Amanda Walsh MBPsS
Psychologist and Clinical Hypnotherapist
'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
Treatments
Combining the two most powerful and effective psychological therapies, namely, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Clinical Hypnotherapy.
APPLICATIONS AND PRACTICE
Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy used effectively on a vast range of different issues.
- Reducing Anxiety
- Managing Stress or Tension
• Racing Mind
• Worry
• Nerve
• Blushing
• Guilt
• Loneliness
• Procrastination
• Teeth grinding - Bruxism
• Lip biting
- Panic Attacks
- Anger Management
- Difficulty sleeping - Including Insomnia
- Managing Low Mood
- Optimising Psychological Resilience
- Cessation of Habits :Nail biting, Hair pulling, Overeating etc.
- Overcoming Fears and Phobias
• Fear of heights (Acrophobia).
• Fear of flying (Pteromerhanophobia).
• Fear of Public Speaking.
• Fear of Spiders (Arachnophobia).
• Fear of certain animals, insects, reptiles or birds.
• Fear of crossing bridges.
• Claustrophobia
• Fear of Water (Hydrophobophobia)
• Fear of thunder and lightening (Astraphobia).
• Fear of injections (Trypanophobia).
• Fear of germs or dirt (Mysophobia).
• Fear of situations in which escape may be difficult (Agoraphobia).
• Fear of situations in which escape may be perceived as embarrassing (Agoraphobia).
- Goal visualistaion
- Optimising performance (Exams, Interviews, Driving Test etc.)
- Building confidence and self - esteem
- Developing a positive self-image
- Weight Reduction
- Smoking Cessation
What do you think it might be like to achieve long-term change, regarding the difficulty you are experiencing?
What difference might those changes add to your life?
Perhaps, this is the time for you?
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Hypnosis scientifically approved as a treatment for a variety of medical and psychological conditions
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 difficulties one encounters throughout life, 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.
- Many professional athletes now enhance their performance through techniques such as visualisation.
- Professional's in business, management and sales teams frequently improve their performance and achieve success through cognitive behavioural therapy techniques and hypnosis.
- Develop strategies for important job interviews
- Learn how to deal with stress evoking work environments
- Increase motivation; develop that edge!
- Develop the ability to speak confidently in front of an audience
- Learn problem solving skills
- Learn effective assertiveness skills
- Tools such as assertiveness and problem-solving training have a number of wide ranging benefits. You will find a variety of applications for these invaluable skills in daily life.
- Approach that exam calm and confident
- Increase concentration levels
- Manage anxiety and stress
- Increase confidence
Each treatment plan is tailored to the individual, specific to the needs and preferences of the client.
Please do get in touch for more information, I love to hear from you and I will respond personally, as soon as possible.
Set aside time.
Allow yourself develop strategies and skills, to feel in control. To behave, think and feel confident, relaxed, calm and satisfied.
To read more on the importance of Evidence Based Practice Please Click here
The combination of the most widely researched and effective therapeutic techniques maximises the therapeutic outcomes, in as short a time as possible.
My role is to listen, support and guide. Adopting a skills training approach to therapy, I train my clients in self - help techniques. It is important that therapy makes sense to clients. I ensure clients have a range of tools and resources fundamental for personal development; thus enabling one to develop inner resources and strengths resulting in achieving desired goals. Research clearly reveals that empowering clients to gain control in their lives, results in psychological resilience.
Extensive research investigation has produced a considerable amount of information on psychotherapy and psychological therapies. My approach to therapy draws upon these findings. Findings from well-designed empirically validated research are the bases for the techniques utilised. You are trained in using skills and techniques based on years of research in the area of psychology, psychotherapy, physiology and related fields.
This knowledge has the potential to be of significant benefit to you.
The specialist approach at
Northwest Therapy and Hypnosis
involves combining the appropriate psychological and physiological elements into each treatment plan, tailored specifically to meet your needs.
'...effective therapy depends far less on the hours you put in than on what you put into those hours'.
(Lazarus, 1997)
Research evidence has revealed the effectiveness of the following approaches. Notably, each treatment plan decided on case-by-case bases, tailored to the individual, specific to the needs and preferences of the client. The following are approaches, which inform my approach and may be part of your treatment plan.
