How does hypnotherapy and psychotherapy work?
Hypnotherapy used with psychotherapy is an effective way to help a wide range of issues, and I work in a way that utilises both. Each session is specific to you and based around the issues you would like to work on and the support you would like to receive. This means that I adapt my style and approach based on what you present to me and I aim to work in a way that works for you!
I first and foremost focus on building a therapeutic relationship with you, as it is important that you feel heard and understood whilst having the space to explore anything you wish to explore. This is called a person-centred approach and allows you to direct the sessions towards what is coming up for you specifically. I may also work in a goal-oriented way that helps you to implement strategies and achieve your desired goals. This is known as a solution focused approach and works well to improve your confidence and help you to break away from self-doubt so that you can build a picture of how you would like to feel and what you would like more of in your life. I also include psycho-education and neuroscience (brain) education where suitable to help you to understand more about yourself and your interactions with the world around you. We can discuss many things and they may include things like your story and experiences, your perceptions of your life and the world, practical coping strategies and skills, exercises and topics to get you thinking differently or more rationally and any educational information that is of use to you.
I also work using hypnosis and relaxation (they are essentially one and the same) and a small element of this will be featured in most sessions. The time spent in hypnosis may vary from half of the hour to the final 10 minutes, but it is always used in a way that serves you and is useful to your needs and journey. Using guided relaxation in the last 10 minutes of each session helps you to feel calmer, more in control and allows you to process and understand the things that we have discussed that day. A longer form of hypnosis may be used to help you discover more about yourself and your goals or to help you improve things like confidence, setting boundaries and acceptance. Hypnosis (trance) is like being half asleep, still alert and conscious but nice and relaxed. Like those times you were drifting in and out of sleep on the sofa whilst watching television! We also go into trance multiple times a day, when you are driving a familiar route or engrossed in a good book and you hadn’t noticed someone enter the room. It is a natural state to experience and has been known to improve motivation, mental well-being and resilience.
“Being empathetic is seeing the world through the eyes of the other, not seeing your world reflected in their eyes.”
What can I expect?
You can expect to be treated with kindness, professionalism and respect. Each person’s journey with therapy is different and so you may be looking to have long-term or short-term support, both of which I offer. I always aim to check in with you to see how you are feeling about continuing sessions and how we can go about ending the therapy in a way that you are happy and content with. All enquiries are handled with confidentiality and a non-judgemental approach, and you may have many questions! You are free to ask me anything that you wish to and I would be happy to provide some more clarity for you.
The first steps
If you wish to begin working with me and would like me to support you, we would first begin with an initial consultation. This is around 30 minutes long and is an opportunity to discuss the problems you are experiencing, the type of support you wish to receive (what you think might work for you or whether you would like long or short-term support) and it is here that you can ask any questions you may have. Consultations can be held at the Dereham practice or online using Zoom and it is entirely down to your preference and of course, location! If after the initial consultation you are satisfied that it is a good fit for both of us, then we can go ahead and arrange your first session at a date and time that suits you. There may be an occasion where I feel that you would benefit more from receiving support that is more aligned with your needs and goals from an alternative therapist, and should that be the case I would discuss referring you on or providing a recommendation with your permission.
Important Information and FAQ’s
Confidentiality
What you can talk about
It is common for clients to be worried about disclosing information, and may wonder if it is safe to do so. You may be coming to therapy for many reasons and I aim to make it as easy as possible to talk about the things you wish to talk about. Confidentiality is of utmost importance within the therapeutic relationship, however there are specific circumstances where the usual confidentiality cannot or might not apply which I aim to make very clear below. If you have any questions about any of these points please do not hesitate to ask.
Requirements for Disclosure
Having given examples of things that you can discuss with me, it's important that you know that the law forbids our normal confidentiality if:
I become aware of information which I either know or believe might help prevent another person carrying out an act of terrorism, or might help in bringing a terrorist to justice in the UK, or about specified activities related to money and property used to assist terrorist activities.
If I observe physical signs that an act of female genital mutilation may have been carried out on a girl under the age of 18 or I am informed by a girl under the age of 18 that she has undergone an act of female genital mutilation.
