Transcending the physical world
HYPNOTHERAPY
A Journey To Self-Transformation
Join us to explore and debunk the common myths and misconceptions surrounding hypnosis to better understand its benefits and dispel any fears.
Hypnosis is a state of mind, enhanced by mental and physical relaxation, in which our subconscious is able to communicate with our own conscious mind.
Did you know you were doing self-hypnosis all this time…?
When you close your eyes and focus on your breath, control your thoughts, or even when you drift off to sleep, you’re experiencing a form of self-hypnosis. This involves transitioning between different brainwave states, moving from alertness to a state of relaxation where you feel deeply relaxed but still aware. This is often referred to as a trance state.
Importantly, you remain in control throughout this trance process. Have you ever noticed that your mind allows a simple noise like the postman delivering a letter, a dog barking, a car engine or simply your intention to be not late for work has the power to wake you up quickly and bring you back to full alertness?
When you, the client, use the external assistance of a qualified therapist like us at LIGWE, the process of taking you into a trance to a deep state of relaxation where hypnotherapist and client work together with your subconscious mind is called ‘Hypnotherapy’. The hypnotherapist will only be able to address the agreed issues if you “subconsciously” permit access and cooperate with the process to happen. To give subconscious permission you must trust your hypnotherapist.
Before the hypnotherapy session, the therapist will explore the issue with you and agree on a course of action. This may take one or various sessions depending on how deeply ingrained the issue is.
The Hypnotherapist typically induces you into a relaxed state, often harnessing your subconscious, memories and imagination and employing a diverse array of tools and techniques which may include storytelling, metaphor, or symbolism tailored to resonate with the individual client, along with direct suggestions for beneficial change.
Is Hypnotherapy synonymous with Stage Hypnosis? The definitive answer is a big blunt “NO”. While stage hypnosis primarily serves as a one-off entertainment session, hypnotherapy emerges instead as a dedicated, personalised exploration of your automatic thoughts and behaviours, your subconscious patterns and intermediate programming and the core beliefs that we acquired since childhood which are surfacing in the present times in form of negative emotions, disruptive feelings and unwanted behaviours.
Both self-hypnosis and hypnotherapy as therapeutic approaches have the power to harness the built-in healing capacity of the body, making it a versatile solution for a myriad of issues, including stress, anxiety, panic, phobias, habits, addictions, sleep disturbances, confidence issues, fear of public speaking, allergies, skin disorders, migraines, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and more. Hypnotherapy has also proven beneficial in surgery, pain management, and performance enhancement in sports and the arts. Serving as a complement to other counselling techniques, it aids in resolving relationship challenges and proves valuable within anger management strategies.
What is a therapy?
Therapy means individual consultation group sessions, or other therapies offered by us to you. The therapy will be based on the information you provide to the therapist, we ask please you provide the information as accurately as possible. We will advise you if some of your past or current conditions may prevent us from delivering the therapies. Some therapy may involve light physical touch with no need to remove clothing. Respect for personal body privacy will be maintained at all times.
The list of problems which may be amenable to Hypnotherapy is far too long and varied to catalogue but certainly includes stress, anxiety, panic, phobias, unwanted habits and addictions (e.g. smoking, overeating, alcoholism), disrupted sleep patterns, lack of confidence and low self-esteem, fear of examinations and public speaking, allergies and skin disorders, migraine and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Additionally, it has proved of value within surgery, where normal anaesthetics have not been practical, in the wider sphere of pain management and in the areas of both sporting and artistic performance enhancement. As an adjunct to other counselling techniques, it can also assist in helping to resolve relationship difficulties and be useful within anger management strategies.” (GHR) Read more.
But, to further explain what Hypnotherapy entails and how it interacts with other techniques, we would like to take you on a journey to explore your mind structure and how trance therapies work…
You are never alone!
Step 1: Observing how our mind works
Going into trance means progressing from being awake to a deeper state of consciousness. This is the process you do on your own every time you day-dream or go to sleep.
38 to 50 Hz Gamma waves: They represent the pinnacle of brain activity, correlated with heightened alertness, enhanced concentration, and proficient problem-solving abilities. Recent research, albeit limited in scope, suggests that individuals exposed to binaural beats aligned with gamma frequencies, particularly at 40 Hz, exhibited notable enhancements in memory retention, cognitive function, and mood regulation.
12 to 38 Hertz Beta Brainwaves: They characterize our typical state of wakefulness when attention is directed towards cognitive tasks and external stimuli. Operating at a rapid pace, beta activity signifies alertness, focused problem-solving, decision-making, and engagement with mental tasks including cognitive processing, integration of new experiences, and heightened emotional states like anxiety or excitement. Although sustained high-frequency beta processing demands significant energy, it underpins an active and attentive mind. However, excessive beta waves are associated with heightened anxiety levels.