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Clinical Hypnotherapy
- Applied Relaxation Training
- Progressive Muscle Relaxation
- Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy
- Assertiveness Training
- Problem Solving Therapy
Developing psychological resilience, therapy allows for transformations, overcoming of difficulties, enabling you to develop skills, which have wide reaching applications. I essentially provide you with a self-help manual. Providing you with strategies to cope with challenges using powerful and effective techniques. You gain the potential to apply these invaluable and life-changing skills to various aspects of your life, achieving a sense of control, satisfaction and achievement.
To read about the research and findings on CBH please click here.
Why struggle alone when there is a solution-focused plan available?
A clear and focused action plan, tailored specifically for you, to meet your needs.
Contact Us!
Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy (CBH) is one of the most effective treatments for ANXIETY, PANIC ATTACKS, STRESS AND SOCIAL ANXIETY.
ANXIETY AND STRESS
Managing stress, tension or anxiety demands a skills based approach.The British Medical Journal recommends CBT and applied relaxation as the most effective therapies in the treatment of anxiety. The combining of these therapy techniques, tailoring the treatment plan, to the individual is a pragmatic approach to treatment.
Adopting a skills training approach, I train my clients in self - help techniques. Placing emphasis on empowering clients, I educate the client regarding their symptoms. I coach one in recognising their symptoms, uncover and explain factors maintaining symptoms and preventing change. I guide clients in techniques which aid one in regaining freedom in thoughts and behaviour, harnessing the potential of the mind.
Therapy can provide you with confidence in using various skill and techniques, in situations, which evoke stress, anxiety, panic, fear or tension. The techniques you learn lower the levels of tension in the muscular system. The mind and body; inextricably interconnected, are trained to replicate the lowering of tension in what were once challenging, stress arousing situations. Responses, which were once automatic, creating high levels of tension, stress or anxiety, altered. As one learns the skills, to alter psycho-physiological symptoms, behaviour becomes less automatic and less habitual with powerful results.
One leaves the consultation room with a feeling of well-being and confidence in their ability to deal with life's difficulties. Research clearly reveals that empowering clients to gain control in their lives, results in psychological resilience and impacts positively on health.
Know your mind,
Train your mind,
Free your mind.
“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom”. Aristotle
What do you think it might be like, to achieve long -term change regarding the difficulty you are experiencing?
Perhaps, this it the time for you?
Take Action Now
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APPLYING RELAXATION
Relaxation - A learnable skill
The majority of people greatly underestimate how much they can learn to relax. Moreover, relaxation to a large degree undervalued. Applied relaxation, usually used as an adjunct to therapy. When we learn to relax deeply, the muscular system relaxes, relieving muscle tension, lowering residual tension in the body. There is immense potential when relaxation successfully applied to a variety of situations even to those we perceive as stressful or distressing.
New adaptive productive responses can become automatic. New alternative responses such as feeling at ease, calm, relaxed and in control are developed and practiced, consequently becoming automatic. Therapy alters physiological and behavioural response to those situations, which once elicited unproductive habitual ways or responding.
Working together new helpful responses can be trained to become learned reflexes. The alternative adaptive cognitions (thoughts, ideas...), behaviours and feelings become part of one’s attitude towards situations. One is trained to harness the potential of the mind, drawing upon inner resources.
The mind and body are inextricably interconnected. This complex interconnection and the potential and power each of us possess in our minds and what can be achieved when this is successfully developed, is profound. Northwest Therapy and Hypnosis uses strategies and techniques to build and develop this potential, with powerful life changing consequences
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Please do get in touch for more information,
I love to hear from you and I will respond personally, as soon as possible.
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To read more on the importance of evidence based practice Click here
SOCIAL ANXIETY
Frequently people experience the feeling of being self-conscious or nervous in various scenarios and social situations. This however, can become a problem when it interferes with everyday functioning, for instance; when one avoids particular places or social situations because of the feelings that they may induce. Social anxiety presents as a fear of particular social situations or circumstances, especially those situations which individuals are uncertain about or those, which, are unfamiliar.