The police request information about the driver of a vehicle at the time of an offence it must be disclosed by me as failure to do so would constitute a criminal offence on my part.
I become aware of drug trafficking or money laundering that may be required to be reported under the Drug Trafficking Act 1994, Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 or the Money Laundering Regulations 2007, if this happens, I may seek legal advice as to any statutory duty.
I must disclose information that I am ordered to by a court or by a statutory request for access to personal data made under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
I may break our normal confidentiality if I become aware (or have good reason to suspect) that you have knowledge of:
A past, present or future incident/situation that may be dangerous or harmful to you, another adult or a child and that is not known to the relevant authorities.
Future or past criminal activity that has not been resolved in law. This means any criminal activity, of which the relevant authorities are either unaware or a case they know about which they consider not to be closed (provided you do not present information in therapy which would reasonably re-open the case). This does not include parking or traffic offences unless there is intent, by you or anyone else, to cause danger to yourself or others, or that it is deemed to be a serious offence. In such circumstances, I will work with you to see if we can work together to make appropriate disclosures. For our purposes a serious offence is:
‘Murder, manslaughter, rape, treason, kidnapping, child abuse or other cases where individuals have suffered serious harm or there is serious harm to the security of the state or to public order and crimes that involve substantial financial gain and loss.'
Other than as required by law:
· I may discuss your case with my clinical supervisor and this is to ensure that I am working within your best interests and that I can provide the best therapy I can to you.
· Should I suddenly become unavailable, due to illness, injury or death which would prevent me from being able to contact you, I have an arrangement with another experienced and accredited therapist who will be able to access your contact details and notes so that they will be able to contact you and inform you of the situation and also being responsible for ensuring for facilitating any ongoing care.
· In certain circumstances it may be necessary for me to contact your GP, however I will not give any personal details beyond what we are working on.
Please be aware that in order to preserve your confidentiality, if we see each other outside of the therapy room, I will not acknowledge you, unless you acknowledge me first, this is simply to protect your confidentiality and boundaries.
Privacy Notice
Contact information:
Lauren Clark.
07764535086
Info@beginagainhypnotherapy.co.uk
www.beginagainhypnotherapy.co.uk
I adhere to the code of ethics of NCH (National Council for Hypnotherapy). If you are unhappy with my treatment of you, you may write to them.
I, Lauren Clark am the Data Controller and Processor of Begin Again Hypnotherapy.
Privacy Notice:
The basis on which I keep client data is that of “Legitimate Interests”. This means that the data is necessary for me to fulfil the contract that we have together (i.e. to provide therapy) and that it is data that you would reasonably expect me to hold and use.
The data I hold includes:
· Basic information such as name, email address, phone number
· Information that you give me as part of the work we do together
· Records of what interventions that I use (or potentially do not use) in our sessions
· Emails, texts and/or messages that are sent between us
· Information sent from any third party, e.g. GP
Some of the information that you give me may fall under the definition of special category of data as defined by the General Data Protection Regulation. The condition for processing this special data is “processing is necessary for medical diagnosis, the provision of health care or treatment pursuant to contract with a health professional”. However, data on any criminal offences (including allegations, proceedings and convictions) is even more tightly controlled and so I need your specific consent in order to hold any such information.
Data is not shared with anyone, except possibly your GP and my supervisor to ensure your continued care, and for any reasons covered by the Requirements for Disclosure section below. However, if you were to make a complaint about me to my professional body, I would be entitled to share your notes with any investigation procedures.
The data is primarily used to enable me to provide therapy for you. It may also be used scientific research purposes and statistical purposes.
Details of where data is held:
Any emails sent between us are held either on my computer’s hard drive or exchange server or if archived, in Dropbox which is secure cloud based storage which is itself GDPR compliant.
Any that may be held on my mobile phone are code protected.
Any texts/WhatsApp messages/Messenger messages sent between us (See Social Media and Electronic Information section) are held on my mobile phone which is code protected.
Your notes are handwritten and are kept in a locked filing cabinet.
Credit card information is shredded as soon as processed.
If you use PayPal or online banking then clearly these systems will hold your data. I will download from these systems for accounting purposes and the resulting spreadsheets are held on a secure hard drive.
Any recordings are stored in a secure computer database and is password protected and accessible only by me.