8 to 12Hz Alpha Brainwaves: They assert their prominence during periods of tranquil contemplation and certain meditative practices, embodying a state of present awareness and mental equipoise. Serving as the brain’s default resting state, alpha waves facilitate holistic mental synchronization, fostering a sense of calmness, heightened alertness, and seamless integration between mind and body. They signify a mind at ease, conducive to relaxation and rejuvenation. Scientific studies suggest that exposure to binaural beats within the alpha frequency range can potentially enhance creativity in select individuals, underscoring the role of alpha brainwave stimulation in cognitive processes.
3 to 8 Hertz Theta Brainwaves: They manifest predominantly during sleep cycles and deep meditation, serving as a conduit for learning, memory consolidation, and intuitive insights. In the theta state, sensory awareness retreats from external stimuli, directing attention inward. This transitional phase resembles a twilight zone between waking and sleeping, characterized by vivid imagery, heightened intuition, and access to subconscious information beyond conscious reach. Theta waves encapsulate our deepest emotions, fears, and unresolved experiences, often surfacing during the initial stage of light sleep. Additionally, theta activity accompanies states of drowsiness and meditative practices.
0.5 to 3 Hertz Delta Brainwaves: They represent slow and powerful brain activity characterized by deep penetration akin to a drum-beat. These waves emerge during profound meditation and dreamless sleep, inducing a state of internal focus while suspending external awareness, fostering empathy. Notably, deep restorative sleep crucially promotes healing and regeneration due to the stimulation of this brainwave pattern. As the slowest brainwaves, delta waves, with frequencies under 4 Hz, become prominent during the transition to deeper sleep stages, potentially accompanied by dreaming. Utilizing binaural beats at delta frequencies can facilitate sleep induction, offering a tool for enhancing restorative rest.
Sources:
BrainworksNeurotherapy.com (https://brainworksneurotherapy.com/what-are-brainwaves).
Sleep Foundation and sleepfoundation.org (with the National Library of Medicine and the National Center for Biotechnology Information)
So… Why do I Feel This Way…?
Within the complex workings of the human mind lies the fascinating capacity to suppress unpleasantness, a phenomenon observed in the repression of emotions or memories. It is noteworthy, however, that not all distressing memories succumb to repression. Instances characterized by intense emotions, such as fear, shame, or sorrow, become candidates for this cognitive mechanism. In essence, the mind selectively employs repression when confronted with experiences deemed profoundly disagreeable, showcasing the complexities of psychological self-preservation.
What is Repression?
“Repression” represents the sophisticated psychological process of consciously excluding desires, impulses, wishes, fantasies, and emotions from one’s immediate consciousness. This intricate mechanism aims to restrain and subdue these elements within the subconscious realm. In essence, repression involves strategically placing discomforting thoughts into less accessible corners of the subconscious mind. When confronted with overwhelming experiences that challenge our ability to cope, we instinctively push them aside, postponing their resolution or hoping for their eventual dissipation through the passage of time.
In instances of repression, individuals authentically remain oblivious to the occurrence of specific incidents. Remarkably, if probed about such events later in life, these individuals adamantly assert, under oath, that said incidents never transpired. This phenomenon is particularly evident when the events preceding an incident are profoundly traumatic, prompting the mind to enact a protective mechanism that selectively blocks out the distressing details. Consequently, victims may find themselves devoid of any recollection of the traumatic events in question, underscoring the profound impact of the mind’s defence mechanisms.
Unlocking the Secrets of the Mind:
Unveiling Repression for Personal Growth and Healing!
Releasing repressed emotions is a pivotal step towards personal growth and enhanced well-being. Here are several examples of therapeutic approaches and practices that individuals can adopt to facilitate the release of repressed emotions, for example:
- Therapeutic Counselling
- Journaling
- Mindfulness and Meditation
- Artistic Expression
- Body-Centred Therapies
- Breathwork
- Support Groups
- Inner Child Work
- EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques)
- Trauma-Informed Therapies
By embracing these practices and seeking professional guidance when needed, individuals can embark on a journey of emotional release, leading to personal growth, enhanced self-awareness, and overall well-being.
The importance of our beliefs
Because we will work deep in the subconscious level, we are looking for to open the gates that lead us to the core beliefs and surrounding mechanisms.
We respect your views whether you may be an atheist or a religious person, or a seeker of ancient experiences and knowledge like UCDM/ACIM, Kabbalah, Vedic, Christian, new age, shamanism, etc. Please share with us your views and interests so we can tailor the therapy to the beliefs both you and we feel comfortable with.