Situations, which may trigger social anxiety:
- Interacting with new people
- Attending social situations or parties
- Circumstances or events where one is the centre of attention
- Scenarios where one is watched by others whilst doing something
- Engaging in small talk
- Public speaking
- Speaking at a meeting
- Making a speech at a social event
- Settings where one is spontaneously called upon to respond in front of a group
- Performing
- Receiving criticism
- Holding conversations with individuals in authority or those deemed as important or in a position of power
- Making phone calls
- Taking exams
- Eating or drinking in public settings
Physical symptoms one might experience:
- Sweating
- Clammy palms
- Trembling
- Tension in muscles
- Dry mouth or throat
- Blushing
- Palpitations - changes in heart rate
- Dizzy spells
- Nausea
- Changes in breathing
- Tightness in the chest
- Rigidity
- Difficulty sleeping
Feelings, one might experience:
- Fear
- of being observed
- of feeling embarrassed
- of being criticised
- of others noticing particular symptoms or behaviour
- Anger
- Sadness
- Anxious
- worry for hours, days or months about a particular event, situation or possible scenario
Behaviours, which may accompanying social anxiety:
- Avoid eye contact
- Avoid initiating conversation
- Avoid certain situations or settings
- Escape from situations or settings
- Misuse of alcohol or substances
- Dysfunctional use of positive thoughts
Thoughts, which may accompany social anxiety:
- 'I can't do this'
- 'I can't handle this situation'
- 'If something goes wrong I won't know how to handle it'
- 'I won't know what to do'
- 'I won't be able to cope'
- 'I will feel helpless'
- 'I will feel intimidated'
- 'I won't know what to say'
- 'People will think I am incompetent/stupid'
The integration of the two most powerful and effective psychological therapies, namely cognitive behavioural therapy and clinical hypnotherapy uncovered as the most evidence based therapeutic interventions available today in the field of psychology and psychotherapy.
This integration referred to as cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy, found to be the most effective treatment for anxiety, stress, panic attacks and social anxiety. The specialist approach employed by Amanda Walsh at Northwest Therapy and Hypnosis, involves combining the appropriate psychological and physiological elements into each treatment plan, tailored specifically to meet your needs.
Take immediate action!
Contact Us!
HABITS
In relation to habits peoples thoughts may be a variant of 'well, that is just the way I am' or 'I can't help it, it's just me'. What people too frequently do not consciously recognise is the considerable amount of psychological distress, which emerges from 'how you are' not necessarily corresponding with 'how you want to be'.
‘There is nothing he may not make natural;
there is nothing natural he may not lose’.
-B. Pascal
CBH is an effective method used to uncover what predisposes the habit. It also uncovers what is sustaining the habit and preventing change. My approach involves, combining hypnosis with cognitive behavioural strategies and interventions. The multi component approach works on many different levels to break the habit, providing you with the tools to help you to succeed for the long term; achieving a sense of control, satisfaction and achievement.
SMOKING CESSATION
'Hypnosis is the most effective way of giving up smoking, according to the largest ever scientific comparison of ways of breaking the habit'
New Scientist v136
New Scientist in 1992, published findings of a clinical study, which uncovered hypnosis as having the highest success rate, in the cessation of smoking. Research comparing many different forms of intervention including hypnosis in the cessation of smoking revealed that on average smokers are over five times more likely to break the habit of smoking with hypnosis compared to willpower alone. Hypnotherapy in general is found to be more than twice as effective as nicotine gum.
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), including nicotine patches or nicotine gum, nasal sprays etc. are some of the most popular methods used by people in an attempt to stop smoking. However, research studies reveal that NRT has a success rate of 7.2%. Compare this with the success rate of will power alone, which is 6%.
Noteworthy to mention that many of the hypnotherapists in the study employed hypnosis alone, often using outdated methods lacking an evidence base. My approach to your smoking cessation session involves, combining hypnosis with cognitive behavioural strategies and interventions, which increases effectiveness further. In other words, results improve considerably when combining clinical hypnotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy procedures and protocols. This multi component approach works on many different levels to aim to break the habit, providing you with the tools you need to help you to succeed.
The stop smoking programme comprises of two sessions.
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The first session consists of a half hour consultation. We will schedule this for approximately one week prior to your smoking cessation session.
In this half hour consultation, I explore with you the facets of the habit and any challenges you may be experiencing; from there I get to work on tailoring your treatment plan.
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The second session is approximately an hour and a half in duration. This session is filled with evidence based techniques and strategies, which function to work against the old habit. The session is uplifting and an inspiring experience.
