Iain Phillips

Catch me at the Jasmine Day Spa open evening

2006-10-28T11:01:00.000Z

Jasmine Day Spa (where my clinic is based) is holding an open evening on Thursday 23rd November.

I'll be there, supporting the guys in the salon and will also giving hypnotic relaxation sessions to those who are interested (I haven't decided whether this will be free yet, or whether I'll ask for a small donation to charity).

Anyway, if you fancy the chance to come and have a chat with me, then do come along. It's going to be a great evening.

There'll be wine & nibbles, a raffle (for which the first prize is an Elemis goody bag worth over £200), and much more.

The fun kicks off at 6pm at Jasmine Day Spa, 113 Rectory Grove, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.

See you there!

Warmest wishes

Iain

Scientific validation of hypnosis might possibly be just around the corner - hurrah!

2006-10-24T20:46:00.000Z

It seems that the neuro-scientists might be just about to prove once and for all what we hypnotists have instinctively known all along - that hypnosis is REAL and not, like so many sceptics argue, just a state of social compliance.

Click here for a fascinating article on this very subject.

Warm wishes

Iain

Hypnosis as a fertility treatment? You Bet!

2006-10-18T19:45:00.000Z

I have, on several occasions, come across stories of women falling pregnant after hypnotherapy, having already tried and failed with expensive IVF and the like.

It's something that's always made sense to me - suerely if you're more relaxed and settled in your life you're more likely to conceive? I may not be medically qualified, but I've seen enough of the mind/body connection to convince me that this is plausible if not easily scientifically verifiable.

Coincidentally I came across this article recently that served to convince me even further:

http://70.47.124.114/node/293

It's a lovely article and well worth a read.

for now,

warmest regards

Iain

Fancy a night out?

2006-10-13T21:18:00.000Z

Do you enjoy stage hypnosis? Or perhaps you've never been to a stage hypnosis show and you're curious?

Come along and see me at my next gig. I'll be appearing at La Quinta restaurant in Benfleet, Essex, on the evening of Thursday 9th November.

Click HERE for more info and booking details.

See you there!!

Warmest wishes

Iain

Hypnorotica....hmmmmm

2006-10-09T20:39:00.000Z

Ok, here comes a shameless plug!

If you're a couple, this is for you...

Imagine this: as a couple you already enjoy an amazing love life. Close. Intimate. Beautiful.

You're open and frank with each other about your desires, your fantasies, what you both like and dislike.

You've explored each other over the months and/or years and know and understand each others' bodies - every curve, every line and every blemish.

You know what arouses your partner and your partner knows what arouses you. As a couple you're in a wonderful place.

So, how would it feel when you've enhanced that sense of intimacy even more?

What would it be like if I could show you a way of turning up the sensuality; of increasing your libido, of making your fantasies more vivid?

If you're searching for that extra something in your love life, or you are a couple seeking new erotic heights and experiences then I may have just the thing for you.

Imagine attending an intimate, 2 day course, tailored specifically to your needs as a couple that shows you all these things and more.

Hypnorotica is about exploring your psychological ability to heighten your sensual experience. It's about helping each other, exploring each other.

It's about sex.

It's about hypnosis.

Join leading hypnotist Iain Phillips for 2 days of red hot tuition and learn about yourselves, love, sex and hypnosis.

Over the course of your 2 days with Iain, you'll learn:

- A little bit about the theory of conscious and subconscious

- The fundamentals of hypnosis

- How to hypnotise each other.

- How to use trance to increase the intensity of your sexual experience

....and much more (are you one of the lucky ones who can reach climax using hypnosis? there's a thought!)

All in comfortable, private and discreet surroundings.

Refreshements and lunch will be provided but accomodation is not included in the price. However if you need help in finding accomodation, we will of course, be only too glad to assist.

And what about the cost? Well, I'm offering this course at an amazing £850. No, that's not each, but for both of you. For that price you get my undivided attention for two whole days, and unlimited e-mail support.

So what are all you hot lovers waiting for - call now to reserve your place.

See you soon

Iain

Hypnotic Weight Loss CD's - are they any good?

2006-09-30T23:00:00.000Z

That marvellous tool, Google alerts dropped an interesting URL into my inbox recently (click here to read the article in question).

The claim is that 'weight loss hypnosis CDs work where most diets fail'. The article then goes on to plug the products available at one www.WeightLossWithHypnosis.com.

Now, I have no doubt that the products on said site are first class, and I have nothing against hypnotic weight loss CD's. In fact I have one in the pipeline myself. But it did get me thinking.

You see, the thing that bothers me is that, when I have clients present with weight issues, we often end up talking about all manner of things during the course of thereapy, very few of which have anything to do with weight!

In many cases, weight issues seem to be a symptom rather than the problem itself, and the weight loss industry (including hypnotic audio products) by its very nature singularly fails to take this into account.

If someone has an underlying anxiety state that is driving him or her to over eat, then common sense alone screams out that a diet will not do the trick. Sure the person will lose weight, but the anxiety is still there. Chances are he'll either put the weight back on, or find another, sometimes worse, outlet for his neurosis.

Now, for someone who is usually quite positive in his outlook, I would admit that this is a bit of a morbid, or at least a pessimistic point of view on my part. Perhaps so, but it troubles me nonetheless.

I guess all I'm attempting to say is, if you have a weight problem, by all means use an audio product (and there are some excellent ones out there), but take time out to consider why you over eat.

You could do worse than a course of analytical therapy or counselling in conjunction with your physical diet, to help you clear up any underlying issues. That way, in my humble view, you're more likely to stay the course.

Warmest wishes

Iain

Comedy Stage Hypnosis Show

2006-09-26T22:16:00.000Z

Hi All,

If anyone out there wants to come along, I'm playing a local venue this week. I'll be at Saks Underground in Southend on Thursday night (28th Sept) - doors open at 8pm, show starts at 9pm. Getting in will cost you the princely sum of £3.50.

Go on - give youself a night out and come and enjoy some hypnotic fun.

See you there!

