Firstly forget what you have seen on television or stage  shows. These are purely for entertainment and nothing to do with clinical hypnotherapy.  Working with a trained and experienced hypnotherapist is a very pleasant, safe and powerful experience. You do not lose control or give control of yourself to the hypnotherapist. In fact hypnosis is actually seen and felt as a heightened state of attention, concentration and inner absorption. The client allows themself to become fully involved in the skilfully guided suggestions of the therapist helping the client to achieve their goals. 

We do in fact often enter a form of hypnosis in our everyday lives , for instance when we get fully  engrossed in a task, a sort of trance like state and we  fail to notice and are   surprised  when we see how much time has passed.  It is not an unnatural state, its  perfectly natural. Despite on stage acts and stunts hypnosis  cannot make people do anything against their will.

You are fully aware of everything around you and yet deeply relaxed but you would respond appropriately to anything around you that was inappropriate or a danger to you, just as you would if you were simply day dreaming .

I always begin by getting a full understanding of my client with a very thorough consultation. I will ask many questions about you, your life, your health,  any fears or even dislikes you have and also what brings you joy and happiness, and of course what you wish to achieve from your therapy sessions. During this consultation you will also decide whether I am the right therapist for you. 

I believe very much that the client and therapist should always feel comfortable  with each other to get the very best results. I will never use hypnosis on the first meeting as I do not believe this achieves the best  or indeed any results.

I have been a therapist for over 30 years and use hypnotherapy as a tool alongside psychotherapy.