Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy is a type of therapy that utilises hypnosis to help people address various psychological concerns. Hypnosis is a state of deep relaxation and focused concentration that allows you to become more open to suggestions in making positive changes in your thoughts, behaviours, and emotions.

Here at Masterpiece Psychology, we devise a comprehensive treatment plan that includes hypnotherapy to help you overcome your challenges so you can improve your quality of life and enjoy wellbeing.

How Hypnotherapy Works

During a hypnotherapy session, you become more open to suggestions from the therapist. Once you’re in hypnosis, the therapist will make safe suggestions that are designed to help you overcome your challenges. Here’s a more detailed look at how Hypnotherapy works:

Pre-talk

Before entering hypnosis, you'll have a consultation with our hypnotherapist. We’'ll discuss your goals, assess if hypnotherapy is suitable for you, and answer any questions you might have.

Induction

This stage involves guiding you into a state of hypnosis. Our hypnotherapist might use relaxation techniques like deep breathing, visualisation, or progressive muscle relaxation. They'll also use calming language and repetitive suggestions to focus your attention and deepen your relaxation.

Suggestion and Deepening

Once in a hypnotic state, you're more receptive to suggestions. We will provide personalised suggestions tailored to your goals. For instance, for anxiety, we might suggest feeling calm and safe, or for sleep issues, we might suggest experiencing deep relaxation and peaceful sleep.

Deepening techniques

Throughout the session, the therapist might use deepening techniques to further enhance your hypnotic state. This could involve metaphors, visualisations, or physical sensations.

Suggestion Integration

The therapist will then guide you out of hypnosis and discuss how the suggestions can be integrated into your daily life. This might involve practising relaxation techniques or self-affirmations to reinforce the positive changes targeted during the session.

Re-evaluation

Follow-up sessions allow us to assess your progress and adjust the approach as needed. You might need multiple sessions depending on the complexity of your issue.

How Hypnotherapy can help you overcome your challenges

Hypnotherapy can be a powerful tool for managing a range of issues, including anxiety, chronic pain, poor sleep, and even trauma. Here’s how it works for each:

Anxiety

While in a relaxed and focused state, the therapist can offer suggestions that help you develop a sense of calm and inner peace. These suggestions might target specific situations that trigger anxiety, or focus on building your overall resilience to stress.

Hypnotherapy can also help address negative thought patterns that fuel anxiety, allowing you to reframe them into more positive and empowering beliefs.

Chronic Pain

The therapist can guide you to visualise a peaceful scene or imagine a decrease in pain intensity. Hypnotherapy can also help you manage the emotional aspects of pain, like frustration and fear. By focusing on relaxation and positive imagery, you can potentially reduce the perception of pain and improve your overall well-being.

Poor Sleep

By inducing a state of deep relaxation and focusing your attention on peaceful imagery, it can ease your mind and prepare your body for restful sleep. Additionally, hypnotherapy can address underlying issues that disrupt sleep, such as anxiety or stress.

Trauma

Hypnotherapy can be a powerful tool for processing traumatic experiences. While in a safe and controlled hypnotic state, you can access and reframe traumatic memories in a way that reduces their emotional impact. It's important to note that this should be done with a qualified trauma-informed therapist to ensure a safe and supportive environment.

Remember, hypnotherapy is a collaborative approach. By working together, we can explore whether it can be a valuable tool in your personal toolbox for managing anxiety, pain, sleep issues, or trauma.

Take The First Step To A Better Quality Of Life

Step 1

Book session

Book an appointment with us so we can figure out your needs and find the best psychologist for you.

Step 2

Planning the treatment

We will conduct a thorough assessment to understand your specific symptoms and other relevant factors. From there, we’ll work out a personalised plan to help you feel better.

Step 3

Treatment and monitoring

We encourage you to attend your sessions regularly to ensure your needs are met and so we can monitor your progress and adjust the treatment plan as needed.

Get In Touch

Our Promise

Comprehensive Services

We offer a range of evidence-based, drug-free treatments for anxiety , trauma, neurodiversity, poor sleep and chronic pain.

Expertise and Experience

Masterpiece Psychology was founded by Renee Mill, a clinical psychologist and occupational therapist with 40 years of clinical experience. She is a dedicated researcher on anxiety solutions. She has written three books and a treatment manual on anxiety and has presented to various organisations and media outlets.

