Frequently Asked Questions 

Whether you prefer to have a session at my Cork hypnosis clinic or online, both formats are equally as effective. Online therapy is very flexible and convenient. Many clients prefer online therapy because of this, and the sessions are just as effective.

If there are connectivity issues, then we can continue the session over the phone or reschedule. It’s important to have somewhere comfortable to sit. For example, any chair or sofa with good back and neck support.

The hypnosis session format is the same whether it’s online or in my Cork clinic. The first session involves a lot of discussion. This helps us develop a shared understanding of the problem. We will then establish a clear goal to work towards. The last 30-40 minutes of the session is in hypnosis.

We won’t always use hypnosis in subsequent sessions. It will depend on what we need to work on that day. We will always use the most appropriate technique and sometimes that might not involve hypnosis. However, most sessions usually involve some hypnosis.

Habit Reversal (Smoking, Nail Biting etc.)

The 2 hour session is €200 and requires pre-payment to book. The session can be split into two separate 1 hour sessions if preferred.

All Other Issues (Anxiety, Weight Loss etc.)

The first session is 1 hour and 30 minutes and is priced at €125. Each session thereafter is 1 hour and costs €100.

Payment Methods Accepted

Cash, bank transfer or Revolut. Payment is required at the end of the session or in advance.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations with less than 48 hours’ notice may incur a cancellation fee.

Habit reversal (nail biting etc.) and smoking cessation involve just one 2 hour session. For most other issues, between 3-6 sessions is common. However, for more complex issues then more sessions may be required.

Online and Cork hypnosis sessions are equally effective. Book a free consultation to discuss how many sessions you may require.

It’s not like what you see on TV

Hypnotherapy is the use of hypnosis as a therapeutic technique. People often have misconceptions about hypnosis, based on what they have seen on TV. Firstly, you will not be asleep or unconscious. You will be fully aware of everything. However, people experience hypnosis differently. Some people feel absorbed in their imagination, whereas others feel more relaxed or sleepy.

Ultimately, hypnosis is a state of mind where we are more responsive to positive suggestions. This makes therapeutic change quicker and more powerful. You will know you are in hypnosis if you accept suggestions more easily and deeply than normal. It’s important to note that people get better at hypnosis each time they do it.

How to respond in hypnosis

In hypnosis you imagine along with the suggestions. Suggestions are just invitations for you to imagine something. Therefore, hypnosis requires active engagement. You will choose the suggestions you respond to. It’s important to note that hypnosis is not a method of talking to the ‘unconscious mind’.

Hypnosis is a bit like being engrossed in a film. When engrossed in a film, you are fully concentrating on it and you suspend all disbelief. This allows you to really get into it and experience it as if it were real.

Thoughts, feelings and behaviours

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is considered the gold standard of psychotherapy. CBT is particularly effective for treating anxiety disorders. Understanding the connection between thoughts, feelings and behaviour is really important in CBT. For example, our feelings impact our thoughts, which impact our behaviour etc.

Understanding the viscous cycle

CBT helps you understand how your feelings, thoughts and behaviour are connected. With stress and anxiety, there is often a viscous cycle nature to this. This helps you understand what is maintaining your issue. CBT aims to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviours into more positive and helpful ones. It also aims to teach better coping skills to change the way you feel.

More than just being present

Mindfulness is a mental state that can be achieved by focusing your awareness on the present moment. While at the same time acknowledging and accepting your feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations in a calm way. Mindfulness is about staying in the present moment, and not getting carried away with thoughts of the past or the future.

Letting go of difficult thoughts

One of the mindfulness techniques that I like to teach is called Cognitive Defusion. Cognitive defusion is the ability to distance yourself from your thoughts, and detach from negative thoughts. Cognitive defusion is about noticing thoughts rather than becoming caught up in them. It’s about learning to let thoughts come and go rather than holding onto them.

Hypnosis is not a form of mind control. I can’t make you do anything you don’t want to do. During hypnosis, you will be aware of what is happening and will choose which suggestions to accept. Importantly, hypnosis is completely safe when used appropriately.

People have a lot of misconceptions about hypnosis, which are often derived from TV and stage hypnosis. Stage hypnosis has nothing at all to do with hypnotherapy! Stage hypnosis involves a lot of smoke and mirrors, tricking the audience into believing things that aren’t real.

Anyone can be hypnotised. It doesn’t take any special skill or ability. It’s all about just allowing yourself to relax, thinking positively and paying attention to the suggestions. Remember, you only accept the suggestions which you choose to accept, so you are completely in control.

People often have the misconception that you have to be gullible to be hypnotised, but that is not the case. The research indicates that highly hypnotisable individuals are usually more intelligent and highly self-disciplined.

No, nobody has ever become stuck in hypnosis. You will be aware of the room around you and any sounds in the room. If you wanted to open your eyes and walk out of the room, you could. If a fire alarm went off, you would respond as normal.

I recommend waiting about 15 minutes before driving. After hypnosis you may feel very relaxed and slightly disorientated, so it is best to allow some time before driving.