I have been subscribing to HSI for a number of years now and am often horrified by the continual use of drugs with awful side effects. I am a great believer in taking drugs if my life depended on it, but not if there are other ways of relieving symptoms using natural products.
We are aware of how Statins causes so many horrible side effects, and how BP medication for hypertension can cause other problems in the body. Doctors work on statistics and risk factors, but as we become more aware of our own bodies and the internet where we can research complaints, we could take more control of our body and not be led down the path of drug use just because our GP says so. I would never tell anyone to stop medication, it is not for me to do so, but I like to think I can have a say in what treatment if I should need it, I agree to. I know too many people who just take the drugs because their GP says so.
I like HSI, because not only does it inform us of how drug companies lure us into taking their drugs for the big bucks they make, but it offers us alternative treatments. Yes it costs money, but I would rather pay for Benecol each day to keep my cholesterol low than to take a drug that causes horrible side effects. And Benecol does work by the way, so there is an alternative to Statins.
I was shocked many years ago by some American friends who had been prescribed by their medical practitioner to take hypertension drugs and Statins when they were 50, even though their BP was only moderately high. That means potentially they could be on the drugs for 30 years or more if they live that long.
Check out HSI for more information
Tuesday, 30 October 2012
Do therapists need therapy?
Do therapists need therapy? You bet they do, and I am often surprised if I know that they don't. It would assume that they have solved all their problems in life and are uber cool. I would be more worried if a therapist said they had all of life's problems sorted out.
Yes therapists do need therapy from time to time and I enjoy having therapy at least once or twice a year. Even if I think I have no current problems, the therapy itself grounds me, and I feel calmer and even more in control.
You hear these stories over the years, like a psychiatrist who was telling their client in no uncertain terms that they must lose weight and the reason they were depressed was because they were overweight. 'Eat carrots' the psychiatrist said. The client looked at him, and smiled to herself as the psychiatrist was grossly overweight himself, and so she made a mental picture of him sitting there eating carrots.
Clients are often surprised when I sometimes reveal to them that I have therapy. We are not saints, we get things wrong in life and make mistakes. Therapy for therapists keeps us in touch with how our clients feel too.
Yes therapists do need therapy from time to time and I enjoy having therapy at least once or twice a year. Even if I think I have no current problems, the therapy itself grounds me, and I feel calmer and even more in control.
You hear these stories over the years, like a psychiatrist who was telling their client in no uncertain terms that they must lose weight and the reason they were depressed was because they were overweight. 'Eat carrots' the psychiatrist said. The client looked at him, and smiled to herself as the psychiatrist was grossly overweight himself, and so she made a mental picture of him sitting there eating carrots.
Clients are often surprised when I sometimes reveal to them that I have therapy. We are not saints, we get things wrong in life and make mistakes. Therapy for therapists keeps us in touch with how our clients feel too.
Monday, 29 October 2012
Therapy vouchers
I have been asked many times about discount vouchers for hypnotherapy sessions. One point of view is that if you are just starting up as a practitioner you need to find clients, but my view is that you do not see psychotherapists, counsellors or any other therapies for mental health offering discounts, so why should hypnotherapy be included?
My own take on it, and it may appear controversial, is that it cheapens the profession.
Hypnosis has had to fight long and hard for the right to be taken seriously, mainly because of silly stage shows that can frighten some people and for them to take it far less seriously.
Clients come for hypnotherapy because it deals with neuroses, and should not be offered as a one off session. Some of the discount voucher companies now say that three or four sessions are required to make significant changes, so therefore, buying a discount voucher will only give you a cheap first session, and then you have to pay full price. I know someone who got a lot of clients from the vouchers, but then not one booked another appointment. This gives hypnotherapy a bad name when most of us are doing our best to give it the reputation it deserves.
The therapist buying into vouchers also has to give the company up to 50% of what they earn, so it is not good for them either.
I am most disappointed that these companies take on hypnotherapy, and hope it ends soon before too much damage is done. I am not saying that you get a bad deal if you take up a voucher offer, but think carefully before you look for cheap therapy as it could be that it is false economy eventually.
