Hypnotherapy

I have been using Hypnotherapy since 1994 to help people change habits and behaviours, resolve persistent and painful problems, let go of fears or phobias, or offer support with mind and body issues like pain or illness or recovery.

A treatment program usually consists of between one and three sessions, depending on the issue. We will discuss your needs and individual circumstances in the first session and agree on a program that will suit you. Sessions are a mix of hypnosis and counselling and are always different for each individual as they are designed specifically to help you, taking into account your personality, your needs, your wishes as well as addressing the issue.

Below I will answer some of the questions I am often asked.

What would a typical treatment program involve ?

It depends on the issue. Here are some examples:

The Quit Smoking programs I conduct for most people involve 2-3 sessions. There are two sessions spaced approximately one week apart, and because quit smoking involves behavioral changes, or a change of habits, a third session 2-3 weeks down the track is highly recommended. Some people quit after just one session, others need more and some quit gradually with several attempts, in any case, the main thing is that they get there and when they choose hypnosis to help them they have a greater chance of succeeding. As pointed out elsewhere - hypnosis has been found to be the most successful method for quit smoking out of more than 10 methods compared in a meta-analysis involving 70.000 people.

Weight Loss programs usually require a treatment of three sessions spaced over one month because they too involve behavioral changes, or a change of habits - a fourth session or a couple of short 'top-up' sessions in the months following the treatment program can be very beneficial.

I have helped many clients with fears, phobias, stress, low confidence etc in just one or two hypnotherapy session.

Pain relief and physical illnesses need to be dealt with on a case by case basis. For example: work to support and strenghten the body and the immune system during illness or during chemotherapy can be done weekly or fortnightly for a specific period of time. Pain relief can be handled similarly. In those cases you would also be taught how to apply self-hypnosis.

As people have different life styles I am trying to be flexible when it comes to agreeing on the treatment program. If due to time contraints, personal choice or family commitments you prefer to have shorter but more frequent appointments over a greater period of time we may be able to arrange that. Please mention your individual requirements when we agree on a treatment program.

If you are here on vacation for a short time you may find that just one hypnotherapy session can shift things and get you back on track. Especially if you then do some follow-up with a practitioner back home (I may be able to recommend someone).

What does a typical session cost ?

The first appointment is usually an extended session, it includes the assessment interview and goes for between 1.5 - 2 hrs, the cost of an extended session is $95.

Subsequent sessions are usually standard sessions of between 1 - 1.5 hrs duration, the cost of a standard session is $75.

There are shorter 'top-up' sessions available costing $50, if taken within six months of your last appointment.

Can I get a Health Fund rebate ?

Many Health Funds now pay for Hypnotherapy treatments if the therapist is a clinical member of a recognised body, such as the Australian Hypnotherapists Association (AHA). Check with your health fund - you may be covered for hypnotherapy. Several major Health Funds (such as Medibank Private and MBF) have recently changed their policies to include rebates for hypnotherapy by accredited practitioners. Others such as Teachers' Health or the NRMA have been offering these rebates for some time. I think the reasons for the recent changes are that a) health funds now recognise the high standard of those accredited hypnotherapists, b) more and more research is proving the efficacy of hypnotherapy, c) there is now an increased need and awareness of those healing modalities which provide preventative measures, treat the whole person, and have no or minimal side effects.

How qualified are you ?

I am an accredited clinical member of the Australian Hypnotherapists Association (AHA), the Australian Traditional Medicine Society (ATMS) and in addition I am on the register of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA). In order to be registered or accredited a practitioner has to be highly qualified and experienced, has to fulfill very strict assessment criteria and has to maintain this standard in order to receive annual accreditation or registration.

Is there something you do not treat ?

Just like other health professionals hypnotherapists do tend to specialise in certain areas of expertise.

I do not treat children as I have specialised in treating adults - I could recommend other hypnotherapists in the area if you wish to treat a child or young teen. Children respond extremely well to hypnotherapy.

I prefer to refer clients who use drugs such as cannabis, amphetamines etc to other hypnotherapists or therapists who specialise in this field, one of them is listed below.

Jenni Skewes: http://www.courageouslifechanges.com

A meta-analysis published in the New Scientist Oct 1992, where 600 studies were compared covering about 71000 people, showed that hypnosis was the best method to quit out of 15 methods that were compared.
look at www.newscientist.com for this study

A study headlined " Hypnotherapy Outperforms Other Treatment Approaches for Smoking Cessation" was released in October 2007 by the American College of Chest Physicians. It showed that of hospitalized smokers who received hypnotherapy 50% were still smoke free after 6 months.

2. Physical conditions and chronic illnesses can also respond well to hypnosis and healing can sometimes be greatly enhanced and accelerated. But even if full recovery is not possible, symptoms can often be greatly relieved. Hypnotherapy can support the body to heal itself (as intended by nature), can improve wellbeing and quality of life, and can complement or accompany orthodox medical treatments (without having to choose between the two). I advocate using the best of both worlds: a) follow the recommended treatment by your doctor AND b) support your body's natural ability to heal, strengthen your immune system, reduce pain with the help of hypnotherapy.

3. Performance
There is hardly a top athlete these days who does not use Mind over Matter techniques. It doesn't matter whether it is called Visualisation, or Meditation, or Motivation, or Self Hypnosis - the results usually speak for themselves.

BACK TO
HOME PAGE

The Process

Let me explain what you can expect to happen when you have your hypnosis sessions with me.

The Treatment Program:
Most treatment programs involve three sessions spaced over one month. This is especially important when dealing with quit smoking, alcohol or any other addictions, weight loss, habit and behavior change.

