HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED ABOUT ON-LINE HYPNOTHERAPY? IT CAN BE JUST AS SUCCESSFUL AS FACE TO FACE SESSIONS.
I have recently had some enquiries about on-line sessions and if they are still available. I am happy to say that yes I am still offering on-line sessions, I have had some very successful sessions resulting in very happy clients. On-line hypnotherapy is now growing in popularity with an increasing number of therapists offering these sessions from the comfort of your own home. With the massive growth in digital technology, it is very easy to communicate online and you can use a desktop computer, tablet or smartphone wherever you are.
Some reasons and benefits of having hypnotherapy by video-link
- There are no transport worries and bad weather will not prevent you from attending.
- You may find it emotionally challenging to attend face to face, feeling shy or uncomfortable. Your anxiety may affect your ability to leave the house, preventing you from being able to even start therapy. Online therapy may be the first step in your recovery.
- You may prefer this way as there is more privacy with no-one seeing you going into a therapy room.
- You may find it difficult arranging time to physically see me and travel to where I am based.
- Wonderful benefits of sitting in the comfort and convenience of relaxing in your own home.
There are so many other reasons why someone would want online therapy but for whatever reasons, I will do my best to ensure that you feel comfortable and secure.
Does it really work as well as face-to-face?
Absolutely, there is no difference in the effectiveness of online therapy. In fact, you may even feel more relaxed and comfortable in the safety of your own home, which can only have a positive effect on the outcome of your therapy. Some people may prefer treatment this way and respond better.
Does it matter where you are?
No it doesn’t, anywhere is fine, so long as you are safe and unlikely to be disturbed. You may choose to sit on a chair, or lie down on your sofa or even sitting at your desk, wherever you are comfortable.
Here is a fabulous article written by Trevor Eddolls to reassure anyone who may have questions about online therapy sessions.
Since the Coronavirus pandemic started, hypnotherapists have moved to online working only – this means using things like Zoom or WhatsApp for video calls or simply talking on the phone. The worry that many potential customers (for this kind of therapy) have is whether online hypnotherapy works as well as actually sitting in the same room as your therapist. Will it work if you can’t look into the eyes of the hypnotist? Will you really be able to stop smoking – or whatever change they envisage – if all you’re doing is sitting in your dining room looking at a computer screen or your phone for a couple of hours?
The good news is that the answer is ‘yes’.
On the down side, you will need to have a reliable Internet connection. And you will need to have somewhere quiet where you can speak freely and relax without interruption.
On the plus side, you save time by not needing to travel to see the therapist and get home afterwards. You also save on the cost of travel – whether that’s petrol or bus fares. And you don’t need to find somewhere to park and pay for parking. If you have mobility issues, this is a big plus. Of course, if you live in a remote area, then online therapy at any time makes life so much easier. Also, if you are worried about going outside – whether that’s because you want to continue self-isolating for a while or because you have agoraphobia – your worries disappear. It also works well for people who find it difficult to accommodate visiting a therapist into their busy lives, such as key workers on shift, parents, and full-time carers. And there’s no chance of getting someone else’s germs. So, it’s ideal for people who feel more safe-and-secure being at home rather than going out to a clinic.
Another big plus is that you can work with a therapist anywhere in the country. You’re not restricted to local therapists. So, if you wanted a solution-focused hypnotherapist because you like the idea of working that way, you can choose anyone who is qualified and on the AfSFH register (https://afsfh.com/find-a-therapist) – no matter where they are based. Certainly, it is always worth choosing a therapist who belongs to an accredited organisation, like the Association for Solution Focused Hypnotherapy, and who is also a member of the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC). The CNHC is the UK regulatory body that provides a voluntary register of complementary, rather than alternative medicine, therapists.
These days, people shop online – whether that’s Amazon, their local supermarket, and much else. They play online games. They ‘google’ plumbers and gardeners, etc. They book holidays online. So much of life is online that seeing a hypnotherapist is not that much different. Certainly, any hypnotherapist will tell you that the number of people asking about online hypnotherapy is growing.
Online hypnotherapy can be very easy to access, even for people who previously might have described themselves as not very IT savvy. The technology, using Zoom and similar products, makes it all very straightforward and nothing to worry about. Most of the online meeting technologies are encrypted, so the communication and the whole session remain private and confidential.
You also need to ensure that the technology works at your end, ie there is a high-speed broadband link, and the camera and speakers on your laptop or phone will work in a therapy situation. Your therapist will probably test this before the first session. In the event of something going wrong, eg a power cut, the phone line being disrupted, or anything else, it’s a good idea to have a phone near you that the therapist can call. But if you don’t have these things, then you can simply talk on the phone. For online/phone sessions, payment must usually be made before each session starts. You will be given bank details in plenty of time to transfer the payment.
Since the lockdown started, many people have enjoyed online hypnotherapy and there is plenty of anecdotal evidence of how well it works, but some people are still looking for evidence that an online therapy session is as good as a face-to-face session. The good news is that there is already some clinical evidence of the efficacy on online hypnotherapy. For example, there’s a 2014 study entitled “Internet-based versus face-to-face cognitive-behavioral intervention for depression: A randomized controlled non-inferiority trial” and published in the Journal of Affective Disorders. It found that treating depression using an Internet-based intervention is equally beneficial as regular face-to-face therapy. The study also reported: “However, more long-term efficacy, indicated by continued symptom reduction three months after treatment, could only be found for the online group.” Similarly, a 2018 study entitled, “SKYPE HYPNOTHERAPY FOR IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME: Effectiveness and Comparison with Face-to-Face Treatment” and published in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis said: “This study shows that Skype hypnotherapy is highly effective in refractory IBS”.
So, the anecdotal and the experimental evidence go to show that online hypnotherapy is definitely as good as the face-to-face version and may, in some cases, be better! If you had concerns about giving it a try, join the hundreds of people who are already benefiting from online hypnotherapy and let it help you.
Trevor is Head of IT & Social Media for the Association for Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (AfSFH), of which I am also a member.
If you would like some help and support from the comfort of your own home, please get in touch for more information. I am happy to chat with you on the telephone to discuss if this is something that could work for you. I will do my best to reassure you and answer any questions, helping to allay any fears. If you prefer, please feel free to email or text me.
Take care and stay safe everyone.
Tel: 07950 556382 Email: newyou@mandyholmeshypnotherapy.co.uk
Mandy Holmes DFSH HPD Solution Focused Clinical Hypnotherapist based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Mandy Holmes is a Shropshire based hypnotherapist offering on-line and face to face sessions. She is fully insured and a member of the Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) and the Association for Solution focused hypnotherapy (Afsfh)
Hypnotherapy in Shrewsbury
Hypnotherapy in Shropshire