Deb is a qualified clinical hypnotherapist as well as a naturopath, and holds an Advanced Diploma in Psychotherapy and Counselling. Because those sit with one practitioner, the mental and physical sides of what you are dealing with can be worked on together rather than split between two people who never speak to each other.
What clinical hypnotherapy is
It is a guided, deeply relaxed state of focused attention. Most people describe it as similar to being absorbed in a book or driving a familiar route without registering the journey. In that state, habits of thought that are usually automatic become easier to notice and work with.
What it is not:
- You are not unconscious or asleep
- You cannot be made to do anything against your values
- You remember the session
- You can stop at any point
- It is not a stage act, and Deb does not work that way
Who it may suit
People come to Deb for hypnotherapy alongside her naturopathic work, most often for:
- Stress patterns that persist even when circumstances improve
- A racing mind at night that will not settle
- Habits that have proved resistant to willpower alone
- Anticipatory worry about specific, identifiable situations
- Difficulty relaxing, in the literal, physical sense
It suits people who are willing to be an active participant. Hypnotherapy is not something done to you while you wait for it to work.
What a session involves
Talking first
Every session starts with a conversation about what you want to work on and what you have already tried. Nothing happens until you understand what is being proposed and agree to it.
The hypnotherapy itself
Deb guides you into a relaxed, focused state using your own imagination and attention. You remain aware throughout. Over telehealth this works much as it does in person, provided you are somewhere quiet and undisturbed, with headphones if you have them.
Afterwards
You come back to ordinary awareness gradually, and there is time to talk about what came up. Many people feel calm or a little dreamy for a short while, so it is worth not booking anything demanding immediately after.
Boundaries and when it is not appropriate
Clinical hypnotherapy is not suitable for everyone, and Deb will tell you if she does not think it is right for you.
- It is not appropriate as a treatment for psychosis, schizophrenia, or severe dissociative conditions
- It is not a substitute for psychological or psychiatric treatment where that is what is needed
- It is not used to recover memories, an area where the evidence does not support the practice
- It is not offered to people under 18
- It is not a crisis service
If you have a diagnosed mental health condition, Deb will ask you to keep your treating practitioner informed, and in some cases will ask you to speak with them before starting.
Common questions
It does, provided you can be somewhere quiet and undisturbed for the session. The work depends on your attention and imagination rather than on physical proximity. Headphones help. A stable connection matters more than a large screen.
No. You stay awake and aware, you remember the session, and you can stop at any point. Hypnotherapy cannot make you act against your own values.
It depends on what you are working on. Deb will give you a realistic view after the first session rather than selling a package upfront. She does not use lock-in packages.
Yes, and that is how Deb most often works. The two are discussed at your initial consultation and combined where it makes sense for what you are dealing with.
Hypnotherapy is not a nationally registered profession in Australia in the way that medicine and psychology are. Deb holds a clinical hypnotherapy qualification and is a member of professional associations. If you are considering hypnotherapy with anyone, it is reasonable to ask what they are qualified in and which associations they belong to.