You possess everything you need within your body and mind to achieve your goal and become a non-smoker. You are capable or learning to use your mind to take control, to train it to work for you and stop the habit. I can teach you how to use your inner resources to help you achieve your goal and stay a non-smoker.
Why invest in Northwest Therapy and Hypnosis Smoking Cessation Programme?
- Tailored plan to suit you.
- Learn skills for coping with situations or moments, which have the potential to lead to relapse.
- The most effective psychological therapies CBT and hypnosis are incorporated into your customised treatment plan.
- Money Back Satisfaction Guarantee.
- Employing a wide range of strategies and methods, which are supported by research evidence.
- For those concerned about possible weight gain. Strategies and techniques incorporated on request, for dealing with the possibility of overeating.
Smoking Cessation has immediate health benefits.
IT IS NEVER TOO LATE!
- For instance, a smoker's heart rate is on average 9 beats faster per minute than normal.
Smoking is a powerful stimulant. Cigarette smoking stimulates adrenaline and increases the heart rate. When one smokes, the body is in fact stimulated, contrary to many smokers assumption that the cigarette has a calming, relaxing or anxiety reducing effect. A smoker is experiencing an artificial feeling of being relaxed. Essentially, the perceived relaxed feeling is the removing of the stress caused by the last cigarette. Smokers are therefore; still tenser than if they were a non-smoker.
Within hours of smoking cessation, the heart rate reduces to normal.
- Smoking clogs the arteries, leading to heart attack and strokes. Smokers are on average 2-4 times more likely to suffer cardiac arrest than a non-smoker.
Smoking cessation reduces the risk of fatal heart and lung diseases. Within five years of quitting smoking, the risk of heart attack is approximately half of that of a smoker. Within ten years of quitting smoking, the risk of heart attack is more or less equivalent to that of a non-smoker, who never smoked a cigarette in their life.
Some other findings:
- Many people may realise that smoking causes wrinkling of the skin. However, did you know that the majority of plastic surgeons do not perform facial operations on smokers? This is as a result of the risk involved; nicotine results in constriction of the capillaries, making surgery on the face dangerous.
- Smoking associated with changes in women's waist to hip ratio (WHR) of fat distribution. There is a considerable amount of evidence, which reveals that smoking cigarettes increases the accumulation of abdominal fat.
- Smoking found to interfere with the brain and nervous system and attributed to increasing susceptibility to anxiety, stress, depression and other psychological problems.
The cost of smoking!
- Smoking 20 cigarettes a day, costs approximately €3000 a year, €30000 in 10 years and over a lifetime (est 56 years) €168000.
ARE THERE WEEKS YOU SMOKE MORE?
CAN YOU WORK OUT THE COST OF SMOKING FOR YOU IN ONE YEAR?
For many the cost of smoking would pay their mortgage or significantly reduce the repayments.
NOTE: The above is an estimate. The price of cigarette packets vary and inflation has not be accounted for in this estimate. Furthermore, there are additional costs which smoking incurs, not calculated into the above figures, such as the increase in Health Insurance premiums etc.
| Please do get in touch for more information, I love to hear from you and I will respond personally, as soon as possible. |
Satisfaction Guarantee
I am confident that you will find the package of treatment at Northwest Therapy and Hypnosis beneficial.
I guarantee that you will be satisfied with our time together. I provide clients with the best possible treatment available to me. I guarantee that I will work very hard to help you achieve your goal. If you are not satisfied with the quality of service, which you receive at my practice, then I am happy to provide you with a 100% money back guarantee.
Simply contact me within 4 weeks of your smoking cessation appointment and I will offer you another session free of charge or alternatively, you are welcome to your money back.
Clarification: It is important to note that clients undertake therapy on the understanding that it is a collaborative process. It is important that you want to stop smoking. Progress and successful outcomes depend in part upon client motivation and participation. Notably, it is largely considered unethical and unprofessional to offer 'cures' or guarantee success in any form of psychotherapy or psychological therapy. A satisfaction guarantee is within the limits of what I am permitted to advertise.
Code of Ethics and Practice
I accept and follow Code of Ethics and Conduct of the NCH, GHR and BPS. Copies of these and other documents are available to clients on request.
acknowledgement of images used: m_bartosch / FreeDigitalPhotos.net