Zoe Clews & Associates

Are you tired of staring at the ceiling, longing for a restful night's sleep? You're not alone. Many of us struggle with poor sleep quality, battling insomnia and restless nights. But fear not – there's a solution that doesn't involve counting sheep or relying on sleeping pills. Enter hypnotherapy, a powerful tool to help you achieve the peaceful slumber you crave. This article will explore how hypnotherapy can transform your sleep quality, guiding you towards a blissful rest and rejuvenation.

Defining Sleep Quality

Before we start, let's understand what we mean by "sleep quality." It's not just about the number of hours you spend in bed; rather, it's about the depth and restfulness of your sleep. Quality sleep leaves you feeling refreshed and energised, ready to tackle the day ahead. Unfortunately, many of us experience disruptions in our sleep, whether it's difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings during the night, or waking up feeling groggy and unrested.

Understanding Hypnotherapy

Now that we've established the importance of sleep quality let's turn our attention to hypnotherapy. What exactly is hypnotherapy, and how does it work? At its core, hypnotherapy is a technique with therapeutic benefits. It uses guided relaxation and attention to reach a heightened state of awareness, which they call a trance. In this state, the mind becomes more receptive to positive suggestions and imagery, making it an effective tool for addressing various issues, including sleep problems.

The Science Behind Hypnotherapy for Sleep

But how does hypnotherapy specifically target sleep issues? To understand this, we need to delve into the science behind hypnosis and its effects on the brain. During hypnosis, individuals experience changes in their brainwave patterns, transitioning from the beta state (normal waking consciousness) to the alpha and theta states (associated with deep relaxation and heightened suggestibility). These altered states of consciousness can profoundly affect sleep cycles, helping individuals achieve deeper and more restorative sleep.

Benefits of Hypnotherapy for Sleep Improvement:

So, what are the benefits of using hypnotherapy to improve sleep quality? For starters, hypnotherapy induces a state of deep relaxation, allowing the body and mind to unwind after a long day. This relaxation response can help reduce stress and anxiety, two common culprits of poor sleep. Additionally, hypnotherapy can target underlying issues that may be contributing to sleep problems, such as negative thought patterns or subconscious beliefs about sleep.

Techniques Utilised in Hypnotherapy for Sleep Enhancement

Hypnotherapy employs various techniques to promote better sleep, each tailored to the client's individual needs. One such technique is guided imagery, where the hypnotherapist guides the client through a series of relaxing mental images to promote sleepiness and relaxation. Another technique is progressive muscle relaxation, where the client is guided to tense and then release each muscle group in the body, promoting physical relaxation and reducing tension.

Practical Tips for Starting Hypnotherapy Sessions

Ready to give hypnotherapy a try? Here are some practical tips for getting started. First, research and find a qualified hypnotherapist specialising in sleep issues. Look for someone with experience and training in hypnotherapy techniques specifically geared towards improving sleep quality. Once you've found a hypnotherapist you feel comfortable with, schedule your first session and come prepared to relax and unwind.

Precautions and Considerations with Hypnotherapy

While hypnotherapy can be highly effective in improving sleep quality, it's important to approach it with caution and awareness. Like any therapeutic intervention, hypnotherapy may not be suitable for everyone, particularly those with certain mental health conditions or medical issues. It's always best to consult with a healthcare professional before starting hypnotherapy to ensure it's safe and appropriate for you.

Hypnotherapy offers a promising avenue for enhancing sleep quality and overcoming insomnia and other sleep disorders. By harnessing the power of relaxation and suggestion, hypnotherapy can help you achieve the restful night's sleep you've longed for. So why wait? Take the first step towards better sleep today and unlock the sweet dreams you deserve.

FAQs

Can anyone undergo hypnotherapy for sleep improvement?

While hypnotherapy can be beneficial for many individuals, it's important to consult with a healthcare professional before starting sessions, especially if you have underlying mental health conditions or medical issues.

How long does it typically take to see results from hypnotherapy for sleep?

The timeframe for experiencing results from hypnotherapy can vary depending on individual factors, such as the severity of sleep issues and one's responsiveness to hypnosis. Some individuals may notice improvements after just a few sessions, while others may require more time.

Are there any potential side effects or risks associated with hypnotherapy for sleep?

While hypnotherapy is generally considered safe when conducted by a qualified practitioner, some individuals may experience temporary side effects such as drowsiness or heightened emotional sensitivity after a session. It's important to discuss any concerns with your hypnotherapist and to seek guidance from a healthcare professional if needed.

© Zoe Clews & Associates

Are you tired of feeling stuck in the same old bad habits? Do you want to live a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling life? You're not alone. We all have habits that we know are holding us back from reaching our full potential, but breaking those habits can be incredibly challenging.

The good news is that changing your bad habits is possible. It just takes effort, commitment, and the right mindset. This blog post will explore practical strategies to help you overcome your bad habits and live your best life.

Recognize Your Bad Habits

The first step in changing your bad habits is to recognize them. You can't change what you don't acknowledge, so take time to reflect on your habits and identify the ones holding you back.

Make a List

Be honest with yourself, and don't hold back. Grab a pen and paper, and list all your bad habits. It might be painful to face your shortcomings, but it's the first step towards making positive changes.

Prioritize

Once you've made your list, prioritize your bad habits. Which ones are the most detrimental to your well-being? Which ones are holding you back the most? Focus on those habits first.

Set Goals

Now that you've identified your bad habits, it's time to set some goals. Goals are essential because they give you something to work towards and help you stay motivated. But it's important to set realistic and achievable goals.

SMART Goals

When setting your goals, use the SMART framework. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example, instead of saying, "I want to exercise more," a SMART goal would be ", I will go for a 30-minute walk every day after work for the next month."

Create a Plan

Setting goals is just the beginning. It would be best to create a plan of action to achieve those goals. Here are some tips for creating a plan:

Start Small

Breaking bad habits can be overwhelming, so start small. Don't try to change everything at once. Instead, focus on one habit at a time.