Cheers

Iain

www.hipnosisshow.com

Stephen Fry and Depression

2006-09-20T23:20:00.000Z

If you missed Stephen Fry's look at manic depression yesterday on BBC2, make sure you catch the next instalment on Sept 27th. Stephen provides us all with a fascinating and erudite look into the world of the bi-polar sufferer. Take a look at the BBC website for more stuff on this - I promise it's worth reading.

The programme was beautifully and sympathetically put together and it will educate ad help huge numbers of people, I'm sure. Brilliant.

Best wishes

Iain

Ps. If you're looking for help with depression in Southend, then do be sure to look me up (seek guidance from your GP or specialist though if you've been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder).

The Ultimate Relationship Guide - Part 6

2006-09-19T22:04:00.000Z

Part 6 of my series of articles on psychosexuality is now available.

This week we look at the various aspects of male masturbation. Why do we do it and when? What does it do for us?

This is a great, no-holds barred insight into the psychology of male masturbation - not to be missed.

Click here to read it.

Warmest wishes

Iain

Pain Free Childbirth

2006-09-19T21:53:00.000Z

The concept of hypno-birthing has long fascinated me. As a father of 3 wonderful children, I witnessed my wife go through considerable discomfort thrice over. I wish i had known about hypno-birthing at the time.

Now I teach my own clients hypnosis and self-hypnosis to ease them through the process. My mthods differ from some in as much as I teach the father to be to be the proxy hypnotist, but the principles are the same.

I've just stumbled across this article (click here to read) which sums the whole, beautiful process up nicely. Excellent stuff.

Iain

The Ultimate Relationship Guide

2006-09-08T15:20:00.000Z

The next instalment in my series of psychosexual issues is ready and wating for you to read now.

This week we have a contribution from a female acquaintance that gives a fascinating, amazing and sizzling insight into female masturbation. Brilliant stuff.

Click here to read it.

Warmest regards

Iain

Firing the Surgeon General

2006-08-31T22:51:00.000Z

Check out part 4 of my series of articles on psychosexual issues (titled 'The Ultimate Relationship Guide').

This week's post contains some fascinating stuff about masturbation and addresses some of the many taboos surrounding the subject.

Click here and enjoy!

Warmest regards

Iain

How well trained is your hypnotherapist?

2006-08-25T21:57:00.000Z

I can feel another rant coming....

I've written in a previous entry about how I get a bit bothered by the fact that the hypnotherapy profession in this country is totally unregulated. There are no minimum (academic) entry requirements, no royal charters and no legally accepted or accredited training courses.

As a consequence there are some very low quality 'schools' and, frankly, some diabolical therapists. Equally there are some excellent schools and many, many truly excellent therapists. It's a bit of a lottery and you, as a member of the public need to choose your therapist carefully.

So what's set me off this time?

It's an article in the Kirkintilloch Herald in Scotland (click here for the full article), that contains an interview with one Professor Prem Misra.

Now Professor Misra sounds like a very eminent chap, who clearly has a lot of sound clinical experience behind him, but I take issue with one or two of the things he says. I agree with the general sentiment, but that's as far as I can go.

Let's address some of his statements....

'It (hypnosis) can be extremely dangerous if it is used by a lay person or used as a gimmick on-stage'.

Baloney. Hypnosis is 110% safe. It is a totally natural state of body and mind that we all experience every day of our lives, and a beautifully pleasant experience to boot. It is not hypnosis that is dangerous, but poorly trained or stupid therapists, and careless stage operators.

'Hypnosis should only ever be done by someone with a medical background. For example, someone can come to me who is suffering from terrible migraines. I would be able to treat them and get rid of the pain, but there might be a medical reason such as a tumour which is causing the migraines.'

I suppose I have a vested interest in this, as I am a full time hypnotherapist, but I am not medically trained (there are very few that are). The point about the migraines (and in fact any physiological issue) is valid. But look, this is a question, once again, of training, and sheer bloody common sense. Any reputable training school drums it into their students not to administer pain relief without a referral letter from a medical doctor. If someone comes to me suffering from headaches, then I send them straight back to their doctor. Only once the doctor is happy for hypnotherapy to be deployed do I proceed. Not before. Frankly, I can think of more than one complementary/alternative therapies that are far less cautious in their approaches.

The story about the smoker who was convinced to say 'tic-tac' is frustrating and I understand Professor Misra's irritation with this. But once again, this is nothing to do with hypnosis and everything to do with a poor quality therapist. This was a hugely irresponsible thing to do, but was a result that could just as easily have been achieved outside of 'formal hypnosis' by a counsellor or NHS quit smoking supervisor. Suggestion is suggestion, and hypnosis can be spontaneously achieved in a wide awake, eyes open state.

'Another case I had was where a woman fell off stage and broke her ankle during a show because the hypnotist said she was going to fly.'

Again, nothing to do with hypnosis, and evrything to do with a careless hypnotist who clearly was not watching his volunteers closely enough. It was an accident, and accidents happen right across the spectrum of human activity. And yes, they often happen in the world of entertainment - why should stage hypnosis be any different from that? I DO agree though, that stage work is fraught with a few potential dangers (imagine having a psychotic volunteer, and accidentally inducing a psychotic episode - there's food for thought), but these are few. There is a case, in my view, for a required basic training for stage operators so that they are educated to recogonise problem areas such as this, but to condemn it outright is not the right way forward. I do not believe there has been a single successful prosecution where hypnosis has been proven to be the causative factor in an incident (I may be wrong though and I'm quite prepared to be corrected).

Stage hypnosis may be banned in Sweden and Canada, but personally I think this is misguided. There are plenty of other entertainment formats that focus on embarrasing and often humiliating so called volunteers, often with a negative impact on those people's live. We are sometimes a cruel society and occasionally like to laugh at others' discomfiture. This is nothing to do with hypnosis. Nothing. Ignorance breeds fear - it always has done, and most likely always will.

