Susan Boggon Smith says:
28 Dec 2010 | 20:08:20
A client came to see me about weight management initially. We started with some practical training, 'Reasons we eat' etc ancestral habits, need to take in fluid, social occasions, comfort eating etc etc etc. We identified a few practical issues, and some mistaken thinking. One area of mistaken thinking sometimes comes from a 'family value' such as a belief that the plate must be emptied at each meal. The first practical session usually takes about an hour, and can easily be conducted on line.
Another key area for her was the way she felt about herself, she believed that she could not lose weight, and constantly 'hypnotised' herself by repeating these cognitions on a daily basis, re-inforcing her own subconcious belief.
She was unable to visualise herself in the future as a slimmer fitter person, as that seemed an 'impossible dream'! I used a combination of NLP and Cognitive Hypnotherapy in the next two sessions, and identified some of her mental barriers. After working through several 'layers' we began to hit on key areas of self esteem. After four sessions I had gained her trust, and she felt safe and confident with me, and I thought it was time to do some 'regression to cause'.
(I know some therapists like to go straight for the regression, like Cal Banyon in the states for example with his 5 path technique) Personally though I like my clients to feel totally safe with me and enjoy the experience of relaxation or hypnotherapy before I 'Go for the jugular'! so to speak. This way I find I often receive uninhibited truths from the past, as the client feels confident to reveal more and more to me. But every client is different.
(Although I must add that it is possible to give professional therapy without knowing the reason or knowing the truth if a client chooses not to reveal information, clients are never 'out of control' and should never fear going for hypnotherapy) .
In this case, my client had experienced childhood trauma and humiliation, and had suppressed memories that surfaced as I questioned her carefully using 'clean' language. I was taught to never 'lead' or make any suggestions when a client goes into regression, to avoid 'false memory syndrome'.
Once we had found some 'root causes' for her lack of self esteem I used a combination of techniques using my training with 'Inner Child Hypnosis' and NLP. Confidence building techniques etc.
After 5 sessions she has lost weight and has started doing more exercise. She is feeling fitter, happier and is far more confident. She rang me to inform me recently that she had landed a new higher top job position on more pay, and had met a wonderful new man. She wanted to know if she should come back for a 6th session. As she still has some issue with not being able to forgive some aspects from her past, I suggested it would be wise to continue for at least one or two more sessions, but not immediately. Because some of the suggestions given during hypnotherapy may still work over time, and weight loss can take months, I don't like to see rapid weight loss, and she tells me that she feels so much happier than ever before.
When I first took the weight management course for hypnotherapists I just did not enjoy weight management, but over time and with more experience I find it an absolutely fascinating subject now.