Renee has handpicked her team of highly qualified psychologists, psychotherapists, and hypnotherapists and guarantees you will receive quality services and professionalism.

Warm and Caring Environment

From our practitioners to our reception staff, the whole team is empathic and supportive to ensure that you feel understood and cared for throughout your therapy journey.

Professional Fees That Suit Every Budget

Our psychologists have varying fees that can suit every budget. This allows us to help more people of all ages and from all walks of life.

Face-to-face, & Telehealth Sessions Available

Choose sessions that best fit your schedules and preferences. We can help you even if you live in far locations, have mobility issues, or prefer the comfort of your own home.

Caring Sydney Clinicians you can trust

Renee Mill

Director, Principal Clinical Psychologist, Supervisor and Best Selling Author

Tess Moffat Sosa

Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Julia Garami

Clinical Psychologist

Donna Alderson

Psychotherapist / Mediator

Priya Gauchan

Registered Psychologist

Natalie Majdanzic

Provisional Psychologist

Yiss Mill

Drumbeat Practitioner

Marcelle Maisel

Hypnotherapist

Don’t Be Afraid To Seek Help

Where to find us

Location: Suite 18, Level 3, Edgecliff Mews, 201 New South Head Rd, Edgecliff NSW 2027

Public Transportation: Masterpiece Psychology is only a 1-minute walk from Edgecliff Station. Several bus routes go past the offices of Masterpiece Psychology.

Parking: On-street parking is available, and paid parking stations are nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is hypnosis safe?

Hypnosis is an extremely safe, gentle, natural, relaxing, and enjoyable experience. You are in control the whole time. You will not be made to do anything you are uncomfortable with, and you can stop at any time during a session.

Will I be stuck in a trance?

Hypnosis is not like stage hypnosis! You won’t be doing anything out of character or against your will. You remain in control throughout the session and can choose to accept or reject any suggestions.

Does hypnotherapy work for everyone?

Hypnotherapy can be a powerful tool for many people, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Individual factors like openness to suggestion and the complexity of your issue can influence its effectiveness. We can discuss this during the initial consultation to see if it’s a good fit for you.

How many sessions will I need?

The number of sessions varies depending on your goals and the issue you’re addressing. For some concerns like sleep problems, a few sessions might suffice. For more complex issues like chronic pain or trauma, a longer-term approach might be needed.

Are there any risks or side effects?

Hypnotherapy is generally safe with minimal risks. However, it’s important to disclose any pre-existing mental health conditions or concerns to us beforehand. In rare cases, some people might experience temporary lightheadedness or headache after a session.

Can I hypnotise myself?

Yes, to a certain extent. Techniques like self-hypnosis and guided meditations can be helpful for relaxation and positive self-talk. However, a trained hypnotherapist can create a more focused and personalised experience with tailored suggestions targeting your specific goals.

Can hypnotherapy help with phobias or fears?

Absolutely! Hypnotherapy can be very effective in addressing phobias and fears. Exposure therapy combined with hypnotherapy can help you gradually confront your fears in a safe and controlled environment, while also using hypnotherapy to reframe negative thoughts and anxieties associated with the phobia.

What does a typical hypnotherapy session look like?

The structure can vary, but generally, a session will involve a discussion of your goals, followed by relaxation techniques to guide you into a hypnotic state. Then, the therapist will offer personalised suggestions tailored to your needs. Finally, you’ll be gently brought out of hypnosis and discuss any insights or experiences you had during the session.

Are there evidence-based studies?

In 2018 a meta-analysis showed that hypnosis works best at reducing anxiety when combined with other psychological interventions, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

In 2016 the PACFA research committee released a literature review. The goal of this literature review was to provide a contemporary review of research on the effectiveness of hypnotherapy. Ten studies were reviewed on the application of hypnotherapy to two common conditions: chronic pain and anxiety. The review found that the studies provided evidence for the effectiveness of hypnotherapy as a treatment to assist in the reduction of pain and anxiety.

Hammond (2010, p. 271) specifically reviewed the effectiveness of hypnosis in reducing anxiety and found there was a “tremendous volume” of research that proves that hypnosis is very effective in the treatment of state anxiety “associated with cancer, surgery, burns and a variety of medical/dental procedures” (Hammond, 2010, p. 271), including the reduction of anxiety “associated with a variety of surgical, medical and dental procedures (e.g., incisional biopsy, venepuncture, having radiological and imaging procedures, dentistry or oral surgery)” (p. 269).