Not being able to sleep can make the rest of your life feel like a nightmare...  Luckily hypnosis, combined with strategies from cognitive therapy and interpersonal work to address anxieties or depression, can rapidly restore your natural ability to sleep.

Insomnia is a common condition which can be caused by a wide range of physical, emotional and environmental factors. It is often one of the most frustrating problems, causing distress and having repercussions that can affect many other areas of your life - especially the way you relate to others.  Surprisingly, few people think of replacing their "hypnotic" (sleep-inducing) medications for hypnosis itself - but this can be a highly effective way of obtaining a restful night, without any of the side-effects of medication.

What treatment involves

My approach aims to increase your understanding of the factors that contribute to sleep problems, while offering a range of strategies to help you develop behaviour and attitudes more conducive to sleep.

Usually treatment for chronic insomnia can achieve a considerable improvement in sleep patterns in just six ninety minute individual sessions - or eight group sessions - assuming you follow the programme and put the changes recommended into practice.

The approach is largely based on CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) for insomnia, which includes assessment, examining and changing bedtime routines and sleeping habits, sleep-restriction therapy where necessary and exploring unhelpful beliefs about sleep.

In addition you learn a range of relaxation, guided imagery and hypnosis techniques to ease the transition to sleep.

Where appropriate we also look at ways of reducing worry and at interpersonal patterns that may be contributing to your sleeo problems, giving you greater understanding of the processes which may be keepingyou awake and a selection of strategies which allow you to feel more in control.  The therapy aims to make you more helpfully aware of your habits, and to forge new associations between bed and sleep.

Sleep hypnosis is a safe and effective method of treating insomnia because it increases relaxation, addresses dysfunctional thoughts and allows the hypnotherapist to gain access to the underlying problem. Self-hypnosis may also be taught if time allows and you feel it would be helpful.

Individual or Group Therapy?

Individual treatment for insomnia

involves six ninety minute sessions and costs either £65 per session or £375 for the complete course.

The advantages include:

• • you can arrange session times to fit your schedule
  • the full 90 minutes is devoted to addressing your specific needs
  • therapy can be more flexible and tailored to what works for you
  • you can start immediately, without having to wait for the next group to begin
  • this approach is private and entirely confidential if you do not wish to discuss your sleep patterns in a group setting
    

If you feel this option is right for you, contact me to arrange an initial session by clicking here.

Group therapy for insomnia

involves eight, weekly, two hour group sessions and costs £225 for the complete programme.

Advantages:

• • Group therapy is less expensive than individual treatment
  • It is often supportive and reassuring to discuss problems in a group and discover others have similar difficulties
  • Issues may be raised that did not occur to you initially, but which may prove very helpful

If you feel the group option would be better for you, contact me to discover when and where the next group will be run by clicking here.