When I was given a kindle earlier this year as a mother's day gift, I was honestly not quite sure if I would get used to it. I have loved books all my life, not just the words but also the feel of them and, not being particularly technical, I thought that using an electronic book may not be for me. I was wrong. Initially I have to admit that it did feel a bit strange not having that very safe, comforting, feeling of curling up with a book but I have adapted to it now, and I particularly love 'browsing' in the kindle shop - it means that my previous hobby of spending hours in bookshops can now be done whilst in bed/curled up on the sofa/on holiday etc. However, as it is so easy to click on the 'buy' button I do have to be aware of the fact that my budget does have certain limits.
The kindle book that I am reading at the moment is 'Cognitive Hypnotherapy - what is that all about?' by Trevor Sylvester. Trevor is a highly respected hypnotherapist who runs the Quest Institute in London, a hypnotherapy training organisation, and he has pioneered many cutting edge techniques, in particular 'word weaving', which is a way that the therapist can use the clients own view of the world (their words, their patterns of thinking, their own unique reality) to construct hypnosis scripts that really get to the heart of that particular client's problem. Some hypnotherapists tend to use the same scripts on all the clients (a sort of 'one size fits all') and whilst this can have a positive effect, it is miles better to make the treatment adapt to the client, rather than the other way around.
Cognitive hypnotherapy is a unique combination of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) which the NHS now uses widely with its patients, and hypnotherapy. CBT works by getting you to be aware of your thought patterns and emotions, and how they can sometimes run in a loop, which sometimes then becomes a vicious self-fulfilling cycle. The therapist shows you that your thoughts are not facts, and you can challenge them - it is almost by standing back and looking at this pattern from a different perspective, you can be aware that it is possible to think and feel differently.
Where I believe CBT falls short is that the therapy still uses the conscious, analytical part of your brain to assess how you feel, and this is only ever going to give limited success. Much more powerful, I believe, is a combination of CBT and hypnotherapy, where the negative thought patterns can still be assessed, but this time by the sub-conscious mind in hypnosis, and as this part of the mind is much more creative, imaginative an open to suggestion, deep longer-lasting changes can be made. It is also possible to go back, in hypnosis, to particular events in the clients life, which are still causing significant problems, and the negative effect of these traumatic events can be 'dissolved' by hypnotic intervention.
Therapy has to be 'client centered' to be effective, and it is my believe that the best therapists around at the moment are using combinations of CBT, hypnotherapy and NLP in their practice in order to make sure that their treatment is tailored to the client.
In my practice, I draw on many different disciplines, as well as hypnotherapy. No two patients are alike, and we need to be acutely aware of their 'world' before even attempting to help them. By using elements of CBT, NLP, as well as hypnotherapy, I believe that I offer an effective method of achieving long-lasting positive change.
Call me on 01449 780352 or 0781 7158429, or email me at wendy@wendychalk.co.uk, to find out how I can help you.
Best wishes,
Wendy
Tuesday, 27 September 2011
Tuesday, 20 September 2011
The Power of Storytelling
I was reading the Sunday paper last weekend, and I came across an article about a father whose daughter had suffered from the most appalling seizures whilst very young. Her illness had a devastating effect on the whole family, and in order to get through this difficult time and to soothe his daughter, the father regularly told her stories. This had the effect of calming the little girl down, but also made the father and the rest of the family felt better too.
Stories can really help to divert and distract, and can take us to a different world, but they can also guide us to more positive ways of thinking. Throughout history, stories have been used in this way, the bible stories being some of the best known.
In my hypnotherapy practice, I regularly use stories and metaphors as the subconscious mind responds really well to this type of suggestion. Whilst positive direct suggestion used in hypnosis (this would be the type of phrase such as 'you will only crave nutritious, healthy foods') is often very powerful, it is sometimes a bit too authoritarian for some, and so the subconscious mind can have a tendency to rebel against it. Much more subtle is the story or metaphor which leads the client into what is technically known as a trans-derivational search, whereby the client can apply the message within, to his or her own situation. I have seen quite remarkable results by using metaphors and stories, particularly with those clients who respond less well to direct suggestion.
One favourite story which I sometimes use for my clients is the following. It can make them have faith in something which they cannot see, and which is seemingly impossible. All sorts of magical things can occur, without us being able to understand the full process behind it, we just need to believe in them.
It seems unlikely, but stories really do have the power to heal. If you wish to find out how they can help to inspire change in YOUR life, then contact me on 01449 78044 or 0781 7158429, or email me on wendy@wendychalk.co.uk
Have a good week,
Wendy.