Take Baby Steps

Break your goals down into smaller, more manageable steps. This will make them less intimidating and more achievable.

Be Consistent

Consistency is key when it comes to changing your bad habits. Make a plan and stick to it, even when you don't like it.

Find Support

Changing bad habits is challenging, but you don't have to do it alone. Having someone to hold you accountable can make all the difference. Find support from friends, family, or a support group.

Accountability Partner

Consider finding an accountability partner. This could be a friend, family member, or even a coach who can check in with you regularly and help you stay on track.

Celebrate Your Successes

Changing your bad habits is a journey, and it's essential to celebrate your successes along the way. Take the time to acknowledge your progress, no matter how small.

Reward Yourself

When you reach a milestone, reward yourself. It doesn't have to be anything big or expensive, just something that makes you feel good.

Keep a Journal

Keep a journal of your progress. Write down your successes and your struggles. This will help you see how far you've come and motivate you to keep going.

Understand the Root Cause

You must first understand the root cause to change a bad habit successfully. For example, if you have a habit of procrastinating, ask yourself why you do it. Is it because you feel overwhelmed or anxious? Understanding the reason behind your habit can help you find a solution.

Self-Reflection

Take some time for self-reflection. Consider keeping a journal where you can reflect on your feelings and behaviours. This can help you identify patterns and gain insight into your habits.

Seek Professional Help

If your bad habits are causing significant problems, consider seeking professional help. A therapist or counsellor can provide guidance and support as you work to change your habits.

Replace Bad Habits with Good Ones

One effective strategy for changing bad habits is to replace them with good ones. For example, if you habitually snack on unhealthy foods, try replacing them with healthier options like fruits or vegetables.

Identify Triggers

To replace bad habits with good ones, you must first identify the triggers that cause your bad habits. For example, if you have a habit of smoking when you're stressed, find healthier ways to cope with stress, such as exercise or meditation.

Set a Routine

Creating a routine can help you develop good habits. For example, if you want to exercise more, set a routine for a specific time and day each week. This will make it easier to stick to your new habit.

Hold Yourself Accountable

Holding yourself accountable is crucial for changing bad habits. One way to do this is to track your progress. Record your successes and failures, and reflect on what worked and didn't.

Get a Buddy

Having a buddy can help you stay accountable. Find someone who shares your goals and can provide support and encouragement as you work to change your habits.

Practice Mindfulness

Practising mindfulness can help you break bad habits by increasing your self-awareness. Mindfulness involves being present at the moment and observing your thoughts and feelings without judgment.

Practice Meditation

Meditation is a form of mindfulness that can help you reduce stress and increase self-awareness. It can also help you cultivate a more positive mindset, which can be beneficial when changing bad habits.

Embrace Failure

Changing bad habits is a process, and it's normal to experience setbacks and failures. Embrace these failures as learning opportunities and use them to adjust your plan. Remember, it's not about perfection; it's about progress.

Stay Motivated

Staying motivated can be challenging when trying to change bad habits. To stay motivated, remind yourself of your why. Why do you want to change this habit? What are the benefits of breaking this habit? Keep these things in mind to help you stay motivated.

Visualize Success

Visualizing success can also help you stay motivated. Imagine yourself successfully breaking your bad habit and experiencing all the benefits that come with it. This can help you stay focused on your goal and push through challenging times.

Changing bad habits can be challenging, but it's possible with the right mindset, effort, and commitment. By understanding the root cause, replacing bad habits with good ones, holding yourself accountable, practising mindfulness, and staying motivated, you can successfully break your bad habits and live a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling life. Remember to be patient with yourself, embrace failure, and celebrate your successes.

Breaking bad habits can be challenging, but it's possible with the right mindset, effort, commitment, and action plan. Remember to start small, take baby steps, and be consistent. Prioritize your bad habits, set SMART goals, and find support from an accountability partner or a support group.

Celebrate your successes and reward yourself along the way. Keep a journal of your progress, and be patient with yourself. Changing your bad habits takes time, but it's ultimately worth it.

Don't let your bad habits hold you back any longer. Start today and take the first step towards a better tomorrow. By taking control of your habits, you can live a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling life.

© Zoe Clews & Associates

Maintaining a romantic relationship can be challenging, like caring for a car. Regular upkeep is essential to ensure that it runs smoothly. Therefore, if you notice any issues, promptly addressing them is essential to prevent further complications.

Sometimes, we can handle essential maintenance and repairs in our relationships ourselves. However, when more complex issues arise, seeking help from a licensed professional may be the best course of action.

Couples therapy is a behavioural therapy that aims to enhance relationship satisfaction and promote effective conflict resolution between partners. Whether conducted in person or online, the goal of a counsellor is to foster a healthy relationship and address any underlying issues that may be impacting the couple's well-being.

Couples therapy, also called talk therapy, is a type of psychotherapy involving a licensed therapist with clinical expertise, often an LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist), working with couples in romantic relationships.

In couples therapy, partners gain insight into their relationship, resolve conflicts, and enhance relationship satisfaction using a range of therapeutic interventions. The techniques used in behavioural relationship counselling may vary depending on the therapist's experience and the couple's needs. However, most approaches typically include the following key elements:

• Focusing on a specific problem, such as sexual difficulties, Internet addiction, intimacy, or jealousy.
  
  
• Encouraging active participation from both partners, with the therapist treating the relationship as a whole rather than each individual separately.
  
  
• Utilizing solution-focused and change-oriented interventions early on in the therapy process.
  
  
• Establishing clear objectives to guide the therapy sessions.
  
  
  

What are the benefits of couple's therapy?

Couples therapy has the potential to transform your relationship, enabling both partners to experience happiness, fulfilment, and satisfaction. Other benefits of this type of therapy include:

• Improved communication skills
  
  Couples therapy can teach you how to communicate in healthier and more effective ways.
  
  
• Strengthened bond
  A strong bond between partners fosters a sense of unity and teamwork, providing support and empowerment to tackle challenges together.
  
