Alan's apples won't ever taste of orange

Scarborough Evening News
29.11.06
By James Hanley

When people hear the word hypnosis their first thoughts will probably be of normal people being reduced into zombie-like states on TV and being coaxed into doing outrageous, embarrassing things. But, far from being turned into performing seals, more and more people are using hypnosis to help them deal with several health problems and issues.

Alan Gray is an analytical and clinical hypnotherapist. He opened Scarborough Hypnotherapy Practice, in Falsgrave Road, earlier this year and treats people who want to stop smoking, lose weight, have anxieties or sexual problems, or who want to build confidence and self-esteem.

The former lecturer said: "Hypnotherapy can bring about many positive changes. Unwanted habits and negative thought patterns, for example, can be changed for the better.

Hypnotherapy is the use of therapy within the relaxed state of hypnosis. Contrary to popular belief hypnotism is not a state of deep sleep, but is a state of relaxation, and concentration and actually gives patients an enhanced sense of awareness while they are in it as they are concentrating entirely on the hypnotist's voice."

Research has shown hypnosis to be the quickest way to give up smoking, using a combination of visualisation and positive-thinking therapies.

Depression can also be treated through hypno-analysis, which is used to address the root cause of the problem and once the cause is identified the factor creating the depression is dissipated. The client then has a better understanding of the condition.

Mr Gray said: "Hypnosis is a very relaxed, calm feeling where you are in complete control. You can hear everything. You are aware of everything and, if anything, you are more focused. "It is a bit like a daydream. We go in and out of hypnosis several times a day. For example, when your mind is on something else, like driving, in effect you are hypnotised. Even when you are watching television you are in a kind of hypnotised state."

Mr Gray hopes to raise awareness of the positive effects of hypnotism while debunking a few of the many myths surrounding the subject. He said: "The image of stage hypnotists puts fear and trepidation into people when they think of hypnotherapy. I've seen Paul McKenna and what I do is nothing like that."

Mr Gray says patients can expect to achieve solutions to many problems which might not have responded to other treatments. "It is a very natural process which is led by the client. We are not analysing what they say like a counsellor.
"For years people have thought about their problem with their conscious mind and don't know why they are depressed or anxious. "The answer lies deeper than that – it lies in their subconscious mind.

"What I'm trying to achieve is to get over this image of a stage hypnotist turning people into zombies and eating apples which taste like oranges."

Mr Gray, who is originally from the Newcastle area and moved to Scarborough in 1996, began training in hypnotherapy and stress management in 1993 and was invited to join the International Association of Hypno-analysts after completing extensive training with the Hypnotherapy Control Board.

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