Hypnotherapy in Stockport, Cheshire, near Manchester

Hypnotherapy for Sleep Problems and Insomnia

Tranquil Spirit Hypnotherapy - Qualified and Registered Hypnotherapist

Paul McGlone, BSc(Hons)Soc, DipCD, FETC, CertED, MTSH.Dip.(Hyp), LHS

I am a hypnotherapist in Stockport, Cheshire, near Manchester using hypnosis within hypnotherapy for a wide range of conditions including programmes to help you to overcome sleep problems and insomnia. We are within easy traveling distance of Manchester, Altrincham, Ashton, Buxton, Glossop, Hyde, Macclesfield, Northwich, Poynton, Sale, Wilmslow and other towns in Cheshire, Derbyshire, and Lancashire near to the Greater Manchester area.

Overview of Hypnotherapy for Sleeping Problems and Insomnia

While there is some variation in the amount of sleep that we need as individuals and this can change as we age, a good night's sleep is desirable for all of us. It gives our bodies and minds an opportunity to recharge so that we awake refreshed in the morning feeling energised for the day ahead. Unfortunately most of us are likely to experience some difficulty with sleeping, if not actual insomnia, at some time during our lives. The causes may be many ranging from illness to significant life changes about which we may be anxious. Once a pattern of experiencing some difficulty with sleep starts to establish itself this can become a problem in itself as the mind starts to expect that it is going to experience difficulty in getting to sleep. Bed time then can become something to dread rather than a time of rest and relaxation. The next day we are left feeling tired and without energy, perhaps also feeling irritable with others and unable to concentrate. Some people also experience headaches as a result.

A relatively small proportion of people may experience sleep problems due to a medical condition. For example sleep apnea also known as breathing-related sleep disorder, causes a person to stop breathing for periods of 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Another condition which can affect sleep is myoclonus, sudden and uncontrollable jerks of a muscle or a group of muscles. Experiencing some jerking of muscles from time to time is normal but if it becomes frequent and repetitive it can obviously significantly interfere with sleep. Myoclonus may also be associated with multiple sclerosis. Prior to seeking hypnotherapy it may therefore be worth seeking the advice of your GP to rule out any medical/physiological explanation.

Excessive intake of caffeine or nicotine is also likely to cause sleep problems so it is best to significantly reduce these as a first step. Excessive intake of alcohol is also a cause of sleeping problems. (Many people do not realise this of course. I have had a number of people come to me who have got into a habit of drinking a lot of alcohol "to help me to get to sleep". They then end up with two problems to overcome: insomnia and their alcohol habit). There are a variety of other conditions which are associated with poor sleep patterns such as drug dependency, depression, and chronic anxiety. Many people however can find themselves getting into negative sleeping patterns due to life changes, general anxiety or anxiety provoking events.

The actual way in which sleep problems manifest can vary from person to person. Insomnia can be chronic, lasting over as long period of time, or transient in which case it is usually related to a transient stressful life event such as taking exams. The problem can also relate to different phases of sleep. Some people have difficulty initially getting to sleep. Others experience a restless and disturbed sleep. Still others have more of a problem with waking up too early and then being unable to get back to sleep.

Assessment for Hypnotherapy for Sleeping Problems and Insomnia

A thorough assessment is essential to determine the factors which are affecting you in order to devise a programme of hypnotherapy tailored to your individual needs.

An assessment may include some of the following:

• Explore your sleep pattern and the nature of the problem.



• Discuss your routine prior to sleep and and any external factors which may interfere with sleep.



• Explore the history of your sleep problems.



• Discuss any possible factors such as diet.



• Identify any background psychological factors such as stress, anxiety or significant lfe changes.



• Identify and reviewing your attitude to relaxation and opportunities for relaxation.



• Considering practical strategies appropriate to you personally which can help you to relax which hypnotherapy can strengthen.



• Identifying relaxing/calming and relevant successful past general experiences in your life which can be used positively within hypnotherapy.



• Explore strategies that would be beneficial to you personally in facilitating sleep.

Programme of Hypnotherapy for Sleeping Problems and Insomnia

Depending upon the above we will then agree a programme of hypnotherapy to help you to achieve a positive pattern of sleep. This could include:

• Build up your confidence that a positive sleep pattern can be established.



• Establish a pattern of positive habits which will facilitate sleep and reduce negative ones.



• Reduce mental overactivity prior to sleep eg: rumination, analysis or worry over the day's events.



• If relevant explore and resolve any underlying conflicts.



• Replace fearful/anxious thoughts and emotions with calming/relaxing/peaceful ones.



• Reframe how you perceive, experience and think about problematic situations and issues enabling you to manage them more effectively.



• Strengthen positive practical strategies and skills for sleep.



• Enhance your ability to relax and reinforce effective means of relaxation.



• Promote the use of relaxation and mental devices to facilitate sleep.



• If you wish during one of the sessions we will make a recording on CD to complement the live hypnotherapy session. This will be tailored to your needs and can then be used in your own home to reinforce the work we have done in the "live sessions". This has generally been found to be the best way to produce audio recordings that will be effective.

The above is not exhaustive but will give you an indication of the general approach. All of the above would involve the use of direct and indirect suggestions, visualisation, imagery, etc. Because we are working together with your unconscious mind we are tapping into resources to help you change which are usually not easily accessible to your conscious mind.

The number of sessions required is likely to be two to four depending upon the degree of complexity involved. For full details of fees please click here.

Contact Details

If you feel we may be able to help you through hypnotherapy please do not hesitate to contact us. You can always telephone us for a chat without any obligation. You can phone us on 0161 483 7014 or Mobile: 07904 162904 or please click here to send me a message using a Contact Form.

Our postal address is:
Paul McGlone
Tranquil Spirit,
339, Bramhall Lane,
Davenport,
Stockport,
Cheshire.
SK3 8TP.

"Tranquil Spirit" is a short distance from Stockport Town Centre and Railway Station and on the main bus route between Stockport and Bramhall. Davenport Railway Station (on the Manchester to Buxton/Hazel Grove line) is ten minutes walk away. The M60 Manchester Outer Ring Road is a short distance away (coming the west and south of Manchester via the Cheadle or Stockport junctions; from the east via the junction after Bredbury, signposted for Stockport) with good links to the M56, M6 and M62. We can provide fuller directions at the time of arranging a visit.

Home Visits

If you do not live nearby and it would be difficult for you to travel to us it may still be possible for us to do a home visit if you live in the Cheshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire areas bordering on Greater Manchester. If you opt for this you will need to ensure the use of a room which will be relatively quiet and free from disturbance. Please contact me for further details.