  
• Rebuilt trust
  Trust is a crucial foundation for any healthy relationship. Whether it has been broken or needs to be deepened, emotionally focused therapy can help you build or regain trust in each other.
  
  
• Improved relationship dynamic
  Attempting to resolve relationship issues independently can be stressful, frustrating, and time-consuming. By seeking the guidance of a therapist, you can improve your relationship dynamic in a shorter period than if you tried to do it alone.
  
  

What should you expect during a couple's therapy?

During couples therapy, you can expect to work collaboratively with a licensed therapist who will guide you and your partner through conversations and exercises to improve your relationship. Here are some things you can expect during a typical couples therapy session:

Initial Assessment
The therapist will typically begin by gathering information about your relationship, such as how long you've been together, the current issues you're facing, and any history that may be relevant.

Identifying Goals
The therapist will work with you and your partner to identify specific goals for therapy, such as improving communication, resolving conflicts, or rebuilding trust.

Communication Exercises
Communication is a key component of any healthy relationship, and the therapist may lead you through various exercises designed to help you and your partner communicate more effectively.

Conflict Resolution Strategies
The therapist may also teach you and your partner specific strategies for resolving conflicts, such as active listening, compromising, or taking a break when emotions run high.

Homework Assignments
The therapist may also assign homework between sessions, such as practising active listening or having a date night, to help reinforce what you've learned in therapy.

Follow-up Sessions
You can expect regular follow-up sessions to track your progress and make any necessary adjustments to your therapy plan.

Remember, couples therapy is a collaborative process, and both partners should be willing to actively participate and commit to making positive changes for the therapy to be effective.

© Zoe Clews & Associates

Conflict is normal in most relationships since we can’t always agree, no matter how well we get along. Sometimes we must challenge each other and change or learn from our mistakes, seeing other people’s points of view. When conflict becomes a constant in our relationships, arguments turn to anger, and there is no sense of resolution, it may be time to step back and analyse things from a different perspective.

Having an honest conversation about the other person and their actions is an excellent place to start. Unresolved tensions or resentment may drive the frequent conflict that wasn’t addressed. You can also benefit from support, so consider using hypnotherapy to give you a hand.

Hypnotherapy for Relationship Conflict

If you ever felt like you’ve had the same argument repeatedly, you likely already know the feeling. Sometimes, when we argue with people, we tend to repeat patterns. These patterns can come from the subconscious mind, sometimes that may have been experienced in our earlier life and something we are fighting with on the inside.

Hypnotherapy can give you a hand in getting to the root of the problem and the conflict itself. It can help you identify any behavioural patterns lurking in your subconscious mind that keep feeding the competition. If there are any, the hypnotherapist will suggest new ways of thinking and overcoming them. This is done when you are in a state of hypnosis, a deep relaxation, allowing your subconscious mind to be more open to positive suggestions. Hypnotherapy may also give you a hand in coping with conflict and managing the painful emotions in difficult relationships. You can build confidence and ask what you need, which is very important in all relationships. You can help your communication skills via hypnotherapy as well.

Dealing With Toxic Relationships

A toxic relationship has a negative impact on your psyche and health. This could be a friend who makes you feel bad, or you could be in an abusive relationship instead. Leaving these types of relationships always comes with many challenges; we find ourselves manipulated or suffering in self-esteem. We need to do more to walk away than we usually would.

After you leave a relationship like that, it may be a while before you feel normal again. You may find it challenging to rebuild your ability to trust or your confidence due to the trauma you experienced. Talking to a therapist or undergoing hypnotherapy can give you the help you need to repair the damage.

Hypnotherapy for Toxic Relationships

If you need help rebuilding your self-esteem, hypnotherapy can be there for you. Unhelpful and damaging patterns and behavioural elements can be addressed, letting you move on and reconnect with yourself and your individual needs. You can rediscover your inner strength and the ability to cope with the leftover emotional impact of the relationship. Through the help of hypnotherapy, you can encourage yourself to keep your head up high again. Since it’s often used to treat anxiety, hypnotherapy can help you find your inner safe place, allowing you to relieve the pain and manage the difficult memories yourself.

Moving on After a Break-Up

Break-ups can be a painful thing to experience, as most of us know. Whether the reason for your parting was mutual or not, the pain holds for quite a while once the relationship is over. For some, time and the support of close friends and family can help move on to the next chapter of life, but for others, that may not be the case. You can turn to hypnotherapy once more for a helping hand.

©Zoe Clews & Associates

Addiction plagues most people around the world in one form or another. When we imagine addiction, we commonly picture drugs, alcohol or cigarettes. However, we may be addicted to a lot more than that, such as gambling, sex, and even work.

Addiction may be defined as not having any control over taking, doing or using something to the point of harm. It's an issue that affects your mind and body, consuming lives and affecting careers and relationships. There are many reasons why people develop addictions, and various factors may be involved, from purely environmental to genetics. The most common suspects, like drugs, alcohol and nicotine, give a nice physical or emotional feeling, urging you to use them repeatedly, but a price is attached. You can find a similar high when you engage in gambling, compulsive shopping and more.

What Causes Addiction?

There is no single underlying cause for all addictions, but many factors may increase the risk of someone developing one. The factors fall into two categories - chemical and behavioural. 

Behavioural Factors

Certain traits in behaviour may make you more vulnerable to addictive substances and activities, such as the following:

• Background - Traumatic experiences during childhood, such as abuse or neglect, tend to increase the risk of developing addictive behaviours. Early use of such substances or activities also links to a lifelong struggle with addiction.

• Genetics - there is enough evidence to suggest that there are also genetic links to addiction. If you have a family history of addiction, you have a higher chance of developing one. Certain genetic traits may also speed up or delay the progression of addiction.

• Mental Health Issues - People who experience more anxiety and nervousness in their lives tend to be more vulnerable to the lure of addiction. Individuals who struggle with stress and seek coping methods may also lean toward such addictive behaviour patterns.

Chemical Factors

There is a link between the repeated use of specific substances or engaging in certain activities and the brain's pleasure centres. Addictive behaviours trigger the creation of dopamine, which causes a mental high and a sense of satisfaction. The brain remembers this state of pleasure and wants it repeated, which is the primary mechanism behind addiction.

