what is nlp?

NLP stands for Neuro-Linguistic Programming. It's a powerful process that helps you see the connections between the ways you think (neuro) - the words you use (linguistic) and the actions you take (programmes).

Imagine that there is a mountain in front of you. It blocks what you see and what you hear and what you feel. It's really in the way of getting what you want. Keeping that mountain in place are the limiting beliefs and the familiar behaviour patterns of your day-to-day life. Now - think about what it would be like to discover a path around that mountain or a tunnel through to the other side.

That's what we do together in the quiet space of my room.

You can tell me the story of your mountain and what it means to you. An amazing thing happens when you take the time to slow down and really pay attention to how that mountain of stuff makes you feel - it's like turning on the light in a dark closet. You can take a look around at what you've collected along the way - that has turned into this mountain.

I help you decide what stuff you'd like to keep.

Think about what it will be like to let go of the clutter that keeps you in the stuck place. Imagine freeing up all that blocked energy to discover the path to the other side of the mountain. Imagine what it would be like to know what you want and to feel good about your choices.

what is hypnosis?

Hypnosis is one of the tools I use at nlp insights. It is a gentle way to pay attention to the unconscious thoughts and beliefs you have about yourself and the world around you.

Hypnosis is a relaxed state where the unconscious mind is focused and open to helpful suggestions and visualizations. During hypnosis the brain waves slow down (known as the alpha state) - it is not like being asleep. While in a trance state your unconscious mind listens and learns more easily.

You will sit in a comfortable chair. You might want to close your eyes. Most people can be hypnotized. It's really about feeling comfortable and allowing yourself to relax.

Think about a time when you were watching a movie or reading a really great book and your attention was focused and clear. At the same time you were probably aware of other sounds and movements around and you just let them stay in the background. That's a naturally occurring trance state.

You might notice that like meditation, your mind is sharp and alert while your body is relaxed. In this relaxed state, you will always be in control of your thoughts, your actions and your words.

Using your creative mind, imagine a really dusty window. What happens when you take a cloth and wipe the dust from that really clouded window? As you wipe away the years of collected dust, the glass becomes clearer and it becomes easier to see out the window. You might even notice that although the window hasn't changed - what you see looks different.

Hypnosis helps to change where you put your attention and what you choose to see.

what is brief and narrative practice?

Narrative practice is a conversational therapeutic process. You tell me the many stories of your life and together we explore what they mean. We take the time to slow down and listen to the hidden stories behind and in front of the bigger stories - like listening between the words.

I do this by asking you different kinds of questions. The questions are the path that connects you to your insider knowledge. This knowledge stored inside of you is like a big warehouse filled with your skills, strengths, beliefs and values. This insider knowledge helps you bridge the gap between what you know and what is possible to know. It helps you find your answers.

Our conversations are collaborative; we work together to re-author your stories. The telling and re-telling of the stories gives you an opportunity to create healthier future stories with new meaning. This understanding gives you more choice and allows you to see yourself in a whole new way.

what to expect

The first session is where I get to know you. We talk about whatever feels right for you at that time. You can tell me about your history and what you hope for and what you'd like to change. This appointment is usually an hour and a half. Following appointments are one hour. All our conversations are completely confidential.

what I specialize in

healthy eating habits and weight management
The problem isn't the food. It's what the food means to you.

The first step to changing your body is to understand the purpose of the unhealthy patterns and why you keep them. The next step is to pay attention to the emotions connected to these habits and to identify your internal and external sabotage systems. We use food to escape, to hide from our feelings, to quiet our inner critic, to protect. We use food to hold ourselves back.

But you can't hate yourself into the body you want. Be gentle and give yourself a break. Learn to set achievable goals and to appreciate the small steps that create big change. Reframe your negative thoughts around food and replace them with healthy thinking that promotes healthy weight management.

fear and phobia
A phobia is an unreasonable fear of just about anything.

The exact cause of a phobia is not always known. They are often associated with a traumatic experience or a learned reaction. Sometimes related to a single event.

How you want to deal with a phobia or fear depends on the severity of the phobia and how likely you are to encounter it.

Hypnosis and NLP are powerful and supportive tools that help you take a look at the unconscious patterns connected to the root cause of your fear. Uncovering this hidden information gives you a different perspective of the phobic situation…..one where you will feel safer, calmer and more in control.