Jeremy had a fear of public speaking, largely focused around running large team meetings.
Like many, he had reservations about hypnotherapy. “I didn’t think it would work,” he said.
The first step in exploring working together is typically an informal chat with Caroline so that concerns such as these can be discussed. It helps people make an informed decision as to whether this form of therapy feels worth exploring more. Jeremy was based outside of the UK which also added another element to our work as it would all be done over zoom.
Jeremy was experiencing high levels of anxiety whenever a need to present was on the horizon. This had not been made any easier during the Covid pandemic and everything going online. His sleep was also being affected prior to doing any talks.
In the first session, clients have an experience of hypnosis so that they know how it feels before plunging in any deeper. Jeremy’s description of this experience was; “It feels deeply immersive and out-of-body at the same time. The body is in a deeply relaxed physical state while the mind is somewhere on a venn diagram between meditative sleep, alertness and deep introspection.”
During the 4 sessions we had together, we worked on uncovering the root to anxiety which went back to college days for him, and then developed some strategies to boost confidence when presenting.
The result in his own words: “I believe working with Caroline helped my mind re-categorise how it perceives public speaking. Now I have significantly less anxiety, more confidence and can perform better than before. 100% worth it.”
A fear of public speaking is often a source of anxiety but one that many overcome. However, if a fear of something starts to affect your sleep, your ability to eat or you feel that it is a level of anxiety disproportionate to the activity, then please do get in touch.
M is an 11 year old child who was struggling with a phobia of being sick. This triggered high levels of anxiety when feeling any form of nausea or stomach discomfort.
Her anxieties were leading to her struggling to settle into the new Secondary School environment, which in turn was creating a high level of anxiety for all at home. Things were rapidly spiralling downwards.
One of the key things in supporting younger children is creating trust. M was a very bright child and also emotionally intelligent which helped us to create a platform of understanding of the science behind hypnosis and also the impact her thoughts and experiences were having on her. From here, she felt more able to ‘open up’ about not only her anxieties but her feelings in relation to how it was affecting her family.
Children tend to be a bit ‘marmite’ with hypnosis – they love it or hate it. M was very open to it however the experience of allowing her to focus on those fears did cause her to feel a lot of emotion as those pent up feelings were released. We allowed large periods of time between sessions to allow M time for the mental healing process to occur and to start using the new skills we were developing. In total, M had 3 sessions with me over a period of nearly 2 months.
Here is what her Mum said:
“Caroline has really helped my daughter cope with her phobia of being sick or feeling sick. Whilst M still occasionally gets anxious about new situations, her fear of going to school has completely vanished. She is happy and thriving there.
As a parent, the thing that has been the most helpful to me is the follow up emails Caroline has written to me, to guide me through what has been a very distressing time. She’s a mum too, so really understands what we as parents go through, as children negotiate their way through their anxiety issues. I have also really appreciated her advice on how often she sees M and which different methods she will use – it’s always been about what has been right for M, not about Caroline earning fees.
Highly recommended”
Children are often highly responsive to hypnotherapy and by gaining the tools to use their mind in this way at an early age, have a skill set that can be applied for the rest of their lives.
If you have a child that you are concerned for or would like to know more about hypnotherapy, let’s chat.
As a teenager/young adult, X had experienced numerous therapies after having anxiety from an early age and as she grew up, just learned to ‘suck it up. But she was finding socialising increasingly difficult, felt very self-conscious around other parents and just didn’t know why. A constant thought in her mind was, “Will it always be like this?”
As a mother of two young children she had become more aware of how her behaviour was affecting not only her life but also theirs and this was the motivation to seek help.
X worked with me remotely as this made it easier for her to have sessions around her two little ones and was very open to being hypnotised despite me not being physically present.
“I really appreciated having online zoom sessions as it enable me to fit the session around family life without stress or worry. Even though the sessions were online I still found the whole process very warm and open. Caroline enabled me to feel very safe. I liked being comfy at home with a cosy blanket too. Overall it was an incredibly positive experience.”