The repeated use of a substance or activity tends to change the way the brain feels pleasure, so the user needs more, either upping the frequency of the activity or substance use or the dose to catch up with the same feeling they experienced in the beginning. The withdrawal symptoms get more severe when the tolerance increases and the addiction is in full swing.

Using Hypnotherapy for Addiction

Recovery from addiction requires long-term changes in your behaviour. This is extremely difficult without a strong support system to back you up. Hypnotherapy uses a state of deep relaxation or hypnotic trance to make your mind more open to positive suggestions. This allows the hypnotherapist to help you change your addiction's perspective and push you toward changing your habits. 

The process of hypnotherapy is a relaxing experience and helps lower stress levels, making you better at managing stress in general. As stress triggers addictive behaviour, this makes a big difference. Depending on withdrawal symptoms and the added stress of your recovery, hypnotherapy offers a layer of support you can count on, alongside other methods like balanced dieting, exercise and more. Reinforcing the changes made during your hypnotherapy sessions will take multiple sessions, as well as the use of self-hypnosis techniques you can use in your daily life, helping you stay focused and motivated on your path to rid yourself of your addiction.

© Zoe Clews & Associates

There are various reasons why couples may seek therapy, but a few of those are extremely common, as we will explain in the following points:

You've Grown Apart

Divorce incidents peak at certain times, with the first wave being around seven years. The second wave of a possible divorce is 21 years after marriage. The second divorce is often connected to growing apart, less about fighting and more about avoidance. After many years of marriage, some couples no longer engage with each other but simply live as roommates.

Couples tend to forget what brought them together in time and why they fell in love. If you've been with someone for many years, you build a life narrative, a history and memories to fall back on, and couples therapy gives you the chance to rekindle the spark.

You Clash about Money

Money has always been an issue for many couples. Still, if you throw in the usual late-in-life worries such as health issues, fewer and fewer years of earning left, not to mention the unstable nature of our world, you have an atmosphere filled with financial friction and stress. Clashes may stem from differences in spending or disagreements on what you need to save for, as well as retirement. There may be the stress of not earning enough or the inequalities in managing your savings. Money tends to evoke strong feelings in people, and an imbalance between both sides of a relationship in terms of spending or earning may spin out of control to the point where the relationship is in danger of falling apart.

Someone has Been Unfaithful.

One of the most common reasons for couples therapy is the attempt to fix a breach of trust by a cheating spouse. Cheating doesn't always mean only physical infidelity; it may mean being secretive and hiding essential things from your spouse. It means reconnecting with an old flame and thinking it's harmless when all of a sudden it becomes more than that. How can one tell they've crossed the line of trust? This is a complex subject, as cheating means something different for everyone. The most important thing is building a shared, agreed-upon level of fidelity in a relationship that works for both sides.

You Have Lots of Hurtful Arguments

We all have various ways of handling conflict, some seeking confrontation while others run away when things get difficult. Some passive-aggressive people find ways to sabotage other's life quietly. Big arguments can often leave a lot of tears and hurt feelings, but frequent small arguments can be just as destructive for your relationship. Couples tend to get into a closed loop of arguing about the same things over and over and over again. With couples therapy, you can find ways to defuse disagreements with respect. Instead of going on the offensive, you can find ways to understand the other side and find a working compromise.

Going Through a Bg Transition

Even if you and your partner are getting along just fine, big changes may put stress on your relationship, becoming a serious problem. Different coping styles can also create friction that spins out of control. Suddenly finding yourself in a difficult situation, such as taking care of an ill parent, can consume a lot of time and effort, which presents many challenges. If your spouse isn't supportive or doesn't understand, then that may lead to resentment. Couples therapy helps find a way to restore the connection you had and to find a compromise.

©Zoe Clews & Associates

The benefits of relationship counselling will depend on the couple looking for help. The more you and your romantic partner happen to put into your relationship, the better your outcome. If you are hoping to change or improve your relationship satisfaction, you should consider a couples therapist and the following benefits you would experience:

Gain a Better Understanding of Your Relationship

One major benefit of going to couples therapy is that you can start to understand your relationship dynamics. Who has the power, are things balanced, and are you falling into negative communication patterns? If you disagree with common points of strife, you should address those. Looking at the answers to the questions and starting to understand the practices behind your relationship will give you a chance to heal your bond and make it stronger.

Getting an Impartial Opinion

Finding good couples therapists means having someone you can confide in and trust. The therapist will listen to what you’re saying and give you impartial, honest and unbiased feedback. Sometimes hearing someone else telling you what you need to hear is a good way to look at your relationship from a more sober perspective. That neutral party can listen to both sides and see ways to give constructive feedback they can’t achieve on their own. This may be a huge part of what makes a difference. If you have any questions, you need to ask, or if you are thinking about making important choices regarding your relationship, you may want to consult a couples therapist first. They can help with long-term outcomes that may result from a hasty decision. They may even give you advice that may save your marriage or relationship, providing solutions you can’t see on your own.

Creating a Safe Environment for You and Your Partner

Often, when we are dealing with conflict with our partner, the feeling of safety and balance is something both sides struggle with. To truly navigate the conflict, both sides must be willing to open up and be vulnerable and honest. That scares most people, so they employ various coping mechanisms like avoidance or humour to shift the blame or dodge responsibility. Couples therapy provides a safe environment where you have set and enforced boundaries and a neutral third party overseeing the process and intervening when needed. 

You Can Begin to See Another Perspective

Couples therapy often allows two people to find a way with each other and see through your partner’s eyes. It’s common to see things only through your own experience, so you may think your feelings are more important than those of your partner. This has nothing to do with selfishness but rather an ingrained human instinct most people follow blindly. If a therapist is involved, they may give you a chance to objectively look through both sides of the disagreement and avoid miscommunication. You can find a practical way to solve your issues now and in the future.