And finally, let me come back to the point about hypnosis only being used by medically trained people. Well, that means we'll have to ban every public speech, all television programmes and advertisements, all theatre shows, operas, ballets, sales and marketing presentations, seduction...need I go on? (Either that, or we need to train several million more doctors!) All of these can, and often do produce hypnosis. We are all capable of lowering our conscious critical faculties at a moment's notice and becoming highly suggestible, highly impressionable. It's a specious argument and one that belongs in the dustbin.

Ahhh, that feels better now.

Warmest regards

Iain

Ps for more info on hypnosis and hpynotherapy, check out the FAQ page on my website.

I think I just entered the Twilight Zone....

2006-08-25T21:05:00.000Z

Life just gets funnier and funnier.

On the 24th July, I wrote a blog entry titled 'Squeal like a pig? You must be joking, I do a great impression of a cow.'

It centred around an article in the Star Gazette, about the Troy Fair, Alparon Park in Pennsylvania in the US. Take a look at it and then come back to this entry.....

...done that? Ok - an article this week in the North West Arkansas Times gives some coverage to the Washington County Fair. Like the Troy Fair, it sounds great and I really wish we had more of this kind of thing in the UK.

Once again there'll be the usual agricultural stuff, plus live music and, yep, you've guessed it - a comedy hypnotist!

To quote the article, volunteers will be '...turned into movie stars, singers and presidents. "We will even have exotic people from other planets who speak only their own language...." ' says hypnotist Mike Reeves. Sounds brilliant.

Personally I think Saturday night sounds better though. Because at 7.30 the cows line up for the 'Purtiest Cow' contest, and judges will also crown Miss Beef Moo and Miss Dairy Moo.

Ah me - I love this stuff!

Flying Tonight

2006-08-22T22:12:00.000Z

After recent events here in the UK, I thought this was a nice little article:

Click here to read.

Couldn't agree more with the comment about hypnotherapy of course.

Warmest wishes

Iain

Aren't people strange?

2006-08-20T09:18:00.000Z

I have a particular interest in psychosexual issues. It's a subject that is endlessly fascinating and hugely complex.

Now, I have a pet theory in relation to swearing. It's always struck me as rather odd and frankly vaguely amusing that we can pick certain words in our language and label them as offensive. It's absurd.

And if you think about it, most so called swear words are to do with sexual function, genitalia or urinary and defacatory functions. And so it comes full circle back to sexual and bodily neuroses.

Somebody, somewhere, once upon a time decided that, because he had a particular sexual repression of some sort, that no person would be allowed to use a given word, because it reminded him of his inability to come to terms with said sexual act. And, lo, a swear word was born.

You might just as well say the word 'Marmite' is offensive because you don't like the stuff. It's ridiculous.

The whole thing is a poignant reminder of just how repressed we in the West are when it comes to our sexual and toilet habits. What other species of animal locks itself in a closet to defacate? What other species of animal hides itself away to have sex?

Now I'm not suggesting we all start going to the loo and making love in public, but wouldn't it be great if we, as a society were a whole lot more open and relaxed about our sexuality. I wouldn't mind betting that life would be a lot easier for many people, and that we'd be a lot less uptight.

All of which leads me to the word 'fuck'. I learned an interesting little fact this week. I was expounding some of these theories to someone, and I was using the word fuck as an example. I have always said, and will continue to do, that it's just a verb that describes what for most of us is possibly the most beautiful and pleasant act we engage in. What's the big deal? How on Earth could that be offensive? If someone tells me to 'fuck off', that's ok, as they're effectively telling me to go and do the one thing I like the most. I'd be far more offended if they called me an idiot.

Apparently though, this lady told me, the word fuck is an acronym that stems from the 19th century. It stood for 'found upholding carnal knowledge' and was a standard line used by the police when dealing with prostitutes. Now I haven't gone to the trouble to check this out, but it sounds plausible.

How wierd is that? We take a 19'th century acronym, turn in into a verb, and then twist it into an insult, a pronoun, an adjective and general multi purpose swear word.

You've gotta hand it to us, we're a strange bunch.

For the moment, my very warmest wishes.

Iain

Ps. for more psychosexual stuff check out my series of articles on sexual relationships in my website. We're up to the 3rd instalment at the moment, and I'll eventually be dealing with the whole question of swearing. Next week's instalment though will be dealing with both male and female masturbation, the differences between the two and how and why both sexes engage in it.

The Hypnotist, Chiropodist, Chiropracter, Uncle Tom Cobley and All

2006-08-19T00:00:00.000Z

Well it's been a few days since my last post - apologies. Life in my hypnotic little world has been busy (I'm not complaining mind you) meaning that a few chores have fallen by the wayside, including updating my blog.

But here I am - back on track!

I went for a beer or three the other night after work with a chiropodist and a chiropracter (both of whose clinics are on the other side of the street to mine). They're both great blokes and we had quite a laugh together.

The thing is, I don't need a lot of encouragement to start showing off with hypnotic 'party tricks', which I promptly did after consuming approximately, ahem, one beer. Weird thing is, it turns out that Paul (the chiropracter) is just as interested in the power of suggestion as me, and has just as many, if not more, party tricks up his sleeve than me.

Try this one... have a willing volunteer stand in front of you, one arm extended out in front of him at 90 degrees to his body. Now, placing your hand on his shoulder muscles (at the joint between arm and shoulder) tell him that '...this muscle is the strongest muscle in your body.' Now instruct him to resist you, and proceed to push down on his arm at about his wrist with one of your hands. You won't (or shouldn't) be able to push his arm down.

Now, he keeps his arm in place, while you once again place your hand on his shoulder, and tell him that '...this muscle is the weakest in your body' (be pretty emphatic about this). Once again, push down on his arm.

Let me know what happens!

Best wishes

Iain

Show me the Boy and I'll show you the Man

2006-08-14T21:02:00.002Z

'Show me the boy and I'll show you the man'. It's an old and oft used expression (at least I think that's how it goes - I may be paraphrasing a little).

I wonder how many people have actually stopped to think about that particular little saying and in doing so, realised its profound underlying truth.

As a clinical hypnotherapist, one thing that many prospective clients ask me is how does therapy work, what will I do, what exactly will I ask?

