Plan ahead for that special Christmas!

Some of us are finding things a bit tough right now, facing new challenges, missing loved ones and feeling uncertain about what the future holds. During these times its ok to feel overwhelmed, anxious or worried. In fact, it is normal. Here is a list of a few reminders to help keep us calm and possibly gaining something positive out of this experience. 1. THIS WONT LAST FOREVER – No matter how difficult things are right now, nothing lasts forever. It may have an impact but it is important to be grateful for the good times and accepting of the bad. 2. DISTANCE CAN PROVIDE CLARITY – This situation has, no doubt, distanced you from your normal day-to-day life. This can be overwhelming and unsettling but it can also give you clarity on how things were impacting you. What are you relieved to be without? What do you miss? Notice these things and adjust your future accordingly. 3. LITTLE THINGS REALLY DO MATTER – If you are missing things or people that you are used to seeing and doing – you will notice the little things in particular that you miss about them. Use this as a reminder to be grateful for what you do have now and a reminder to appreciate the little things once your routine is back to normal. 4. TOUGH TIMES TEACH YOU ABOUT YOURSELF – Going through times that are difficult or life-changing is one of the best ways to learn more about yourself. Use this time to self-reflect, enjoy your own company and discover who you are and what really matters to you. 5. ITS OK TO FEEL HOW YOU FEEL – In any tough situation it is crucial to remember it’s ok to feel how you feel. Feelings do happen but they aren’t facts. You can feel anything you want to feel. If and how you act on that feeling is what can be harmful or helpful. ACCEPT your feelings and choose the actions that you take carefully. If you are finding it difficult to cope during lockdown, I am still seeing clients via Zoom. Zoom is just as effective as face to face therapy and you can read my 5 Star reviews on Google. I offer a FREE consultation where we can discuss any issues, I will explain how our brains work and how hypnotherapy works. It will also give you an opportunity to ask any questions and ultimately decide whether hypnotherapy is for you. If you would like any further details please visit my website www.happyheadhypnotherapy.co.uk Take care and stay safe :)

I practice Solution Focused Hypnotherapy. It consists of two aspects: Psychotherapy and Hypnosis. Psychotherapy is positive talking – asking what’s been good about your week, exploring how that makes you feel; and visualisation of your goal, broken down into small, achievable steps. It is focused on the solution to whatever is troubling you. Which means, unlike other forms of counselling or therapy, we won’t be delving deep into the issues that are causing you concern. It enables the client to think using their Intellectual Brain – the scientific term is the Left Prefrontal Cortex. This part of the brain is the sensible, logical, positive area that generally makes proper assessments of situations. When clients first visit, they are in need of help to think clearer, make better choices, kick bad habits and feel more positive. So the more time we can encourage clients to use the prefrontal cortex, the easier they will find it to effect the change they desire. Hypnosis is a deep state of relaxation, which we call trance. Trance is a natural state that we enter many times a day, when we’re not actively concentrating on a task - for example driving a familiar route, reading a good book, watching a movie, whilst out for a run or just sitting daydreaming. When you relax deeply into a hypnotic trance under the guidance of a hypnotherapist you enter the REM state (rapid eye movement) where your subconscious mind processes worries and concerns. When we access the subconscious it allows new and positive ideas to take hold and to be actioned in your normal everyday waking state. It's likely that you'll feel a little better after just one session. Hypnosis lowers stress levels as it allows your body to release a feel good hormone called Serotonin. Hypnosis is controlled by the client. You are fully aware of what is being said, you can move if you wish, sit up, end the session whenever you like. A hypnotherapist can’t make you do anything outside of your moral or ethical code, so no strange behaviours are implanted such as clucking like a chicken! Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can help adults and children to gain a better control of: Anxiety (stress, panic attacks, IBS, driving test nerves, loss of confidence, PTSD), Depression (low mood, extreme and prolonged sadness, feelings of isolation), Sleep disorders Confidence and Self Esteem Grief (loss of a loved one, a major life change such as children leaving for university), Weight management Pain management Smoking Cessation Performance and Motivation Fears and Phobias Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Solution Focused Hypnotherapy is an incredibly uplifting method of treatment for a wide range of psychological issues. It gives you the tools to maintain this positivity outside of the therapy room, bringing about lasting changes that you can continue to practice for life! If you’d like to book in for an initial consultation to see how I may be able to help you, it’s free of charge and comes with no obligation to go ahead if you don’t feel it’s right for you.

