Amanda Walsh MBPsS
Psychologist and Clinical Hypnotherapist
'There is nothing he may not make natural;
there is nothing natural he may not lose'
B. Pascal
CBT- Hyp
Through my guidance, you can develop your capacity to achieve your goals, to experience long-term change, gaining insight into your difficulties and a clearer perspective.
Why speak to a therapist?
Many people engage in therapy for personal development reasons; in order to reach their potential, achieve goals and gain a clearer perspective. Therapy has the potential to facilitate insights, developing self-awareness and changes which can lead to one gaining a sense of control and fulfilment.
There are also times in life where we may find it difficult to deal with challenges we face, feeling overwhelmed, stuck, confused, worried or fearful. In today’s modern society many people are under immense pressure. Pressure may be personal, financial and/or work. Undeniably, during a time where many work and home environments have become increasingly pressurised from external and internal stressors, people are experiencing a variety of challenges. As humans when faced with change and uncertainty we are vulnerable to stress, anxiety and low mood. Therapy provides you with tools and resources for dealing with life’s challenges, improving how we respond to challenging situations and circumstances. Taking care of our mental health is a healthy approach to life’s challenges. Learning strategies to reduce worry and stress, developing inner strengths, increasing coping ability are valuable life skills enhancing psychological resilience, health and well-being.
CBT- Hyp or Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy (CBH)
CBH is a combination of cognitive, behavioural and hypnotic interventions. CBH is the abbreviation used to refer to the incorporating of clinical hypnotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) techniques and strategies. The combination of the two most widely researched and most effective therapeutic techniques maximises the therapeutic outcomes.
Psychological and emotional difficulties are found to emerge from negative, unhelpful and destructive cognitions. When we use the word cognition, we are referring to mental activity, which can be represented in words. This includes thoughts, attitudes, ideas, beliefs etc. To find a valuable solution for a difficulty it is essential to assess how the problem functions. The current cognitions, information-processing, problematic thinking patterns and behaviours are monitored, assessed and altered through CBH.
The emphasis in CBH is on the 'here and now'; on the current cognitions and behavioural responses. CBH is an evidenced based approach. Therapeutic interventions, which focus on the past, looking and waiting for ‘insight’ to emerge through hours of talking through past incidents and experiences, viewed as merely an excuse for procrastination. This approach can frequently serve to disempower clients as one is constantly focusing on past reflections and negative unhealthy thoughts, with these responses becoming part of their identity accompanied by an increased chance of relapse. While CBH recognises that the past is important, it takes second place to the 'here and now'. Symptoms and roots are viewed as thoroughly interwoven, pull one thread; we are pulling all the others.
The rationale for including hypnosis...
Hypnosis enables the focusing and sustaining of attention on suggestions. In other words, the client focuses attention on the realistic and helpful suggestions. These suggestions are alternative ways of thinking and processing circumstances and events. Suggestibility is increased in hypnosis therefore, the client is less likely to become distracted and is consequently more responsive to the CBT techniques, there in lays the central rationale for combining hypnosis with CBT. It is extraordinarily powerful.
Notably, Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy (CBH), it is not emphasising the 'power of positive thinking'. CBH acknowledges that positive thinking in itself is insufficient. CBH is a constructive approach, recognising and working on the individual's unique version and perspective on their reality. This reality which the individual has lived with, which has gone unquestioned and has lent itself to psychological distress. The clients processing of information and biases in perception uncovered, monitored, altered to develop more productive, healthy patterns in thinking. This results in one achieving relief from symptoms (e.g. stress, anxiety, fear, anger, panic), freedom from habitual behaviours, developing psychological resilience, well – being and long term gains.
Equipping you with strategies to cope with difficulties, using powerful and effective techniques.
Hypnosis
'Meta-analyses have established that different psychotherapies have different outcomes. Cognitive-behavioural therapies are significantly more effective than psychodynamic therapies, and their superiority increases when long-term follow-up is assessed. Hypnosis enhances the efficacy of both psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy'. (Kirsch, 1996)
Hypnosis is essentially a cognitive (thought) process. Hypnosis utilises naturally occurring physiological and psychological processes. Hypnosis refers to a systematic process, which in general heightens ones suggestibility. Hypnosis involves focusing attention on a suggestion, in other words focusing on a thought, sensation, feeling, behaviour or image, ignoring or disregarding possible distractions. Through the guidance of your therapist, you are directed in using the imagination to evoke productive thoughts and emotions. You collaborate with your therapist regarding the suggestions to introduce. You make the suggestion your own.
