Hypnotherapy can be applied to a wide range of medical, dental and psychological problems. Areas of application include anxiety and stress conditions, weight control, addictive behaviors (including smoking, alcohol and substance misuse) and confidence issues. Hypnotherapy is also used to enhance performance in several areas such as sport and public speaking. Counsellors help people to explore feelings and emotions that are often related to their experiences. This allows clients to reflect on what is happening to them and consider alternative ways of doing things. Counsellors work in a confidential setting and listen attentively to their clients. They offer them the time, empathy and respect they need to express their feelings and perhaps understand themselves from a different perspective. The aim is reduce a client’s confusion and enable them to cope with challenges, or to make positive changes in their life where necessary. Counsellors do not give advice, but help clients to make their own choices within the framework of an agreed counselling contract. There is no clear distinction between the terms counselling and psychotherapy, and both can encompass a range of talking therapies.
