If you’re searching for a hypnotherapist in Stoke-on-Trent, you’re not alone. People seek hypnotherapy for many reasons, including anxiety, stress, phobias, weight loss, confidence, and unwanted habits. But with so many therapists available, how do you know which one is right for you?
Why I Became a Hypnotherapist in Stoke-on-Trent
When you think of Stoke-on-Trent, I’m willing to bet that hypnotherapy doesn’t spring to mind.
We live in the Potteries, with ancestors who were potters, miners and farmers. Practical-minded folk who believed only in what they could see with their eyes or hold in their hands. Many of us grew up in Church of England schools, where we sang He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands and Give Me Oil in My Lamp, Keep Me Burning in assembly every day.
They used to say that only 5% of Stokies ever leave. I used to be in that percentage, but then I came back! Most are friendly and many will say it like it is.
So how did it come to be that I became a hypnotherapist in Stoke-on-Trent?
I’d like to think that I was raised to be open-minded, but it’s more likely that I’ve travelled around the world and met people from many different backgrounds. That opened my mind to all the options out there.
I met a girl at university who was raised in Wales and taught about herbal medicine growing up. I worked in Birmingham with someone who insisted I try acupuncture because “it’s the best”. A travel agent in Greece gifted me with the concept of worry beads, known as kompoloi. In Arizona, I learned about Native American beliefs and their deep respect for the land and nature.
But it was in Stoke-on-Trent that I attended my first sound bath, inside the old Stoke Library. It was in Stoke-on-Trent that I experienced reflexology and Reiki for the first time.
There are wonderful healers surrounding us, if only we search them out.
Hypnotherapy fell into my lap at exactly the right time. I was burnt out, depressed and, quite frankly, lost. I was seeing a life coach to figure out my next career, not knowing that my next career was already making its way to me.
It didn’t just become my next career. I overcame the high functioning anxiety that I had held all my life. My fear of public speaking went away. And I was finally able to let go of the people pleasing that had been running my life for me.
Why Hypnotherapy Works So Well
Back to the people of Stoke-on-Trent.
We’re in Staffordshire, often referred to as the creative county. This is the place where many women worked painting the pottery by hand. Where there is an abundance of photography, art and poetry.
It’s in our veins.
And it’s exactly this wonderful imagination that can be beneficial when you have hypnotherapy.
We’re so used to using our imagination for worry that we forget we can use it to imagine the best possible outcome too.
Worry is where I started because I’ve been a “werriter” all my life. These days, we’d probably call that anxiety.
How to Choose a Hypnotherapist in Stoke-on-Trent
There are many hypnotherapists in Stoke-on-Trent.
Many don’t specialise because we’re taught so many different techniques that it seems unfair to say no to helping anyone. Others choose specific areas because those are the areas where they feel most experienced.
Only a few specialise in one particular area.
I like to compare this to a GP versus a Consultant. You’re more likely to find a hypnotherapist who is highly experienced in one area than someone who is equally experienced in many different areas, unless they’ve been working full-time for decades.
Choosing a hypnotherapist in Stoke-on-Trent can seem daunting at first. Maybe this is your first experience of an alternative therapy. Or perhaps you’ve recently moved to Staffordshire and want to find someone similar to a therapist you worked with before.
Here are a few pointers.
Search for “Hypnotherapy for…”
Search for hypnotherapy for anxiety, hypnotherapy for stress, hypnotherapy for weight loss, hypnotherapy for phobias, or whatever issue you’re experiencing.
You want to know that your hypnotherapist has successfully helped people with that issue before.
Read the Reviews
Google Business Profiles show reviews that have been checked before publication. However, only people with a Gmail account can leave a Google review.
It’s worth checking Facebook reviews and any other platforms linked from the therapist’s website too.
Check Credentials
Hypnotherapy is not currently a regulated profession.
You want to know that your hypnotherapist has completed thorough professional training, not simply a quick online course.
Two of the main professional registers in the UK are:
Most therapists belong to one or the other, and either is perfectly acceptable.
Look at Their Social Media
It’s important to find a hypnotherapist in Stoke-on-Trent that you connect with easily.
You may have certain preferences, values or approaches that matter to you. The same applies to any form of therapy. If you feel comfortable with the therapist, you’re far more likely to enjoy the experience and engage fully with the process.
Check the Location
You might prefer face-to-face hypnotherapy in Stoke-on-Trent, or you may want the flexibility of online hypnotherapy from home.
Both work well.
You may prefer someone working from a clinic or public building, while others are happy to visit a therapist working from home, which is very common.
If they work from home, it can be useful to check practical details such as parking. You might even want to know whether they have pets. I always check because I’m allergic to furry creatures!
Common Myths About Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy really is an investment in your health. It doesn’t go on forever either. Often, issues can be resolved within 3-8 sessions, depending on their complexity.
In comparison, you could attend talking therapy every week for a year and not necessarily achieve the same results.
If you’re reading this, you’re already researching. So let’s address a few common myths.
Myth 1: The Hypnotherapist Fixes You
The hypnotherapist doesn’t fix you.
You don’t need fixing.
You simply need some thought patterns tweaking.
The hypnotherapist guides you. You create the change by participating, remaining open-minded and listening to any supporting audios if required.
Myth 2: Hypnosis Is an Altered State
Hypnosis is a normal experience that happens every day.
It’s that deeply relaxed state just before sleep, when the subconscious mind becomes focused and alert. Usually, your brain is listening out for danger at this point, but hypnotherapy uses that focused relaxation to support positive change.
Myth 3: Hypnotherapy Is Instant
Hypnotherapy isn’t a quick click of the fingers and you’re done.
Many of my clients come for anxiety hypnotherapy, and their nervous system often needs time to settle before we can do the deeper work.
Doubt can slow progress. You need to want the change and believe it’s possible.
That’s one reason hypnotherapists are cautious when family members try to book therapy on someone else’s behalf. If the person doesn’t want it, it’s unlikely to work.
Myth 4: Hypnotherapy Is the Same as Stage Hypnosis
A stage hypnotist uses hypnosis for entertainment.
A hypnotherapist uses hypnosis for therapy.
The two are very different.
Therapy is a commitment and deserves to be taken seriously, regardless of the type of therapy you choose.
Myth 5: Hypnotherapy Is Only a Short-Term Fix
In my experience, the changes can be long-lasting.
It’s been six years since I had hypnotherapy myself, at the time of writing this.
Many people who contact me have had hypnotherapy before, often ten years or more ago. They return because they want support with something new, or because a significant life change means they want to revisit the process.
About My Hypnotherapy Practice
For clarity, I’m a hypnotherapist living on the very edge of Stoke-on-Trent, in Clayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme.
I specialise primarily in stress and anxiety.
I’m registered with the General Hypnotherapy Register and currently have over 40 five-star Google reviews.
I work both online and from my home practice, which has parking and no furry pets. (The chickens live outside).
I offer programmes of 4-12 sessions and often combine hypnotherapy, coaching and Integral Eye Movement Techniques (IEMT). However, you’re welcome to choose just one approach if you prefer.
And I won’t make you cluck like a chicken. Promise!