Frequently Asked Questions for Hypnotherapy

Strategic Hypnosis combines the principles of strategic psychotherapy with hypnotherapy techniques. This approach is client-focused but therapist-led, meaning that while you are the expert in your experiences, I guide the session using specific strategies to help you reach your desired outcomes efficiently and effectively.

It involves understanding and addressing the cognitive and behavioural patterns that contribute to your challenges. By creating targeted interventions, we can effectively address the underlying causes of issues like anxiety, phobias, or habits, enabling positive change at a deeper level.

No, you remain fully aware and in control throughout the session. Strategic Hypnosis is about guiding you to uncover new perspectives and solutions, not taking away your ability to choose. The process is designed to empower you to make decisions that align with your goals.

Yes, hypnotherapy is a safe and natural approach with a long history of therapeutic use. As a qualified member of the Hypnotherapy Council of Australia (HCA), the International Strategic Psychotherapists Association (ISPA), and the Guild of Australian Hypnotherapists (GOAH), I adhere to strict codes of ethics to ensure your safety, comfort, and well-being throughout the entire process.

Many people assume that meaningful change must take years, but Strategic Hypnotherapy can often work more efficiently because it targets the underlying patterns driving an issue, rather than just discussing the symptoms.

Here’s why it may work faster than traditional talk therapy:

• Bypasses overanalysis – Unlike traditional therapy, which often focuses on analysing the past, Strategic Hypnotherapy works at the subconscious level, where deep-rooted thought patterns and emotional responses are stored. Change happens at the source of the problem, rather than just discussing it consciously.
• Rewires automatic responses – The subconscious operates outside of willpower, meaning hypnotherapy can help shift limiting beliefs, negative self-talk, and emotional patterns in a way that may feel easier and more natural than conscious effort alone.
• Targets thinking styles, not just symptoms – Traditional therapy often focuses on why someone feels a certain way, but Strategic Hypnosis identifies the mental patterns (like overthinking, intolerance for uncertainty, or external validation seeking) that are keeping the issue in place. Once these patterns begin to shift, change can happen more naturally and effortlessly.

Hypnotherapy is an incredibly versatile tool for creating change. At Soul Shift Hypnotherapy, I specialise in helping clients with:

✔ Anxiety & Overthinking – Hypnosis helps quiet the inner critic, shift negative thought loops, and develop emotional flexibility so anxiety no longer dominates your thinking.

✔ Confidence & Self-Worth – Many people struggle with subconscious self-doubt that stops them from reaching their full potential. Hypnotherapy reprograms these patterns, reinforcing self-trust and an inner sense of capability.

✔ Performance & High Achievement – Whether in sports, business, or public speaking, hypnosis sharpens focus, removes mental blocks, and strengthens a mindset of resilience and self-belief.

✔ Post-Divorce Recovery – Going through a divorce or separation can feel overwhelming. Hypnosis helps release emotional baggage, rebuild self-identity, and create a clear vision for the next chapter of life.

✔ Breaking Habits & Behavioural Change – Hypnosis works by rewiring automatic behaviours, making it easier to shift unwanted patterns without relying on willpower alone.

If you’re unsure whether hypnotherapy can help your specific situation, book a free consultation—I’d love to discuss your goals and how we can work together.

The number of sessions depends on the complexity and nature of the issue being addressed. Some clients experience significant changes in a few sessions, while others may require more time for deeper or long-standing challenges. During our initial consultation, we’ll discuss a plan tailored to your needs.

Hypnosis is a natural state of focused attention, and most people can experience it—as long as they’re willing to engage in the process.

Here’s what matters most:

✔ Willingness to Participate – Hypnosis is not something done to you, but with you. If you're open to the process and willing to engage, it works powerfully.
✔ Readiness for Change – If you’re actively seeking change and open to new ways of thinking, hypnotherapy helps accelerate the process by making those changes feel natural and automatic.
✔ Responsiveness to Hypnotic Language – Different people respond better to different styles of hypnosis. Strategic Hypnotherapy uses a mix of Ericksonian language patterns, metaphors, and subconscious learning techniques, ensuring sessions are effective for a wide range of clients.

If you’ve ever been absorbed in a good book, lost in a daydream, or fully immersed in a movie, you’ve already experienced a natural hypnotic state. Hypnotherapy simply guides you into that state with intention—so that positive change can take root.

I am a certified clinical hypnotherapist and a qualified Strategic Psychotherapist, holding a Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis & Strategic Psychotherapy from the Institute of Applied Psychology (IAP), where I studied under Gordon Young. Gordon is a leading expert in strategic psychotherapy and hypnosis, renowned for his innovative, practical approach to therapy. His teachings have deeply influenced my ability to guide clients toward positive change with tailored strategies that tackle the root of their challenges. I’m also a proud member of the International Strategic Psychotherapists Association (ISPA) and the Guild of Australian Hypnotherapists (GOAH), adhering to their high standards of practice and ethics.

While meditation and relaxation techniques help calm the mind, hypnotherapy goes further by using tailored suggestions to create specific, desired changes at a subconscious level. It’s a targeted approach to addressing the root causes of challenges and achieving your goals.