With lockdown 3.0 in full swing, this article looks at some tips to enhance your wellbeing through this challenging time. Especially those who are keyworkers or are homeschooling this is essential, after all we cannot pour from an empty cup! 1. Try something new – have you ever wanted to try something but never had the time? Even if you are working; most of the shops, pubs and restaurants are closed. We cannot leave our houses and therefore boredom can set in. Why not take this opportunity to try and learn something new. A new language, play the guitar or how about a creative writing course? For just £11.25 you can enrol on an online creative writing course for 5 weeks. If you are interested type the following link into your computer: https://www.inspireculture.org.uk/skills-learning/community-learning/creative-writing-short-stories-online-course-community-learning-1300-1400/ there are many free or cheap courses out there, use Google to help find one suitable. There are many tutors and insructors who have moved there learning online so if you wanted to learn an instrument or do some yoga there will be somebody out there offering these services. Bonus that you get to do it from the comfort of your own home! Failing this Youtube has a wealth of videos that can teach you anything from scratch! 2. Get some fresh air – there’s no better cure for stress, boredom or an overwhelmed mind that sunshine, exercise and fresh air. Even if you’re busy or cant be bothered, you should make it a priority to spend at least 20 minutes outside every day. This can be a walk, sitting in the garden with a cuppa (I know it’s freezing at the minute or a bike ride. Once you get into the routine of doing this you will find it will become a healthy habit that you look forward to doing daily. 3. Limit News Intake – Pay attention to how you feel whilst you watch the news, if it makes you feel hopeless, worried, anxious or stressed then it might help to knock it on the head for a while. If you like to know whats going on, perhaps ask a partner or a friend to give you a summary of the headlines instead without going into too much detail. 4. Stay in touch – it is so important that you maintain that connection with others, use Zoom, Microsoft teams, Houseparty or Facetime if you want to see faces but a good old natter on the phone or even a letter or an email will help you feel just as connected. 5. Try hypnosis – Hypnosis is so effective for anxiety, depression, motivation and much more. We offer online sessions which are just as effective as face to face and also payment plans. If you would like more information or to book a FREE consultation please call or text Hollie on 07817907314. Access our free audios on Youtube: Happy Head Hypnotherapy. Listening once a day will help to reduce stress and aid relaxation. A lot of us are in the same storm but not in the same boat. It’s ok to feel how you are feeling and please remember you are not alone. Take care and stay safe all – Your local hypnotherapist Hollie :)

Why do people ‘practice’ gratitude and what are the benefits? 1. Gratitude makes us happier Gratitude reduces a multitude of toxic emotions, ranging from jealousy and resentment to anger and guilt. Robert A. Emmons, Ph.D., a leading gratitude researcher, has conducted multiple studies on the link between gratitude and well-being. His research confirms that gratitude effectively increases happiness and reduces depression. 2. Gratitude improves relationships Not only does saying ‘thank you’ constitute good manners it is also a great way to show the people in your life how much you appreciate them. When we express genuine and heartfelt gratitude towards our loved ones we create loving bonds, we build trust and helps you to feel closer. 3. Gratitude can lead to positive actions When we feel gratitude towards someones kindness towards us, we may be more likely to do a kindness in return. Your gratitude also can have a positive effect on someone else's actions. Thanking people can make it more likely they'll do a kindness again. 4. Gratitude improves sleep Writing in a gratitude journal improves sleep, according to a 2011 study published in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being. Spend just 15 minutes jotting down a few grateful sentiments before bed, and you may sleep better and longer. How to incorporate more gratitude into your everyday life: Journal - Keep a gratitude journal and write down three things that you are grateful for every day. Stop - Take 5 minutes out of your day to stop, look around and appreciate what is around you. This could be how beautiful the sky looks, how cosy your living room is or how much you love the person sitting in front of you. Express yourself - Sometimes it’s not enough to simply keep your gratitude to yourself. You can increase your feelings of gratitude by expressing that same gratitude to others whether that is your loved ones or people that serve you at a shop or in a restaurant. Don’t just say ‘thank you’; tell them specifically what you are thankful for, for example, ‘I appreciate that you make me a cup of coffee every morning’ or ‘thank you for the lovely service you provide’. When it is sincere it will be truly appreciated and it will make you feel good too! Once you feel the endorphins flow and notice all the positive improvement; showing gratitude will become even easier and you’ll start to be able to make list after list of all of the things in your life you’re thankful for.

