Hypnoanalysis
When you look for a hypnotherapist or Google ‘hypnotherapy’ you would usually be looking for relief from your symptoms and would, most likely, be expecting hypnotherapy in the form that we call ‘suggestion therapy’. As you see from our page on it, suggestion therapy is powerful, powerful enough to damp down symptoms and anxieties – for a while. To get lasting change that ‘just is’, in other words, change that takes no effort to maintain, you can use Hypnoanalysis. Hypnoanalysis is also known as analytical hypnotherapy but both terms, though well known, are not good at describing the therapy. Recently we have adopted the term ‘Relaxation Assisted Psychotherapy’ for this sort of gentle change work. It’s also the term we’ve used in our training seminars. It describes a situation where you can just close your eyes to help you focus – and then use that special sense of being safe and non-judged to explore experiences in the layers below normal awareness. This ‘analytical hypnotherapy’ can be summarised briefly as the doctrine of “cause and effect”: every effect (the symptom) must have a cause. Hypnoanalysis reveals the cause, and the brain’s inbuilt mechanism of rewriting out of date information (memory reconsolidation) relieves the symptoms.
Emotional problems respond particularly well to hypnoanalysis. The object of analysis is to bring you to (probably several) moments of surprising and liberating enlightenment, and one can be fairly confident that a release will be obtained usually within six to sixteen sessions of analysis. In these cases we are talking about a complete and lasting release, by finding and removing originating causes – as opposed to mere control of symptoms by suggestion.
There is no reason why anyone should put up with something “inside themselves but outside their control”, provided they are prepared to devote time, effort and a little self-discipline to be free of their problem. The use of simple relaxation dramatically speeds up your ‘analysis’.
The essence of this therapy is ‘free association’ – sitting back and allowing your mind to wander from one experience to another, without thinking or forcing it or looking for something, just letting the material surface and then moving on to the next experience and telling your therapist where you are, what’s happening and what it’s like. You are being asked to be there in your mind’s eye and at the same time verbalise the event – NOT interpret it or fill in the background; we keep intellect out of the process as far as possible! As you see on the Memory Reconsolidation page, the emotional learnings that drive symptoms are stored in a completely different part of the brain to where you store thoughts and ordinary (episodic) memories. If you go on an intellectual search for these learnings, you limit your search to the part of the brain (the neo-cortex) that works with thoughts and language. But emotional learnings are not stored there, they’re at a different level, a level without language, a more basic part that doesn’t need words but simply feels the emotional reactions to situations. With a safe environment and trust in your therapist you can dip into what experiences actually felt like – and then begin the process of change.
The 2009 Hypnoanalysis Survey.
There is more information about our survey on this page. Below are some of the COMMENTS made by participants in the study – all used with permission.
Depression
It’s unbelievable really. I had suffered depression most of my life. I have been to numerous therapists, on lots of different drugs, been under psychiatrists and psychologists, and even been admitted to hospital – none of it really helped that much. 8 sessions of pure hypno and I’m cured! It’s gone! I have never felt better in my life. Thank you so much, for giving me back my life.
Weight Issues and Self Esteem
I initially approached my therapist with weight related issues and low self esteem but found by my 6th session that weight was no longer a major issue. I had more self confidence and was no longer binge eating when things were upsetting me. I was calmer and felt more relaxed than I had in years. People were commenting on how different I had become and without any effort I started to lose weight and go down a clothes size.
Depression and Anxiety
I feel the benefits of my analysis has made many, many changes to me. I found I was often moody in the morning from waking and this has gone. I was shy and would blush and this has gone. I have loads more confidence in myself and generally feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I feel like me it’s great!!
Over Eating and Low Self Esteem
I feel in control of my feelings and those negative feeling which always came to destroy me or my diet. I don’t put myself down anywhere near as much as I have in the past. If I feel any negative thoughts I can soon get rid of them and take control.
‘Control’ Issues
I do feel completely liberated and at complete peace. I can not believe how simple the whole process is but how extremely difficult it is to allow the repression out. I cannot believe that one repressed memory could have caused so much devastation in my life.
Social Phobia
Right now 5 hours after final session feel like I can take on the world. I feel at peace inside and hopeful that my stress levels have substantially reduced/gone to enable me to make a success of my career. I have confidence to make decisions for me. I am happy with myself and am going to start living my life for me without fear of peoples opinions and trying to fit in. I have been living within a glass box my whole life and I now feel like the doors and windows have been opened, I am now free so watch out world cos I’m not scared anymore!!!
