STUDENTS ARE YOU INTERESTED IN TRYING
HYPNOTHERAPY ?
Elaine Parke Senior Counsellor Cardiff Met
While generally Hypnotherapy can be used for a wide range of issues, in this setting
I will be focusing on issues that have an impact on your academic performance.
I envisage this to be working primarily with any issue’s that have an impact on
academic obligations such as:
Anxiety
Presentation anxiety
Public speaking
Exam stress
Panic attacks
Relaxation difficulties
Some related Phobias
Sleep problems
Excess stress
Or call for advice on your issue
Students will be able to self refer to this service via Student Services reception on
02920 416170 or call in to make an appointment
You will be referred directly for a hypnotherapy appointment keeping this service
separate from our current counselling provision.
The service will be located in the Llandaff counselling suite T002.
Dispelling the myths
One of the main myths I have encountered is that Hypnotherapy is a form of mind
control and people can be made to do whatever the hypnotherapist desires!
Not true! Clients, although deeply relaxed, always remain in complete control of the
situation. They are fully able to talk if required and can terminate the session if
desired at any time.
It’s likely this notion of loss of control stems from stage hypnosis (often put on for
students in fresher’s week) where participants are persuaded to perform all manner
of (usually) foolish acts. Please note, however, that participation in this is entirely
voluntary and, as such, the person knows exactly what they are letting themselves in
for! In this way, they have given the hypnotherapist permission for what is to follow.
As a result people claim afterwards that they were “made to do” whatever it was
when actually they were open to the experience.
So, that myth out of the way, Hypnotherapy can at the very least, be a very, very
deep form of relaxation.
While in this relaxed state our unconscious mind becomes much more open to
helpful suggestions. Bear in mind though that if our conscious mind is uncomfortable
with a suggestion, we immediately become much more alert, aware and less
relaxed.
A simple analogy is a dog sleeping with one eye partially open - it looks so relaxed
and asleep (unconscious mind when relaxed) but actually, if alerted, can be wide
awake in a split second (conscious mind always a little on guard)
So, one of the Hypnotherapist’s skills is in assisting a person to fully relax and then
keeping them in that relaxed state while offering helpful, useful, personally
appropriate suggestions to that person.
While most people are able to relax to some level, sometimes it takes a little practise
to become deeply relaxed as was thought to be required for hypnotherapy.
Resistance to relaxation can sometimes be seen to be taking place so initially this
has to be worked with, normalised and overcome.
However, on the plus side, some differing research shows us that the level or depth
of trance experienced (level of relaxation) does not always relate to the beneficial
results obtained; so there is hope for all of us!
At the very least, Hypnotherapy provides a period of guided relaxation from the
stresses and strains of everyday life.
Interestingly our unconscious mind is unable to differentiate between our direct
reality and what is going on in the virtual environment around us e.g. current affairs,
news, television, films watched … in other words media and IT.
It accepts all it is shown or heard as our actual reality and reacts accordingly
releasing adrenaline in to our bodies ready to “fight or flee” these stressful events as
needed to keep us safe.
So, with this in mind, think about how often these days, with all the instant access to
different forms of media, our minds are bombarded with stressful images and events.
Is it any wonder then that anxiety disorders and stress levels are on the increase?
Hypnotherapy can help lower these anxiety levels giving us a lower daily threshold to
work from.
I would be happy to answer any questions you may have by phone 02920416170 or
email
eparke@cardiffmet.ac.uk
Thanks
Elaine
Elaine Parke
Senior Counsellor
Cardiff Metropolitan University