Frequently Asked Questions

According to the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA), they say:

“Psychotherapy and Counselling are professional activities that utilise an interpersonal relationship to enable people to develop self understanding and to make changes in their lives.”

They are based on an interpersonal relationship between the client and the counsellor which helps them develop a better understanding about themselves and then solve their problems.

A counsellor is a trained professional that can help solve your personal problems.

Professional counsellors and psychotherapists help individuals explore and resolve issues that are interpersonal, intrapsychic or personal in nature. They do so within the boundaries of a clearly drafted and principled relationship.

Professionals in the field are explicitly contracted and offered in-depth training to use various techniques and therapeutic interventions.

There is a stigma and fear associated with mental health troubles makes early diagnosis an accompanying dilemma. 65% of Australians do not seek treatment and this can be a big burden on the society if these individuals with mental health problems are not addressed.

Mental health problems can have a grave impact on the way you live your life. They can have an effect on your thoughts, actions or emotions. They can start interfering with your daily activities whether at school, work or involving relationships.

1. Seek a professional with registrations/recognition.

It is essential that you believe that your therapist is on your side and that you don’t have to worry about his or her evaluation of you.

Kerry offers a complimentary chat to ensure you feel comfortable with her service. BOOK HERE

2. Ensure you are comfortable with your therapist.

If you are uncomfortable find another therapist. Not all therapists can solve every persons problems. Therapists are available to assist you with your goals and healing.

3. Employ a therapist that can set you up with goals. The last thing you want is to see a therapist for year that have an unchanging effect.

Nothing is permanent, especially problems, and besides who needs a pessimistic therapist? Hope and commitment is critical to the change process.

Absolutely! Kerry is trained in multiple modalities and you can choose what type of therapy you would like to recieve. Counselling is great for talking out an issue and hypnosis is great for changing deep rooted problems that have become habitual. EG: Smoking, Worry, Fears and Phobias.

Hypnosis is not sleep. Although the term hypnosis is derived from the Greek word for sleep, as a clinical experience, hypnosis is simply a state of relaxation and focused concentration. Hypnosis feels a lot like daydreaming, or simply relaxing for a few minutes in your favourite chair after a busy day at work.

This is one of the most common questions about hypnosis. There is so much research to demonstrate the efficacy of hypnosis that it is impossible to list it all here. Research backs hypnosis as a treatment for physical problems such as pain management, IBS and other gastrointestinal difficulties, as well as a demonstrated effective tool to assist with accomplishing personal goals (i.e. test-taking, sports performance enhancement, confidence and self-esteem building, getting over stage fright and public speaking fears), and habit change (quit smoking, lose weight, stop nail biting, etc), and to help us relax (manage stress, overcome fears), as well as to increase intimacy, improve communication, and manage emotions such as anger, depression or anxiety.

This is another popular question about hypnosis. There are three primary reasons hypnosis is so effective:

First, hypnosis teaches you skills to become aware of your body’s physical response to stimuli, so you can handle it. In a way, it is similar to biofeedback.

Second, hypnosis is a pathway to learning. Our subconscious mind has probably learned many negative behaviors over the years that can be re-learned during hypnosis. For example, after 20 years of smoking you have essentially trained yourself to light up after each meal. Or, when eating dinner out, you have been trained to eat all of your food, even though the portions are double the dietary guidelines. These destructive learning patterns can be relearned (healthy retraining of the subconscious) in the process of hypnosis.

Third, our hypnosis programs create accountability and help you to attain goals and feel supported in your decisions for change. Our well-qualified director is a skilled therapist, personal fitness trainer and certified clinical hypnotherapist.

There are many other reasons hypnosis is so effective, and you will find your visit to be a professional learning experience that teaches you new skills to unlock new ways to live life.

Since hypnosis is simply a process of natural experience and learning, everyone can be hypnotized. It is a myth that some people cannot be hypnotized; everyone has the capacity to relax, to learn and to be creative.

If for some reason you are distracted or have concerns that keep you from using these skills, simply let your hypnotherapist know and they will be happy to guide you into a process of hypnosis that is more comfortable or secure for you.

Of course, mood altering drugs can affect your mind’s ability to follow directions, relax or experience hypnosis. For this reason, you should never use any mood altering drugs prior to any hypnosis session, and you should report any medications you are currently taking to your hypnotherapist.

No. All hypnosis is actually self-hypnosis; a hypnotist merely guides you into your own experience of relaxation.

A good analogy is that of the hypnotist sitting in the passenger seat of a car, reading map directions to the driver (the client). The driver can listen and follow the suggestions given by the passenger, or they can choose to go their own way, because the driver is always in control.

A person who is hypnotized can awaken themselves at any time, and the hypnotist cannot make someone do something that they otherwise would not want to do.

Those who fear that the hypnotist has some kind of “magical” power or “mind control” ability simply do not understand how the mind works. If we had the powers of “mind control” we would be working for a secret society that nobody would ever know about.

No. As much as Hollywood Movies promote this it is simply not true. Think about it logically for a moment. If you revealed secrets under hypnosis then why are their so many unsolved murder cases? Unsolved mysteries? It doesn’t make any sense!