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
I simply feel much more confident now – in work and in my personal life. My self esteem has greatly increased – I feel like I matter, that I have a value. I walk taller. I no longer feel that I have no right to be here. I feel more physically attractive as a result and much more masculine. I feel powerful and in control. I avoided relationships with the opposite sex to the point where I convinced myself that I was homosexual. Unbelievably, I now feel that it would be possible for me to have a relationship with a member of the opposite sex! For the first time in my life I feel sexually attractive. I used to think and plan constantly. I would play out scenarios in my head, usually planning for when things went wrong – this led to the constant worry I experienced. This has virtually stopped. I feel a great deal lighter (of mind) and more spontaneous. I’m simply enjoying life more, now that I don’t have this constant conversation with myself. The OCD has all but disappeared too. I can’t say that all of this has made me feel euphoric in any way, I just feel normal and content and that’s exactly what I wanted out of this. It has honestly been life changing
Insomnia
After suffering from occasional but severe insomnia for years, I now sleep like a baby, even when I have problems and anxiety in my life. On average it now takes me 15 minutes to get to sleep – before, even when I wasn’t suffering from a bout of insomnia, it took a lot longer, around an hour. There were also several completely sleepless nights.
Relationship Issues
I saw my therapist at a very low point in my life almost a year after a relationship break up with the father of my children, which had been at my instigation. I was very confused as to which direction my life should take and had got involved with someone else I didn’t really want to be with but felt unable to break off. My therapist helped me come to terms with everything that had gone on and made me feel valid as a person again with the right to say no to situations/people without feeling guilty and thinking I was a horrible person. She made me realise my inability to say no and my fear of being unloved and unliked stemmed from a repressed childhood incident. My life has now turned around and I am extremely happy and able to give my opinion without worrying who I will upset and I don’t feel I have to go along with situations just for the sake of it cos I don’t want to upset anyone.
Social Phobia, General Anxiety and Self Esteem
My therapy has helped me realise that I am not as bad as I had forgotten I thought I was. It helped me remember the cause of the inner-dislike, and it showed me how that feeling had affected my perception and feelings about events during my childhood since the original cause. I now, feel like a weight has been lifted off my chest and have been left with a chance to make a fresh start without the inner-dislike of myself. I have been much happier since my therapy and feel like I can achieve more than I have up until now.
Hair Pulling and Finger Picking
I’m happy to say that the reasons I sought therapy for have been resolved; that my eyelashes, eyebrows and fingernails are starting to recover after years of abusing them. What I couldn’t have foreseen are the emotional benefits. Half way through therapy I almost gave up: I was looking for a quick fix for my habits and didn’t want to tackle any underlying reasons why I might have started them in the first place. Your organisation didn’t give up on me and after a second try at therapy, what I found was a complete cleansing of my thoughts and feelings about myself and life in general. I never believed I could ever feel this good. The past is no longer defining who I am; I’m enjoying the present; and looking forward to my future!
Social Phobia and Blushing
Before – I was an irrational blusher and suffered terribly at work, I would avoid situations that I knew would flare up my symptoms. Now – I feel so confident, happy and more importantly enjoy challenging myself to enter situations I previously would have avoided. I feel like I have a new lease of life.
Social Phobia
I had very bad social phobia since childhood. The fear I had when in any social situation was uncontrollable. I would try to avoid people as much as possible which effected all aspects of my life. After having a course of pure Hypno-analysis with my local hypnotherapist – therapists name – my fear of people has completely gone. I find it incredible and still have to pinch myself sometimes but pure Hypno-analysis has worked for me. I now see a bright future free from social phobia and look forward to getting out meeting new people and moving forwards in my career.
Social Phobia and Sexual Issues
I went into therapy feeling that if this did,nt work then I would spend the rest of my life being ruled by panic attacks. After 7-9 weeks in therapy with – therapists name – at the -therapist- center and my life has changed completely. I had no self confidence, no self esteem, and my driving force was anger. Anything I achieved through out my life was achieved through anger this is no longer the case. I have never experienced this kind of happiness or self worth. I will be forever grateful to hypnotherapy and – therapists name.
Eating Disorder
I finished my therapy very recently but I would say that my life has changed significantly. I feel more confident and worthy to go after what I want in life and that began by ending a destructive relationship I have been in. I was terrified of losing him at the start of my therapy, so what a turnaround in ten weeks!! I’m excited at what life has to offer which is amazing considering I’ve spent so long waiting for my life to get better. The biggest weight has been lifted and I know that I can lose the rest from my body now.