What is Anxiety?
The anxiety we address here is intricately linked to subconscious origins or intensified by conscious associations. Experiencing worry or tension in response to pressure or stressful situations is a common and natural aspect of being human. Anxiety, as orchestrated by the body’s stress response system “FIGHT OR FLIGHT”, serves as an automatic alarm activated in the face of perceived threats. While anxiety (like stress), even if uncomfortable, plays a crucial role by keeping us alert, focused, and motivated to address challenges, its persistent and overwhelming presence can signify a transition from normal anxiety to the realm of anxiety disorders. When anxiety becomes a constant hindrance, disrupting relationships and daily activities, it indicates a deviation from the ordinary spectrum of anxiety, anxiety is going out of your self-control.
As anxiety disorders encompass a spectrum of related conditions rather than a singular disorder.
Several significant types of anxiety disorders exist, each characterized by its distinct set of symptoms and manifestations, from phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder to panic attacks involving the feeling of losing control or going crazy, hyperventilation or other symptoms.
A considerable number of individuals grappling with anxiety disorders also find themselves contending with depression at various junctures. The intertwining relationship between anxiety and depression is rooted in a shared biological vulnerability, elucidating why they frequently coexist.
We can Self-Check: Beyond the core symptoms of irrational fear and excessive worry, anxiety often manifests through a range of emotional indicators. These include sensations of apprehension or dread, difficulty concentrating, heightened tension or jumpiness, anticipation of worst-case scenarios, irritability, restlessness, vigilance for potential dangers, and the sensation of one’s mind going blank among other symptoms. Recognizing these emotional nuances is crucial in comprehensively understanding and addressing the multifaceted nature of anxiety, paving the way for tailored interventions and holistic well-being.
- Pounding heart or sweating
- Stomach upset or dizziness
- Frequent urination or diarrhoea
- Shortness of breath
- Tremors or twitches
- Muscle tension or headaches
- Fatigue, insomnia, to name a few.
What is Chronic Stress?
The body’s natural stress response mechanism is inherently designed to be self-regulating. Following the resolution of a perceived threat, hormonal levels typically return to baseline, facilitating the normalization of physiological functions. As adrenaline and cortisol levels diminish, heart rate and blood pressure stabilize, while other bodily systems resume their usual operations. However, in scenarios where stressors persist chronically, perpetually eliciting feelings of being under siege, the fight-or-flight response remains persistently activated.
Prolonged activation of the stress response system, coupled with excessive exposure to cortisol and other stress hormones, can disrupt virtually all bodily processes, leaving individuals susceptible to an array of health concerns. These include but are not limited to anxiety, depression, digestive disturbances, headaches, muscular tension, cardiovascular ailments, sleep disturbances, weight fluctuations, and cognitive impairments affecting memory and concentration. The cumulative toll underscores the imperative of managing stress effectively to safeguard overall well-being and mitigate long-term health risks.
What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder? (PTSD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent anxiety disorder triggered by highly distressing or traumatic events (the trauma). Individuals afflicted with PTSD often undergo a harrowing cycle of reliving the traumatic incident through distressing nightmares and flashbacks. Feelings of isolation, irritability, and guilt commonly accompany these experiences, while disruptions in sleep patterns and difficulties with concentration further exacerbate the condition. Such symptoms persist persistently, significantly impacting the individual’s daily functioning and quality of life.
Various events can precipitate the onset of PTSD, including death of a loved one, witnessing an accident, serious medical diagnosis, severe neglect, abuse, or violence and even childhood experiences. The disorder can manifest immediately following the distressing event or may surface weeks, months, or years later. Despite affecting approximately one in three individuals who experience trauma, the precise factors determining susceptibility to PTSD remain unclear. The condition’s complex nature underscores the need for comprehensive understanding and effective intervention strategies.
Step 2: Accepting that we have a problem
It is OK to recognise we want to feel better
Maintaining optimal mental health is essential for everyone, as our minds play a fundamental role in our overall well-being. Occasionally, persistent and intrusive thoughts can exert a significant influence on our emotions, sensations, and overall outlook, signalling the need for self-care or external support.
Just as we readily seek assistance for physical ailments like the flu, heart conditions, or digestive issues, it’s equally important to address mental health concerns without hesitation. Open dialogue with both professionals and trusted individuals in our support network is crucial, fostering a supportive environment where mental health matters can be openly discussed and addressed.
What symptoms can be alleviated using trance state?
- Allergies with emotional basis.
- Pain Relief: physical pain, flare reactions and Anesthesia for Surgery or invasive treatments.
- Bad habits and addictions: such as smoking, over drinking etc.
