SO WHAT IS COGNITIVE HYPNOTHERAPY ANYWAY?

Cognitive Hypnotherapy is a trauma-informed approach that integrates knowledge from different therapy models: Cognitive & Behavioural approaches (CBT), Gestalt and Parts therapy, with concepts from evolutionary biology, neuroscience & findings from fields like PsychoNeuroImmunology (PNI).

Combining these with an indirect, conversational style of hypnosis (Ericksonian), gives Cognitive Hypnotherapists the flexibility to use whatever tools might suit the person who walks through our door...

YOU ARE UNIQUE

Everyone is unique. You may share the same diagnosis or pain as another person, whether it’s fibromyalgia, migraine, vulvodynia, prostatitis, CRPS, IBS, arthritis or some other persistent pain.

But the way you experience your pain will be different from those other people. The general diagnosis or label may be generic but the way I treat you, will be tailored to your specific needs and how you experience your pain.

Cognitive hypnotherapy may be one part of a unique jigsaw of approaches for people living with persistent pain, which, depending on the person, might include physio, yoga, or other therapies. 

Watch this quick video to find out more about Quest Cognitive Hypnotherapy (QCH): 

WHAT’S THIS GOT TO DO WITH PAIN?

Check out this definition of pain (revised 2020)

You have a mix of:

• experiences/memories/past interpretations (linked to certain emotions)
• beliefs (including beliefs about your pain, what it means now and for the future)
• values

This combination or mix is unique to you. Your brain calls upon this unique mix you have whenever nerves send an alarm signal up to the brain from the body. The brain ultimately uses your past experiences, interpretations, beliefs, values and more to conduct a threat assessment and decides whether to amplify the original alarm. If it does, you may then start experiencing pain or a worsening of symptoms.

The alarms are chemical messengers and there's an overlap with chemical messengers involved when you might be stressed or worried about something, as well as other challenging emotional states.

Cognitive Hypnotherapy can uncover the things that may be causing those chemical alarm messengers, such as Adrenaline or Cortisol, to be released and help you:

• Reduce or change emotional reactions such as stress or anxiety
• Bring in tailored strategies to help regulate the nervous system and building a sense of safety in the body
• Build new healthier beliefs and new strengths/abilities to help you react differently 
• Find specific ways to release alarm muting messengers more in your life so you start doing more of the things you want comfortably 

And when it fits your needs, I may also bring in approaches such as EMDR or somatic therapies.