Depression, Anxiety and Anger Issues
I felt it crossed the T’s and dotted the I’s on a part of my life that had come to a head and it really felt like it ‘lanced’ a boil’ or wound that had not healed properly and was still festering within me. It now feels that the healing has occurred properly.
Weight Loss
Makes me feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders – Makes me understand why events happened – Lets me move on and forget about the events – It has left me feeling free
Past Issues
It has helped me come to an understanding about things that have happened in the past and helped me now move forward in a positive way, which I wasn’t able to previously.
Emetophobia
I started my therapy in Dec 08 when I was at my wits end; every waking minute of my day was consumed with emetophobia… Classic symptoms included not breathing through my mouth in public, hand washing all the time, not eating out, obsessing over my sons temperature and nappies, I started treatment and although I did not have the ‘big bang’ moment I did see an improvement in my condition after each session. After 4 or 5 sessions I was hesitant about continuing because of the emotions I exposed but towards the end (12-13 sessions) I looked forward to therapy and enjoyed the experience of travelling back in time. I am 90% cured, although I don’t think anyone is totally unphased by vomit so I see myself as ‘normal’ now. I enjoy life; I am closer to my son and worry only when I need to now. I can say that I do not like vomit but I am not overcome with the shakes, sweat and panic attacks when confronted with it or what could potentially be vomit. I feel like I can finally enjoy life and look after my son how I should….since my therapy I have fallen pregnant and suffered with awful nausea, I have not had ONE panic attack as a result and I firmly believe this is because of my therapy. I could continue but I think you get the point, one last point, my therapist was wonderful…. if you want to contact me to discuss my experience please feel free.
Emetophobia
It’s amazing. I had suffered from emetophobia for 22 years, and It was completely ruining my life. I had tried many different types of therapy before, but none really helped. My course of pure hypnoanalysis only took six sessions, and it has completely CURED me of my fear of being sick. I am just a new person, and it is amazing.
Sexual Issues and Childhood Abuse
The therapy helped me understand myself, give me more confidence in myself and allow me to feel normal again. I have since been enjoying getting on with my life happily!
Depression, Anxiety and Weight Issues
Though it was intense at times and it took a while to adjust to the process, the steady stripping away of the pain has been amazing and I felt in very safe hands all the time.
Emetophobia
My emetophobia is gone completely, so has my social anxiety. I can’t believe how fantastic I feel. I have wasted so much time and money on other therapies. I would recommend hypnoanalysis to anybody.
Anxiety, Bulimia and Childhood Abuse
The therapy has given me a greater understanding and acceptance of myself. It has helped me to make sense of things and to increase my self worth. It has given me the confidence to believe that I can overcome the eating disorder that I have had for the last 21 years…..I finally am starting to believe that I am lovable.
Depression and Anxiety
It has changed my life because I am now more confident,self assured and I like myself, still got a bit of a way to go but I know I will get there. I was a wreck when I first started my therapy and I honestly thought that was the person I was meant to be and would not have believed that in 12 weeks or so I would be the confident and strong woman that I am now. I no longer blame everything on things I thought were my fault. Now at 62 and single I am ready to live again. Thank you so much
Anxiety, Negative Thinking and Conflict Over Fetish
Banished negative thinking. Restored and enhanced confidence and self esteem. Stopped me catastrophising things and blaming others. Freed me of childhood guilt. Helped me enjoy my fetish instead of thinking I was a freak. Made me feel generally more happy and calm. Felt like a huge weight had been lifted from my body.
General Anxiety and Self Esteem
It’s been 2 months since I stopped and it’s taken me some time to get used to not having low self esteem and a feeling of worthlessness that I’ve had for over 40 years. That has taken some time but I am now feeling loads better. I’m beginning to realise I can achieve so much in life and have much more confidence in myself to grab chances when the come. I am now ready to take on whatever comes and to pursue the type of life I want for myself and not that which is dictated by what ‘should’ happen.
Shy Bladder and Anxiety
It’s hard to explain the change in me – it was a gradual process of self-discovery. I now feel able to cope with the stresses that life may bring me. Life feels calmer and I CAN COPE.
General Anxiety and Sleep Problems
The initial feelings of high anxiety have been relieved but mainly the guilt I felt but didn’t know I was carrying has been completely released. I now understand a bit better certain thought patterns and behaviours so much better than I could have imagined.
