Hypnotherapy clinic opens at The Heath

Hypnotherapy clinic opens at The Heath and can help to take the stress and anxiety out of life at home or in the workplace

Following successful careers as a senior nurse and then a secondary school teacher, mother-of-two Phil Noone from Widnes is embarking on a new adventure as a clinical hypnotherapist.

After recently graduating from the prestigious Clifton Practice Hypnotherapy Training programme and now a qualified Solution Focused Clinical Hypnotherapist, Phil has opened her own practice at The Heath Business and Technical Park in Runcorn.

She embarked on her journey when researching how hypnotherapy can help pain management in a bid to ease the suffering of a family member, who has a debilitating and excruciating chronic illness.

Phil says: “I was still working as a teacher but the more I investigated the world of hypnotherapy, it became immediately obvious how unbelievably helpful it was for so many other things as well. I guess I have always been fascinated by healing after spending the first 18 years of my working life as a senior nurse specialising in emergency care.”

The more she delved into the science and neuroscience of hypnotherapy, the more intrigued she became, eventually deciding to give up her career as a senior leader in her beloved Wade Deacon High School to launch her own clinic.

She explains: “Hypnosis has been around for centuries. It is an ancient, much-respected practice that has rightly gained popularity in recent years as people become more and more aware of its benefits.”

But she says it is essential to check out credentials first: “Hypnotherapy is not currently regulated in the UK, but hypnotherapists can register with professional bodies, such as the Complementary and Natural Health Council (CNHC) and the National Council of Hypnotherapy (NCH), as I have done. It’s important that people who are considering hypnotherapy use a suitably registered practitioner.”

Phil adds: “The UK government has declared that ‘supporting mental health in the workplace has never been so important’. Poor mental health costs employers between £33 billion and £42 billion a year and costs the UK economy between £74 billion and £99 billion a year. We are told that we are facing a ‘mental health crisis’, not only for our employees but for employers as well. Since COVID, unsurprisingly perhaps, 82% of small business owners report a decline in their mental health.

“By opening my clinic at The Heath Business and Technical Park, it gives me direct access to offer support to so many small and SME businesses. The Heath also has a significant following among the local residents too, through its varied community programmes, so it means I can be at the centre of business and the wider community at the same time.”

Phil says that hypnotherapy is used to help support clients who experience issues that are negatively affecting their lives. These can include sleep problems, anxiety, low mood, confidence building, pain management, dealing with symptoms of the menopause and weight control. It is also used to help improve performance in areas such as sports, public speaking or even interviews.

“The kind of hypnotherapy that I use is Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (SFH); it’s a type of gentle talking therapy that combines psychotherapy with hypnosis. In SFH, we recognise that the client is the expert in their own life, rather than the therapist. SFH focuses on the solution – the solution that the client wants – right from the start, rather than focusing on problems. We don’t spend time exposing clients to old worries and concerns. We work side-by-side with the common aim of working towards a new future, rather than confronting a challenging past.”

The word ‘hypnos’ comes from Greek and means ‘sleep’. Hypnos was the Greek God of Sleep.

Phil adds: “Actually, we’re not asleep when we have hypnosis, we’re just in a very relaxed state that mimics some REM sleep patterns. REM is the Rapid Eye Movement phase of sleep – the phase when we dream. Hypnosis, also known as trance, is a very natural, relaxing state. In fact, we go into trance many times a day, for example, times when we are relaxed, such as when we are daydreaming, going for a run, watching TV, or doing the gardening. The hypnosis part in SFH sessions is achieved by using guided relaxation, where the mind can relax and then focus on thoughts and suggestions that might be useful in influencing the client’s intended new future.”

Phil Noone Hypnotherapy has a dedicated consulting room at The Heath and will be offering online consultations, as well as in-person appointments.

Phil is also launching The Head Gardener programme, which is especially targeted towards businesses, helping them to support the emotional wellbeing of their workforces.

Late Summer Promotion at The Heath
Phil is offering free 50-minute initial consultations, plus free relaxation audios for individuals who make contact with her before Friday, 2nd September. For businesses, Phil is also offering Stem 1 of The Head Gardener Programme for free if employers contact her before Friday, 2nd September. This is a one-hour corporate presentation for employers and employees, plus a relaxation audio for all staff. Full details can be found at www.philnoonehypnotherapy.co.uk