It's all in the mind
Group therapy is a concept that most of us would only be familiar with through US television shows but a local hypnotherapist has set out to change all that.
Anne Marie O'Brien of Carrickboy, Longford is a trained Clinical Hypnotherapist with a Diploma in Therapeutic Hypnosis and Clinical Hypnosis and she has introduced Group Hypnotherapy sessions to her new practice, The Sanctuary.
"Hypnotherapy is just a state of focused and heightened awareness," Anne Marie explained to the Leader recently. "With this workshop I am reframing misperceptions about the practice."
At the workshops Anne Marie will look at the different brainwave states and play some games to illustrate belief systems and release negativity.
"When you create a pattern in the brain, add motivation and desire – it's a recipe for success," she says. Anne Marie aims to help Longfordians by making them more aware of the power of their own minds.
"The subconscious is benign but it stores every emotion and behaviour that we have. Throughout our life we develop particular coping skills and behaviours to deal with situations and sometimes we need to change these," she says.
One of Anne Marie's main aims is dispel some of the myths that surround hypnotherapy.
"Everyone has the stereotypical view of the hypnotherapist, for example Paul McKenna making people kiss each other on the stage. Because of this, people feel 'I don't want anyone messing with my mind'," says Anne Marie.
However, according to Anne Marie this illustrates how powerful the subconscious mind actually is and how it can be harnessed to the benefit of one's own life.
"The subconscious is amazingly powerful. If you are impressing information about what you want on your subconscious mind it will move heaven and earth to achieve it for you," she says.
Such is the belief in Anne Marie's techniques that people travel from places far and wide, such as Mayo and Sligo to her practice.
"I work with acne/psoriasis, anxiety, stress, pain management, athletes, phobias, weight release, confidence, helping people achieve goals, creativity – the list is endless," she says.
One popular, yet unusual, area is that of fertility. Anne Marie practices reflexology at The Sanctuary, which is a popular form of alternative therapy in treating infertility.
"It is quite common for women to come for reflexology when they are preparing for conception. They are advised not to do so once pregnant, however," she says.
If women fail to become pregnant, they can then try hypnotherapy.
"I am usually the last port of call in the case of many women and so those that arrive to me can be quite vulnerable. With fertility, every other avenue should have been explored.
"If a woman is ovulating and everything is seen to be medically fine, then it can be a psychosomatic block. Hypnotherapy releases that block," she says.
In Clinical Hypnotherapy the practice is focused around the client and therefore different techniques will be used to address each issue. In some cases, the hypnotherapist will bring the client back to a situation in their childhood (regression) and help them review it from an adult perspective.
"Sometimes all it takes is the adult to look at that situation and review it," says Anne Marie.
Unlike some alternative therapies, Clinical Hypnotherapy does not require many sessions.
"Individual sessions are tailored so they vary between two to three hours per session. There is a half hour consultation by phone also to build a rapport and then follow up conversations over the phone. I have never given more than four sessions, but it is usually one or two," she says.
Anne Marie is a member of the Irish Hypnotherapy Association which was founded by hypnotherapist Susan Wallace. Anne Marie is a student of Susan's.
"We have a constitution or code of ethics which Susan has instilled within us of how to take care of our clients. We would like complimentary therapies to become legislated to address people's concerns," says Anne Marie.
For further information, contact Anne Marie O'Brien on 085-2707562 or visit: www.sanctuaryholistic.net. Left, Anne Marie O'Brien. Photo:Joe McDonagh
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Sunday 05 February 2012
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