Your data is kept for 7 years. The length of time is based on the requirements of my insurer. After this time any paper records are shredded and computer records permanently deleted.
Begin Again Hypnotherapy takes the security of data seriously and as such
· All data is held securely (see details of where data is held above)
· Any data transmitted is sent encrypted where possible
· For accounting purposes Excel spreadsheets are used
However:
I am not in control of data (including emails and texts) which you send me.
Apps such as Facebook routinely access any information held and this is beyond my control.
If there is any breach of data security I, Lauren Clark of Begin Again Hypnotherapy will give full details to the Information Commissioners Office and any person affected within 72 hours of the breach and do all possible to minimise any potential impact.
You have rights with regards to the data held:
The right of access. I will provide you with all data I hold on you as soon as I can following a request (and definitely within 30 days, unless this is impossible due to holidays or illness).
The right to rectification. If any data I hold is incorrect, just let me know and I will correct it as soon as I can following a request (and definitely within 30 days, unless this is impossible due to holidays or illness).
The right to erasure. If you wish me to erase your data just let me know and I will delete any computer records and shred any paper records as soon as I can following a request (and definitely within 30 days, unless this is impossible due to holidays or illness). NB: data may be retained for scientific research, historical research or statistical purposes where erasure is likely to render impossible or seriously impair the achievement of that processing but this would never include case notes or data such as address/email/phone
The right to restrict processing. This would usually be a stop-gap measure before correction of any errors or before erasure
The right to data portability. This might apply if you want your notes sent to another therapist for example, but it is likely that the easiest solution would come under the right to access, i.e. I would send the data to you.
The right to object to:
Processing based on legitimate interests or the performance of a task in the public interest/exercise of official authority (including profiling). Cheshire Therapy Room does not engage in these things
· Direct marketing.
· Processing for purposes of scientific/historical research and statistics. For this, you must provide grounds for your objection.
· Automated decision making and profiling. Cheshire Therapy Room does not engage in automated decision making or profiling.
I am fully insured through Holistic Insurance Ltd.
Social Media and Electronic Information Policy
This section outlines the policy of Begin Again Hypnotherapy with regard to the use of social media and electronic information. If you, as a client, have questions about any aspect please do ask. As the world of technology is constantly changing this document is likely to be updated regularly and the latest version will always be available on my website.
Friending
I do not accept friend or contact requests from former or current clients on any social networking site as this can not only compromise your confidentiality (eg if another of my friends saw that you were a friend they may wonder how we know each other) but would also blur the boundary of the therapeutic relationship.
Following
I use Instagram and Facebook for business purposes. You are welcome to follow both my business Instagram and Facebook pages, however I occasionally use personal accounts and will politely ask you not to attempt to follow or interact with me in this way. If you do, it is something we can discuss during a session as it is important that the therapeutic relationship and boundaries are protected.
Interacting
You may use Facebook messenger, WhatsApp or text to discuss appointment times or other logistics but not therapeutic issues. If you wish to send correspondence via email or WhatsApp regarding journal points or subjects you wish to discuss during sessions then you are welcome to do so as long as you feel comfortable with this and understand that it is your choice should you do so. See ‘Email’ for further information.
Business review sites
You may find my name on business review sites but I have not asked to be on these. Businesses do not get a choice. Clients are free to post whatever they choose and due to confidentiality, I cannot comment on anything that is posted. Indeed, anyone (including a competitor) can post anything so it is advisable to be aware that reviews (good or bad) may not be representative of the views of real clients.
It is considered unethical to publish testimonials and so you will not find any testimonials posted by me, nor will I ever ask you for one.
Location-based services
If you use location-based services on your phone you should be aware that others may surmise that you are a therapy client if you are seen as "checking in" at my address.
It is preferable to use email only for logistical contact (e.g. to get a reminder of an appointment time) due to the inherent insecurity of email. If you wish to engage in "email therapy" then please use a password protected word document to contain what you wish to say. I can set this up for you if you need it.
Phone
As above, texting may be used for contact about appointment times. This is preferable to making a phone call as it is easier to respond as I cannot answer the phone if I am with another client. Whether phoning or texting, please only do so between the hours of 9am and 8pm.