Stories can really help to divert and distract, and can take us to a different world, but they can also guide us to more positive ways of thinking. Throughout history, stories have been used in this way, the bible stories being some of the best known.
In my hypnotherapy practice, I regularly use stories and metaphors as the subconscious mind responds really well to this type of suggestion. Whilst positive direct suggestion used in hypnosis (this would be the type of phrase such as 'you will only crave nutritious, healthy foods') is often very powerful, it is sometimes a bit too authoritarian for some, and so the subconscious mind can have a tendency to rebel against it. Much more subtle is the story or metaphor which leads the client into what is technically known as a trans-derivational search, whereby the client can apply the message within, to his or her own situation. I have seen quite remarkable results by using metaphors and stories, particularly with those clients who respond less well to direct suggestion.
One favourite story which I sometimes use for my clients is the following. It can make them have faith in something which they cannot see, and which is seemingly impossible. All sorts of magical things can occur, without us being able to understand the full process behind it, we just need to believe in them.
In 1640 Jan Baptista van Helmont, a Flemish physician and chemist, carried out an experiment. He took a pot of soil, and a willow sapling and weighed both. He planted the little tree in the soil and carefully watered it for five years. At the end of the five years he then again weighed the willow tree and the soil. The tree had increased in weight by 164 pounds, but the soil had decreased in weight by less than two ounces.
Where had the material of the tree come from? Out of thin air. At the time nobody understood that plants take oxygen and carbon from the air to build their leaves and stems and flowers. Just because we don't understand a process doesn't mean it isn't happening. Every time you look at a tree you might like to remember that it's actually made out of thin air, and maybe also wonder about what invisible processes might be going on in you, right now.
It seems unlikely, but stories really do have the power to heal. If you wish to find out how they can help to inspire change in YOUR life, then contact me on 01449 78044 or 0781 7158429, or email me on wendy@wendychalk.co.uk
Have a good week,
Wendy.
Tuesday, 13 September 2011
Hypnosis and IVF
In 2004, a team from Soroka University in Israel found, in a study of 185 women given IVF treatment, 28% of the women in the group who were hypnotised, became pregnant, compared with 14% of those who were not. The findings of this study was presented to the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology conference in Berlin that year.
The Israeli researchers were looking to see if hypnosis could make the embryo transfer stage of IVF more successful. Their belief was that if the womb contracts during this stage, it can affect the chances of the transplant being a success.
Whilst there have been few studies to prove that hypnotherapy can improve the success rates of women going through IVF treatment, there can be no doubt that any treatment which helps reduce the massive stress levels encountered by couples going down this route is a positive thing.
Unless you have endured the pain of sub-fertility (I prefer to call it this, rather than infertility or even worse childlessness) you can have no idea of what these couples go through. The stress comes from all quarters, not just the sheer physical toll that IVF treatment can take on you. The emotional factors are even more traumatic. The main one is the feeling that you may never have a child of your own, and this can be described as a type of grieving, but in some ways far worse, as you can never move on. Often, well-meaning people (usually those with children, conceived easily and naturally) will urge you to 'accept the fact that you cannot have children' and just move on with your life. Having experienced sub-fertility and then IVF treatment myself, I can honestly say that this type of advice made me quite angry. How dare these people presume to give you advice on something that they have no idea about? I was always very sure that it was my destiny to have a child, I just could not imagine my life without children and I very much feel that it was this belief that eventually led to us being blessed with our two wonderful boys.
And yet it is very hard to nurture a belief, that despite the odds being against you, you will one day hold that baby in your arms. The medical profession often just relies on hard, cold facts, purely the physiological, and not the emotional or psychological factors that play a part. And this is so important. I am forever indebted to Robert Edwards and Patrick Steptoe, who pioneered IVF treatment - they were medical men, Edwards a Scientist and Steptoe a medical doctor - and, as a result of their wonderful work, Louise Brown, the first IVF baby was born, followed by many thousands of others. Robert Edwards subsequently received a nobel prize in 2004 for his pioneering work, and not before time.
I strongly believe that, in addition to having the best medical treatment that you can afford, it is important to make sure that your state of mind is as relaxed as it can be, and this is where hypnotherapy along with other complementary therapy treatments such as acupuncture and reflexology, can help. Medical professionals now accept that the mind-body connection is very important in achieving a good, healthy outcome for all sorts of interventions.
