Frequently Asked Questions
If you can't find the answer you're looking for, please don't hesitate to get in touch
What to expect when working together
The idea is for us to have an informal (but still confidential) chat over the phone about the issue(s) you like help with. We can explore whether my approach suits you, whether I seem like the therapist for you, and I can assess whether I feel I’m in a position to help you.
This initial consultation will take around twenty minutes, by which time we’ll know how best to proceed. Schedule your free consultation here.
Everyone is different and every treatment plan is designed with you and your goals in mind. Some treatments, such as breaking habits, are very fast – only one or two sessions – but others may take longer. I work with you to create a treatment plan that works.
I highly recommend weekly sessions, but I appreciate that sometimes this can be difficult. We will design a plan that fits you and your life. I may also give you some tasks to do in between sessions. This will help therapy move much faster. After the initial consultation I will tell you how many sessions I think we will need and we will review progress at regular agreed intervals. Typically 5-10 sessions are sufficient for lasting change*.
Throughout therapy, we will review to see how things are going and if there is anything we need to change in our plan. My aim is that you quickly develop the skills and tools you need to help yourself in the long term.
Whilst I can never guarantee success - and I would advise you to avoid anyone who does - my tool kit is evidence-based, which means the techniques I use are based on the latest scientific research and skills training. I will only work with you if I feel that I can help you. I work within the GHR Code of Ethics, which means that if I feel you would be better served by another professional, I will tell you.
* This type of therapy is typically much shorter than many other psychotherapeutic methods (eg. 10 - 20 sessions on average for standard CBT therapy).
I understand that sometimes life can interfere with your plans but ask to give me at least 24 hours notice.
Any sessions cancelled less than 24 hours before the appointed time are payable in full.
My services are completely confidential*, which means I will never share anything you have discussed with another party, unless you give me express permission to do so. I am a member of the General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR) and Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) and my actions are held accountable by their stringent codes of ethics (see more here.). They stipulate that members follow regular Continuous Professional Development (CPD) training as well as mandatory Supervision sessions, intended to ensure the therapist’s skills and perspectives are constantly refreshed. Unless specifically informed otherwise, it is assumed the client consents to the sharing of anonymous case histories in supervision sessions.
I will clearly outline this again in our first session but if at any point you have questions about it, don’t hesitate to let me know.
(*with a few legal exceptions, mainly relating to risk of harm)
After the free consultation, every session* (including the longer introduction) is charged at £115 (€135), or £103 (€120) if you commit to 5 sessions at once. My sessions tend to take between 1h - 1h30 and you will receive an email afterwards recapping what we discussed and agreed, a copy of the recording if there is one and a gradually built-up toolbox of mental fitness skills.
What you will also be investing is time, attention and the intention to better your state of wellbeing. The attitude you bring to the treatment is enormously important. A client/therapist relationship is fundamentally collaborative – we work together to help you make the changes you would like to see in your life. The more positive and motivated you are, and the more time you invest outside the therapy room implementing what we discussed, the more quicker you will feel the results. Your role in this process is more vital than mine, I am just your guide in this process.
*So be aware if you are surfing around to compare prices that a typical ‘therapy hour’ lasts only 50 minutes elsewhere.
Payment can be made by bank transfer:
Payments in Pounds Sterling can be made out to
Teal Therapy
Mettle
Sort Code 04-03-33 Account No. 61022806
Payments in Euros can be made out to
Anneleen De Clercq
KBC
IBAN: BE83 7360 2785 3515
If you are a student, on a low income or in difficult circumstances we can come to an arrangement, please get in touch to discuss.
An increasing number of private medical insurers and Private Health Cash Plans in the UK cover hypnotherapy so it is worth checking whether it is included in your plan. Those which do will usually recognise CNHC registration for reimbursement, of which I am a member.
Always check with your insurance provider first as specific levels of coverage and annual limits may apply.
Online therapy sessions
At the moment I tend to hold therapy sessions online only. It may not feel the same as face-to-face therapy but, according to many studies, it is equally as effective and offers flexibility and convenience.
It’s common to be unsure if online therapy is right for you. If you’re not quite sure, or have any questions which aren’t answered here, please feel free to contact me.
Should you prefer face-to-face therapy do get in touch and I can organise a place for us to meet in confidence.
There is lots of research to indicate that therapy delivered remotely is just as effective as face-to-face therapy (e.g., Lichstein et al., 2013; Stubbings et al., 2013).