You Can Overcome Relationship Roadblocks

It may be quite common for relationships to go through hurdles where both parts of a whole are dealing with a specific problem. Maybe it’s about whether or not you want to have children or to figure out a major move in your life that you need to agree upon. It may be the act of purchasing a home together. Whatever the reason, you and your partner are arguing about a certain topic, and you feel you’re not getting anywhere. In these cases, therapy may give you a hand when you most need it. 

©Zoe Clews & Associate

You should go for a therapist visit when you’re not in any real crisis yet. This is of course rarely the case, since you are far more likely to look for help when you’re neck-deep in trouble. Since we’re all busy in our daily lives, good help is hard to schedule.

You should at the very least consider the possibility of therapy when your relationship is ailing. More couples should reach out for therapy before a catastrophic problem is encountered. Couples counselling is a great resource to fall back on if you’re going through a hard time. You can find strength in it, finding a safer way forward with your relationship, or providing ongoing support to resolve whatever issues are holding you back.

Couples going through counselling can find it prevents things from deteriorating. If you and your partner are going through it, you will be in a much better position to resolve your issues going forward. This will happen without being at each other’s throats. You won’t have the added pressure of having to find a therapist in a hurry, and you won’t have to worry about finding one that clicks with you. 

How Do You Find a Therapist?

This may be one of the hardest things to do. You should dedicate some time, specifically a couple of weeks or even months and see at least a few different ones to get a sense of things. Before you start, you should talk to your partner about it, as this is something that affects both of you. You need to figure out the kind of therapist they’re looking for, as well as factors you both find important going forward. You need to synchronise things so your schedules won’t clash with the sessions.

You should ask around and see about getting a referral if you can. See if your friends don’t know anyone they are happy with. You can ask a trusted medical professional, like your primary care physician or your OB/GYN. If you’ve ever been in individual therapy, you can simply ask your therapist about recommending someone who handles couples.

You can look up websites like Psychology Today, where most therapists will pay for listings, and it may also give you a chance to narrow down the search based on language, gender, speciality, location and more. Depending on where you live, you may have a local association of therapists working online that you can contact. Even if a therapist doesn’t exactly have a massive presence online, that doesn’t mean they’re bad at their job. Sometimes they get more than enough business through simple word-of-mouth and are plenty busy without having to advertise or even make their website.

You Should Keep an Open Mind

You should have a mental checklist of what you’re looking for in a therapist, but you should also allow yourself a chance to think outside of that. You don’t know what it will feel like to be in the room with your significant other and the therapist before you’re there. Both of you need to feel comfortable and respected in that professional environment for things to work.

Common Couples Therapies

Many counsellors are trained in various ways of therapy and will adapt your treatment based on your situation. The three most commonly established ones are the Gottman Method, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and the Imago Relationship Therapy. There are other nuances, sometimes even hypnosis may be used, specific types of sex therapy and more, but those three are the most commonly used. 

©Zoe Clews & Associates

In cinema, hypnosis is often depicted as some sort of control tool. People fall in love against their will, commit crimes, get brainwashed. Hypnotists are shown as mesmerists who put people on stage and make them quack like chickens or perform other nonsensical tricks. Even though hypnosis is shown in rather ridiculous ways, making it seem like something simply used for fun, there is in fact a useful therapeutic element to it. Hypnotherapy can be used to benefit you either as a standalone treatment or as a supplemental one when paired with other treatments.

• Insomnia and Sleepwalking

Hypnosis may be a helpful tool if you are sleepwalking or having trouble falling asleep. If you are suffering from insomnia, then hypnosis may be the best way to relax and get you in the mood to hit the pillow. Hypnosis may be a very helpful tool if you’re having issues with sleepwalking, staying asleep or falling from your bed. If you have insomnia issues, the treatment can also help you enter a relaxed state so you can sleep more soundly.

If you happen to be a sleepwalker, then you should know that hypnosis can train you to wake up as soon as you’re out of bed, making you avoid the dangers of sleepwalking. You can be put in a trance-like state with verbal cues, something similar to the feeling of being so involved in a movie, a book or something else that you lose track of what happens around you. After hypnosis, you can easily fall asleep.

• Dealing with Anxiety

Relaxation techniques, such as hypnosis may sometimes ease anxiety. Hypnosis is often most effective with people whose anxiety comes from a chronic health condition. This is far more often the case than with people who suffer from a generalised anxiety disorder. Hypnosis may also be able to help with phobias, anxiety disorders where people have intense fears of something that doesn’t ordinarily pose a threat. Hypnosis works to help with anxiety by encouraging the body to activate the natural relaxation response, through the use of nonverbal cues, lowering of blood pressure, slower breathing and an overall sense of well-being. 

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome

The effectiveness of hypnotherapy on IBS is being supported by clinical studies. IBS is an abdominal pain experienced in your bowels, but hypnosis can help alleviate symptoms such as diarrhoea, bloating and constipation among other things. Hypnosis will work through progressive relaxation, providing you with sensations and imagery that soothes the symptoms you’re experiencing.

• Chronic Pain

Hypnosis can also help with pain, especially one that is experienced after surgery, migraines or tension headaches. It can help with chronic pain as well. Conditions like cancer, fibromyalgia, sickle cell disease, arthritis and more can experience relief through the use of hypnosis as well. The treatment can help you cope with pain, getting more self-control over how you deal with it. Studies have shown that hypnosis can help for long periods. 

• You Can Quit Smoking

The use of hypnosis to quit smoking can work best with a one-on-one session with a hypnotherapist. They can help you organise the hypnosis sessions around your lifestyle, so you can address the issue. For hypnosis to work, you need to want to quit smoking. That works in two ways. The first step is to find a healthy, effective replacement for the act of smoking, then you can guide your subconscious into forming that habit and replacing smoking that way. This may be something as simple as chewing gum or any other activity. The second is to help train your mind to connect smoking to unpleasant feelings like a foul smell or bad taste in your mouth. 