Weight Loss
I would recommend it to every one as it helps you wake up to things you know about but would never speak to close friends and family
Jealousy & Insecurity
I came to -therapists name – at the point when my jealousy and insecurities had reached breaking point. I felt very unhappy and angry all the time and could not see it getting better. Only seven sessions of free association with – therapists name – and I am extremely pleased to say that I feel on top of the world. Through free association hypnosis, – therapists name – has helped me bring out the emotions that I had bottled up while I was a child and get rid of all the guilt, anger and hatred that I had within myself which was seriously affecting my daily life as an adult. In my opinion, going for free association hypnosis was one of the best decisions I have made in my life. I would highly recommend – therapists name -, as she is extremely friendly, kind, non-judgemental and most importantly she knows what she is doing. Thank you for everything.
Eating Disorder
Although the experiences revealed in therapy were completely unexpected many things in my life now make sense – the missing parts of the jig-saw!
Childhood Abuse
I was very nervous about the thought of Hypnosis and didn’t think it would work for me as I’ve had this black cloud hanging over me, my whole life..(well since I could remember), and thought I would take this to the grave….but i’m the other side now as my therapy finished nearly 2 months ago now, and I’m still in shock as to what’s happened and I still can’t believe the new me….I really can’t put into words how this has changed my life. I am now such a confident adult, who’s wearing a constant smile, and don’t think of all the bad stuff that was in my childhood. I’m 38 and can’t believe I’ve got so much to look forward to. I understand it now when someone say’s they owe there life to someone, cause that’s how I feel toward my therapist. He will never know how much he has done for me. I will never doubt until I’ve tried something now.
General Anxiety
Therapy has made me look at things in a different way and has freed me to live again. Never thought something like hypno could work but at the time would have tired anything! it all makes more sense now …So glad I took the chance. Just go with it and stick with as on many occasions I didn’t want to go back. Glad I did!!! Thanks
Social Phobia and Self Confidence
– therapists name – has been absolutely wonderful and has given me a new lease of life. The self confident person that would happily recommend him to anyone
General Anxiety
Although I presented for therapy with known anxiety related problems, I have found since completing therapy that not alone have my original known problems eased considerably already but that other symptoms and behaviours that I had thought “normal for me” have also gone! This is an amazing therapy and the ONLY one that I know of that provides a real and lasting cure for emotional and nervous problems. Anything else that I’ve heard of or tried only treats the ongoing symptoms, never curing the problem.
Depression and General Anxiety
I attended therapy feeling depressed,that no one understood how I felt and that I should just try to get over it. events that I had no recall of came to the surface where I could begin to deal and accept them. I now feel at peace with a positive outlook to take with me..I like my self now.
Depression, Anxiety and Relationship Issues
Pure hypnoanalysis has completely changed my life and i’m really grateful . I would recommend this life changing therapy to anyone.
Comfort Eating
Therapy was difficult for me as I find it very hard to open up, but I do feel better for doing it. I was aware of my underlying problem, but I was not aware of how it had affected me and how it was the root cause of the compulsive symptoms I was displaying (comfort eating, nail biting, depression etc). Therapy has helped me to piece together the jigsaw of my childhood years – and, most importantly, helped me release the feelings of guilt and shame that I’d been carrying with me for so long. It seems so simple really but I honestly could not have done it without my therapist. I feel strongly that more people should be offered therapy as a treatment for emotional problems as opposed to drugs. I have tried both methods and would definitely recommend 12 weeks of therapy over 2 years on anti-depressants any day! I’m looking forward to the future!
Social Phobia and Sleep Problems
Life has changed Although I feel the same in myself, I am free of fear and worry of what others think of me. I’m just happy to be myself. I didn’t realise how this was controlling every aspect of my life until it had gone.
Depression, Anxiety and Sleep Problems
At the age of nearly 60years it has taken me 49years to get help for child abuse. My self esteem as come back, I feel normal again,all the guilt as gone and I can actually talk about it without feeling guilty. I feel a new person and without – therapists name – help I would have taken my life. This treatment has made me want to live again.
Depression, Anxiety, Panic and Claustrophobia
I am no longer paralysed with fear and unable to complete only the most basic of tasks. I am no longer suffering from feelings of claustrophobia and no longer getting panic attacks. I feel much calmer and not so stressed about people and events around me. I feel a much stronger person mentally.
General Anxiety and Childhood Abuse
All of my ailments, depression, drug abuse, cystitis, irritable leg syndrome, aches and pains – gone!! What a mixture! Plus I can sing and I don’t care who’s listening. I studied psychology and counselling for years – I have had many hours of analysis. It took 8 hours of hypnoanalysis. I voted with my feet, I am now a hypnoanalyst.
