Speaking

Clubs & Events

As well as working one-to-one with clients I am also an experienced public speaker, passionate about mental well-being and keen to share knowledge of this powerful and effective therapy with any interested audience. I offer talks for a range of occasions and audiences, including WI meetings, health groups, clubs, gyms or interest groups.

During every talk I aim to give useful tips and techniques for achieving a happy and mentally healthy life that can be adopted by all.

As children we are taught how to look after our physical being (eat your greens, wrap up warm etc….)  but often how to ensure mental well-being is left to chance.  The means of looking after the mind are equally well defined and can certainly be learned. 

The below gives a snapshot of some of the general and specific topics that I cover.  These are adapted and added to over time so please check back to see what’s new, or if you have a particular interest that isn’t covered here please get in touch.

Each session is around 1 – 1¼ hours in length but can be tailored to be longer or shorter to suit. Please contact me for availability and costs. 

Hypnotherapy – Debunking the Myths

Hypnotherapy is still a type of therapy that that many people are cautious of or don’t understand fully. Mention hypnosis and most will immediately think about stage hypnosis where people willingly offer themselves up to entertain the crowds by acting in uncharacteristic and foolish ways.  Clinical Hypnotherapy is a world away from this, using hypnosis – a completely natural state that everyone goes into every day without necessarily knowing it – as a means to access the subconscious mind in a guided and structured way.  This session explores what hypnotherapy is, and what it isn’t.  Learn how this powerful therapy can be used to help you make changes and feel better, and perhaps more importantly why the need to surrender full control of yourself and your mind is nothing more than a show-business myth!    

Resolution Reboot – Changing Unwanted Habits

New Year is the time when we typically make our resolutions about the positive changes we’re going to make during the year.  How does that work for you? Well done if you manage to stick to your resolutions,  but the reality is that it’s so easy to slip and find yourself back where you started – on the couch with a large glass of wine and a takeaway.  This talk takes a fun but informative look into how and why our brains trick us into failing at even the most sensible and well-intentioned resolution. And perhaps more importantly what you can do to fight back! Find out how to make a positive change – at any time not just at New Year.

A Change Is As Good As A Rest – Or Is It?

A well known saying that when applied to a break from the stresses and strains of everyday life is almost certainly true.  But what about the changes that are thrust upon us – a bereavement, a redundancy, an illness?  Or even life events that are perceived as positive – becoming a parent or starting a new relationship?  What this phrase doesn’t show is the small print – the terms and conditions that acknowledge that ANY change, big or small, can trigger feelings of stress and anxiety. Many gains, even good ones, come hand in hand with a loss (youth, innocence, independence, routine), in some cases leading to an unexpected “grieving” process which can be hard to understand.  This session explores the reasons behind the feelings and outlines some effective coping strategies to build resilience and speed up the adjustment back to a healthy and happy life.

Better Sleep – The Best Medicine of All     

There’s no doubt, we all function far better after a good night’s sleep and the links between healthy sleep patterns and mental health are well documented.  Problems with sleep can have their roots in many different causes, and if left unchecked can rapidly become debilitating.  The cycle can be difficult to break – poor sleep leads to worrying and worrying can make good quality sleep even more elusive.  For anyone who suffers from poor sleep, whether as a long term issue or a periodic annoyance, this session take a look at underlying issues affecting sleep and gives some positive steps that anyone can take to make healthy and restful sleep a reality again.

Managing Menopause – drug free help for low mood, anxiety, sweats, sleep and other symptoms

Menopause is a fact of life for most women, and the reality is that most women will experience symptoms to a degree, from the merely uncomfortable to a significant impact on quality of life.  For those for whom HRT treatment is unsuitable or unwanted, hypnotherapy offers a recognised* alternative, acting as a “massage for your mind”,  addressing the unconscious mechanisms that can worsen your symptoms and quietening them down.  If the menopause is causing you worry, you’re struggling with hot flashes or sleepless nights, this talk gives an insight into more about WHY Hypnotherapy can be considered as an alternative or additional support to drug therapy and HOW it helps reduce and alleviate symptoms of the menopause.

*NAMS Research 2015

Managing Pain

Chronic pain is a complex condition affecting up to 40% of the UK population*.  Treating any underlying cause is, of course, vitally important, but in instances where this does not resolve the pain, psychological as well as physical health may need to be addressed. While at a fundamental level, persistent pain is a matter of biology, psychological factors are also at play, and can help determine how well you cope with your pain – whether it’s something you can take in your stride, or whether life begins to unravel.  This session looks at the psychology of pain, how your state of mind can affect your perception of pain, and more importantly some practical steps that you can take to manage your pain for a better quality of life.

* British Pain Society Research 2016

I’m Not Myself…..Anymore.

Feeling out of sorts, out of control or just generally out of it without really knowing why?  Sometimes it not an easily identifiable event or circumstance that knocks us off kilter, but more a gradual build up of a raft of smaller issues – and suddenly without us realising it Anxiety can be playing a major role in our lives.  Symptoms of Anxiety can take many different forms, some of them unexpected. Feelings of panic or dread, nausea, stomach churning,  shortness of breath, and dizziness are perhaps some of the better known effects but the list goes on…..chills, sweats, body pain, weak limbs, chronic fatigue…. In so many ways our bodies can be trying to warn us of an underlying anxiety crisis.  We do not always understand our symptoms but if something is affecting how you live your life it is time to take back control. It is your choice so why not learn more about how Hypnotherapy can help you to be yourself again?