Hypno-Psychotherapy – Denise Marleyn

What is Hypno-Psychotherapy?

A Hypno-Psychotherapist is a Psychotherapist who has an added specialism in the use of hypnosis.Consequently, hypno-psychotherapy involves the use of hypnosis within a supportive, psychotherapeutic environment.Alternatively, other psychotherapeutic techniques may be used in combination or as an alternative to hypnosis.
Additional psychotherapy techniques which I can offer alongside Hypno-Psychotherapy currently include Counselling, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Gestalt psychotherapy techniques, Inner Child work, Affect-Centered Therapy, Somatic Trauma Therapy, EMDR and Neuro-Linguistic Psychotherapy (NLPt).

So why use hypnosis?

During psychotherapy, hypnosis can be used as an aid to the psychotherapy in order to help the client access and channel resources from their subconsious, or ‘Unconscious Mind’ in order for them to resolve problems. Normally, psychotherapy operates on the conscious or pre-conscious level of our mind: the use of hypnosis enables us to tap into a deeper level – to the sub-conscious or ‘unconscious’ level, where much of our difficulties lie. Where we feel ‘stuck’ or conflicted, accessing the Unconscious can provide solutions and enable quicker progress and change.

What’s so beneficial about Hypno-Psychotherapy?

A UKCP Registed Hypno-psychotherapist is a psychotherapist, not a hypnotherapist, who has an added specialism in hypnosis. A hypno-psychotherapist undertakes a full psychotherapy training in addition to a training in hypnosis and therefore has at their disposal a much deeper psychological understanding, training and skill in providing a supportive, empathetic therapeutic relationship (generally accepted as possibly the most important factor in treatment success)- as well as added techniques for helping his/her client creatively resolve physical, psycho-physiological, psychological or emotional difficulties. Along with hypnosis, a Hypno-psychotherapist is also trained in CBT – a NICE-recommended treatment of choice for depression and anxiety – and is able to offer CBT, integrated with hypnosis, within a supportive counselling/psychotherapeutic relationship.

What’s the difference between a hypnotherapist and a hypno-psychotherapist?

Ethical hypnotherapists train in hypnosis for one year and undertake 450 hours of tuition in that time. In comparison, hypno-psychotherapists train over a minimum of 4 years and undertake 1800 hours of Masters Degree level tuition in psychotherapy along with additional training in hypnosis.

How does that affect what a hypnotherapist or hypno-psychotherapist can help with?

Hypnotherapy can assist clients in resolving problems arising from habits, maladaptive behaviours, pain (under medical supervision), and psychosomatic medical conditions. It can also be used to help clients in maximising potential in settings such as work and sport. Hypnotherapists are trained to a level 4 NVQ equivalent standard. Unlike psychotherapists or hypno-psychotherapists, hypnotherapists are not trained to deal with deep psychological issues or psychiatric illness.

Research on Hypno-Psychotherapy

Many research studies show the effectiveness of hypnosis but, additional studies also detail the increased effects of using psychotherapy with hypnosis for even better results. That research includes:

Cozolino (2002) , writing about change, growth and brain development, notes: “recent discoveries in the neurosciences.. [ the study of the brain]…seem to support the value of psychotherapy.”
Maw & Maw (1995) state: “Hypnotherapy is most effective when practised in conjunction with psychotherapy, and is a proven technique for behaviour modification” (p.55)