What Is Hypnotherapy? Hypnotherapy is a relaxation technique used when a person is in an altered state of consciousness, known as a trance. While in a hypnotic state, a person is deeply relaxed, focused, and more open to suggestion. Hypnotherapy is used to help manage a variety of health issues, including stress, skin conditions, weight loss, sleep disorders, and smoking cessation. What happens during a typical hypnotherapy session? During the first half of the session the therapist will talk to the client using a variety of techniques used to guide the brain into the left prefrontal cortex. This area of the brain becomes active when a person is happy. Thus, one of the main aims of this therapy is to stimulate this area of the brain to retrain your brain to become more positively focused and happier! When you are operating from this area of the brain you are more able to come up with solutions to problems and it compliments trance perfectly. Some may say the first half of the session effectively primes your brain for hypnosis! During the second half of the session, the therapist then guides the client into a relaxed state. Once the client is feeling calm, yet alert, the therapist brings their attention to behaviours they would like to change. The therapist then uses words of encouragement, affirmations, metaphors and positive suggestions, such as “You no longer feel stressed” or “You are strong, confident and capable”. How Can Hypnotherapy Help With Panic and Anxiety Symptoms? Research has shown that hypnotherapy can help relieve stress, fear, anxiety and symptoms of panic disorder. While under hypnosis, a person with panic disorder may be guided to bring attention to coping with specific symptoms and overcoming limiting behaviours. Hypnotherapy can help a person with anxiety improve self-esteem, overcome negative thinking, and manage troublesome symptoms. Additionally, hypnotherapy can assist in treating common co-occurring conditions, including depression, headaches and migraines, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), agoraphobia and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Getting Treated With Hypnotherapy The overall hypnotherapy experience can vary from person to person. You can read Happy Head Hypnotherapy’s 5 star reviews on Google and Facebook to see what local people are saying about their experiences. Many people are sceptical and perhaps have reservations about hypnotherapy, fearing that they will lose control of their thoughts and actions. This is not surprising considering how hypnosis is portrayed in the media and on stage in popular seaside resorts!! People are often showed behaving in wild and silly ways. Despite these negative connotations, hypnotherapy cannot make you do anything you do not want to do nor can it make you do anything that goes against your moral and ethical code. Rather, hypnotherapy helps build self-awareness, resilience, confidence and helps a person to overcome unwanted behaviours. Happy Head Hypnotherapy are your local team of hypnotherapists, based in Ravenstone, Coalville and Hamilton, Leicester. We offer a FREE initial consultation where we talk a little more about how the brain works, how hypnotherapy helps and how you can get back on top of things. It will also give you an opportunity to talk and ask any questions. You will never be pressured to book any further sessions during the consultation and our therapists prefer that you go away and have a think before booking in as we like to know that all clients are serious and willing to change before commencing treatment. If you would like to book in for a FREE consultation call 07817907314.

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1. Check your own feelings - sometimes we can inadvertently pass on our own stresses and anxieties to our children. Be careful when speaking about your worries about your children returning to school in front of them. They hear more than we think they do! Also managing your own stress will help you to feel more calm and relaxed whilst in their presence. 2. Listen - When kids express anxiety about going back to school —its important to listen seriously, rather than dismissing these fears (‘Nothing to be worried about! You’ll be fine!) listening to them and acknowledging your child’s feelings will help them feel more secure. And if they want you to, you can bolster their confidence by helping them to strategise about how to handle things that they are concerned about. 3. Plan fun things to do - during the evenings and weekends of this term so that they have things to look forward to and to remind them that school is only a part of their week. It doesn’t have to cost money or require going out. It could be something as simple as a movie night with their favourite snacks. 4. Establish a routine ‘family feedback’ time - which makes it normal for everyone to air and share worries from their day, as well as the fun things that went on. This could happen over dinner time and involve questions like, ‘What was the silliest moment of your day? What was the most interesting fact you learnt today? Did anyone say anything kind or mean?” This encourages children to open up and talk about their feelings. 5. Teach them some simple breathing techniques or a grounding exercise to use at school if they feel anxious during the day: Breathing Technique - Teach your child the following: “Take a long, slow breath in through your nose, hold your breath for 1,2,3… breathe out slowly through your mouth. Do this three times.” Grounding exercise - This grounding exercise can help your child turn their thoughts outwards and away from their anxious feelings inside: Look around and name in your head, not aloud, the following: Name four sounds you can hear Name your three favourite colours in the room Name two things you can smell Name one thing that’s great about you Please check out Happy Head Hypnotherapy’s Youtube channel where there are sleep hypnosis audios that may help your child with letting go of worries and anxiety surrounding school.