All of these are difficult questions to answer. It's rather like me asking a chef how to prepare a meal - it depends on what sort of outcome you want (hot, cold, meat, vegetarian, etc), what resources you have at your disposal (vegetables, meat, sauces), and the cooking time available.
Just as with cooking, in hypnotherapy there are many different 'recipes' that depend on the client, the desired outcome, the time available, and other factors.

But I want to talk about one particular avenue of hypnotherapy that is pretty much the mainstay of my work: analysis.

Analytical hypnotherapy has been described by one leading therapist as the 'crème de la crème' of therapies. It's also been described by another (who shall remain nameless, but he's on the telly A LOT) as a 'croc of shit'.

Let's be clear though - when you go to a mechanic you expect him to fix the car, not teach you how it works! So don't worry, I won't subject you to a dry and dreary lesson on hypnoanalysis in the hope that you'll all go away competent therapists. What I would like to do though is to give you some of the guiding principles, just so that there is a little more understanding out there.

Click here to find out more.

A Remarkable Story...

2006-08-14T21:02:00.000Z

I recently came across this quote in the the Leeds Evening Post:

'A mum's bravery: SHE saw her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother all diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Desperate not to join them, Tracey Barraclough took the brave step of having her breasts, womb and ovaries removed. Doing so left her in turmoil as it meant surrendering her chance of having any more children after wonderful son Joshua. Tracey, from Calverley, Leeds, says she was helped through her ordeal by hypnotherapy. Now she has trained as a therapist herself, saying she want to bring the same comfort to others as she received. We can't think of anyone else better qualified.'

Wow!

Holiday Time....

2006-07-29T07:57:00.000Z

Well, I'm off on my holidays for a couple of weeks, but if you'd like some reading material in the meantime, take a look at the first two in a series of articles I've put together on psychosexuality and relationships. There's some great stuff to be had here and it's all set to hot up as we start to talk abut various subjects such as swearing, masturbation and much, much more over the coming weeks.

Click HERE to take a look.

In the meantime, I wish you all the very best.

Warm regards

Iain

Squeal like a pig? You must be joking, I do a great impression of a cow!

2006-07-24T22:45:00.000Z

This is hilarious.

Christine Sulat, bless her heart, of the Star Gazette, yesterday filed a report on the The Troy Fair, Alparon Park in Pennsylvania in the US, which takes place this week. Click here to read the full report.

The fair itself sounds like good fun. It sounds not too dissimilar to some of the bigger agricultural shows we get here in the UK. There will be games and rides, children showing off their pets and vying for ribbons, various stalls selling quilts, jewelry, wood crafts and so on.

There's live music from the 'Click Five', baked goods competitions... wow. Sounds great.

But check this out.... there's even a stage hypnotist. Michael Blaine returns once more to wow the crowds with his 'volunteers' doing, under hypnosis of course, impressions of Elvis, being made to belive that they're hot or cold, and so on.

Great. I love it. It's hypnosis, and stage hypnosis can be hilariously funny.

But it gets better.

One day of the fair is devoted to dairy. There's Milk Mania Day, where 5000 containers of milk are given away free to fairgoers, there's cheese tasting and... well, you get the idea.

BUT THEN... there's the Moo-Off. I kid you not. The Moo-Off.

This, apparently, is where cntestants vie with each other to see who sounds most like a cow.

No, really. They do.

Aahh, sweet irony. Who needs a hypnotist? Why would you want to make someone cluck like a chicken when they will, quite voluntarily and of their own volition, MOO LIKE A COW!!?

Absolutely marvellous.

Iain's Top Ten Tips to Stop Smoking

2006-07-20T17:31:00.000Z

Both vitamin B and Vitamin C are known to be beneficial during quitting. Why? Vitamin C: Because Smokers' immune systems are impaired and can otherwise sometimes play up when the daily 'fix' of nicotine is removed. A suggested dosage of four a day for a month or so can make a huge difference. Vitamin B helps us combat stress and anxiety, and nicotine destroys it. A vitamin B boost could just help you through those first couple of days (follow the instruction on the bottle). If in doubt, always consult with your doctor.
Rather than thinking of yourself as 'giving up' think of yourself as 'stopping poisoning yourself'. It's a strange expression really, 'giving up', as it has connotations of fasting, quitting something that is good for you. What a strange way to think of something that contains over 4,500 poisonous substances!
Smoking is a habit: think about the times you light up: when you get up in the morning, when the phone rings, when you jump in the car, and so on. I have not yet had a smoker tell me that they light up when they feel a physical craving. It is totally about habit. You associate those cancer sticks with certain actions during the course of the day, in the same way that I associate 1pm with lunch. At a time when you would have had a cigarette in the past, do something nice for yourself. Smile. Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Take a look in the mirror and remind yourself what a wonderful person you are. Anything. It's all about changing learned behaviours. Use visualisation: when you go to bed each night, close your eyes and visualise yourself going about your daily routines with empty, clean, fresh smelling hands. See yourself totally at ease with your sense of being; being comfortable with your empty hands as you drive the car, speak on the phone, etc, etc.
It takes a couple of days for the nicotine to leave your body. That's it. Gone.If you do feel any cravings at all, suck on an ice cube. If you can't get your hand on an ice cube, wash your mouth out with icy cold water. This will take the craving away.
Giving up is easy. This is the way you have got to think. You've spent your entire life being told by society, friends and family, even anti-smoking campaign groups that stopping poisoning yourself is hard, so guess what you believe? And if you believe something, it becomes your reality. It's a myth. It's easy and this is what you now believe.
Depending on your age, physical fitness and other factors, at some time between 2 weeks and three months from now, you have an extra THIRD lung capacity. That's a huge number. Think about that for a moment. If you do any sports, regularly close your eyes and see yourself taking great lungfuls of air, relishing that extra lung capacity. Feel how good that feels - see yourself looking and feeling great. If you don't do any sport, then think about something else - going up the stairs, going for a walk etc. Do this now, today.
If money is an issue for you, think on this: if you smoke 20 cigarettes a day, you are spending nearly £2000 per year on cigarettes. How much would you have to earn in pre-tax income to pay for this? What sort of annual pay rise do you normally get? Well, here's one on a plate! Again, regularly close your eyes, see yourself spending this extra money, going on a nice holiday, saving it for your daughter's wedding - whatever - use your imagination to make it truly vivid in your mind.
Many smokers say that cigarettes make them feel better, more relaxed. Whaaaat!!!??? Nicotine is a powerful stimulant and a highly toxic nerve poison. It constricts the arteries and increases adrenaline production. At the same time, in order to overcome the constriction of your narrowed arteries your blood pressure increases. Every time you smoke you are sending your body into overdrive, and are many times less relaxed than your non-smoking friends. Again, imagine how you look and feel being more laid back, more relaxed and at ease with your life. Doesn't that feel great. Imagine how it will fell when you're calm and rested, just like the other non-smokers around you. Hmmmmm.
Any non-smoker would tell you, if you asked them, and if they had they courage to be so bold, that if you smoke, YOU STINK! I used to commute to London by train every day, and I would dread a smoker sitting next to me on the train. I would watch them from my warm, comfy seat, the train pulling into the station, as they took those last, desperate drags on the cigarette before dropping it and hopping on the train. I would then sit there and hope and prey that that person would not sit next to me. I cannot even begin to describe how foul that smell is. Imagine, truly imagine, how you smell as a non-smoker. Fresh, clean, nice to be near. See yourself wondering through a country meadow, taking deep breaths and enjoying the wonderful scents of the freshly cut grass and the wild flowers. As you do this, you know that you're at one with nature - you smell lovely too. Sound silly to you? Maybe, but it'll work.
It's a fact that one in two smokers die prematurely as a result of smoking related diseases. Know within your self that you are no longer part of that statistic. Isn't that great? Imagine how it feels to know that you're going to grow old, see your children get married, see your grandchildren, enjoy all of the wonders of life with a healthy and fully functioning body. Wow - now there's a thought or two.