- Dermatology: such as atopic dermatitis may show decreased pruritus, scratching, sleep disturbance, and tension.
- Fears and phobias: such as enclosed spaces, insects etc
- Gastroenterology: such as ulcers, functional dyspepsia, colitis, IBS etc.
- Pre/Post Surgery or Injury: clients may show marginally faster healing, diminished pain, and increased mobility and functionality.
- Hypertension: significant decrease in blood pressure systolic and diastolic below their baseline.
- Neurology: tension headaches, migraines, significant reduction in the number, duration, and intensity of headaches.
- Weight control: such as sleep apnea, motivation, emotional eating etc.
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
- Obstetrics: such as anesthesia for childbirth for less discomfort and shortened labour.
- Oncology: less anticipatory nausea and vomiting including when undergoing chemotherapy.
- Otorhinolaryngology: chronic tinnitus reduced disturbing symptoms.
- Paliative Care and other clinically diagnosed clients.
- Physical pain related to emotional traumas.
- Rheumatology: refractory fibromyalgia, morning fatigue, sleep, muscle pain etc.
- Urology: impotence, urinary incontinence etc.
Step 3: Knowing that there is help available
Find the right support for you
- Talk to your GP first.
- Get help without talking to your GP. See NHS talking therapies services
- Get help at work, school or college.
- Finding community and public resources. See Mental Health Useful Links
- Using complementary therapies like ours. Complementary therapies are therapeutic approaches that sit outside the medical mainstream but work alongside your GP and conventional medical practices to support your recovery.
Step 4: Getting Started
Knowing that you are always in control: Just open your eyes...
By taking the steps to get better during the therapy you allow the therapist to lead you so your own mind can work on the repressed events. None can be hypnotised against their will since the subconscious mind’s agreement is necessary to achieve the required in-depth relaxation.
Regardless of how deeply people may go from visualisation and the other stages and into hypnosis and however passive people may appear to be, you actually remain in full control of the situation.
Your are fully able to talk if you wish to (or not, as the case may be) and can stand up and leave the room at any time. Neither can a hypnotised person be made to do anything against their usual ethical or moral judgement or religious belief.
Important Self Care
IMPORTANT PLEASE READ: When working with the subconscious you want to take good and loving care of yourself. After all, you are doing impressive self-transformation work to feel better and more connected with yourself and the world around you.
We, and so you, reserve the right to refuse the session if we feel physically unsafe, disrespected or abused, or whether we suspect that the person is under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol.
Please note that when the session has finished (in person or online) you may feel very relaxed, and it is therefore recommended that you should stand up slowly from the couch/chair/floor and leave a short period of time before resuming a normal routine.
Following the session, please refrain from driving or operating machinery until you feel fully alert and able to do so. We advise having a fruit or snack and a bottle of water handy. This is to ensure you are fully alert before driving away or resuming your daily life. Please be mindful of any other circumstances that may affect your safety.
During or after the session, distressing, unresolved memories or emotions may surface. You could experience reactions that neither you nor me, may have anticipated. This can include a high level of emotion or physical sensations.
Following the session, you can sometimes feel “out of sorts” or like when you just woke up in the morning due to the subconscious or energy work that has been completed. This is very normal as the inner mind begins to work with its many potentials and resources.
After the session, the processing of physical and mental wellbeing may continue, in the form of physical changes, dreams, memories, feelings etc. You may feel emotional or even lighter in emotions. Any reaction whether positive or negative may occur, but this is normal and expected. If you have no reaction at all, this is fine too.
We would like to give you a few days to process your findings after your inner work. But if you need to talk to us earlier, please WhatsApp on (+44) 0 7 7 1 5 2 2 1 6 4 3 . You are not alone!
About the work ahead, if you don’t know where to start integrating new findings or changes, please let us know how you would like our continued support. We can then prepare a customised plan for you based on your recent inner work outcome or resulting feelings. The proposed plan may include one or various therapies or techniques we offer.
Meanwhile, when you are available for a chat in the week following the session, please book a FREE Feedback Call with us. We would love to hear about your recent experience working within yourself; if you have any epiphany and how did you find working with LIGWE. Your feedback for our website and your word of mouth is very important to us, as we would like LIGWE to offer this service to help more people with these tools.
Would you like to check other therapies we offer?
LIGWE assists with a journey of self-transformation aimed at individuals to unveil subconscious patterns blocking themselves and their success. In addition to Hypnotherapy, we offer support based on various exercises, techniques and tools from Interventions and Meditation to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and Regression to shift people’s emotions, and habits and ease negative core beliefs impacting their personal lives, their professions or businesses. Find out more on the links below.
See the other core therapies and our ongoing support
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