What is hypntherapy and how can it help the good folks of Walsall

Many people will have seen Hypnotists on the telly and may have a view of hypnotherapy based on this, others may just not know at all, and in fact not knowing is better! the clue is in the word hypnTHERAPY.
Hypnosis is the act of hypnotising somebody and because stage hypnotists tend to want compliance they do two things a therapist wouldn't do:

1. Select people whose personality and physiology mean they will react to a suggestion and can be induced to forget the suggestion once implanted. But please be aware no one can be made to do something outside their nature by the way, the hypnotist isn't controlling them, only encouraging them
2. Select people who are able with ease to be induce into a deep sleep type of trance.

A therapist doesn't select their clients, they work with the client and whatever the client brings. Also we dont usually work in or try to achieve a deep sleep state, if that's what the client needs, there unconscious will take them there. Most clients remain alert and awake and can move around or speak if they choose, I just ask that they relax and enjoy the me time a session with me offers. I hope that's cleared a few things up. For more info watch the clip at hypnotherapy on you tube

Hypnotherapy is the use of a naturally occurring state of relaxation and focus to assist the client in bringing about changes in their thoughts feelings or behaviours by working with their unconscious minds to find new solutions to old problem patterns. It relaxing, enjoyable and empowering.

To help myth bust I am happy to give a free consultation to help see if hypnotherapy is the treatment for you, or if you prefer give me a ring to arrange a taster session on a Saturday, 30 minutes for £15 just so you know what's involved. Give me a call on 01922 649142 or email me 01922 649142 or message me through my facebook page Andrea-Bradley-Clinical-Hypnotherapist 

Feeling down? The only way is up?

Many research progammes have found links between depression and disturbances In sleep. Do you recognise this pattern. Worry on off during the day, then spend evening dreading going to bed becuase you dont expect to sleep.  You dont sleep, you wake early feeling tired and wound up, you get up early and spend the rest of the day feeling down and worrying.
This would be a fairly typical pattern in someone whose depression is partly based on sleep issues. The good news is that often a few adjustments can make a big difference and make a noticable improvement really soon.
The therapists aim will be to takle the sleep disruptions and
Help to alter the way you respond to stress. This may take a few sessions or longer, but you may find you begin feel better after the first session.
The usual treatment offered on the NHS is CBT cognitive behavioural therapy which works well for some depressions, by assisting clients to alter thought patterns and influence behaviour. Research supports the effectiveness of CBT but research suggests that CBT used with hypnosis is even more effect.
Councelling may also be offered for depression. In my experience if part of your depression is spending time going over and over things that have happened, then traditional councelling can reinforce this behaviour.
If you feel you might benefit from hypnotherapy to assist with your depression I would suggest you ask the therapist what approach they will use. Check they are registered with the CNHC (the Complimentary and Natural Health Council) or
General Hypnotherapy Register.
For more info drop me an email andrea.bradley@walsallmindandbody.co.uk

Emotional first aid

Met a man this morning who had severe tummy cramps, bad back and felt very out of sorts. He talked to me about his symptoms at length and was perplexed because they seemed like a random assortment, not obviously linked to a medical problem.
Thats not an uncommon thing, people often lump symptoms together and look for a common physical cause. This raises a few issues; firstly we are complex organisms and so rather than looking for a common cause, often its better to look for a pattern of things, tummy ache and back ache often go together, tense your tummy muscles and notice what they are connected to=your spine. Pain alters posture, putting a strain on your back. A pattern not one cause.
Second we are a complex mindbody organism. Symtoms of the mind may arrise from the body (for example a leg problem leads to limited mobility may lead to depression) or, conversly the symptons of body may arrise from the mind. So its always worth thinking "what else could be going on here, how is this client feeling" and relating that to the symptoms. Our feelings are almost always involved.
The man this morning had a large bill overdue, was worried about the payment. When he talked about it, he suddenly saw how his symptoms reflected his emotional state. I spent two minutes helping him to relax, let go of anxiety and feel more positive. Then a few minutes on relaxing his tummy and back, and suggesting how much more relaxed he could choose to feel later in the day.
He left without tummy ache, straightening his back, feeling much better and more relaxed. 15 minutes of emotional first aid= a much better day.

That Monday morning feeling

Have you ever wondered why we get up on a Monday feeling a quiet sense of dread? Did you enjoy school? I didn't and so every Sunday night I went to bed feeling apprehension about the next day and the week that would follow. Over the years I became conditioned to wake up on Monday filled with dread and distress at the prospect of another week of torment. sound familiar?
So how as I grew I just kept the pattern, carried it with me so even when I had a job I loved I carried on with the Monday morning dread pattern.
Think about a jigsaw, if you change just one of the pieces the picture looks different. Mix it up and you often cant recognise what is a picture off.
So lets mix it up, lets change some shapes. Imagine Tuesday is the first day of the working week, Sunday is a break. imagine Monday is a planning day when you plan the rest of the week, a day of preparation and power, and use it this way. Make lists of things to do that make you feel good, ring and book your evenings out, your dates, your holidays.
Monday, the best day of the week, your power day. How does that feel, keep that pattern, carry that with you.

So what now

I think Ive got the basics of blogging sorted, few more things to sort, such as being able to link my blog to our listing on The Best of Walsall and a few other places, to maximise the impact and value of my blog in terms of spreading the word. WOW this is exiting.
From now on my blog posts will be more themed around issues related to My work as a clinical hypotherapist. I would love questions to answer, suggested topics ETC. Also watch my blog and FB page for a future developement currently in developement. Audio files with information, samples of my work and the odd little story.

And next I thought

So I thought ok, I have succesfully posted couple of things in my blog, linked my blog (I hope) to my facebook page, whats next. Seemed the next logical step is to be able to blog on my nice little HTC Desire Z. So here we are, I am typing this on my phone, lets see how this goes.
Ive often wondered what impact on our neurology the abilty to communicate in all these new ways. Will our brains have to adapt to accomodate these new skills or do we have the flexibilty already already inate and programmed in.
What do you folks think?

So I thought

Having gone through the process of setting up my new blogger account on my laptop, I thought there is so much I need to learn here, but ideally lets start with the basics, how can I promote my blog so as not to feel like johny no mates blogging on my own. so my next challenge was to link this blog to my facebook page.
If you are reading this now it means Ive most likly succeeded and its worked. I am using a facebook widget (not apparently made by facebook, which is a bit confusing) called 'networkedBlogs' if anyone has a better suggestion I would be glad to here it because setting it up was a bit of a nightmare.

Trying hypnotherapy

I decided today I had prevaricated enough, it was time I just got on with learning to blog. Strange that because I often see people in my consulting room who are putting their life on hold waiting for just the right time to make the decision, dip their toe in the water or make a commitment by diving in. I often start by saying how would you know if the time was right to make this change and strangely they don't know, they have lots of reasons to hold back but aren't looking for the signs to tell them when to jump. Answer, identify the signs look for them and be prepared to jump. Bit like me and this blog really, the time is now the wind is in the east, the sun in the west, the building is quiet and my spelling is bad, so here I go.
Splash, the water is lovely come on in