Find a Hypnotherapist in Belfast

My background is in the NHS where I have worked since 2004. This has allowed me to gain expertise in a wide range of conditions and treatment options in a variety of settings working my way up to Senior Management from 2017. Whilst I am passionate about the NHS I do feel somewhat frustrated by its constraints. For example, the length of wait lists generally means that only those that have deteriorated to the point of needing emergency care can access services. Where does this leave the functioning population or “worried well” that are still trying their hardest to go about their business but are very much “suffering” in their right. It is this population that I generally work with in order to prevent the further deterioration. And yes, there are some excellent voluntary sector organisations that can assist with mental health however their focus is generally non-specific. Their work is also usually very time specific, usually 4-6 sessions which is generally quite short in duration depending on the issues arising. Whilst the NHS does deliver excellence when it comes to therapies such as CBT and DBT it is not forward thinking when it comes to the growing evidence base for other therapies such as family therapy, hypnotherapy, neurolinguistic programming, emotional freedom technique, havening, EMDR, and in general any therapy that works with the subconscious mind. We know from Freuds work that the unconscious mind can have a very big influence on behaviour and up to 40% of our daily activities are habitual so why, in the NHS, do we only work with the conscious mind? I believe in a much more holistic approach and the more tools you have the better you can work with the WHOLE person. For this reason I tend to advise against generic counsellors also. I very much work with a bio-psycho-social approach. All three areas generally need to be improved upon in order that we may be able to work to our best ability. Within bio I can assess and review any potential need for psychotropic medication and advise your GP accordingly. However bio does not just pertain to medication – there are many other ways to bring our hormone levels back in line and these include a focus on nutrition, movement and stress management. Within psycho we are working to improve thought processes and emotional regulation which will generally be addressed through skilled based talking therapy – again addressing both the conscious and unconscious mind. And finally we address social needs and will focus on improving relationships at home and within your community. So what clinical skills and therapies can I offer? In terms of working with the conscious mind I have highly evidenced based CBT and DBT skills that I have acquired over the years as well as experience and a teaching qualification in Behaviour Family Therapy. Years of working in a crisis setting has allowed me to develop my skills in working with those experiencing thoughts of suicide or have made an attempt on their life through the STORM model. Motivational Interviewing is another model I like to use when working for change, especially when considering the here and now with clients struggling with addiction. Recovery based work such as “WRAP” has also been a significant focus of my work completed within the NHS. Remaining with the conscious mind I have several coaching qualifications gained through both the NHS and also privately from the Life Practice Academy. When considering coaching my expertise to date has focused on Leadership (to include QI and change), Health and Lifestyle. My Leadership Coaching has lead to my teams winning two significant awards - a national Burdett Award and the Chairmans Award within the South Eastern Trust. Considering the unconscious mind I have undertaken Practitioner Training and completed qualifications in Hypnotherapy, Neurolinguistic Programming and Emotional Freedom Technique. These skills are so powerful and I really enjoy watching the impact they have on someone’s ability to thrive.