We had a total of 4 sessions spread over 3 months. In between sessions, X was given activities and exercises to help her build her own resilience and mental strength allowing us to take things up to the next level in our next session.
This is what X achieved:
“I feel more assured in myself in general. I now trust my decisions, actions and opinions. I am doubting myself less and no longer constantly comparing myself to others. This leaves me feeling a stronger sense of self. I feel stronger and able to try new things.
I have also found I am letting go of things quicker. Previously, I would spend ages ruminating about something I may have said or done wrong but this has really reduced.
I truly feel like a weight has been lifted. I have made mental notes of some of the things we discussed and covered, and I will continue to draw on these. I feel I have a stronger foundation now on which I can continue to build and grow. Just feeling more content in myself is a much lighter feeling.”
If you can relate to some of the experiences X was having prior to our work, please get in touch to discuss how her current situation could be achievable for you too.
P is a 14 year old who had be experiencing increasing levels of anxiety when having to face any medical interventions. It had led to three adults having to hold her down when a blood sample needed to be taken. Extremely traumatic for her and everyone else too!
Since then she has refrained from any medical interventions which added to the stress of trying to manage ongoing medical treatment.
When working with teenagers, accepting that parents have a significant role in the process too is important. P’s Mum expressed her concerns regarding hypnotherapy. “Having seen the hypnotic ‘shows,’ I was concerned that my daughter would end up clucking like a chicken. I was also concerned about meddling with the mind of an already complex 14 year old.”
P however took a different viewpoint saying, “I was quite excited because I have always wanted to be hypnotised.”
Having helped Mum understand the difference to the stage use of hypnosis and the science that is behind the therapeutic use, we went ahead and did a chemistry session with P. This was done over zoom as we were in lockdown due to the Corona virus. P dealt really well with working remotely and after having her first experience of hypnosis went on to say, “ I felt really relaxed and sleepy. I really liked the feeling.”
There was a bit of a time delay until the second session where we addressed the phobia. The ‘testing’ of the results however, took a little time as unlike phobias of spiders etc, we could not just take her to a medical appointment! A few weeks later however it was holiday time and P had to have a Covid test before entering France which she managed, to her family’s surprise, with ease. “I would have been terrified and hysterical had I not seen Caroline,” she said.
Phobias are relatively easy to deal with as they are a very focused form of anxiety, however, as clients learn to use the power of their mind in a new way, there are often secondary benefits. Her Mum added, “P had a stress free and intrusive medical intervention and her school attendance has improved with no time off for ‘anxiety.’ She has been going out with her friends more and going to the shop alone which she was scared to do before.”
Many people struggle with phobias for life and the reality is that they can be reduced in a short period of time. “I was delighted that it took only two sessions to see a difference. We are well on the journey to helping our daughter deal with her anxiety,” Mum concluded with.
So if you have had a phobia that is impeding your quality of life or just want to know more, please get in touch.
Jenny’s request for help came from obsessive thoughts regarding a relationship problem. Whilst living apart, she was constantly over thinking, picking at every detail of every conversation. This led to her not being able to enjoy the time when they were together. This was putting a huge strain on the relationship and also very detrimental to Jenny’s overall confidence and happiness.
Jenny’s interest in hypnotherapy was stimulated by having seen dramatic changes in a friend whom had worked with me. Thus she felt more curious than nervous about the process of hypnosis. When later asked how she would describe the feeling of hypnosis to someone her answer was, “All it is , is a deep sense of relaxation. It’s as easy as falling asleep and effectively that is what part of your mind is doing. It’s a strange sensation of falling asleep yet being awake.”
Jenny chose to travel up to Salisbury for her 4 hypnotherapy sessions which were spread across 2 months. There were some large gaps in between some of the sessions, allowing Jenny to do some work on her own that didn’t need my guidance, helping her build her own ‘toolset’ and experience the impact of using them.
Our work together started with a focus on the relationship problem; what it meant to her in the past, and where continuing those patterns would take her in the future. We then switched to focusing on the future and recognising that she could influence it and create a future of choice.