So there we go, my top ten tips to stop smoking and now that you are a natural non-smoker, use some or all of the visualisations I've given you above on a regular basis. Once is not enough: keep going every day until you know, in your heart of hearts that you're free; completely free. Imagine that - in a few weeks' time, totally and completely free. This is something you've done for yourself. Fantastic!

Is forensic hpynosis a load of x!?£$%& ??

2006-07-18T21:13:00.000Z

A guy called Larry Mayes in the US was released in 2001 after 21 years in prison for a rape that he didn't commit. He's now suing Hammond Police Department for some $21 million.

All sorts of issues with the original prosecution and the police's handling of the case are now coming to light (issues that were not disclosed either to the prosecution or the defence) including the fact that they used hypnosis on the rape victim, presumably in an attempt to help her recall details of her attacker.

Now, in the UK, evidence obtained under hypnosis is inadmissible in court (and I think it might also be so in the US - I'm not sure). But I know that some police forces use it 'on the quiet' to help them get 'their man'. How do I know this? Because I've met at least one hypnotist who does it.

I guess we could argue that any tool that helps the police is a good thing.

And yet... I wonder.....

There's no doubt in my mind that using hypnosis and with carefully applied questioning, it's possible to help someone remember where they left a misplaced object. Als, clients in the consulting room frequently remember things about their childhood that they believed long forgotten.

But memory is just memory all the same. And memory is unreliable. Ask two people about their memory of a particular event and their accounts will probably differ in many respects. And yet they'll both be adamant that their version is correct. Memory is just a perception. In the same way that what I see as green may not be the same as what you see, we both see events from different perspectives. From a different physical angle, in a different context, and with differing levels of attention.

Yes, you might get more detail out of someone using hypnosis, but it's still just memory, an inaccurate and possibly very unreliable perception of that obscure and unproven concept called reality.

It's just about as reliable as having someone standing in a witness box and taking an oath to tell the truth, and then having them proceeding to tell the truth from their perspective!

And let's not forget that someone in hpynosis is in a highly suggestible state and is very easily influenced by the person asking the questions. A poorly phrased or leading question from the hypnotist, could conceivably, in a world where such evidence was admissible in court, lead to an innocent person being locked up.

Let's also not forget that someone in hypnosis is just as capable of lying, distortion or simply concealing facts as someone not in hypnosis.

So should it be used by the police? Possibly, yes, but under tight and rigorous controls and with carefully applied standards of questioning. Should it be used in court? In my view, no. In the case of this poor chap in the US who served 21 years for a crime he didn't commit, should the prosecution and defence lawyers have been informed of it's use on the victim? Unquestionably.

For the full article on the case of Larry Mayes, click here. To learn more about hypnosis, have a look at the FAQ page on my website - there's tonnes of stuff there.

TTFN.

Iain

The Voodoo High Priestess, hypnosis and psychotherapy.

2006-07-13T22:18:00.000Z

You've just gotta love the internet. I subscirbe to something called Google Alerts. It's a great service and it tells me when anything is published on the internet to do with predefined keywords that I have fed into the Google machine. In my case, that's things like hypnosis, NLP, psychotherapy etc.

Whenever an article appears on one these, hey presto, a magical little e-mail pops into my inbox with a link through to it. Marvellous.

But sometimes the results can by funny.

Today I got one under the header 'psychotherapy'. But as I read the one paragraph extract of the article I was quietly amused. Here it is word for word:

FINDING MY RELIGION Sallie Ann Glassman, a Vodou priestess in New ... San Francisco Chronicle - CA, USA ... interpretation. It's not how things are nor how they can be. To me, that's the most effective sort of psychotherapy possible.

Eh? Did I just read vodou (sic) princess? Unfortunately the URL supplied by Google didn't work (ah the wonders of modern technology...), but I did a search on the no doubt delightful Sallie Ann, and found her pretty quickly.

Here's one of the many links - take a look: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3748834/

Have you read it? Good.

Oki coki - this stuff actually does interest me, and I'll tell you for why. I love hypnosis and all things to do with it. It fascinates me. Notice how the cancer sufferer in the article talks of the members of the sect dropping into a trance like state? Hmmm....