© Zoe Clews & Associates

Hypnotherapy, also referred to as clinical hypnosis, is all about focusing on a person’s subconscious and conscious mind to foster behavioural and emotional change. It can be used to treat a variety of different conditions, like phobias, stress and anxiety, as well as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). One session of hypnotherapy lasts about 60-90 minutes, while an entire course of treatment can vary anywhere between two sessions for several weeks to months, depending on the severity of the condition and the success of the treatment. 

Main concepts of hypnotherapy 

The treatment revolves around the model of the mind that features a conscious part and a subconscious part. They function differently and work in unison to navigate a person in their daily life. 

• The conscious mind – is where focus resides. This part of the mind is responsible for attention at any time. This means it notes things like lights, sounds, activities and various tasks the person is engaged with. A person can only engage their conscious mind to pay attention to a few things at a time. 
  
  
• Subconscious mind – it contains all of the memories, beliefs, habits and learnings of the past. It is tasked with keeping knowledge on important matters, from very simple ones like tying one’s shoes, to knowing how to speak a foreign language they have learned. It also hides the aftermath of traumatic events and experiences, which, in the case of PTSD, it is within the subconscious mind that painful memories and experiences get stuck. When it comes to hypnosis, it is the subconscious mind that therapists work on. This state of mind is more easily accessible and the therapist can make useful suggestions to it, to help a person overcome their past traumatic experiences. 
  
  

Who is this treatment right for? 

Anyone suffering from past trauma and struggling with PTDS symptoms can easily benefit from hypnotherapy. The symptoms often range from mild to severe and can sometimes persist from mere months to years. That is not to say hypnotherapy alone should be utilised for people with severe symptoms, but it can be a great addition as a complementary treatment. When added to psychotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy, it can contribute a great deal in overcoming the negative symptoms and turning the impact of past trauma around. 

How does hypnotherapy help? 

• Pretty much everyone experiences a traumatic event in their life. That is when the brain’s ‘fight or flight response triggers and kicks the sympathetic nervous system into action. However, oftentimes with PTSD, a person hasn’t properly processed the stressful situation. When they are reminded of it, their fight or flight response triggers again, causing distress without actual need. This is what hypnotherapy aims to address. 
  
  
  • It introduces relaxation – the goal of hypnotherapy is to help the person enter a state of hypnotic trance through complete relaxation. This process acts as an antidote to many of the processes surrounding PTSD. 
    
    
  • Dealing with triggers – during hypnosis, the therapist will identify stress triggers. Sometimes these are non-threatening stimuli, which cause an overreaction. Knowing the triggers, the therapist can then start making suggestions to change the subconscious perception of these triggers and deem them in a non-threatening and non-stressful manner. 
    
    
  • Self-management tools – hypnotherapists often suggest a variety of self-management tools to help people with PTSD even further. This not only leads to effective treatment of the present issue but also recurring symptoms in the future. These tools can include self-hypnosis, deep breathing exercises and guided meditation. 
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© Zoe Clews & Associates

If a large part of your life has been defined as being a parent, you may find it difficult to adjust to life without your children at home. Once they leave the home, you can be left devastated and experience the empty nest syndrome. 

This refers to feelings of extreme sadness and grief over the fact that your last child has finally left your home and moved in to live somewhere else. This may not be a real diagnosis, but it is a real issue for many parents. If you feel like there is a huge void in your life, then you are likely struggling with it too. There are a few things you can do to help yourself feel better: 

• Identify your roles – in your life, you have undoubtedly been a lot of things – a child to your parents, a friend, an employee, a relative and now a parent. None of them is as important as being a parent. And that is a role you can continue following, even if it is not as forefront as before. During this phase of your life, you will have new roles and you will need to pay attention to them too. Perhaps you can be a volunteer, or a friend to your neighbours, or a community member. You can explore what those activities hold for you and find new meaning and purpose. Again, being a parent is still something you can be, just a little different than before. 
  
  
• Reconnect with your partner – shifting the focus on how your life will play out now that your last child is no longer living with you is something that happens. But you can think about the time when you didn’t have children when it was just the two of you with your partner. Now might be a good time to rekindle the flame and make some new memories. You can travel, without worrying about leaving the house to your children. You can have date nights without worrying about a thing. You have more time for yourselves now, so make the best use of it. 
  
  
• Rediscover yourself – when parenting took over your life, you have probably given up on a ton of hobbies and activities that you used to do. An empty nest presents an opportunity for you to reconnect with all of these things. You even have more space in your home for the things that you used to love. Maybe there is something you have always wanted to try but was never able to due to your duties as a parent. Even if you currently have no idea, you can always give something new a try and see how it works for you. It is a great opportunity to explore new interests. 
  
  
• Challenge yourself in new ways – one way to ease the feeling of loss of your child growing up is to find new challenges for yourself. Maybe you have always wanted to redesign a room in your home, and now is the best time to do it. You can even take on something bigger, like volunteering in a charity. Just don’t make any major life-altering decision in the first months after your child moves out. 
  
  
• Don’t check in with them too much – if you find yourself obsessing over your child’s social media accounts or you spend a lot of time worrying about them, you will have a tougher time moving on. You want your child to become an independent adult. You can check in on them from time to time, but remember to give them some privacy and all the space to make new mistakes. That is how they will learn better. 
  
  

© Zoe Clews & Associates

It

Couples coaching involves coaching sessions for a couple, where a therapist will work with both partners to address certain concerns that are preventing true joy and fulfilment in the relationship. This sort of counselling works well regardless of how long the relationship has been going on. Every couple experiences difficulties at one point or another in their relationship and it is important to remember that couples coaching can help them overcome that. 

All about couples coaching 

The goal of this form of coaching is to help individuals set their expectations and desires about a relationship straight. More than that, it helps them make all of that happen. By the end of a couples coaching course, the couple should have a clear understanding of what is difficult in their life together and what their goals should be. The coach will actively work with both partners to develop working solutions. 

 should be pointed out that couples coaching also works on an individual level. It is based on the idea that when a person is feeling fulfilled on their own, they can bring that healthy motivation into a relationship and seek to make it better. That is what people coming to couples coaching sessions have in common – they know they want to make their relationships better and they are not quite sure whether they need to look for improvement in themselves or their partners. 

