F.A.Q.s

Welcome to the Performers’ Hypnotist.

Below is a summary of the most frequently asked questions about hypnotherapy. Please do get in touch if you would like to ask anything further.

How do I know if I can be hypnotised?

Have you ever drifted off into a pleasant daydream? Been so absorbed in an activity that you didn’t hear someone call your name? Arrived home on auto-pilot and not remembered the last few moments of the journey? These are all examples of a hypnotic state. If you’ve experienced these, you can experience hypnotherapy.

What does hypnosis feel like?

Modern day hypnotherapy does not always require you to go into a trance: much hypnosis can be done quite conversationally. Having said that, guiding you into a gentle trance can help you relax and allow your conscious mind to quieten. Many people liken trance to a kind of daydream. You remain awake but you will likely feel very relaxed. For those who go into a deep trance, you may feel as if you are drifting off; you’re aware of what’s going on but you allow yourself to let go, almost as if you are hovering between being awake and asleep. Some people report that they didn’t feel like they went into a trance at all, and yet they noticed significant changes almost immediately after their session.

Does it work for everyone?

Everyone can be hypnotised to some degree. While the depth of trance differs from person to person, and there are no concrete guarantees, if you come with an open mind and are willing to follow my instructions, the chances of it working are extremely high.

Is it like stage hypnosis?

No. You may have seen stage shows where a group of people are hypnotised and act out various scenarios such as pretending to be ballerinas or horse jockeys. Stage hypnotists are incredibly skilled at picking the right people from their audience. They need volunteers who are willing to have a go, want to have a bit of fun and are not worried about looking a bit silly! Part of what the volunteers do on stage is social compliance: they are invested in everything going well. That’s not to say they aren’t in trance and having a hypnotic experience - they usually are, but they are aware it’s part of a show. You may see some volunteers sent back to their seats during the show; this is usually because they are not fully following the hypnotist’s instructions. It doesn’t mean they can’t be hypnotised under other circumstances and many stage and street hypnotists also work as hypnotherapists; they are just using their skills in those scenarios for entertainment. When you see a hypnotherapist as a client, however, the emphasis is about giving you back control and helping you to make the changes you’d like to make. You can’t be made to do anything that goes against your values.

Is there any scientific evidence to show that hypnotherapy is safe and effective?

Hypnosis was approved by the British Medical Association in 1955 and the American Medical Association in 1958. The American Psychological Association approved hypnosis as a science in 1960. 

The following are examples of studies demonstrating how hypnotherapy can treat a wide range of challenges:

Hammer et al (2021) hypnotherapy provided relief for anxiety, confidence and exam stress.

Alladin & Alibhai (2007) hypnotherapy was more effective than C.B.T. in treating depression.

Smyth (2004) hypnotherapy alleviated depression in a medication resistant patient.

Abramowitz & Lichtenberg, (2010) hypnotherapy was effective in treating panic disorder.

Noble (2002) and Iglesias & Iglesias (2014) hypnotherapy was effective in the treatment of phobias.

Olendzki et al., (2020) hypnotherapy can treat obsessive compulsive disorders.

Gupta & Sidana (2020) hypnotherapy was effective as a treatment for coping with grief.

Lam et al., (2015) hypnotherapy alleviated insomnia.

Hasan et al., (2014) hypnotherapy is an effective treatment for smoking cessation.

 Greetham et al (2016) hypnotherapy is a proven treatment for weight loss.

Is there anyone you won’t treat?

Although I do treat weight management and improving relationships with food, as well as low mood and anxiety, I do not treat eating disorders, P.T.S.D. or clinical depression. However, I can refer clients to a trusted colleague who specialises in these areas.

Can I be persuaded to do something I don’t want to do?

Not at all. You will be completely in control and I will be monitoring you closely throughout our session.  You will be able to offer feedback at any time during the process. If something doesn’t resonate with you, you’ll be able to communicate that, just as you would in a normal conversation.  

I’m worried my problem is silly, embarrassing or trivial. Will I be judged?