Hypnotherapy can be very powerful in removing subconscious blocks to having a baby (it may be that years ago you had an abortion, and perhaps you feel that this means you do not deserve another chance at parenthood or maybe you were abused as a child, and subconsciously this is stopping you from becoming pregnant). I feel that, in working with couples in this situation, it is very important to work on removing any negativity, prior to then installing relaxation techniques, as well as creating very strong and detailed visualisations. I then also prepare a CD for use during treatment, as I recognise that this time (particularly implantation, and then the 2 weeks following this) is most stressful.
If you would like to have a chat about how hypnotherapy can help you, please do not hesitate to contact me on 01449 780352, or 0781 7158429, or email me at wendy@wendychalk.co.uk.
I look forward to hearing from you,
Wendy x
The Israeli researchers were looking to see if hypnosis could make the embryo transfer stage of IVF more successful. Their belief was that if the womb contracts during this stage, it can affect the chances of the transplant being a success.
Whilst there have been few studies to prove that hypnotherapy can improve the success rates of women going through IVF treatment, there can be no doubt that any treatment which helps reduce the massive stress levels encountered by couples going down this route is a positive thing.
Unless you have endured the pain of sub-fertility (I prefer to call it this, rather than infertility or even worse childlessness) you can have no idea of what these couples go through. The stress comes from all quarters, not just the sheer physical toll that IVF treatment can take on you. The emotional factors are even more traumatic. The main one is the feeling that you may never have a child of your own, and this can be described as a type of grieving, but in some ways far worse, as you can never move on. Often, well-meaning people (usually those with children, conceived easily and naturally) will urge you to 'accept the fact that you cannot have children' and just move on with your life. Having experienced sub-fertility and then IVF treatment myself, I can honestly say that this type of advice made me quite angry. How dare these people presume to give you advice on something that they have no idea about? I was always very sure that it was my destiny to have a child, I just could not imagine my life without children and I very much feel that it was this belief that eventually led to us being blessed with our two wonderful boys.
And yet it is very hard to nurture a belief, that despite the odds being against you, you will one day hold that baby in your arms. The medical profession often just relies on hard, cold facts, purely the physiological, and not the emotional or psychological factors that play a part. And this is so important. I am forever indebted to Robert Edwards and Patrick Steptoe, who pioneered IVF treatment - they were medical men, Edwards a Scientist and Steptoe a medical doctor - and, as a result of their wonderful work, Louise Brown, the first IVF baby was born, followed by many thousands of others. Robert Edwards subsequently received a nobel prize in 2004 for his pioneering work, and not before time.
I strongly believe that, in addition to having the best medical treatment that you can afford, it is important to make sure that your state of mind is as relaxed as it can be, and this is where hypnotherapy along with other complementary therapy treatments such as acupuncture and reflexology, can help. Medical professionals now accept that the mind-body connection is very important in achieving a good, healthy outcome for all sorts of interventions.
Hypnotherapy can be very powerful in removing subconscious blocks to having a baby (it may be that years ago you had an abortion, and perhaps you feel that this means you do not deserve another chance at parenthood or maybe you were abused as a child, and subconsciously this is stopping you from becoming pregnant). I feel that, in working with couples in this situation, it is very important to work on removing any negativity, prior to then installing relaxation techniques, as well as creating very strong and detailed visualisations. I then also prepare a CD for use during treatment, as I recognise that this time (particularly implantation, and then the 2 weeks following this) is most stressful.
If you would like to have a chat about how hypnotherapy can help you, please do not hesitate to contact me on 01449 780352, or 0781 7158429, or email me at wendy@wendychalk.co.uk.
I look forward to hearing from you,
Wendy x
Monday, 5 September 2011
Angry, very very angry
Much has been said, post-riots, about the possible reasons for 'breakdown' Britain. Until now, I have not wanted to add my comments, but a vicious unprovoked attack against a loved one, has left me reeling and actually quite angry, so I am trying to make sense of how we have got to this state of affairs where it does seem that there is a strata in society which has a complete lack of decency, consideration for others, or a sense of responsibility for their actions. Having said this, I am aware that this only makes up a certain portion of society and it is also true that there are many good, kind people out there coming from all different backgrounds.
Although I do think that the government were right to act quickly and firmly in handing out harsh punishments after the recent riots, there is also the need to think what can be done at the 'root' level which will allow society to recover a sense of moral responsibility.
This is a complex issue, but I think that it starts with the family. My belief is, and I am not really sure how this could be put into practice, that families who are seen to do their best to provide a firm, secure and loving base for their children should be rewarded in some way. By the same token, and this will be very controversial, but it has to start somewhere, a system has to be put in place whereby people who are in work (whatever kind of work that is) are always going to better off, than if they were to be on benefits.
