In Hypnotherapy, you assert that true healing is awakened through a mind-body connection when the subconscious is approached with care. Why was this an important book for you to write?

As a therapist with over 40 years of experience in various healing modalities, including my time in mainstream medicine as a nurse and midwife, I chose to transition into counselling to gain more skills to assist my patients through difficult times. The insight I learned from counselling was that our thoughts changed everything. In the words of Henry Ford, “Believe you can – you’re right,” Believe you can’t, you’re right.” This led me to become a clinical hypnotherapist, and this literally changed my world. Throughout my journey, I discovered that we possess immense potential to create our own healing, rather than relying solely on external forces such as the medical profession and pharmaceutical companies. The advancements in science today, particularly in neuroscience, epigenetics, neuroplasticity, and bioplasticity, provide compelling evidence that change is not only possible but very achievable. As an educator and supervisor of clinical hypnotherapists and counsellors, I am passionate about inspiring fellow therapists in their methodologies and knowledge. Additionally, I strive to educate the public on the possibilities that exist, empowering individuals to seek and attain solutions that may have previously seemed unattainable.

Extraordinary transformations can occur when one believes in their potential for healing. This was the main reason for writing this book: to advance the awareness of Clinical Hypnotherapy as an evidence-informed practice. Also, as the president of the Australian Hypnotherapists Association, my aim is to make hypnotherapy more accessible, better understood, and more widely available to those who truly need it, and I believe well-founded evidence informed literature and education is the key.

The repetition throughout the book creates a calming rhythm, almost mirroring therapeutic reinforcement. Was that stylistic choice conscious?

Yes, the conscious repetition throughout the book was both a deliberate choice and a necessity, as it reflects the structured nature of change. Often, this structure remains consistent regardless of the presenting symptoms. As I discuss in the book, stress is heavily embedded in many of the issues we encounter in clinical practice. Therefore, managing stress and redirecting our focus can significantly benefit healing and help our physiology return to a normal baseline. Repetition is essential for facilitating change, particularly from a neurological perspective. Just as habits are formed through repetition, so too is healing. When we cultivate different thoughts and focus on new perspectives, we can achieve different outcomes. This process requires us to consistently interrupt old habits and patterns until they no longer manifest in our lives. This is the fundamental nature of change, both neurologically and physiologically.

Do you think modern culture tends to underestimate how deeply stress patterns shape the body?

I believe modern culture has historically underestimated how profoundly stress patterns shape the body. In the past, many of us wore multitasking and busyness like a badge of honour. We often thought we could maintain this pace indefinitely, and often did for a while, because the body is incredibly resilient and can compensate for quite some time. However, there comes a point when it simply can’t anymore, leading to issues in every system of the body, as stress can affect all of them.

The need to manage stress therefore, is crucial, and the research evidence supporting this is more robust than ever. We now have access to technologies that clearly demonstrate the impact of stress on the body, including the brain and various organs. In our fast-paced world, this is something we must not ignore if we wish to live a long and healthy life.

One of the core focuses in my work with clients is emphasising self-care. It’s essential to carve out time to step away from the busyness of life. This doesn’t mean solely engaging in distractions like watching Netflix; rather, it involves taking the time to breathe deeply, or similar practices that calm the nervous system and create a reset. Self-hypnosis is one such practice.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from Hypnotherapy?

One key takeaway I hope readers gain from the book is that hypnotherapy is a powerful healing modality when practiced by trained professionals in a therapeutic setting.

It’s important to understand that hypnotherapy is not something done to you; rather, it is a process you voluntarily enter into and actively participate in.

The potential achievements through hypnotherapy, which I hope are clearly illustrated in the book, depend significantly on the engagement and commitment of the individual receiving the therapy.

My primary motivation for writing this book was to demonstrate that hypnotherapy is a neuro-informed, evidence-based practice that often yields results where other conscious therapies may fall short.

It has the unique ability to access the deeper parts of the mind, where many of our issues are stored, areas that are not governed by logic. Consequently, traditional logical therapies may struggle to address the root causes of problems. In contrast, hypnotherapy can bypass the critical conscious mind, enabling individuals, through the changes that occur in the brain during hypnosis, to view their experiences from a new perspective. This allows for re-evaluation and reframing, empowering them to leave the past behind and look forward to new beginnings.

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