of a test or an exam, can be just as bad as the test or exam itself.

Thoughts of what might happen, or what might go wrong, or what questions they might get asked, can add to the anxiety and stress.

This stress can build, and as the exam draws ever closer, the anxiety builds to such an extent, that the student feels that all their newly-learned skills and knowledge will just vanish right at the moment they'll need them the most.

They might 'know' that they are competent in their subject, but feel, and sometimes actually find, that their skills desert them just as soon as the test or exam begins.

The stresses and strains that a test or exam can bring, can be especially frustrating to a student who usually performs well in class or with coursework.

I’m a Hypnotherapist

'I'm a Hypnotherapist' - I reply, when I am asked what I do. And then I wait for the reaction!

There are a few standard ones!

'I'm not looking into your eyes then!'

'You won't be able to hypnotise me'

'Can you make me cluck like a chicken?'

'Please make me stop liking chocolate'

'I want my husband to stop smoking, can I book him an appointment now?'

There are a lot more, but let's deal with these for now…

New Year Resolutions

Are you making any New Year resolutions this year? If you are, Fantastic! I wish you well in achieving your goals. What are your goals by the way? Do they happen to be the same or very similar to the ones you made last year?

Hmm, I thought so! New Year Resolutions can be a fantastic way of helping us to reduce weight, stop smoking, learn a new skill, exercise more, etc… but be honest, how long does that resolve last? Often it's not very long, is it?

So how can you help yourself keep those resolutions in 2012? Well, I am going to suggest two ways: one you may think quite strange, the other is a very practical solution.

Fears & Phobias

Imagine a typical day. You get out of bed, go to the bathroom, wash, dress, eat breakfast, go to work, school or spend the day leisurely. Perhaps you drive or take a bus. On your route you see a dog, some balloons in a shop; you might see a bird or an insect, think about the party you are going to or your winter sun holiday. Sounds good, doesn't it? For some people though, every one of those activities causes real fear, a panic or phobia.

Fertility Hypnosis

When I am asked what issues and conditions hypnotherapy can help to deal with, the subject that creates the most surprise is fertility. It may seem incredible that using hypnosis can help you conceive, whether you have explained or unexplained infertility - it really is true!

There are many different reasons that you, (or your partner of course!) may not be able to become pregnant. Stress has been found to be a big factor in this; stress comes from all directions - work, home, financial. Or it may be that the deep stress levels brought on by an infertility diagnosis are affecting you to the degree that infertility treatment is just not working for you... yet. Have you heard stories of couples who after years of not conceiving, go on to adopt a child - and then fall pregnant naturally? This is because they have let go of the stress and worry about their 'infertility'.

Hypnosis and Birth

Hypnobirthing is a term used in the hypnotherapy and medical professions for the use of hypnosis or hypnotherapy in childbirth. Recently there has been a lot of publicity around Hypnobirthing, with several celebrities reporting having had fantastic experiences of childbirth while using the technique. In fact, there is evidence that women were 'Hypnobirthing' at least as far back as ancient Egyptian times!

So what is a Hypnobirth? Put simply, it's a method of using hypnosis to remain calm, relaxed and in control during childbirth. You won't be asleep or in a trance, you'll be able to chat, move about, and do what your body needs to do to safely deliver your child into the world. You'll be fully aware of everything going on around you.

As medicine has developed over the centuries, childbirth has become 'medicalised', yet giving birth is natural - the female body has been designed to do just that, your body knows what to do! At this point, it should be noted that sometimes medical intervention is absolutely necessary - no Hypnotherapist would ever suggest otherwise. However, when a mother stays calm and relaxed, the need for medical intervention is greatly reduced.

How Does it Feel to be Hypnotised?