We’ve all been there.  The racing thoughts, the avoidance of situations, the unpleasant bodily sensations, the sleeplessness, the worry and fear about the next task on our to-do list, the next day, the next week, the next decade and so it goes on.  Slowly but surely this pattern becomes the repetitive soundtrack playing out in the background of our lives.  We find it taking us away from the life we’d like to live or the person we wanted to be, maybe the one we imagined for ourselves at some point in the past.

Recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that around one in five people in my local area of Bristol and North Somerset in the West of England - report high levels of anxiety¹. Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy (Hypno-CBT®️) is particularly effective for people with anxiety – in all its forms - and there are many in the modern world.  It’s a powerful combination of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, (CBT) hypnotherapy, relaxation and mindfulness. 

In the early sessions, we might not use hypnotherapy at all. Instead, we focus on understanding why a situation — whether it’s a specific task, a social event, your performance, or even something imagined in the future — feels more threatening than your belief in your ability to handle it.  This dynamic lies at the heart of anxiety.  We’ll start by exploring thoughts, feelings, and actions to see how well they’re working out. From there, we can begin to gently consider other approaches that might offer a smoother path toward where you want to be. We can also do that by pushing against the door of your own awareness.  What – I hear you say???!!!

This is where mindfulness plays a key role. It helps us reconnect with our awareness by anchoring us in the present moment. There are many ways to do this — like using grounding techniques, expanding our awareness, or simply observing our thoughts without getting caught up in them. Everyone can benefit from mindfulness, you don’t need to be bathed in a pool of golden light and be an expert meditator.  Mindfulness offers tools that bring perspective and compassion to experiences that may be difficult to deal with. Experiences may include those happening in our internal world.  It offers a different way to navigate those racing thoughts, the worry and unpleasant sensations, so we can feel calmer and better able to cope.

But what about the hypnotherapy? Hypnotherapy is not a special trance-like state.  I won’t be taking you back into a past life or influencing your mind – you’ll have to go elsewhere for woo-woo.  Instead, we’ll give focused attention to the ideas we’ve already explored and use the power of relaxation, and your imagination to help you connect with a future that feels less fearful.   

If you’d like to find out more about how Hypno-CBT®️ can help you, do get in touch via my website at www.sanguinetherapy.co.uk or email me at louise@sanguinetherapy.co.uk