At the end of our work together, this is what Jenny said:
“I now look at all aspects of my life in a completely different way. A far more positive way. I was able to leave a relationship that wasn’t healthy for me. I’m able to look back at our time together with a sense of gratitude that it happened and that I still have that person in my life.
I have started yoga which I have been meaning to do for ages; I absolutely love it and wish I’d started it sooner. After buying my house, a goal I had had since I was 16, I felt a bit lost. Through our sessions, I now have a new dream ..” and that dream is very clear for her.
Jenny still has the person in her life. Whilst their paths are now on very different courses, when they are in contact, it is still a very positive connection – no bridges burned.
In a follow up contact with Jenny a few months later, Jenny had also changed jobs – leaving one that was not making her happy and using the tools she had learned to now develop other areas of her life. Her story is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when you learn how to use the power of your mind.
If you can relate to this story and would like to have a chat, please get in touch
Anne’s motivation to contact a Hypnotherapist in Salisbury was triggered by her needing help to get through a difficult time in life. Her husband had suffered from 2 strokes, resulting in significant care needs. Anne found herself in a role of carer, whilst also trying to continue her busy lifestyle. As a result, the pressure and stress was taking its toll on her. She was starting to have problems with sleeping and also noticed changes in her eating habits leading to her gaining weight. She also had a stress related sinus issue which, understandably, was escalating.
Anne was curious about hypnotherapy and very open minded. When she was asked how she would describe the feeling to someone else, she said, “It is nothing to be concerned about. You are in a relaxed and safe environment. Tension is dispelled and reassurance is given throughout.”
We had 4 sessions together, in some of which we used hypnosis, in others we spoke about her future. The sessions were spread over a total of nearly 4 months. This gave Anne time in between sessions to use some of the techniques she’d learned and to feel the impact of them.
One of these was to practise a relaxation process. Clients are offered a personalised recording. By listening to this regularly, it can not only relieve stress but also enhance a relaxed approach to life.
By our final session together she had made some adjustments to other areas of her life which had reduced her stress. She was sleeping better, felt more in control of her food choices and her sinus condition was noticeably improved – something she felt delighted with.
At the end of our work together she expressed the following:
“I have been able to clear the wood from the trees, able to look at perceived problems and have a different perspective now. I’ve re-prioritised my life and am handling things better. It is like I’ve gone through a tunnel into the daylight and am leaving my negativity behind. Many thanks for steering me in the right direction, the relaxation recording helps me back to normality when I need it.”
We cannot predict what challenges lie ahead in life. When those challenges originate from those we love, it can often make the impact higher.
If you are experiencing something in your life over which you feel you are losing control, please do get in touch. I’d love to chat about how hypnotherapy may support you adapt in a way that can still support a quality of life for you.
Angie came to see me with the brief simply that she had lost her direction. In her own words, “I feel like I am drifting on the sea and don’t know which way is up.”
She was someone with a number of pressures in life; a dependent mother, a single Mum to a teenage son with learning challenges and most significantly, a job she hated. She wanted to move away from the area but felt that her responsibilities meant she had to stay in Salisbury.
Our work together was two dimensional – firstly looking backwards at what was ‘anchoring her’. We started accessing emotions she had buried that she was unaware of, and then looking forwards to create a future that motivated her to take action. The result:
Whilst I will miss seeing her in and around Salisbury, I am delighted that she has found a new life for herself and is no longer drifting. What I also found particularly exciting was that her work not only found her new direction, but just like ripples in the pond, her action had an impact on those around her. Her mother was delighted at the prospect of going back to her home town and her son has opened doors to opportunities he had not found in Salisbury.
A few final words from her: “I am more confident and more focused. It (hypnotherapy) has changed my life dramatically. I could not have done any of this without you.”
Caroline has the unique ability to ‘know’ when someone is ready for change. Her natural perception, intelligence and strong kinesthetic awareness means Caroline ‘instinctively’ uses the ideal intervention, every time, to enable people to ‘see’ and deal with the underlying problem or root cause of a particular behaviour.
In my case Caroline noticed I exhibited a strong desire to please people, often at my own expense.