Shamanic types, voodoo priests and priestesses, witch doctors, even the ancient Egyptians have all practised hypnosis in one form or another across the ages. It might not always have been called that - but that's what it is. I've even seen it unwittingly practised in evangelical Christian churches (and I mean no offence to anyone's religious sensibilities by that).

And all of these practices, and I include the likes of Reiki in this, have a number of things in common. For a start, they are all riddled with stories of amazing cures from debilitating illnesses. So is this fakery? Is it divine intervention? Is it coincidence that the person got better after meeting the hands on healing preacher? Unlikely I suppose.

Would you like my opinion? It's all about belief, and there's one word that sums it all up very nicely: placebo.

The word placebo is often used in the medical profession to describe something like a sugar pill that's given to a patient. The patient is led to believe that this sugar pill is an amazing new drug that does wonders for her problem, whatever that may be. And lo and behold, in a few days or perhaps weeks' time, she's better. Isn't the human mind amazing? We really can make a difference to our bodies by using the power of belief.

And hypnotherapy isn't really too different from voodoo, shamanism or any of the others in as much as it capitalises on people's beliefs to help them on their path to healing. And hypnosis lowers the critical conscious mind so that the subconscious is rendered more susceptible to suggestion. It's a powerful and effective tool for change as so many world 'systems' have already found, long before the word hypnotherapy was coined.

Food for thought?

Warm wishes

Iain

Should I call you Doctor?

2006-07-12T21:52:00.000Z

Apparently, Paul McKenna is suing Mirror Group Newspapers, publishers of the Daily Mirror, for libel. He claims there a sustained campaign by the paper's former columnist Victor Lewis-Smith to suggest he knowingly paid for a "bogus" PhD from a "looneyversity" in the US in 1996. (All parties accept that a second PhD in 2003 is legitimate.) The insinuation, according to the hypnotist's lawyers, is that he lied to the public about his qualifications. The Mirror Group denies libel. (Click here for the full article in today's Guardian).

It got me thinking a bit. I actually ended up feeling sorry for Mr McKenna. Ok, so I know the case is ongoing and no decision has been made yet. I suppose I could stand accused of pre-judging, or of being guilty of what I once heard called 'arm-chair judgery', but....

Whatever you may think of Mr McKenna, he has spent a number of years building a good reputation for himself. He's worked extremely hard to get where he is, and, whether or not the first Phd was genuine, nobody can deny that he has put in a lot of hard graft and has helped a good many people in improving their lives along the way. Can't say fairer than that in my view.

So what is it that's bothered me? It's this. The hypnotherapy industry in the UK is totally unregulated. I kid you not. There are a number of professional bodies (a few of which I belong to - check out my 'about me' page on my website) and most of these are highly respectable, honourabe in ther intentions and do a pretty good job on the whole, in policing their members. But they are self regulating. We are bound by little or no legislation.

This has always bothered me. There is nothing to stop you or anyone else reading a few books, setting up an office and calling yourself a hypnotherapist. No minimum qualifications or educational standards for entry. Nothing.

In fairness, you might struggle to get professional indemnity insurance without proof of a valid qualification, BUT - I've seen at least one online 'course' that claims to give out certification after reading a poorly put together manual and answering a few basic multiple choice questions (please don't write in asking me who it is - I won't answer - can't afford the legal bill!).

There are moves afoot to create some sort of over-arching regulatory body, and most of the major professional bodies are participating in this exercise, which is being driven by the Prince of Wales Trust. Bring it on - I can't wait as this will lend us the long awaited for credibility that as an industry we so need.

My goodness - this is turning into a rant!

Anyway - where was I?

Oh yes, no regulation.

So where does that leave you, the potential client?

Be careful, is my answer. I am very rarely asked about my qualifications by prospective clients, but when I am, I am delighted and more than comfortable to tell them where and when I trained. The school I went to was a good one and my qualifications are, in my view, rock solid.

But you only have my word for that. If you're looking for a therapist, make the effort to check them out. Where did they train? Was/is the training institute they attended well regarded within the industry? Alternatively, go to the websites of the major bodies (some of these are listed on my website with links through to them) . I believe most, if not all of them, have a 'find a therapist' section. If a therapist is registered with the likes of APHP, NCP, or the Hypnotherapy Society, to name but a few, then you can be reasonably sure that they have received sound training.

BUT - and I 'm going to contradict myself a little bit here - a stack of qualifications does not necessarily, in my view, a good therapist make!

And this brings me back to Mr McKenna. He has the good fortune, I think, of being academically well endowed, so to speak, and also an effective therapist. I'm actually not sure to what professional bodies he belongs. Nor do I know if he's received any formal training. Do I care? No. Would I go and see him if I had a phobia to deal with? Possibly, yes (assuming I could afford his fees).

The point is, he has carved out a reputation for himself as being effective in helping people deal with certain issues. He also had the good fortune as a well known stage hypnotist of having a media machine behind him. This helps of course. So we all know him, and we know he's good at certain things.

And likewise, the guy who reads a few books and then sets up in practice, could equally be an excellent therapist. The guy who does everything right, gets all the right qualifications and so on, might be lousy. Which one will get more business I wonder? Who knows? Depends on who is the best self-publicist I suppose.

It's a minefield isn't it? Of course, it's the same as any other profession. There are good and bad lawyers, good and bad accountants. But at least when you go to a lawyer, there is an academic minimum benchmark that you know he/she has to live up to. So much so that the knowledge of that is implicit and you don't even question it.

So once you've found a local therapist listed on one of the trade bodies' sites, ring him up (we'll go with a 'him' for the moment). Get a 'feel' for him over the phone (no innuendo intended). If he offers a free consultation, take him up on this. (Incidentally - not providing a free consultation isn't an indicator of the quality of the therapist - some do, some don't). At least though, you'll get to meet him face to face. If you feel comfortable with him, then go with your 'gut' feel. Chances are, you'll be right. I have had clients that I've discharged because the rapport has not been right. That is not a reflection on me, it's just that I wasn't the right therapist for them. You'll know - you just will. Somehow you won't feel comfortable opening up to him, or some indefinable something just doesn't click.