Many people tend to attack single parents, but I believe that this is not helpful. There are many single-parent families who, I know, provide loving stable families. However, as a country, we have one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancies, and personally, I do not think that there are many teenagers who are emotionally mature enough to provide good, stable parenting. So, there has to be very strong deterrent for young girls to get pregnant. This would involve encouraging them to work towards a career, and giving a very strong message that by having a baby, this would severely hamper their career or job progress. Also, I feel that it would be a really good idea to provide teenage mums with a place in a hostel with other mums, not their own flat or house. This may have the effect of putting some teenagers off the whole idea of having children.
It does seem that there is a lack of strong male role models, both at home and in early-years schooling. I was reading the other day that only one in four primary schools in the UK employ at least one male teacher, and so this would mean that a child of a single mum who is attending primary school is, in all likelihood, without a signicant male role model in his life. Who does he then have to emulate? Footballers? Pop stars? Not a great deal of moral fibre there.
I know that there is never going to be a return to the 'traditional' family, 2.2 children, mum at home cooking dinner, and dad out at work and I really wouldn't want this, BUT unless we address this issue soon and make sure that children have stability and discipline in their young lives, then things will only deteriorate further.
I do realise that this blog is coming over very 'Daily Mail' ish, so apologies for that, but sometimes its good to rant.
On another tack, I realised the other day that, although I encourage most of my clients to set aside a half hour each day for self-hypnosis. I havn't been doing this myself and thought that it would be particularly beneficial after the recent upset, so I have decided to get back into the habit of practising this each day. I know that it reaps benefits, in allowing all the stresses and anxieties to 'mulch' down, so enabling a new sense of peace and calm. You can also address specific issues, but writing down a clear, simple affirmation beforehand and repeating it to yourself several times, just before the self-hypnosis. Until you try this, you really have no idea of how good it makes you feel, particularly if you keep the habit going longer term.
I would welcome any of your comments to my blog, but in the meantime, all the best,
Wendy x
Although I do think that the government were right to act quickly and firmly in handing out harsh punishments after the recent riots, there is also the need to think what can be done at the 'root' level which will allow society to recover a sense of moral responsibility.
This is a complex issue, but I think that it starts with the family. My belief is, and I am not really sure how this could be put into practice, that families who are seen to do their best to provide a firm, secure and loving base for their children should be rewarded in some way. By the same token, and this will be very controversial, but it has to start somewhere, a system has to be put in place whereby people who are in work (whatever kind of work that is) are always going to better off, than if they were to be on benefits.
Many people tend to attack single parents, but I believe that this is not helpful. There are many single-parent families who, I know, provide loving stable families. However, as a country, we have one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancies, and personally, I do not think that there are many teenagers who are emotionally mature enough to provide good, stable parenting. So, there has to be very strong deterrent for young girls to get pregnant. This would involve encouraging them to work towards a career, and giving a very strong message that by having a baby, this would severely hamper their career or job progress. Also, I feel that it would be a really good idea to provide teenage mums with a place in a hostel with other mums, not their own flat or house. This may have the effect of putting some teenagers off the whole idea of having children.
It does seem that there is a lack of strong male role models, both at home and in early-years schooling. I was reading the other day that only one in four primary schools in the UK employ at least one male teacher, and so this would mean that a child of a single mum who is attending primary school is, in all likelihood, without a signicant male role model in his life. Who does he then have to emulate? Footballers? Pop stars? Not a great deal of moral fibre there.
I know that there is never going to be a return to the 'traditional' family, 2.2 children, mum at home cooking dinner, and dad out at work and I really wouldn't want this, BUT unless we address this issue soon and make sure that children have stability and discipline in their young lives, then things will only deteriorate further.
I do realise that this blog is coming over very 'Daily Mail' ish, so apologies for that, but sometimes its good to rant.
On another tack, I realised the other day that, although I encourage most of my clients to set aside a half hour each day for self-hypnosis. I havn't been doing this myself and thought that it would be particularly beneficial after the recent upset, so I have decided to get back into the habit of practising this each day. I know that it reaps benefits, in allowing all the stresses and anxieties to 'mulch' down, so enabling a new sense of peace and calm. You can also address specific issues, but writing down a clear, simple affirmation beforehand and repeating it to yourself several times, just before the self-hypnosis. Until you try this, you really have no idea of how good it makes you feel, particularly if you keep the habit going longer term.
I would welcome any of your comments to my blog, but in the meantime, all the best,
Wendy x
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