This workshop explores some basic techniques that can be used with clients and practice volunteers, as well as for self-care and self-development. It comprises four main areas; self-hypnosis, anchoring, mindfulness and exploring wellbeing for self and clients.

Anyone who has studied hypnotherapy will know that people go in and out of hypnosis all the time, often unintentionally, and without  realising it. So, you might ask 'if it's so easy that everyone can do it, why spend time learning to do it at all?' Well, it's one thing to do it accidentally and unintentionally, and quite another to do it deliberately and with a purpose. Intentional self-hypnosis can be used to connect to yourself on a deeper level, to learn to listen to your body and your unconscious mind as well as your conscious thoughts, and if you choose, it can be used to effect change to many areas of yourself and your life. It is also a technique that can be taught to clients for use at home.

Anchoring is a hypnotic technique that is effective for many clients working with a range of issues, particularly relating to confidence and anxiety. The technical term for this kind of technique is a post hypnotic trigger - something that is installed in the client's unconscious mind while they are hypnotised, to take affect after the therapy session has ended.

Exploring wellbeing may sound a little 'woolley' as a technique in its own right, and it's true that there are many ways to explore a person's wellbeing, but it's something that's often overlooked, and there is a huge difference between knowing that 'something' is wrong, and knowing 'what' is wrong. The ability to effectively explore their own wellbeing, and that of their clients' is a powerful tool in any therapists' toolbox, and one that is often overlooked.

Mindfulness has become extremely popular over the last decade, and there are some simple and effective techniques that can be incredibly useful for therapists as well as their clients.