Absolutely not! I want you to feel safe, validated and respected. No challenge is silly or trivial, especially if it is causing you concern, and you have no need to feel embarrassed when you come to see me; I will most likely have heard it before. Everything you say is confidential, the only exception being if I believe you are a danger to yourself or to others. I will do my absolute best to help you with whatever you are facing, and do so completely judgement free.

Can I book an appointment right now?

I will see you as soon as possible, calendar allowing. However, please do get in touch first, so we can have a short chat about what you’d like to achieve and to make sure we are a good fit.

What should I expect from a session?

Before your first appointment, you’ll be sent some welcome instructions and a form to fill out and send back. In your first session, we’ll start by having a chat about what you’d like to achieve, what you mind have tried before and go from there.

We’ll explore some gentle relaxation exercises and I’ll teach you some techniques you can use on your own.

I’ll take you through a short visualisation, much like a guided meditation, so that your conscious mind can deeply relax, allowing me to have a conversation with your unconscious mind, whereby I’ll ask for co-operation in helping you achieve your desired outcome.

At the end of the session, I will bring you back out of trance, feeling refreshed and alert but remaining relaxed.

Sometimes, it may feel as if a session ends rather abruptly but rest assured, that is deliberate in order to stop the conscious mind overly analysing the session. This gives the unconscious mind time to make the necessary changes: it’s best to allow at least three days. Then you are very welcome to get in touch to discuss anything that has come up for you. I will check in to see how you are getting on also.

What if I can’t visualise?

When I talk about visualisation, I am not asking you to imagine things exactly as they are in real life, simply to have an idea of what a particular image might mean to you and that, of course, is personal to your own experience. While some people do have a condition called “aphantasia” where they struggle to produce mental images, I’ve yet to meet a client who can’t get a sense of something in a way that we can use in our session.

Will I blurt out all my secrets?

No! We don’t need to keep delving into the past for hypnosis to work; it’s not like traditional therapy. With some techniques, you may be asked to briefly recall a particular experience or time in your life, so that we can work together to loosen its grip on you. However, you do not need to share that experience with me if you would rather not. You will be in control the entire time and anything you choose to reveal will be entirely your decision and will remain completely confidential (the only exception being if I believe you are a danger to yourself or to others).

Can I get stuck in a trance?

No, in the same way you don’t get stuck in a daydream. You will be perfectly safe and able to rouse yourself at any time.

Can hypnotherapy really be done online?

It works incredibly well. And it means that you can have a session in the comfort of your own home and we don’t even need to be in the same time zone!

How long does it take?

We usually start with a 90 minute session to go through what you’d like to achieve, what you may have tried before and what did or didn’t work. Follow up appointments tend to be 60 minutes but we can tailor these to adapt to your schedule.

Many people find they only need two sessions to deal with an issue such as smoking cessation and to start see significant change in areas such as confidence boosting, anxiety relief or phobias. Weight management programmes are 5 sessions. Bear in mind that if you have a number of challenges you’d like to work on, separate sessions may be needed.

How much does it cost?

Packages start from €250.00 for a 90 minute one-to-one introductory session with a 60 minute follow-up.

A four session package is €445.00, which includes a 90 minute one-to-one introductory session, followed by three x 60 minute sessions.

A five session package is €480.00.

A six session package is €560.00.

Please note times are approximate and depending on how you respond, sessions may be shorter in duration.

For workshop and group sessions, please get in touch to discuss your requirements.

What’s the next step?

Send me an email or message and we can book in a time to have a short, no pressure, discovery call. Please note I am not able to respond when I am with a client but I will get back to you as soon as I can.

We’ll have a chat about what you’d like to achieve, make sure we are a good fit and discuss how many sessions would be most appropriate. If and when you’re ready to proceed, I’ll send you a payment link for the first session and we’ll book in your initial 90 minute appointment at a time to suit. I’ll send you some welcome instructions with a short booking form and we’ll take it from there.

Email: info@performershypnotist.com

WhatsApp: +353 83 184 2883