Social Phobia, Anxiety and Relationship Issues
I have just completed therapy and feel full of hope and determination that I am a worthwhile person which i would never have believed. I wish you all continued success in your most amazing science.
Pre-Menstrual Tension
The benefits from my therapy started the minute – therapists name – phoned me back to arrange my first session. I will say though that I was really nervous and didn’t know what to expect…apart from the feeling I had on my wedding day,I have never been on such a roller coaster of emotion. To have the feeling of happiness back in my life means everything to me. It has totally changed my life and has made me want to work really hard to hold onto this fantastic feeling. I would also add that in my opinion it is down to the therapist you see,as over a period of two months I felt comfortable enough to share information that I haven’t even told my own Father or Husband about to – therapists name – who I only met! and that is a huge achievement on his behalf. Thank you for everything
Panic
It is only a week since I have completed therapy so therefore very early days. However, I feel very excited about the future, especially booking holidays and going away, and am very keen to put myself to the test. Life looks and feels very positive and I feel extremely happy and contented.
General Anxiety
I feel calmer, more in control and less panicky. The biggest thing for me was being able to walk down the aisle and get married, knowing there were many many people watching me. Normally this would have made me want the ground to open up and swallow me but I remained calm and collected and actually enjoyed myself, which is exactly how a bride’s big day should be!
General Anxiety
Transformed my life. Have confidence, energy, drive and excitement for the future. I no longer have a critical voice inside my head. I am calmer, have emotions that are appropriate and at an appropriate level of intensity (i.e. are not irrational) My friends notice a huge difference in my outward level of happiness. An incredible experience that I would recommend to anyone and everyone that feels they have an issue that is holding them back.
Depression
I feel much stronger as a person, and have stopped blaming myself for a lot of the past.
Vaginismus
I have only just very recently finished my therapy and I feel great. My sex drive is back with a vengeance and my spirits have lifted. I have noticed that I am more tolerant, calm and even tempered. I feel so full of energy during the day and I sleep like a baby at night (if I want to that is!). My friends and family have commented on the difference in me. Actually the nicest thing of all is that after a particularly stressful eighteen months in my marriage I have fallen in love with my husband all over again. I have recommended this therapy to many friends and family on the strength of my personal experience.
Social Phobia
I can cope much better, with everything it seems. I am generally happier and more relaxed. I feel far less angry and frustrated at things and my anxiety levels have really gone down. I didn’t realise that I had any sexual inhibitions at all but now I am definitely more ‘liberated’ – nothing kinky or weird though! I am also much more affectionate in my relationships with my other half and my child. I am aware of still going through some emotional changes but I feel that these can only be for the better in the long run judging by the changes so far.
Anxiety
This is powerful stuff. I feel free of the anxiety that had hijacked my life. I was on heightened alert waiting for someone to say a trigger word that would set me into a terrible blushing and anxiety attack. At times I did not want to be alive because I could not tolerate my anxiety attacks and how I felt about myself as a result. Now I feel 100% alive and I really like being free and empowered. I feel I am in control of my life and i like my life.
Social Phobia, Sexual Issues and General Anxiety
I just cannot believe how easy it was to get rid of my anxieties, and looking pain it was quite painless. I cannot recommend pure hypnoanalysis enough. Areas in my life in terms of sex and social anxiety that i thought i was just cursed in – actually turn out to make such sense as to why i was like i was. I have been living with a repression of rape and was abused on other occasions by a family friend. For a man it is difficult to comprehend but it happened. My life is different now. As far as sexual issues and anxieties go, they have practically stopped. I am having to rebuild my self esteem and strength but my life is 10 times better now. If it was not for this treatment i would be lost and in conflict forever – I know the repression and abuse was real because of the tears, sweat and genuine fear that came up. Also the negative symptoms that have plagued my life in work, social, sexual and relationships have been eradicated I am thankful to the organisation and my therapists and it really has been a journey of true discovery.
Bruxism
I am now ready to take on my life, experience everything and become better than i could have ever dreamed 4 months ago before my consultation. I had been suffering from intense bruxism every day (during the day & night) for several years. I tried osteopathy and a night splint (from my dentist) but neither made any difference. My osteopath suggested hypnotherapy, recommending a therapist. After a long & difficult time I am so happy to have finally got rid of the daytime bruxism and general tension & unhappiness. I am confident that the last remnants of tension in my jaw will disappear with time. I had no idea that hypnotherapy could deal with physical problems and have no hesitation in recommending it and my therapist to anyone.