Hypnotherapy: The Booking Process and Beyond.
If you haven’t had hypnotherapy before, I thought it would be a good idea to walk you through the booking process and what happens in a hypnotherapy session. I’ll dispel a few hypnotherapy myths while we’re here too.
Hypnotherapy can have a reputation of being a bit ‘out there’, but really it isn’t. I’ll be helping you into a more relaxed, focused and open state of mind. You’ll be in complete control, and you’ll feel calm and safe. It’s a good combination.
It’s this trance state that allows the logical part of your brain to quieten down and settle, and your subconscious mind to process and work out what you need.
Interested in a Hypnotherapy Session?
If you are interested in a hypnotherapy session, it’s very easy to book. You can direct message me through Facebook, Instagram, or the contact form here.
All you need to do is give me a brief overview of what you would like help with, or ask any questions that you have.
You can also ask to arrange a free 15-minute chat with me before you even book.
Booking A Hypnotherapy Session
When you do book a session with me, there are a few things that we’ll need to go over.
- To find out more about you, I will email you my intake form to complete.
- We’ll find a suitable time and date for the session. Initial sessions can take 90-120 minutes.
- I recommend not doing anything that needs too much attention following your appointment, as you may feel very relaxed, or even a little out of it. It’s even better if you can allow yourself some downtime to rest, or even have a nap afterwards.
- If we’re working together online, I’ll also send you a payment link.
As with any therapy, you’re here because you want to change. Change isn’t always comfortable, and you may need to factor that in the days following. I’ll talk more about this later on.
When it comes to the session itself, it’s slightly different online than in person, so let’s have a look at both.
Online Sessions
I will have already sent you the link to the online form and payment link. So, all of that’s out of the way.
Next, I’ll email you a link to our online video consultation room. I use a provider called ‘Doxy.me’. It’s confidential, easy to use, no installation, and it doesn’t cost you a penny.
Just as a note, I find that restarting my laptop before a session is a good idea, and I would advise you to do the same. That seems to iron out most video call issues before they even start.
When you click the link I send you, you’ll be put in a virtual waiting room. From there I can let you join me in the video call.
If you haven’t done online therapy before, it may feel a little strange to start with. That’s completely normal, and I’ll do my best to put you at ease. I’ll explain what we’re going to do and we can have a good talk before the actual hypnotherapy session.
For the session itself, I’ll ask you to put your phone on do not disturb. Then I’ll ask you to get yourself comfortable.
There aren’t many therapies where the aim is for you to get as comfortable as possible, close your eyes and relax!
During hypnotherapy, you can be sitting up, slouched down or lying down, whichever is most comfortable for you. I suggest getting quite a few pillows or cushions, so you’re supported. My clients have been known to slide sideways as they’re so relaxed!
In-Person Sessions
If you’re in Malta, we can do the hypnotherapy session in person at Remedies Pharmacy, Mellieha.
- I’ll email, or send via WhatsApp, the link to the online intake form.
- You can either pay in full in advance via a payment link, or pay a deposit and pay the remaining balance on the day of the session.
- On the day of the session, you will need to give your name to the person in the pharmacy and let them know you’re here to see me. Then they’ll tell you which room I’m in.
- I’ll ask you to put your phone on ‘do not disturb’, and we’ll begin the session with a good talk about what’s happening.
- When it comes to the hypnotherapy session, there will be either a comfy chair or a bed/couch that you can lie on. I’ll bring a blanket in case you need to be more comfortable.
- I’ll sit in a chair nearby, and you’ll be able to hear my voice clearly.
Beginning the Session
When you’re all comfortable, I’ll begin talking you down into a trance state. I’ll take you through some guided relaxation exercises.
Some people take longer than others to fall into a deeply relaxed state. Try to just go with it – you’re perfectly safe. You’ll be able to wake up any time you want, and you are in complete control throughout. You have the freedom to deeply relax and let your mind wander, or show you what you need to see and understand.
You’ll be able to move if you feel uncomfortable too. It’s not mind control; it’s a heightened state of focused relaxation.
During the Hypnotherapy Session
You will be very relaxed, but still aware. Saying that, don’t worry if you fall asleep; it can happen, and you will wake up at the end of the session, and the hypnotherapy will still be effective.
Also, don’t worry if your mind takes you off in other directions, just come back to my voice as and when you can.
People respond to hypnotherapy in all kinds of ways.
- Some imagine things very clearly,
- Some see abstract colours and images.
- Some people can follow what I’m saying.
- Some can’t and go off into a completely different world.
- Some people’s minds show them things they’re not expecting.
- Others may feel that something is going on, but can’t express what that is.
It’s not unusual to cry during a hypnotherapy session. It’s a good sign that something is being released, or acknowledged. I’ll notice, and I’ll talk you through it.
Overall, hypnotherapy is a very individual experience.
Waking up
When the session is drawing to a close, I’ll begin bringing you out of your trance state, gently calling you back to full consciousness by counting from 10 to 1.
You may feel emotional, rested, sleepy, relieved, curious. There’s no right or wrong.
I’ll give you a few moments to come around, then I’ll ask you how it was and if you saw, felt or heard anything helpful, or unusual to you. Feel free to share what you can and want to.
Like other therapies, you may get insights – little pieces of information that make complete sense to you, but feel like common sense, over the next few hours, days or weeks.
What Can Happen After a Hypnotherapy Session?
You may be surprised to hear that it can vary from person to person!
As I mentioned earlier, therapy is about change, and this isn’t always comfortable. You may feel relaxed, calm or sleepy to begin with. You might feel completely normal. Some people find themselves feeling more emotional or anxious than usual.
Although that doesn’t sound great, it’s a good sign that your mind is, what we call, shifting. It’s recalibrating the new information it has received, and it can take a little time to settle into its new ‘normal’. If it feels too intense, or goes on for longer than you’re comfortable with, always get back in touch with me, and we can arrange a call.
This is usually all it takes to help settle your mind back down again.
What can also happen following a session is an absence of something that was troubling you. This one is a bit more tricky to notice.
An old behaviour can simply stop. For example, if you are a nervous driver, you might get in the car without a second thought. If you were seeking help for being a people pleaser, you may hear someone’s request for help and not think to say ‘yes’ to it.
When something is simply missing, it can be difficult to notice it until much later on.
Finishing Up
I hope this helps to give you an idea of what a hypnotherapy session would be like with me.
I combine coaching with hypnotherapy, so often the work begins before the hypnotherapy session itself.
Hypnotherapy gives your brain the chance to rest, process and understand what led you to this point, or what caused the problems you’re experiencing. Sometimes that’s all we need, to understand.
Other times we need more direction or actions to take, and hypnotherapy can make those become clearer too.
As always, if you have any questions, drop me a message.