Caroline suggested a timeline style intervention and used a ‘hypnotherapy’ style questioning approach to help me discover where this belief of ‘HAVING to please others first’ had originated.
I remember clearly that ‘we’ went back through 2 or 3 generations and I discovered a ‘bizarre’ piece of information that, although made no logical sense at the time, gave me peace of mind and more importantly an understanding of the ‘root cause’.
Once Caroline had ‘bought’ me safely back ‘into the room’ I was amazed at ‘our’ discoveries. I seem to remember feeling peaceful and calm. The experience has now given my conscious and unconscious minds a chance to ‘rationalise’ and ‘move on’ thus ‘freeing’ me from the old strong desire to please! I am now ‘in my own power’ and my choice to please others is NEVER at my own expense.
The intervention, followed an emotional period following the breakup of a 13 year marriage in 2000.
Caroline’s ability to ‘maximise’ the opportunity for change was profound and I am deeply grateful to her on all levels.
If you have Caroline ‘in your life’ now, please know you are safe and ‘seen’; allow Caroline to heal the parts of you that are ready to change now.”
Tom’s confidence had been knocked after the end of a serious relationship. He had found himself feeling very alone but his lack of self confidence was hindering him going out with other people. He was feeling very unhappy and isolated. Also contributing to the challenges was his fear of being judged by others; something very common to young men of his age.
In our first session together, Tom expressed that he was unsure about hypnotherapy but open-minded. The first session with clients is designed to inform about what hypnotherapy is and how it works. Clients also experience hypnosis to help them understand how it feels and to understand that they are still very much in control – something that is a common misconception based on the use of hypnosis in stage shows.
When asked how he would describe the feeling of hypnosis to someone else, his response was, “Like falling asleep but sensing you are awake.”
Tom had just 3 sessions with me over a three week period. By then, he felt his self confidence was back at a level he was happy with. He had reconnected with friendships that he had allowed to lapse and was now going out most evenings. More significant for him was that he was no longer worried about what people may think about how he looked or what clothes to wear.
The final session Tom experienced was one on my favourites where he learned a wonderful technique that supports a great feeling of control over emotions and thoughts. At the end of that session his parting words were, “I am much happier and more confident. I feel lighter in myself, a lot more happier.”
In 2013, Philip developed a condition in his foot that inhibited his mobility. This led to the need to make adjustments in many areas of his life. He struggled with these changes and things took a significant downturn following the death of his brother in law. Feelings of loss, insecurity, anxiety, problems making decisions and concerns about his future culminated in an increasing depression.
From a person who had had full control of his life, he found himself, “Living my life in fear with the feeling that there was something inside my head that was stopping me moving forward.”
Philip and I worked together over a few months. I gave Philip some practical tools to analyse his emotions to get a better understanding of the triggers of anxiety. He also started to notice what helped him feel better. This greater awareness of the external forces on his own internal state has helped him feel much more in control. This also helped him to be far less influenced by the words and actions of other people.
“I feel calmer in myself and more able to deal with situations as they arise. I’,m no longer unduly concerned about the future as I try to live in the day and not look back.
Life has improved and almost back to where I was before my illness. Whilst I still have moments of doubt/fear/concern, I am more able to deal with them and to not let them overtake/overcome me.”
Feelings of depression are experienced by most people at some time. The work that Philip has done does not mean that he will never feel depressed again. The key difference is that he now has a much greater awareness of his emotional state. This leaves him more able to take steps to prevent any decline back to that more clinical state of depression. He has tools to pick himself back up quickly on those days where, as we all experience at times, the clouds come over!
“Initially I was unsure about contacting Caroline as I thought that I could resolve my problems myself without outside intervention but I realised that I needed professional help.
The decision to get in touch with Caroline proved to be one of the best decisions of my life. If I had not done so, I would still be in that ‘dark place of despair’ with the potential consequences of that situation and its impact on my life and that of my partner.”
If you can relate to that ‘dark place of despair’ please know there is a light for you to find and I would love to have a chat with you .