Hypnotherapy is an ancient technique with plenty of books and articles that will explain the history, tell you about the great masters and explain it in technical detail. I like to keep it simpler than that. Simple, logical, and honest — because that’s how I think people understand and trust something new.
So, here’s my version.
Your Subconscious Is Your Superpower
Hypnotherapy is just a technique, a tool for engaging with your subconscious mind. And I think of your subconscious as your superpower.
Everything you have ever learnt or experienced — every single bit of it — is stored in there. Even the parts you can’t consciously remember. They haven’t gone anywhere; they’re just tucked out of the way.
If you picture an iceberg, your conscious mind is the smaller part you can see above the water. Your subconscious is the enormous mass underneath, quietly doing the heavy lifting. It’s been building up information since the moment you were born — and even before — and it uses all of that to look after you. It is working for you 24/7, even in your deepest sleep.
That’s the superpower part. Talk to it in the right way, and it can make some genuinely amazing things happen for you. But the same power cuts both ways — if the wrong things get said, or things get said the wrong way, that same subconscious will just as faithfully create the wrong outcomes instead. It’s just following what it believes you want. Take care — the subconscious doesn’t process the negative in a thought! Tell it “don’t worry” and it often just hears “worry.”
Why “Wanting” to Change Isn’t Always Enough
Here’s something most people don’t expect: your subconscious mind can get things wrong. It can misread a situation or cling on to an old habit or pattern of behaviour long after it has stopped being useful — because at some point, it decided that habit or behaviour was protecting you.
That’s the frustrating bit. You can consciously want to change something with your whole heart, but if your subconscious hasn’t got the message, it will almost always win. That battle of wills is why change can feel so hard, even when you’re trying your best.
So What Do I Actually Do?
In a session, I’d first gather information from you — what you’d like to change, and often, what’s really behind it. Then, traditionally, the next step would be to hypnotise you: guide you into a trance so I could speak with your subconscious directly while your conscious mind quietly drifted off.
Trance is a completely natural state. You pass through something similar every night before sleep, and probably several times a day without noticing — ever driven somewhere and realised you don’t remember passing a particular junction? That was your subconscious quietly driving while your conscious mind was off making a shopping list. Perfectly normal, perfectly safe.
While you’re in that state, you’re still aware. You’re in control. You’re not unconscious, and you could bring yourself out of it instantly if you needed to — an emergency, or simply if something didn’t sit right with you. Your subconscious won’t accept a suggestion it believes is wrong or harmful for you, because ultimately, its whole job is to look after you and protect you, and it wants you to be happy.
And this is worth saying plainly: this is nothing like stage hypnosis. What you might have seen on TV is a completely different thing. It would be unethical of me to have you clucking like a chicken — and that’s not what any of this is for.
Why I’ve Moved Beyond Traditional Hypnotherapy
Here’s where I’ve changed how I work.
Traditional hypnotherapy is essentially me talking to your subconscious on your behalf. But I found myself asking — who am I to it? Does your subconscious have any reason to want to make me happy?
So now, I use an approach that still fully engages the subconscious but keeps you consciously part of the process too. It’s no longer just me asking your subconscious to make a change for your benefit. You’re right there with me, agreeing to it. When you consciously say “yes, this is what I want” at the same time as we’re speaking to your subconscious, it isn’t just my suggestion anymore — it’s yours. And when your subconscious hears that agreement from you, it will do everything it possibly can to make it happen.
In my experience, that produces stronger, more lasting results than the traditional method alone.
But First, We Check In on Self-Worth
There’s one more piece I won’t skip, and it matters more than people expect.
If you carry low self-worth, here’s what can happen: I ask whether you want this change, you consciously say yes — and somewhere underneath, that low self-worth part of you says, “yes, but you don’t actually deserve that.” Then we are not 100% on board that this is what you want, and your subconscious may not be convinced you really want the change to happen.
So, before we ever get to asking your subconscious for anything, I help you recognise and build your own sense of self-worth first. Because it’s hard to expect the people and circumstances around you to treat you with love and respect if some part of you doesn’t quite believe you deserve it.
Get that piece right, and everything else — the change you came in for — has a strong foundation to stand on.
Let’s Talk About It
However weird, silly or debilitating your issues are, I know they are very real to you. I would love the opportunity to have a chat and explain how I may help. No obligation, just a free initial phone consultation. Call me. Message me. I am here for you.
07742 819776
https://sallyhowardtherapy.co.uk/