Most good therapists build up their client practice the hard way, talking to as many people as possible, giving talks, joining breakfast clubs etc etc, and more naturally, with referrals from satisfied clients and GPs.
Yes it can be difficult starting out or even finding clients in a recession. I even put my prices up during the recession, as I like to think I am worth it, and it has made no difference to clients who know I may be the best person to help them with all the experience I have.
If you are looking for a therapist, think carefully before you decide who may be best for you. Ask questions about the therapist. Vouchers are mostly used for hotels and restaurants that are not busy, and you take that into account. Jamie Oliver is booked up most of the time so he does not have to have deals such as vouchers from companies as his food speaks for itself. Keep this in mind when contemplating therapy or if you are about to start a practice. Well known therapists do not, or should not, resort to these kind of promotions, or if they do, maybe they need to re-train or think about other ways of attracting clients.
If you agree or disagree, let me know. I welcome being challenged on my own assumptions. Who knows, I may be wrong!
My own take on it, and it may appear controversial, is that it cheapens the profession.
Hypnosis has had to fight long and hard for the right to be taken seriously, mainly because of silly stage shows that can frighten some people and for them to take it far less seriously.
Clients come for hypnotherapy because it deals with neuroses, and should not be offered as a one off session. Some of the discount voucher companies now say that three or four sessions are required to make significant changes, so therefore, buying a discount voucher will only give you a cheap first session, and then you have to pay full price. I know someone who got a lot of clients from the vouchers, but then not one booked another appointment. This gives hypnotherapy a bad name when most of us are doing our best to give it the reputation it deserves.
The therapist buying into vouchers also has to give the company up to 50% of what they earn, so it is not good for them either.
I am most disappointed that these companies take on hypnotherapy, and hope it ends soon before too much damage is done. I am not saying that you get a bad deal if you take up a voucher offer, but think carefully before you look for cheap therapy as it could be that it is false economy eventually.
Most good therapists build up their client practice the hard way, talking to as many people as possible, giving talks, joining breakfast clubs etc etc, and more naturally, with referrals from satisfied clients and GPs.
Yes it can be difficult starting out or even finding clients in a recession. I even put my prices up during the recession, as I like to think I am worth it, and it has made no difference to clients who know I may be the best person to help them with all the experience I have.
If you are looking for a therapist, think carefully before you decide who may be best for you. Ask questions about the therapist. Vouchers are mostly used for hotels and restaurants that are not busy, and you take that into account. Jamie Oliver is booked up most of the time so he does not have to have deals such as vouchers from companies as his food speaks for itself. Keep this in mind when contemplating therapy or if you are about to start a practice. Well known therapists do not, or should not, resort to these kind of promotions, or if they do, maybe they need to re-train or think about other ways of attracting clients.
If you agree or disagree, let me know. I welcome being challenged on my own assumptions. Who knows, I may be wrong!
Thursday, 25 October 2012
Is smoking an addiction?
I have never been truly convinced that all smokers only need one session of hypnosis to stop completely. I know that for some it is true, but for many they need support during those first few weeks of stopping. If it truly an addiction and I believe it is, then how come people with drug and alcohol, and all the other compulsions out there need much more help?
I have been working with smokers, and clients who have other addictions for many years now, and support is what is most important to them.
That's why I offer two sessions and a guarantee, because it instills confidence with clients. They know they can return for free therapy if they slip or just need a session to boost their confidence.
It is a major decision when you do decide to stop smoking, but it can mean freedom for you once you have made the decision to stop any addiction for good
I have been working with smokers, and clients who have other addictions for many years now, and support is what is most important to them.
That's why I offer two sessions and a guarantee, because it instills confidence with clients. They know they can return for free therapy if they slip or just need a session to boost their confidence.
It is a major decision when you do decide to stop smoking, but it can mean freedom for you once you have made the decision to stop any addiction for good
Friday, 19 October 2012
Past Life Regression
Someone was asking me the other day what it really means. Some people think it is about our own life in the past, and others think it is about a life we may have led before this life.