Difference between counselling and coaching

Couples counselling is all about providing a non-judgmental space for couples to discuss their issues and reveal their emotional wounds. For example, it can help a couple work on restoring trust after a case of infidelity. The goal is to fix an issue that has happened to them and find the best way to move forward. 

Coaching can be similar in that it also provides a non-judgmental space for discussion, but the therapy itself is more action-oriented. There is much less unpacking the past that takes place and more about focusing on what the future goals should be. In that sense, couples coaching is more focused on the present and the future, and not so much on the past. 

Depending on what you want to achieve, you will be able to choose your kind of support wisely. If you think unresolved problems from the past are hindering you, then seek out couples counselling. If you want to change the present problems you have with your partner, then couples coaching might be right. 

What do couples coaching help with? 

Coaching is quite versatile and can aid in many areas of your life. These areas are identified by the couple in the couple’s coaching. It could be before or during sessions. Here are a few examples of areas to work on: 

• Clarity around obstacles – understanding what stands in your way is always the first step. Relationships don’t often make it easy to know what the problem is. Couples coaching can uncover the real issues and set the tone for working on them. 
  
  
• Better communication – another important aspect of couples coaching lies with improving communication between partners. After all, communication is at the heart of any relationship. If it becomes a stumbling block, then something is wrong. 
  
  
• Aligning visions and values for the future – as people enter a relationship, they bring different values and visions for the future. If they aren’t aligned, that is potential for conflict, which can be remedied with couples coaching. During it, couples can identify their core values and outline the future they want to build upon. 
  
  
• Build mutual understanding – this can be a major problem in long-term relationships. Sometimes partners feel like the other is taking them for granted and need to work on ways to build more appreciation towards one another. 
  
  

© Zoe Clews & Associates

Couples and individuals alike seek the aid of a sexual therapist for different purposes. Women and men alike encounter different forms of sexual dysfunction and it is by seeing a sex therapist that they can largely positively affect them. This kind of therapy has been proven to be so good not just for such problems, but also for addressing bored and attraction-related issues. 

More and more people are recognising the benefits of working with experts on this matter. Thus, finding the right person for the task is the way to go. With such an intimate topic, you need to be able to work with a person you are most comfortable with and who has the required expertise to help you out. 

• Consider your reasons for needing sex therapy – there is a lot that goes into the field of sex therapy. It encompasses issues from desire, to physical problems that you might be experiencing. A good sex therapist should have a good clinical experience, but it doesn’t hurt for you to ask if they have dealt with people with similar issues. That is why it is so important for you to decide on the exact issues you want such therapy to address. So ask yourself what you want to achieve and what sort of therapy you want to accept. Bear in mind that it is very likely you will get certain homework exercises, such as communication, or reading educational materials. You have to be ready to discuss your most intimate topics with a therapist, as well as your partner. 
  
  
• Consider the experience and credentials of the therapist – this was touched upon the previous point, but it is important enough that it needs to be mentioned separately. For your therapist to be a reliable source of help, they should an MD, or PhD and then have done a sufficient number of hours in sexuality training. After all, you want the therapist to be able to consider all of the problems that might be present with their client. There are different dimensions the sexual therapist needs to be able to view the issues from – a psychological one, a physiological, a relational one and sometimes even a cultural one. 
  
  
• Consider several options – there are many ways in which you can find a sex therapist. You can check out professional organisations, or perhaps seek referrals from your doctor and friends. Many online resources allow you to browse a database and pick from there. Whatever your sources of finding a therapist are, it is best not to just go with the first option presented. Instead, you should see 2-3 therapists and do an initial consultation with them. Since every person’s issues are highly individual, it may take more than one therapist to know you have finally clicked well and can proceed with the therapy. 
  
  
• Ask about their treatment plan – therapy is usually a dynamic process, which changes as you proceed forward. However, it is important to ask your therapist what their therapy plan is for you and how it is going to go. In part, this has a lot to do with the fact that you will be able to better budget for therapy and monitor your progress. 
  
  
• Check-in with yourself as the therapy goes on – sexual problems are largely intimate in nature. It will only get more comfortable as you progress the treatment. If you don’t feel comfortable, then perhaps your therapist is not the best fit for you and you should seek another expert on the matter. 
  
  

All of these tips should ensure that you make the most of your work with a sexual therapist and overall manage to benefit from them in resolving your problems. 

© Zoe Clews & Associates

Sex therapists often need to provide advice for parents, who struggle with their sex life. Whether it is because of a new-born child, or perhaps a toddler that cannot stop crying at night, parenthood brings changes to a couple’s sex dynamics and not always for the better. To those who feel their sex lives are flatlining, sex therapists have a few useful recommendations: 

• One partner is exhausted and achieving a sexy frame of mind is impossible – parents of small children and babies often experience such challenges. When one parent feels so worn out, their need for sleep and rest outranks the need for sex. The idea is that the person should not feel bad for desiring the former more than the latter. When parents are doing their thing – dealing with children, managing the new tasks, etc., it can be hard to switch to an erotic state. It is just hard to enjoy sex in such a situation. What makes a big difference then is a partner’s ability to empathise and help out the other person. If one of the partners feels that the other is not sharing the burden, it can lead to resentment and push them apart. This is a solvable riddle, which both partners can work on, possibly with the help of a sex therapist. 
  
  
• Parenthood changes the human body – it is completely natural to feel less comfortable about your body after having a baby. Women are especially vulnerable to feeling depressed over the extra weight they put on. This can often lead to both parents feeling stuck. Communication is key, and assumptions are a killer. The idea is that parents should communicate their newfound feelings of discomfort and work around them. Yes, there are a lot of insecurities parents develop after having a baby. But with some proper work, both parents can view each other the same way they did before having a child. 
  
