Relaxation Therapy – Chose a Different Approach with Hypnotherapy
This article begins giving you an idea of what relaxation therapy is and how it can help. We also offer you a few examples of this style of therapy. This should give you a taste of what we are offering you to help. Then we provide you with an example session so you get an even better idea of what delights you can expect. Lastly, we look at some the evidence provided online that goes to prove Relaxation Therapy can help you. For those interested in getting some help to relax your mind and body completely, call today! 07979 814388
What is Relaxation Therapy?
This form of therapy aims to allow you to relax and unwind while you are being treated. It aims to allow your stress to simply trickle away during your session, like the water flowing quietly down a steam, through a tranquil forest. It uses ethical, positive suggestions to guide you into really enjoying the respite you are receiving, in the moment, as it actually happens. It relaxes your mind and body together meaning all your worries can be left behind for a time. Then you will be guided to create yourself an anchor (pressing a chosen thumb and finger together). This is so you can regain all of those wonderful relaxing feelings any time you need them. This is the perfect style of therapy for those who require new useful tools in their toolbox to allow them to unwind. The bonus being you can use some of these relaxing techniques anywhere, anytime it is safe to do so. Contact us today and allow yourself some authentic “me time”. 07979 814388
Different Types of Relaxation Therapy We Offer You
PMR (Progressive Muscle Relaxation) – This is a guided relaxation which is widely used because, to be frank, it works for many, many people. You are guided to release any muscle tension in all areas of your body 1 by 1, head to toe, and relax them progressively. So, you will relax your feet, legs, stomach, chest, back, shoulders, arms, neck and face one after the other.
Breathing techniques – Breathing in relaxation (1,2,3,4), Hold (1,2,3,4), Breathing out all of the tension (1,2,3,4). Repeat.
Mindfulness – This is similar to PMR however there is more concentration on feeling how your muscles feel and accepting it. There isn’t a specific emphasis on relaxing however, it just happens for most people as a positive side effect. It is accepting how things are in the moment. This allows you mind to calm, your thoughts to slow and your muscles follow suit.
Suggestion – This is an incredibly useful technique that works well. Think about it, there is a multibillion-pound advertising industry based around it. If I ask you to think about a breakfast cereal with a tiger on the front, do you know which one I am talking about? If I ask you to think of the most delicious meal you have ever eaten, do you find you mouth waters? Ethical positive suggestion of relaxation works just as well. Now, imagine you are sitting on a comfortable seat on the edge of a beautiful, peaceful glade in a forest. The sun is shining, the birds are tweeting, you feel a cooling breeze on your face. Are you starting to relax a bit?
Peaceful Place – Your therapist will take you to your personal peaceful place. During your intake before therapy, you will be asked to describe your peaceful place in as much detail as possible. Now simply close your eyes and imagine. It might be your favourite place in nature, somewhere real or imaginary, it might be somewhere you went on holiday or somewhere you dream of going. Describe what you see, feel, hear, smell in your peaceful place.
When you have started to relax under hypnosis your therapist will take you there. It will be described it in your own words so you can really imagine being there, relaxing, enjoying, being at peace. This is your peaceful place, created by you, for you, in your imagination and … relax … good. Are you feeling the benefits already?
What Happens in a Relaxation Therapy Session? – Example Session
- The very first thing is we need to understand your perspective of your world with our pre-therapy discussions. Different people can interpret any situation from different perspectives. What we need for your therapy is to understand how you see things and understand how you enjoy relaxing most. This is imperative to allow us to build a personalised therapy plan and tailor your relaxation so you can get the most out of each session.
- Together we will build a picture of your personal peaceful place. This will be relayed back to you using your own words after relaxing hypnosis has been induced.
- Induction into relaxing hypnosis will take place.
- Relaxing deepeners will guide you deeper and deeper into relaxation. 2 or 3 or more may be used to get you to really let go and unwind.
- You are now taken to your personal peaceful place to relax. You will be guided to really indulge your all senses here. Be totally relaxed and at peace. Take all the time you need to really enjoy the feeling of your favourite, beautiful, serene, calm place. Oh yes, that does feel good.
- Now we will take all of those wonderful, positive, peaceful, relaxing feelings and anchor them, This is your anchor so, you choose a thumb and a finger on the same hand to make it yours.
- Once anchored we will play with those feeling to make even stronger. Pressing your thumb and finger together the feeling will flow through you. This will really imbed them into that one physical sensation of touching a finger and thumb together.
- You are gently counted out of hypnosis and guided to “coming back” feeling peaceful, happy, relaxed and calm.
- Out of hypnosis you will be reminded of your anchor and asked to trigger those feeling again.
- As the session ends you should be very relaxed and now have some useful tools you can used anywhere, anytime you want or need it. Just press your thumb and finger tother and feel … ahhhhh … relaxed … that feels so good.
Evidence for the Benefits of Relaxation
There is lots of evidence of many great benefits that you can enjoy during, and after your relaxation therapy here. Here are a few examples for you. Firstly, Silva A ey al from Universidade do Rio Grande do Sulfound found evidence that Relaxation Therapy is useful for the elderly. It reduces symptoms of anxiety, related reasoning problems, physical symptoms, and helps the immune system by lessening stress. Secondly, Benson H et al (1974) tells us the relaxation response helps to sooth your nerves and nervous system which is a great boon indeed. Thirdly, Olive T (2021) says the young can also benefit from relaxing with positive results in writing skills and other cognitive tasks. Lastly Norelli (2021) reports relaxation therapy is beneficial as a therapeutic intervention for patients suffering from anxiety, general nervousness, unhappiness, physical discomforts, high blood pressure and stress. So, there is lots of evidence that it can help you. Call for your appointment today so you too can … relax. 07979 814388