Does he make any rash promises? My favourite question from clients to be is 'how many sessions will it take?' I always say 'I don't know'. I cannot possibly answer that. I don't know at that stage how we're going to get on, how hard the client is going to work at getting better, or how complex the client's issues are.

And yet I know that there are therapists out there that make comments along the lines of 'oh yes, I can fix that in four sessions'. Now I'm not saying that makes them bad therapists - maybe they're excellent and have a laser beam insight into how long their brand of treatment takes. But personally it's not an approach I like.

Here's another telephone question I will never categorically answer: 'Can you help me with....such and such problem?' My answer: 'Possibly. Let's get you in for a chat, ask some detailed questions and go from there.'

Ok, so that's non-commital. I know. Good. I don't at this stage know anything about this person's medical history or family and other background. I may be able to help, but let's find out. An outright 'yes' would, I think, be unprofessional.

Blimey - this was only going to be a short entry. It's turned into War and Peace!

I suppose I'd sum up by repeating - yes qualifications are important, but also make sure the therapist 'feels' right for you. Is he professional in his approach, and cautious with his words, or does he give incautious and possibly careless answers to your questions? Carelessness and flippancy are not traits you want to see in someone who is delving into your mind. (Humour is not flippany though in my view - and I like to have fun in my work - let's not confuse the two).

Wishing you all the very best

Iain

In Love With Beauty

2006-07-08T19:55:00.000Z

It's a curious world we live in. We are surrounded by beauty. And Mankind is capable of creating such incredible beauty, on both a massive scale and on a microcosmic scale. At this time of the year in particular, I often look around as I'm out for a walk and I'm always delighted by the pride that some people take in their gardens. The displays of richly couloured flowers, neatly trimmed borders and so on, can be magnificent.

And yet we're also capable of so much ugliness. We create conflict where there was none. We war with each other on so many different levels; literally on the battlefield, and figuritively in the office or in the boardroom. What a strange race we are!

I was inspired today, looking at a fellow blogger's site (I.oana) and her obvious appreciation of beauty, not to mention her wonderful and talented creations, into thinking about ways in which we could all bring a little more beauty into our lives. Few of us have the artisitc talents to create literal and tangible works of art.

But we ALL have possibly the most beautiful creation Nature could have given us: our minds.

So as I got to thinking about this question, it dawned on me that the answer was obvious, and so I'm going to share with you a short meditative routine that many hypnotherapists, including myself, often use with their clients. If you take the time out of your daily routine to try this, the effects can be soothing and delightful. And the best thing is, it need not take up much of your time.

So here goes....

Make sure you're not going to be disturbed for a while, say 5 - 10 minutes. Find a comfortable chair or lie down on your bed.

Stare at a point just above eye level, really stare. A light is good for this as it strains the eyes more. Eventually you'll find your eyes feeling heavy as they become more and more tired. Let this happen - want it to happen.

As they become heavy and tired, let them close, gently. As you do so, count slowly from 1 to 3, and as you get to 3, just say the word 'relax' slowly and easily to yourself, imagining your whole body just sinking deeper, deeper, feeling beautifully light and relaxed. Deeper.

Now imagine relaxation spreading down from your head, down through your neck, shoulder muscles and so on, down through all the major muscle groups of the body. Right the way down into the tips of each toe. Every nerve, every muscle, every fibre wonderfully at ease. Take your time with this. Actually feel your thoughts flowing down through your body, sending that wave of relaxation though every muscle.

Good.

Now, imagine yourself in a place, a beautiful, wonderful place, where nobody goes but you. Nobody wanting anything, nobody expecting anything. Just you. It's safe and comfortable here.

This is your place - it could be real, it could be imaginary. It could be somewhere you've been, or somewhere you'd like to go.

Use all of your senses - see the colours, hear the sounds, smell the smells. Make it truly vivid in your mind. Just as if you were really there.

Now just hold that for as long as you like. Savour the experience, soak it up and enjoy it.

When you're ready, just count from 1 to 3, telling yourself that when you get to 3, your eyes will open and you'll feel wide awake refreshed and full of energy.

Alternatively, just drift off into a nice, peaceful sleep!

And that's it - simple - but oh so effective. What a magnificent way to discover your own inner beauty, your own inner artist.

Anger Management

2006-07-05T09:15:00.002Z

I watched a fellow motorist yesterday lose his temper with another driver who had cut him up on the motorway. He made all kinds of rude gestures with his hands, was clearly shouting expletives at the top of his voice and generally going red in the face! To the onlooker (i.e. Me) this was actually quite funny to watch and I had a quiet little giggle to myself at his expense.

But it did get me thinking. It's not unusual for my clients to talk to me in terms of anger - they're angry at whoever they perceived caused them to be the way they are; it might be parents, a spouse, the boss or the whole world.

It seems we're a pretty anger ridden society. And anecdotal evidence suggests that we're getting angrier. But why? And what for?

I always, always tell my clients that anger is simply a representation of fear. The guy on the motorway is fearful for his safety and so vents his feelings via an angry display. But what's the point? It's unlikely the other motorist had any idea what he was doing. He almost certainly didn't do it deliberatey or with malicious intent. Sure he was careless, but does that merit anger?

Anger achieves nothing - except an early death from a heart attack or similar.

Once you realise that you're expressing your fears through anger, then it's possible to liberate yourself from your anger. Have a think about what it is that you're scared of in life, then think about the situations in which you get angry. I'll bet you'll find a pretty good correlation between the two.

Then ask yourself why you're frightened of these things. Expressing anger because, for example, you've been called a rude name by someone gets you nowhere. Think about it. Most of us want to be liked by others. We're most likely afraid of social rejection, so being called a nasty name, or having verbal abuse thrown at us, touches some very sensitive buttons. And we get angry.