Hypnosis has many important functions. For instance, hypnosis provides access to non-conscious psychological processes. In using the term non-conscious, I do not intend to imply that it provides access to some form of mysterious, supernatural experience that stage performers, illusionists and movie writes may try to convince us of. To read more on this topic please click here.
The term non-conscious is used to refer to processes, which are not mediated by conscious awareness. We are referring to processes that one carries out automatically, they are thus well rehearse and practiced; therefore, the processes are not currently in consciously awareness. For example; driving a car, riding a bicycle, carrying out a habit or daily routine etc. The activity and thought processes behind it, are well rehearsed and practiced consequently, they have become non-conscious. The thoughts and behaviours are conducted automatically and therefore frequently do not come to conscious attention.
Notably, there are cognitions, information processes and behaviours performed everyday, which are maladaptive and destructive and as they become automatic and part of the way information is processed, they are no longer brought to conscious awareness. This is where hypnosis plays a key role. In hypnosis, our ability to access the non-conscious processes increases. The introduction of this component to therapy maximises the effectiveness of CBT techniques. With attention focused, one is consequently more responsive to the CBT techniques.
CBH involves focusing attention on a suggestion, in other words focusing on a thought, sensation, feeling, behaviour or image, ignoring or disregarding possible distractions. The suggestions, which are introduced by the therapist, in hypnosis, are based on exploring the presenting problem. The therapist based on your consultation, suggests powerful thoughts, feelings, attitudes and visualisations. You allow yourself to follow the guidance and direction of your therapist to focus attention on suggestions. Through hypnosis, you engage your imagination evoking positive emotions and rehearsing change in thoughts and behaviour. Effective therapy encourages the re-evaluation of those cognitions and aids in providing a replacement perspective. Altering cognitions in this way thereby influences feelings and behaviour.
Hypnosis also provides the client with a sense of self-control. The client learns to induce hypnosis and learns the skills involved in self-hypnosis. This is a valuable skill, integral to preventing the recurrence of symptoms. To read more about self - hypnosis please click here
CBH involves psychological variables including imagination, expectation, motivation etc. In hypnosis, one is responding directly, positively and realistically to suggestion. Concluding from psychological investigation, those who respond well to hypnosis are those who have an active, strong mind and are capable of imagination. CBH has the potential to have a powerful impact in your life, alleviating symptoms resulting in positive lasting changes in the way you construct your personal and interpersonal reality. CBH facilitates the developing of skills and strategies enabling you to achieve the desired long-term change.
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Hypnosis scientifically approved as a treatment for a variety of medical and psychological conditions
You may wish to read more on this topic please click here
You gain the potential to apply these invaluable and life-changing skills to various aspects of your life well into the future. The feeling of satisfaction, achievement and self-awareness, not confined to the consultation room.
Self Hypnosis
Taking a skills training approach, I train my clients in self-hypnosis, what are essentially self-help techniques. The techniques used are based on validated research findings, which reveal that problems or disturbances are consequences of destructive and problematic forms of self-hypnosis. Self hypnosis is that internal chattering or self-talk which we all experience in our minds. It can be referred to in a number of ways including cognitions, autosuggestion, self-talk, self-suggestion, self-statements, self-instructions, automatic thoughts etc.
Too frequently, internal hypnotic-like talk, these self-suggestions which drive us, influencing our emotions and behaviour, remains for the most part unchallenged. The extent to which it causes and maintains significant levels of distress, often unnoticed. Self-hypnosis is something, which is carried out daily, generally conducted automatically, leading to a variety of difficulties including feelings of anxiety, low mood, stress, sleep difficulties and unhealthy habits. Internal self-talk may largely consist of automatic, unproductive, self-defeating cognitions (thoughts, attitudes, ideas, beliefs etc). It is however, possible to alter and modify self-talk, with powerful consequences.
Self-hypnosis is a learnable skill. I guide and facilitate client's developing the skills of self-hypnosis. People find the more they use hypnosis the easier it becomes. You make the suggestions your own in hypnosis. You thereby uncover the particular 'mind - set' required in order to alter negative, unhelpful thought processes and develop more realistic, helpful insights. The applications of self-hypnosis are vast. Proficient use of skills and techniques, leads to the achieving of one’s ultimate goal. The objective with effective therapy is that you are equipped to generalise skills and coping strategies to a variety of events and circumstances. Clients are thus equipped with strategies for relapse prevention, resulting in long-term satisfaction.
Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy
Evidence based research = Results
Methods which, taken singly, are of no avail are potent when conjoined.
The bite of a tiny adder will lay low a bull; often a hound of meagre size will hold a boar at bay.
Gather all these remedies together; numbers will win.
(Ovid, Remedia Amoris, bold added for emphasis )
The Medical and Scientific Approval
Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy (CBH) uncovered as one of the most evidence based therapeutic interventions, available today in the field of psychology and psychotherapy. The range of research in the area of psychological therapy goes back 50 years. Recent research includes brain-imaging data, clinical trials and laboratory experiments to name but a few.
Thousands of clinical and experimental research conducted in the area. The therapy gained recognition by the British Medical Association and the American Medical Association in the 1950's. It is recognised by the American Psychological Association, The British Psychological Society and is used by the NHS.
In 2001, The British Psychological Society, commissioned expert psychologists to publish a report entitled The Nature of Hypnosis. The aim was to investigate hypnosis, its applications and practice, in a variety of contexts such as clinical purposes, academic research, training and forensic investigation. The report begins by stating 'Hypnosis is a valid subject for scientific study and research and a proven therapeutic medium'. The research went on to state that '...the inclusion of hypnotic procedures ...beneficial in the management and treatment of a wide range of conditions and problems encountered in the practice of medicine, psychiatry and psychotherapy'.
Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy integrates social, cognitive and behavioural psychology. Alladin (2008) refers to empirical research including meta-analysis, which found increased effectiveness in incorporating hypnosis with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Noteworthy to mention, the majority of protocol and strategies of CBT were in fact devised in hypnotherapy. The traditional methods of hypnotherapy frequently viewed as a precursor to CBT.
Importantly, research conducted in the area (e.g. Kirsch et al 1995, 1996) found that for between 70% - 90% of participants, cognitive and behavioural therapies were more effective when incorporating hypnosis i.e. for the majority of participants Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy was more effective than Cognitive Behavioural Therapy alone.
'Meta-analyses have established that different psychotherapies have different outcomes. Cognitive-behavioural therapies are significantly more effective than psychodynamic therapies, and their superiority increases when long-term follow-up is assessed. Hypnosis enhances the efficacy of both psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy'. (Kirsch, 1996)
In sum, CBH is an integrated psychological therapy employing cognitive behavioural techniques and protocols utilising hypnosis to increase the therapy's effectiveness. It can potentially aid one in coping effectively with life's difficulties, developing psychological resilience and achieving long-term gains.
'People who believe they have the power to exercise some measure of control over their lives are healthier, more effective and more successful than those who lack faith in their ability to effect changes in their lives'
Albert Bandura
Cognitions - The power
Cognition is the term used in psychology to refer to thoughts, beliefs, ideas and attitudes. Essentially, it is referring to thought processes or mental activity, which can be put into words. Cognitions direct our response to life situations, activating our behaviour and emotions. Many of us are aware that if we could possibly change our thinking and perspective that it would be life changing.
Research proposes that we have approximately 60,000 thoughts per day. Can you contemplate for a moment the power and potential in that statistic?
Let's make them count!
- Do you find that negative thoughts have become part of your way of thinking?
- Do you feel that you worry; perhaps spending hours, days or even weeks worrying?
- Would you benefit from developing skills to knock worry on the head?
- Do you feel that you are a 'worrier' and that it 'just can't be helped', 'it's just the way' you are?
With the fast and ever changing pace of our daily lives, we often find it difficult to hold a particular thought in mind for longer than a minute or so. Nevertheless, we frequently hold negative thoughts in mind; they can in fact be intrusive, popping back into our minds throughout the day and right up until we fall asleep.
It certainly is possible to knock worry on the head. The evidence based techniques used at Northwest Therapy and Hypnosis, encourage both realistic and positive thought processes. Through the use of cognitive, behavioural and hypnotic protocols and techniques the cognitive processes, which are leading to distress and negative, unhealthy behaviours, monitored and altered.
- What difference might it make to you to alter negative thoughts?
- What percentage of your thoughts are largely unproductive or holding you back in some way?
- What feelings and bodily sensations do these thoughts evoke in you?
Contemplate for a moment, what it might be like to obtain freedom and choices in thoughts, feelings and behaviour...
Whilst we may not be able to alter the environment or situation, which stimulates negative thoughts and emotions, we are capable of learning how to alter our responses to it, developing and strengthening our coping ability and psychological resilience in lasting ways. Gaining freedom from negative, unhelpful thoughts has life changing consequences, enhancing enjoyment of life, well-being and health.