  
• Don’t be so sure you know everything sex-related about your partner – everyone learns a lot about sex throughout their life – from their family and early relationships. This forms many expectations on a subconscious level, which we then bring into our relationships and marriages. And even if you think you know your partner, keep in mind no attitude towards sex is fixed. It can easily change, most notably after having a child. That is when one partner can reveal sex is much less of a priority for them, compared to the other person. The goal should always be to dig deeper into the beliefs your partner holds about sex, and show understanding. Only then will you be able to build a more satisfying sex life together, even after having a child. 
  
  
• Two people can't desire the same amount of sex all the time – one of the reasons why people seek the aid of a sex therapist is discrepancies in desire. Sometimes one partner might not desire to engage in sexual acts, and only feel pressured into doing them. But this makes it feel more like an obligation, which will sooner or later backfire. Parents often fall into the trap of believing there is a certain amount of sex that they should have. The reality is that more often than not, there will be some sex desire discrepancies. At those times, it is important to remember that instead of troubling over how often partners should have sex, they should focus on enjoying the sex that they have. That way they will achieve the perfect balance. 
  
  

These are just a few of the most common issues that sex therapists deal with in regards to parents. 

© Zoe Clews & Associates

Seeing a sex therapist is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, more and more people are resorting to the services of one such, as they understand the benefits of working on their issues with someone has the knowledge and can provide the right answers. 

If you have never before considered sex therapy, perhaps it will be educational to find out more about what problems it can help with. Below are some of the major complaints that sex therapists hear from their clients: 

• Inability to reach an orgasm – this problem is most common to women who report not being able to reach a climax the real way during intercourse. One thing that sex therapist know well to advise the men of these women is that they have to focus more on the clitoris, instead of the vagina. It is important to try out positions that enable better G-spot-penile contact, as that is often enough to fix the problem. 
  
  
• Mismatched sexual desire in partners – when both partners have the so-called desire discrepancy, i.e. one partner wanting more sex than the other, things can quickly escalate in the relationship. In this case, the therapist may work with both partners to enable them to find the kind of sex that brings the right amount of excitement for both of them. In other cases, the expert may in fact reveal another problem that is at the root of this issue. Talking about these bothersome topics usually brings both partners together and makes them more inclined to resolve their differences. 
  
  
• One partner wants to spice up the sex life – when a couple is in a committed relationship, their desires in the bedroom may evolve and change. Partners feel more comfortable with each other and may have a desire for novelty. If the other partner is not interested, it can spell trouble. Working with a sex therapist could allow the couples to see how open each of them is to compromise. Also, the therapist can find out whether there are any underlying tensions the couple is not discussing, or not even aware of, that may be leading to such an issue. 
  
  
• Performance issues – men often experience performance problems, which are usually in the form of erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation. They could lead to performance anxiety, which in turn can make them avoid intimacy and sex. The common therapy includes a focus on one’s own body and pleasure, rather than their partner, meaning that will worry less about what the other thinks of them. 
  
  
• The need to feel more emotionally connected – a lot of people report the problem of not having any passion for sex and they want to change this. It usually happens to those who are past the period of their life where they are most interested in hook ups, and instead, want a committed relationship. The real problem is being able to successfully integrate love and sex, which is exactly what a sex therapist can help. 
  
  
• Stuck in a sexless marriage – if a couple has found itself in a rut, sex is one of the first things that suffers. Work distractions, children care and other duties could take away much of their energy and free time. A sex therapist can initiate a talk between the partners, to have them explore the problem from a different perspective and find possible resolutions. 
  
  

These are all essential problems that both couples and individuals often discuss with a sex therapist. If you find yourself encountering any of them, don’t hesitate to contact an expert. 

© Zoe Clews & Associates

If you have tried dieting and many forms of exercise for your weight problem, but nothing seems to work, maybe it is time to consider another option – hypnotherapy. Many people are sceptical about this kind of weight loss solution because they mostly associate hypnosis with stage shows and cheap tricks. 

However, as it turns out, research points to the effectiveness of hypnosis for weight loss. According to some of the early studies on the matter, people who resorted to this solution lost double the amount of weight compared to those that went without such therapy. It pays to consider it as a viable method for weight loss, especially if you have exhausted other options or found them of little help. In this guide, we will cover a few important points regard hypnotherapy for weight loss. 

Who is such therapy best for? 

Without a doubt, the best candidates for this kind of therapy are the people who resort to unconscious and emotional eating. These are usually individuals who know well what they should be eating and what they should not; however, there is an underlying issue that is stopping them from putting that knowledge to practical use. Hypnotherapy for weight loss in a way is all about teaching a person to have more willpower and rewriting habits, which could be at the root of the problem. 

How does it work? 

A typical hypnotherapy session involves a conversation between the hypnotherapist and their client. Often this reveals some factors, which may contribute to the person struggling with weight. For example, ait may not be their eating habits that are to blame, but rather an emotional trauma, which they are poorly coping with by overeating. This is what lies in the subconscious mind, which the hypnotherapist accesses by putting the person in a state of hypnosis. Once that is achieved, the person being in a heightened sense of awareness, the therapist can make suggestions, to help their client shake some beliefs and emotions about food. This leads to positive change in a person’s mind. So the next time they experience cravings, for example, they won’t reach for the sweets, but will instead have a fruit. 

How long does it take for such a treatment to work? 

There is no straightforward answer to this question. It all depends on the progress you are making and the goals you have. It won’t be long before you start seeing some improvement, even after a few sessions. That is when you need to remember that you should show some perseverance and continue with the therapy. Only then can you reap the rewards of it. 

What guarantees do you have it will work? 

There is no way to 100% guarantee that hypnotherapy for weight loss will work for you. According to some studies, some people cannot even be hypnotized. Furthermore, like many other treatments, this one is only going to work if you are dedicated and truly wish to meet your goal. If there is resistance on your side, you will not be able to change the habits that are keeping you from losing weight. Hypnotherapy is not a form of mind control, unlike some myths depict it. It also requires a person with experience to lead the treatment session, as that is the best way to know it will work. What you can do to improve your chances of success is to find an experienced hypnotherapist and also get in the right mind for this sort of treatment. 

© Zoe Clews & Associates