But if someone picks on me because, say, I have green eyes, that is their prejudice, not mine. I'm not about to take on board their issues and neuroses. I just walk away. His neuroses are for him to deal with, not for me. So I don't get angry. What, after all, is the point? If he doesn't like me because I have green eyes, then he is the one with the issue, not me. Shrug the shoulders, move on. It's an approach that's a lot less hassle, less stressful and less time consuming than getting angry!

And the next time someone cuts ME up on the motorway? Well, as long it's not a malicious act, I'll probably shrug my shoulders and carry on. It was a mistake - his mistake, not mine. I'll stick a CD in the car stereo and sing to myself with a big smile on my face.

Ps. for more on anger management, sign up to my weekly Ezine at www.iainphillips.co.uk. This week's issue will be focussing on just this.

TTFN.

Iain

Hypnotherapy as an alternative to Beta Blockers?

2006-07-05T09:15:00.001Z

There's awonderful article in the Telegraph this week, principally about Beta Blockers. But there's a nice little footnote. It seems that there is a body of opinion out there that feels that non-pharmocological solutions, such as hypnotherapy might (in some cases) be far more preferable as solutions. I couldn't agree more! (Ps though - always consult your doctor!)

Improve your performance with hypnosis

2006-07-05T09:15:00.000Z

Whilst surfing the net this week I stumbled across an interesting article on a site called Pez Cycling News.

A gentleman by the name of Josh Horowitz, founder and Head Coach of Liquid fitness recently collaberated with Rick Collingwood, Ph.D, on a new audio CD, The Ultimate Cyclist - with a view literally to train cyclists' minds to become still better cyclists.

Now - you may not be into cycling - but hang in there!

The CD combines a number of hypnotic and other techniques to improve cyclists' relaxation on the bike, motivation and overall enjoyment of the sport.

None of this is spectactularly new in concept (except perhaps its application to the world of cycling), but what interested me most was the quoting of a study done in 1932 by Edmund Jacobsen which showed that visualising an activity produced small but measurable reaction in the muscles involved in the physical activity. In other words, it seems that when you go through visualisation during a hypnosis session, you're literally 'implanting learned memory of a successful action'. To quote the article further... 'the amount of nerve activity is so slight you might not be aware of it, but sensitive electronic equipment can pick it up. Thinking is real practice!'

Now - as a hypnotherapist I was already aware of the fundamentals, but I didn't realise just how long ago the facts had been established. So why don't more sports people, and indeed more people engaging in all forms of human endeavour, use these techniques? Why indeed!

All of this put me in mind of an article I wrote a while ago which contains some valuable tips and strategies on improving yourself in your particular field of expertise, be it a sport or anything else to that matter.

First of all, let's do something light hearted. This is a little party trick I learned quite some time ago, and I've since seen it demonstrated on TV. This is of little value in the therapeutic setting, but serves to demonstrate the power of visualisation as a goal enhancing tool. Combined with hypnosis it (visualisation) can be highly effective and I occasionally use this if I’m giving a talk, getting the audience to stand up and try it for themselves. It's a great one to do with your friends in the pub.

Stand up with your feet together. Now raise your arm (either will do) to the side, keeping it straight such that it’s at 90 degrees to your body. Now, keeping your feet where they are, and not moving your legs such that you’re rotating at the hips, slowly move your arm backwards, still keeping it straight, until it’s pointing as far back as you can physically manage. Now make a mental note of where you fingers are pointing. Now return your arm to your side.

Now close your eyes, and imagine your arm. Picture it in your mind’s eye pointing out to your side. Now, again in your mind’s eye, picture your arm beginning to move backwards, seeing your fingers tracing the line they took when they did it for real until they reach the spot where you had to stop. Now, making this truly vivid in your mind, feel your arm moving just a few inches further, really see your fingers moving a few inches beyond the point you had to stop at before, really see this and feel it. When you’re ready, open your eyes.

Now repeat the process for real; legs and feet together, raise the same arm to 90 degrees to your body and start moving it backwards, following your fingers with your eyes, remembering to keep your legs straight. Push your arm around until it will go no further. Where are your fingers pointing this time…??!!

Many of us engage in a pastime of some sort or another, be it a martial art, running, bowls or golf. Indeed, what I’m going to talk about here is remarkably simple and doesn’t have to be confined to sports – it could potentially be used for any activity, even for something as mundane as walking an extra mile at the weekend, or stretching a little further to reach the top shelf in your kitchen.

Ok - so think now about the ‘bit of fun’ I shared with you above, where you were to stretch your arm out behind you, and then visualise it going just a touch further. Well, we can extend this principle to almost anything.

Say for example, that you play tennis on a regular basis (it doesn't matter if you don't - just go with me on this and then adapt it to whatever your 'thing' is). No matter how hard you try, you can’t seem to master your backhand. Now, find yourself a nice comfy chair or lie down on your bed (use self hypnosis if you like). Make sure you won't be disturbed for a while and close your eyes. See yourself on the tennis court. Feel the racket in your hand – weigh it, literally, making it as real as you can in your ‘mind’s eye’. Look down your arm to the racket, seeing the strings, truly feeling the weight of it in your hand.

Now look around you – see the court, all of the colours, the net, your opponent and anything else that you would normally associate with your playing tennis. Make sure you can hear any sounds that you associate with the tennis court too, other people shouting as they play, etc.

Now, making this like a slow motion colour movie in your mind, see your opponent serving. See the ball coming towards your backhand. Mentally rehearse each move, delicately, precisely. Go over and over this, again and again – see where you will place your feet, the angle of your wrist and hand as you bring the racket around to strike the ball. Rehearse every detail, every nuance. See yourself striking the ball perfectly and then see it rocketing back to your opponent. Feel the satisfying thud reverberating up your arm when you strike the ball with the racket.

Do this again and again. Practice and rehearse in your mind’s eye over and over. The next time you play you might find yourself amazed at the difference this has made.

Once again, this is simple, but effective. Now I picked tennis ‘out of the air’ as an example, but hopefully, in reading the above you get the general idea and you can adapt the concept for your own purposes. Just make sure you involve as many senses as possible: touch, sight, sound. And, practice makes perfect!