True Health Clinics is the longest-established clinic in Godmanchester, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire managed by practitioners with world-renowned reputations.
4.9 out of 5 stars based on 956 reviews received between 2012 and 2020
Treatment where a therapist helps you to enter a trance-like state when your mind is receptive to positive suggestions.
When you are in a state of hypnosis you will be in a very comfortable and pleasant state of relaxation. Your breathing and heartbeat rhythms slow down. At the same time your brain produces more Alpha waves. Alpha waves are the brain waves that are associated with quiet and receptive states.
When in a hypnotic state, the subconscious part of your mind becomes open and receptive to original positive ideas and suggestions, and your mind can develop better ways of thinking.
The thoughts in your mind will become freer from the limitations of your conscious analytical mind. Thereby, self-limiting thinking, emotional feelings or inappropriate or self-destructive behaviours can be made healthier. The deeper the hypnotic state that you go into, the more concentrated and focused your mind will become.
It is quite common to go into a hypnotic trance-like state without realising it. For example, day dreaming, becoming ‘lost’ and fully engrossed in a book, film or music. If you’ve gone on a journey and can’t quite remember how you got there, then you’ve been in a mild hypnotic trance-like state.
Hypnotherapy is very safe. A recent review study assessed the safety of hypnotherapy in patients with:
• Back pain
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Over-reactive bladder
• Hot flashes during menopause
• And in patients undergoing ovarian cancer treatment.
This research found that directly attributable to hypnotherapy risks were:
• Severe adverse effects- 0%
• Mild adverse effects- 0.47%
Mild side-effects can include drowsiness, dizziness, and patients with a history of anxiety-related disorders may experience temporary aggravation of their symptoms.
If hypnotherapy is not appropriately used, there may be a cause for concern. It could happen if the person providing the hypnotherapy, due to their limited medical knowledge, has not taken an adequate medical history. This could result in missing an underlying medical problem that requires some other form of care from a doctor or other health care professional.
Alan Szmelskyj, our Hypnotherapist, is registered with The British Society for Clinical and Academic Hypnosis (BSCAH). This organisation only provides hypnosis training to members of statutorily regulated healthcare professions such as doctors, dentists, psychologists, osteopaths, physiotherapists and chiropractors.
No, when you are in hypnosis, you cannot be made to do anything that you would not ordinarily do that would be against your will or better judgment or that would conflict with your inner beliefs and values.
You don't need to be referred to have hypnotherapy. However, if you have medical insurance cover, please check with your insurance provider if you need to be referred.
This depends on factors such as your age, symptoms severity, how long you've had the condition for, other health issues and underlying causes.
In acute cases, even one or two treatments can result in some improvements.
Chronic or long-term conditions may require 5 to 6 sessions before changes are noticed. A course of treatment (10 to 12 sessions) may be required to achieve the best response and reduce the risk of condition recurring.
We review progress ongoingly and, if a patient is not responding, we may recommend an alternative course of action or, if appropriate, refer to another medical professionals.
Well... we run late on occasion. Usually, it's because one of our patients needed a little more time. If one day you require a slightly longer appointment, we will do the same for you.
Yes, we get asked this a lot!
No, you don't need to shave. Get 30 minutes more sleep on us instead :-)
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Szmelskyj, AO. (2018). Hypnosis for managing low back pain: Moving back for the future. In Jensen MP (Ed.), Hypnotic techniques for chronic pain management: Favourite methods of master clinicians (Voices of Experience). Denny Creek Press. ISBN-13: 978-1946832085
Szmelskyj AO. (2018). Nuancing weight management using future focused hypnosis: British Medical Journal 2018;361:k2538 https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k2538
August 2017 Speaker at XIV European Society of Hypnosis Congress. Hilton Deansgate Hotel Manchester, UK. Topic “Improving The Efficacy Of Clinical Hypnosis For the Management Of Non-Specific Low Back Pain and Dysfunction”
February 2008 Poster presentation. Advancing Osteopathy 2008 conference. The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Westminster, London. Topic “Stress and palliative stress management in fibromyalgia” https://bit.ly/2uILPZA
Szmelskyj, AO. (1998). Do complementary therapies stimulate the body’s natural painkilling medications? A literature review. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 6(1): 36-41 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0965-2299(98)80055-1
Szmelskyj AO. (1997). Psychosocial and hypnotic theories of osteopathy and therapeutic applications. Journal of Osteopathic Education and Clinical Practice. 7(1): 32–40 Full text
April 1994 Speaker at 9th Annual Residential Conference. International Association of Hypno- Analysts, Coventry Hill Hotel, Coventry. Topic “Osteopathy and hypnosis. Where do they overlap?"
Our Hypnotherapist Alan Szmelskyj's chapter Hypnosis for Managing Low Back Pain: Moving Back for the Future was published alongside other eminent world experts in the treatment of pain in the book edited by Professor Mark Jensen 'Hypnotic Techniques for Chronic Pain Management- Favourite Methods of Master Clinicians' (ISBN-13: 978-1946832085).
“The authors who have contributed chapters to this volume represent the most experienced and knowledgeable clinicians working in this field thought the world today”
Professor Mark P. Jensen
"I was so impressed with the thorough and professional treatment I received today. It was far more in depth than I was expected and I was extremely impressed with Alan's honest approach. It's clear this is his calling rather than just a 'job' and his main aim is obviously to help people as apposed to just making money off them. I found my consultation both beneficial and educational and now feel I have the knowledge and tools to help prevent future back problems rather than just a quick fix! The receptionist was extremely friendly and welcoming and all the staff put me at total ease. I would highly recommend your practise to others. Thank you :-)"
"What an absolutely fantastic clinic and service. Thank you ever so much, Alan, for your help. I am feeling so much better after just one treatment. The whole service is very professional, friendly and customer-focused. I can't praise you guys enough, I received an exceptional service all round, starting with a lovely and welcoming lady at the reception, to the thorough assessment and then treatment from Alan. Couldn't believe that one treatment could make so much difference, but it did. A few more and I will be as good as new!"
"My daughter was very apprehensive about coming to the appointment and really didn't want to come to the appointment. However, I could see the result straight away as soon as she came out of her hypnotic state that it had had a positive result. ••••• was relaxed, her body language was positive and the results have been noticeable last night and this morning. When I asked ••••• would she and when would she liked to come back for her next appointment with Alan, ••••• asked to come back the next day. That to me speaks volumes.
Unsure if we can treat your condition? Unclear which therapy is right for you?
Book a 15 minutes free consultation with one of our practitioners to discuss how we can help you.