How does online hypnotherapy work? Hypnotherapy is a natural approach that doesn’t rely on the hypnotherapist being in the room with you. It is very similar to using Facetime or Skype to talk to a friend. Clients are able to experience exactly the same benefits as you would with a face to face session. In what ways is it better? A number of my online clients have given feedback that they found the initial consultation and first sessions of the process a lot less stressful as they were able to remain in familiar surroundings and didn’t have the stress and uncertainty of driving to an appointment. You can do it in the comfort of your own home and it doesn’t matter where you are located. I have successfully saw clients online from America. Do you have to be good at using technology to access online hypnotherapy? No. It is very straightforward and I will be able to guide you through the process should you wish. If you find that you still struggle then there is always the option to have telephone appointments, which are equally as effective. What platform do you use to do online sessions? I use Zoom. You may have heard of this already as almost everyone is using it who is working from home or you may have used it to socialise with family and friends during lock down. Zoom is easy and free to use. All you have to do is go to https://zoom.us/download on the device that you want to video call on and click on the download button. Once you have downloaded it, set up a free account and then it is ready to use. I will then send you a meeting link to your email address for you to click on when it is time to meet. This link will bring you straight through to me. It is as simple as that! Do you do online sessions for children? Yes! In fact, half of my clients at the moment are children. What are the benefits of hypnosis? I use Solution Focused Hypnotherapy which is different from other forms of therapy. It is concerned with addressing the solution rather than the problem. Results are achieved much quicker when we work in this way. Clients are not required to discuss any past memories or traumas for the therapy to be effective. It is highly effective in the treatment of anxiety disorders, phobias, depression and many other issues. It works by allowing you to reprogramme different habits and creates and strengthens new neural pathways in the brain to be more positively focused. How can I learn more? Call or text Hollie on 07817907314 , send me a message on the Facebook page: Facebook/HappyHeadHypnotherapy or send me an email: holliejordan@happyheadhypnotherapy.co.uk and I will be happy to discuss any queries you may have. I also offer a FREE initial consultation.

Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. People can react differently to infectious disease outbreaks depending on their characteristics, a persons social and economic circumstances and the availability of local resources. People can become more distressed if they see repeated images or hear repeated reports about the outbreak in the media. People who may respond more strongly to the stress of a crisis include children, those with an underlying medical condition and those who already experience anxiety. Let’s put it in perspective . However serious a threat Coronavirus poses, it’s important to retain perspective. More people die of tuberculosis each day – and of air pollution every five hours – than have succumbed in two months of Covid-19! Still worried? Try this: the vast majority of people who have contracted the illness have recovered; children seem to be largely untouched; a vaccine is in the pipeline meaning science are all over it; we know where it came from and situations in that country are improving and clinical trials are under way. I am not trying to minimise what has happened or try to predict the future but there is no point in succumbing to a fear; hoarding and panic buying pandemic before a disease pandemic has even taken place! If you are finding that you are feeling increasingly stressed about the outbreak try some of the following tips on how to support yourself: 1. Avoid excessive exposure to media coverage of COVID-19. 2. Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch or meditate. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep and avoid alcohol and drugs. 3. Stay informed. When you feel that you are missing information, you may become more stressed or nervous. Watch, listen to, or read the news for updates from officials. Be aware that there may be rumours during a crisis, especially on social media. Always check your sources and turn to reliable sources of information like your local government authorities. 4. Make time to unwind and remind yourself that strong feelings will fade. Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories. It can be upsetting to hear about the crisis and see images repeatedly. Try to do some other activities you enjoy to return to your normal life. 5. Connect with others. Share your concerns and how you are feeling with a friend or family member. Maintain healthy relationships. 6. Maintain a sense of hope and positive thinking. 7. Seek help when needed. If distress impacts activities of your daily life for several days or weeks then it is important to go to see your GP.