In the first session we discuss your needs and issues in detail and we agree on a treatment program before we proceed with the hypnosis and/or the counselling part. Sessions are not based on a strict time limit, however, first sessions are usually 1.5 to 2 hours long. 
Session two is usually one week later. There the hypnosis builds on what happened in session one, it reinforces and finetunes the changes that have already occurred and also offers you effective support during the initial phase of greater change. Session two is usually 1 to 1.5 hours long.
Session three is 2 - 3 weeks later and reinforces and cements the successful changes. There is also a focus on taking full charge of your life, empowering yourself for the future and living the life you want to live.
Short top-up or follow-up sessions are also available, as long as they are taken within a reasonable time frame (ie within six months) after conclusion of the treatment program and are related to the original issue you came to see me about.

The How:
To help you into the hypnotic state I use breathing and relaxation exercises. There are no gimmicks or weird experiences or magic wands, hypnosis will feel quite normal to you. It is a slightly altered state of awareness where your thinking or analytical mind takes a back seat for a while and that allows your other attributes or the other layers of your Self to come forward. To illustrate what I mean - think about when you last drove your car and you got to your destination not remembering much of the journey. People slip into altered states of awareness quite easily and often without trying. In the hypnotherapy session I assist you to get into this state deliberately and we control the duration and what we do in that time. It is not like sleep and you will remember everything, you also remain in control because your conscious mind is still watching everything, even if it's not 'in charge' it's still present. You could simply stop the session if you didn't like something that was happening. Hypnosis helps the mind to enter a particularly relaxed or perceptive mode, but you remain in control. People often worry about stage hypnosis, it is entertainment and it is NOT hypnotherapy. People who participate in stage hypnosis have volunteered to go along with all the hocus pocus there, if they really didn't want to do those silly things in front of an audience no one could make them do it.

A small percentage of people cannot be hypnotised and not all hypnotic sessions are successful.  Hypnosis is not a magic wand or cure all, some things need to be dealt with by other professionals or by a doctor (I will refer you in that case).

Hypnosis can support other orthodox treatments by doctors, psychologists and by other natural health practitioners such as naturopaths. It can help you stick to a certain diet (as for diabetics for example), to find the motivation to exercise or to follow a prescribed treatment. It can help with effective pain control, reduce discomfort and assist other treatments in many ways. Even better - applied properly and by a qualified practitioner it has no unwanted side effects.

There is nothing new age or 'new' about Hypnosis (many dentists, doctors and psychologists use it regularly) and used responsibly and as a tool for change or healing it can be highly effective. Doctors often suggest to patients to quit smoking or to lose weight. They could refer patients to a hypnotherapist because hypnosis was found to be the most effectice method for smoking cessation out of 15 different methods that were compared in a meta analysis and written up in New Scientist.

I personally welcome clients who ask a lot of questions before making a booking. I probably could not help a person who doesn't relate to me at all and could not relax as a result of it. Thankfully this is very rare. I have specialised over time in certain areas and will refer you to another hypnotherapist (at no charge of course) if I do not treat your issue.

About Me:
I believe in the person and not in their qualifications.  However, it's OK to check this out.  For information only:  I've completed undergraduate university studies in Psychology in 1988 and my Diploma in Hypnotherapy in 1994.  Since then I've undertaken further study in Reiki, Thought Field Therapy, Prime Tuning and Muscle Testing, Energy and Chakra cleansing, Group Training, Mediation and Grievance Counselling, Ericksonian Communication, Sports Hypnosis. There's been plenty more -  would have to go through my filing cabinet.
My experience stretches across many boundaries, several years as conflict resolution manager and grievance counsellor for the NSW Public Service. Several years as staff trainer, mediator and change agent. I've been a Hypnotherapist since 1994 and am fully accredited with the AHA (Australian Hypnotherapists' Association) and the ATMS (Australian Traditional Medicine Society). I am on the Register of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA).

If you are interested in a session contact me on 02 66 875239 or send an email to hypno@kopping.com

Sometimes I can see you at short notice. So if you are here on holidays - give me a call. You'll be amazed what you can achieve and change in just one hypnosis session. If you do require follow up treatment when you return home I can probably recommend a hypnotherapist near you.

I am often asked if I do Past Life Therapy or Spiritual Healing (Spirit Journeys).

Yes - I do.

Hypnosis is the tool I use it to guide my clients through specific processes which allow them to access past life memories or the spirit realm.

During journeys into the spirit realm, or Spirit Journeys, people experience their pure spirit state and remember themselves as the immortal souls they are. They can access their innate wisdom and can put their human lives and everything in it into a broader perspective. As I gently guide them through this experience, people often report meeting spirit guides, angels or deceased loved ones who provide comfort, assistance or clarification. Some people discover their life’s purpose during these sessions, or they gain clarity and inner peace. Some are shown the lessons they are meant to learn. I keep notes or record these sessions, but people generally remember everything after they come out of hypnosis. A CD of the session can be sent in the mail for an extra fee.

During past life regressions clients usually experience themselves in a different body, incarnate at a different point in time. Valuable lessons can be learned from observing their previous Selves dealing with a variety of situations, some good, some bad, some mundane, some enthralling. Healing can happen as people understand for the first time why they do what they do in this lifetime.

The journey of discovery and the gaining of awareness are wonderful and valuable things, but in addition I often guide clients through processes which allow healing to happen, so clients can move on in their lives. I keep notes or record these sessions, but people generally remember everything after they come out of hypnosis. A CD of the session can be sent in the mail for an extra fee.

For more detailed information on Spirit Journeys and Past Life Regression go to the relevant webpage by clicking here

BACK TO
HOME PAGE