Hypnosis is a normal and natural method of altering someone's state of consciousness. It is very pleasant and relaxing but at one with deep concentration. If you've ever driven down a motorway and suddenly realised you're much further on in the journey and don't remember the last 20 miles, then you have been in a trance state. Hypnotherapy is the application of hypnotic techniques in such a way as to bring about therapeutic change.

For someone who has never been to a hypnotherapist before, you can expect the following to happen:

You will have a free consultation, where your details will be taken, we will discuss the issues you wish to change, and I will explain how the mind works and the ways we can help proceed with your treatment.

The number of sessions taken will depend on the nature of the problem, and the individual. As a general rule, stop smoking takes two one hour sessions, as I like to do the first session with relaxation, to help the client get used to being on the couch. This helps when it comes to the second session which focuses on the smoking. Phobias take between 4 and 6 one hour sessions, and the rest can take anything from 8 to 12 sessions. Compared with other therapies - CBT usually takes between 16 and 24 sessions - hypnotherapy can make changes much faster. Some people think that it will only take one or two sessions. Hypnotherapy is not a magic wand, your circumstances and your background will have an influence on the number of sessions needed.

In many cases, you may be asked to do homework between sessions, and you will be given a relaxation CD to listen to, to help reduce anxiety and allow you to progress with the therapy. Quite often I will require you to write a journal; this is a useful tool for monitoring progress and triggers.

It is likely you will be asked to fill in a number of questionnaires, which will allow us to monitor progress, and a diary, which will highlight aspects of your daily activity, which may be contributing to your problem.

This therapy is concerned with helping people achieve what they want to achieve in life. In solution focused brief therapy, we are concerned with awakening abilities that appear beyond the person's deliberate control. It is particularly helpful with Confidence and Self-esteem problems, and change can often be achieved rapidly. The average length of treatment varies but it is generally under ten sessions, more usually five or six.

This is usually part of the therapeutic process, but it is available on it's own, if the client does not want hypnotherapy.

Cognitive behavioural therapy is the therapy of choice for the NHS. In it's context working alongside hypnosis, it works extremely well for depressive disorders and low self-esteem. Using various questioning techniques, we can search for patterns of unhelpful thinking, and start to look for alternatives. It involves a good deal of self- monitoring, which leads me on to...

Originally a meditation practice of Buddhist monks, mental health practitioners have found mindfulness techniques an excellent way to lower anxiety, to become more aware of our automatic thoughts and habits. I teach my clients how to meditate, use mindful meditations, bring our awareness to the hear and now and slow down our reaction times, so we can enjoy the moment instead of being caught up in a whirlwind of activity.

NLP or Neuro Linguistic Programming can help alongside hypnotherapy with phobias and self-esteem problems. It's about learning to move quickly beyond limitations and making your mind up, rather than your mind making up you.