Hypno-psychotherapy is not a magical solution; studies show it can often be as effective as other forms of treatment, and may be quicker, but as with any other form of therapy results depend upon your level of commitment. If you engage fully in the process, follow the guidelines suggested, do any homework suggested and use your hypnotherapy recording or self-hypnosis regularly then you can expect to see positive changes within a reasonable time of starting therapy.

Hypno-psychotherapy is not suitable for everyone. It can be used to help with psychological problems and conditions where bodily responses are closely linked to emotional states, but it would not be appropriate where the primary condition is biological and where medical treatment is required.

Responsible and ethical practitioners invariably ask for the name and address of your GP before commencing any course of treatment involving psychotherapy or mind-body conditions (eg. migraine, asthma).

In certain instances hypno-psychotherapy or hypnotherapy would not be a suitable approach:

• very severe depression or suicidal feelings, where someone is actively a risk to themselves or others,
• bi-polar disorder
• psychotic conditions where visualization and hypnotic suggestions could become confused with hallucinations or "hearing voices"
• serious eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa
• situations where pain may be a symptom of a serious undiagnosed medical condition, when using hypnosis to alleviate the pain could mask the underlying issue that needs attention