No, you cannot be made to do anything against your values or will during hypnotherapy. You remain fully aware and in control throughout the session. Hypnotherapy aims to empower you to make positive changes that align with your goals, rather than taking control away from you. This approach focuses on guiding you to unlock your inner resources while respecting your autonomy and choices at all times.

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. It is an evidence based therapeutic approach used to help the brain process unresolved experiences, emotional reactions, and patterns that continue to affect day-to-day life. It does not require long talk therapy or retelling traumatic stories.

EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements or tapping, to help the brain process experiences in a more complete and settled way. This supports the nervous system in reducing emotional intensity and shifting old responses that feel stuck.

Sessions are calm, steady, and paced carefully to your nervous system. You remain fully aware and in control throughout. Most clients describe EMDR as surprisingly gentle, grounding, and clarifying.

No. You do not need to go into graphic detail or retell the entire story. We discuss just enough to understand the situation, the emotions involved, and what you want to change. The EMDR process works with your internal experience, so you only share what feels comfortable and necessary for guidance.

This varies from person to person. Some clients notice meaningful change within a few sessions, while others benefit from a longer process. EMDR often works efficiently, but pacing is always based on your comfort, goals, and nervous system.

Yes. EMDR blends extremely well with Clinical Hypnotherapy and Strategic Psychotherapy. Many clients choose one of my Transformation Programs because the combination creates a powerful framework for both emotional healing and long term change.

EMDR can support anxiety, emotional triggers, stress, relationship wounds, low self worth, intrusive thoughts, unresolved memories, grief, panic, chronic overwhelm, and the impact of past experiences. You do not need a trauma diagnosis to benefit.

Yes. EMDR is a well established, evidence based approach used worldwide. Sessions are paced gently and tailored to your nervous system so you remain grounded and safe throughout the process.

Yes. EMDR can be safely and effectively delivered online using guided bilateral stimulation. Online sessions follow the same structure as in-person work and are fully supported.

If you feel stuck, reactive, overwhelmed, or affected by something you cannot seem to shift on your own, EMDR may be a suitable next step. You are welcome to contact me to discuss your goals and whether EMDR is the right fit.

9D Breathwork is a guided somatic journey that combines breath, sound, frequency layering, guided intention, and subconscious coaching to create deep emotional release and nervous system regulation. It is a powerful modality designed to help you shift patterns, clear stuck energy, and reconnect with a more grounded sense of self.

The term “9D” refers to the nine layers of therapeutic influence woven into the journey, including breathwork, frequency, sound design, guided cues, affirmations, visualisation, and nervous system techniques. These layers work together to create a deeply immersive experienc

Most people experience a combination of physical sensations, emotional release, and a shift in mental clarity. You may feel tingling, temperature changes, energy movement, or waves of emotion. Some people also experience tetany, which is a temporary tightening or clawing of the hands caused by changes in carbon dioxide levels during breathwork. It is harmless, passes quickly, and settles as your breathing returns to normal. You remain fully conscious and completely in control of how deep you go into the journey, as you are the one controlling your breath. Many describe the overall experience as powerful, freeing, and deeply cathartic.

No. 9D Breathwork is suitable for both beginners and experienced breathwork practitioners. You will be guided step by step, with clear cues and support throughout the session.

9D Breathwork can support anxiety, overthinking, self worth, emotional release, trauma patterns, burnout, stress, relationship blocks, grief, and nervous system dysregulation. Many people use it to clear old patterns, reconnect with themselves, and create internal momentum for change.

Yes. When guided properly, 9D Breathwork is considered safe for most people. However, there are certain medical or psychological conditions where breathwork may not be appropriate. You will be given a screening checklist before attending any session to make sure it is safe for you

No. Breathwork that involves strong, rapid, or extended breathing is not recommended during pregnancy. You are welcome to attend after your baby is born, once you feel ready.

You don’t need to bring anything, as all equipment is supplied for you. A herbal tea is provided after the journey, so a water bottle isn’t necessary unless you prefer to have your own. You are also welcome to bring a journal if you like to write down insights or reflections afterwards, but this is completely optional.

Group sessions offer a shared, community-based experience and are perfect for emotional release, clarity, and reconnection. Private sessions are personalised and tailored specifically to your goals, challenges, and emotional landscape. If you find things coming up during a group journey that you want to explore more deeply, we can work with those themes privately using Clinical Hypnotherapy, EMDR, or a combination of both. Many clients choose private sessions for deeper work or highly personal intentions.

You may feel lighter, clearer, or more emotionally open. Some people feel energised, while others feel grounded and quiet. Integration continues in the hours and days that follow, and journaling or rest can be supportive. You will receive guidance on how to ground yourself and take care of your nervous system after the session.

Yes. Many of my clients find that combining breathwork with Clinical Hypnotherapy or EMDR accelerates their progress, especially when working on deep patterns or emotional blocks. Breathwork can help release stored emotion, while hypnotherapy and EMDR support cognitive and emotional integration.

This varies from person to person. Some people attend weekly, others monthly, and some use it as needed during challenging periods. There are also clients who choose to do multiple journeys in a week when they feel ready for deeper momentum or emotional release. There is no requirement or pressure. Your system will guide you in how often it benefits from the work.

Yes. You do not need any previous breathwork experience. The journey is structured, guided, and accessible for all levels.