I have worked successfully with many clients online and I am happy to arrange a short “test call” so you can get a feel for how things work.
All you need is a computer, tablet or smartphone with a built-in camera and microphone, and a private place where you can speak without being overheard or interrupted. You don’t need any special technical knowledge. I usually use the video conferencing service Zoom for online therapy sessions. Most people find it reliable and easy to use. I send you a link via email, which you click at the start of the session.
If it is the first time you have used Zoom, you will be prompted to download some software. If you are feeling unsure about things, I am happy to arrange a short “test call” before your first session.
We will agree in advance what to do if we get cut off; usually I will simply call you by telephone and, if we cannot re-connect, we can – depending on your preference – continue via telephone or re-schedule the session.
I always try to tailor my services around your goals and preferences, do mention in our introductory call whether you prefer online, in person, or a blend of the two.
Integrative hypnotherapy
I identify my approach to therapy as integrative, as it is a blend of modern psychotherapy, breathwork, neuroscience and hypnosis. It is an eclectic, multi-dimensional and multi-modal orientation that seeks to be comprehensive.
By incorporating methods and techniques from different disciplines, I can tailor therapy optimally to each client and their unique circumstances.
If you're not sure about the hypnosis, that's not a problem at all, it is equally possible to have therapy without hypnosis. We may need a few more sessions but the outcome can be as effective.
Integrative hypnotherapy is a targeted, short course therapy. This means that it doesn’t drag on for months and, while we talk in some depth about what is going on with you, we do not spend a great deal of time delving into your past.
We concentrate on what will make your specific problem manageable in the here and now and equip you with the tools to manage the future. The idea is to help you move forward with your life, and most people find that once they start creating new, healthy patterns, they become self-reinforcing, and virtuous cycles replace the vicious ones.
Hypnosis is an enhanced state of increased focus and relaxation. In this heightened state of awareness the logical, rational and analytical part of the mind disengages and the creative, intuitive part that involves the imagination becomes dominant and we become more open to positive suggestions. You may not be aware of it but you are in an hypnotic state on a regular basis, for example when deeply engrossed in a movie (*), daydreaming or even when ruminating, which is a form of negative self-hypnosis.
(*) no wonder companies pay a lot of money to plug their brands in the interval!
The experience is usually very relaxing and by unwinding, thinking positively and picturing your goals, hypnosis can help you change how you think, feel and behave. The focused attention activates your brain to establish new synaptic connections more quickly.
You are always in charge – you will remember everything that happens and cannot be made to do anything you don’t want to do. Please forget what you may have seen in comedy TV or stage hypnosis – clinical hypnotherapy is completely different!
Most importantly, hypnosis is a skill which you can learn to do by yourself, for yourself. I will help you at first, and then provide you with the tools and techniques to try for yourself at home.
If you are looking for an enjoyable and relaxing experience that supports to your reach your full potential, hypnotherapy could be for you.
It is more helpful to think of all hypnosis as self-hypnosis. As a hypnotherapist, I am there simply to guide you through the experience by offering suggestions that, after consulting with you, I believe will be helpful and are in line with what’s important to you.
Whether or not you choose to accept these suggestions is entirely up to you. You are fully in control of your experience at all times, even if you are so deeply relaxed that you think you have fallen asleep. If anything feels uncomfortable, there is nothing to stop you from just telling me or getting up and walking away.
It is completely safe, and you cannot get ‘stuck’ in hypnosis.
There is a large evidence base (scientific as well as individual) proving that hypnosis is effective at helping with many issues, either in its own right or to reinforce and embed other therapy techniques. Research (*) shows that it is particularly useful for managing anxiety, controlling pain, sleep disorders, stress-related illnesses and conquering habits, and that integrating CBT with hypnotherapy is, for most people, more effective than CBT alone.
Hypnosis is not a magic wand though (if only!). People looking for hypnosis to be the magic cure will walk away disappointed. Although hypnosis is a powerful adjunct to therapy, It is not a quick fix and requires effort and time invested on your part, to broaden your awareness, recognise what’s in your control and transform your relationship with unhelpful thoughts or beliefs.
Let’s say hypnosis is an excellent vehicle, but you still need a qualified driver who knows what to do to get you to the right destination - and that driver is you!
Research states that hypnosis tends to be most effective when it is combined with other non-hypnotic interventions.
(*) If you would like me to point you to the research, please ask as there is too much to list here.
