FAQs Page

Frequently Asked Questions

I work from clinics in Skipton,. I also offer therapy using Skype, Zoom or Microsoft Teams, which means that I may be able to treat you wherever you are based in the country, providing you have a good internet connectionand the relevant software.

I cannot ethically claim a success rate, and it is strictly forbidden to do so by many professional associations. The success rate of any type of therapy would have to be independently verified to be meaningful in any way, and it is impossible to do this. There is no guarantee with any type of therapeutic or medical intervention and to claim a percentage success rate would be unethical. The therapies offered here are no different - I do not have a 'magic wand' that can cure anything and, as with other medical conditions, clients can experience relapses.

That said, most people benefit from the work we do. Please remember though that I do not 'fix' people - I can help to show you the door, but only you can step on through!

People change and therapists work in different ways - just because therapy didn't work for you in the past does not mean that it will not work now. Perhaps it was simply the wrong type of therapy for you. I would be happy to discuss any concerns you might have when you contact me.

I take your confidentiality seriously. Although, as with any therapeutic practice, it might be necessary to make notes at some point, I keep case notes securely and do not keep electronic copies of confidential material. Everything you tell me is in complete confidence at all times.

Until recently, the Code of Conduct for the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council forbade the use of testimonials as it is not always possible to verify how authentic they are. That has changed in accordance with the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP). To quote from current guidelines: "You can quote individuals, with their permission, who have found your services helpful, in the form of testimonials. In terms of the CAP Code, marketers must hold documentary evidence that '...a testimonial or endorsement used in a marketing communication is genuine, unless it is obviously fictitious, and hold contact details for the person who, or organisation that, gives it'." I keep evidence in keeping with this, which can be checked by official bodies at any time.

Yes! You are welcome to contact me for a free chat, either via telephone, Skype, email or in person. There is no obligation to continue with treatment following that.

Evening appointments are available but these tend to be very popular, so are not always immediately available. I will do my best to see you at a convenient time but there may be a wait. Weekend appointments are somtimes available but not necessarily on a weekly basis.

The initial assessment is an opportunity for you to meet with your therapist and to decide whether they are right for you as much as the therapist finding out about you. Successful hypnotherapy can only take place in an environment of trust and relaxation. You might understandably be a little nervous and have questions about your hypnotherapy treatment, and your therapist will answer these. They will also need to find out a bit about your medical background, your family history and current circumstances, and, of course, they will need to know about the issue you wish to resolve. Your therapist will ask a number of questions to ensure that they can ethically and effectively treat you. After this, if you wish to proceed and time allows, I offer a short relaxation session to give you an immediate experience of hypnotherapy.

My approach may be a little different from some practitioners. I will tailor each individual hypnotherapy session to the specific requirements of each client. Whilst some hypnotherapists use off-the-shelf scripts, I will always give consideration to your unique needs and situation and create a session specifically for you. BWRT works to a standard protocol which all practioners adhere to. Sometimes exploratory work is necessary in order to decide between us the best path to take, or even the most appropriate therapy to use. I will at times employ a range of other counselling methods allowing you to explore matters in a safe and non-judgmental environment, with the aim of getting you to where you want to be.

As every person is different, there is no way to guarantee how many sessions you will need. Mild addictions and phobias might only require one or two sessions. Some deep-seated issues might take several sessions before results are obvious. Many factors can affect the number of sessions you will need, such as how receptive you are to hypnotherapy, and your own levels of motivation. I offer an intensive 'Stop Smoking' therapy in one single session, but for other issues an average of 4 to 6 sessions is not uncommon. Sometimes it may take a client significantly longer to achieve the results that they want and to start noticing improvements. It all depends on the severity of the problem and response to treatment.

My commitment to your treatment does not stop at the clinic door. Therapy is an ongoing journey. If you feel that you need help between sessions, I would rather you contact me than suffer in silence. Please feel free to call, text or email if you have difficulties. However, please be aware that I may be with clients and do also have a personal life so may not be able to reply immediately!

Some people like to have a recording of their hypnotherapy session in order to listen at home. This is an excellent way of reinforcing the changes you wish to make between sessions. I do not record the sessions we do, but I am able to make a personalised recording for home use at a small additional fee. I can also provide an mp3 link for download to your device of choice. For clients unable to visit me in person or who may not have access to Skype, I can create a tailor-made recording based on information you provide during a short telephone consultation. Please visit the CDs & mp3s page for full details and prices.

Please visit the Pricing page for an up-to-date list of fees. Please be aware that the fees cover face-to-face time, writing up notes and prepatation of sessions in advance, along with any printed materials. If you wish to have a recording of your hypnotherapy session, I can provide that at an additional cost.

Payment by cash or cheque is preferable. Credit cards are also accepted at the Northallerton clinic. I can invoice you in advance of your session so that you can pay by bank transfer or by Paypal. Please note that PayPal payments incur a small processing charge of 3.4% +20p per transaction.

I realise that modern lives are busy and that sometimes things happen at the last minute. If you notify me that you need to cancel up to 24 hours before your appointment, there will be no charge and any pre-payments for that session will be refunded. You will, of course, be offered an alternative date for your appointment. I reserve the right to charge the full amount for any session that is missed without notification. This is purely because I sometimes have to incur expense in advance.

Therapy can help to treat many conditions and it is impossible to list them all here. Please contact me if you think I might be able to help you.

Please use the contact form to ask any questions not answered here.