Some people believe we have been around before because they have an affinity with a certain period of time in the past, and have feelings and some kind of memory they have lived before.
We know that we inherit many of our ancestors traits, so that could account for past memories, but what about people who can recall things from the past, even hundreds of years ago?
Past Life Regression is either something you believe in or not, and for those people who do believe in it, they are curious to explore whether or not they have a life or lives before this one.
What good does it do knowing?
Sometimes it puts things into place of how they have been behaving in life and can make changes accordingly
They feel satisfied with the knowledge that they have lived before
Often they just want to explore the possibility of a past life
Contrary to what many people think, often or not a past life is just an ordinary person going about their life. I have never heard of a past life who was Cleopatra or Nelson!
Sometimes people want to make a decision in life and wonder whether the past life also made a decision.
Whatever the person thinks, if it helps them to come to terms with things in life, or it alters a behaviour that it more beneficial, then it is a good thing for them.
Some people believe we have been around before because they have an affinity with a certain period of time in the past, and have feelings and some kind of memory they have lived before.
We know that we inherit many of our ancestors traits, so that could account for past memories, but what about people who can recall things from the past, even hundreds of years ago?
Past Life Regression is either something you believe in or not, and for those people who do believe in it, they are curious to explore whether or not they have a life or lives before this one.
What good does it do knowing?
Sometimes it puts things into place of how they have been behaving in life and can make changes accordingly
They feel satisfied with the knowledge that they have lived before
Often they just want to explore the possibility of a past life
Contrary to what many people think, often or not a past life is just an ordinary person going about their life. I have never heard of a past life who was Cleopatra or Nelson!
Sometimes people want to make a decision in life and wonder whether the past life also made a decision.
Whatever the person thinks, if it helps them to come to terms with things in life, or it alters a behaviour that it more beneficial, then it is a good thing for them.
Wednesday, 17 October 2012
Have you stopped smoking yet?
Research states that the NHS has helped more people to stop smoking. Soon there could be a ban from smoking in a private car, so many more people will just hold up their hands in despair and say 'I give in'.
It would be interesting to know how the tobacco manufacturers are doing.
So there are some people who can quit with their own will-power.
There are some who have succeeded using patches, drugs or electric cigarettes.
And there are some who have tried all these things and still finding themselves smoking.
After all the campaigns that have been shown to us through TV, posters etc, you would think most smokers would really know it is time to stop, and yet it seems that banning smoking in certain places perhaps has the most effect.
Most smokers don't want to have to stand outside their workplace smoking, especially in the winter, or outside at pubs or clubs and restaurants, and yet they have been banned as anti-social behaviours.
We don't need to tell anyone the dangers; I think most people could be advert fatigued now, just as we can become charity fatigued. In essence, we don't 'see' the adverts anymore, they are just there.
If you have not tried one of the most successful ways of stopping smoking with fewer cravings and withdrawal symptoms, then you may just want to explore hypnotherapy, and let's see if we can programme your mind to say no to smoking, and yes to health.
It would be interesting to know how the tobacco manufacturers are doing.
So there are some people who can quit with their own will-power.
There are some who have succeeded using patches, drugs or electric cigarettes.
And there are some who have tried all these things and still finding themselves smoking.
After all the campaigns that have been shown to us through TV, posters etc, you would think most smokers would really know it is time to stop, and yet it seems that banning smoking in certain places perhaps has the most effect.
Most smokers don't want to have to stand outside their workplace smoking, especially in the winter, or outside at pubs or clubs and restaurants, and yet they have been banned as anti-social behaviours.
We don't need to tell anyone the dangers; I think most people could be advert fatigued now, just as we can become charity fatigued. In essence, we don't 'see' the adverts anymore, they are just there.
If you have not tried one of the most successful ways of stopping smoking with fewer cravings and withdrawal symptoms, then you may just want to explore hypnotherapy, and let's see if we can programme your mind to say no to smoking, and yes to health.
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