Going under in George Lane

2:10pm Monday 2nd June 2008

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THE art of hypnotism can be traced back to the ancient Greeks, but is now more popular than ever before and is enjoying a renaissance on television at least, in programmes by Derren Brown and Paul McKenna.

It is more often used for therapeutic purposes however and more and more people are looking to hypnotherapy as way of resolving deep-seated issues.

Hypnotherapist Claire Atkinson who is opening up a clinic at Lilly House in George Lane already has a thriving clinic in Harley Street and, with growing acceptance within the medical profession, GPs are referring patients to Claire for everything from nail biting to weight loss .

My personal issue is insomnia, which is not something that can generally be cured in one session, but I went along with an open mind to undergo the experience of going under.

The session started with a thorough consultation where I discussed with Claire the ins and outs of my sleeping problems.

She told me that hypnotherapy involves communication with the unconscious mind through the use of suggestion that enables change to take place, but that the therapeutic side of the technique is far removed from depictions people might be used to seeing on TV programmes like Little Britain.

She said: "Shows like this create a very bad impression and are completely different to what I do.

"I can't make anyone do anything they don't want to.

"If I say when you wake up you will bark like a dog you wouldn't do it, but if, with insomnia for example, I make a suggestion about sleeping, you will take it on more readily because it's something you want."

After the consultation, Claire used a relaxation technique which involved walking down ten steps in my mind's eye to take me into the hypnotic trace.

Not thinking of myself as particularly suggestible, I was surprised by how easily I relaxed, and found myself navigating the session like a roller-coaster ride, dipping in and out of consciousness.

I remember some things Claire said to me, but others I was completely unaware of and I couldn't help thinking afterwards how easily she could have programmed me to make regular cups of tea for my colleagues as they had requested before my session.

Claire said: "I think sometimes people worry about what will happen when they go into a trance because of stage shows which are all about making fools of people.

"That is not what I'm here to do as this is a serious therapy to help people with serious problems."

Claire says hypnosis changes lives, and so far she has helped a skeptical lawyer kick his 40 a day smoking habit and a woman with an irrational phobia of fruit and veg get her five a day, and sees many patients return even after being cured as they enjoy the "mental massage".

I certainly enjoyed mine and would definitely consider having further treatments for my insomnia as my session has taught me that what I think I know about the human mind barely scratched the surface.

Claire's clinic opens on June 24.

To book an appointment call 0800 043 2731 or visit www.hypnotherapies.net.