Hypnotherapy in Moulton, Northwich, Cheshire, near Chester, Crewe, Runcorn, Warrington and Manchester

Hypnotherapy for Obsessive Thoughts, Compulsive Behaviours and Rituals, OCD

Tranquil Spirit Hypnotherapy - Qualified and Registered Hypnotherapist

Paul McGlone, BSc(Hons)Soc, DipCD, FETC, CertED, MTSH.Dip.(Hyp), HPD, GQHP, Cert NLP, Cert.PLR., GHR Reg

I am a hypnotherapist in Moulton, Northwich, Cheshire, near Chester, Crewe, Runcorn, Warrington and Manchester using hypnosis within hypnotherapy for a wide range of conditions including programmes to help you to overcome obsessive compulsive thoughts, behaviour and rituals. We are within easy traveling distance of Altrincham, Sale, Lymm, Knutsford, Holmes Chapel, Sandbach, Nantwich, Tarporley, Tarvin, Wilmslow and other towns in the Cheshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Derbyshire, and Lancashire areas.

Overview of Hypnotherapy for Obsessional Thoughts and Compulsive Behaviour / Rituals

While not as common as some of the other anxiety conditions obsessive compulsive disorder, OCD for short is experienced by about 1 in 50 people. It is marked by a feeling of an inability to control anxiety-producing obsessional thoughts, images or sounds which constantly intrude on the person's mind and cause considerable distress. People often feel a compulsion to perform behaviours / rituals in an attempt to seek some temporary relief. We have probably all had the experience from time to time of repeatedly checking that we have locked the back door at night before retiring to bed. However with someone experiencing OCD such thoughts and behaviours often dominate their day and can be extremely distressing. Most people with OCD manage to carry on with their daily life albeit with difficulty. In extreme cases the disorder can be very debilitating making daily routine very difficult. Avoidance of certain situations may be a feature.

The focus of the obsessive compulsive thoughts and behaviour can vary greatly. Commonly occuring obsessions focus around a fear of dirt/germs with related compulsive, repeated washing of hands. In some cases thoughts of harming people close to you, or performing sexual acts or other behaviours that are against the person's fundamental beliefs and values are prevalent. People may spend long periods of time checking things, touching or counting them, or become obsessional about order and tidiness. Some people experience intrusive sounds or music. Sometimes certain words or thoughts must be avoided out of fear that thinking, reading or writing them will result in actual harm to loved ones. The same obsessive anxiety can occur in relation to numbers. Any interruption / deviation from a ritual often means that it will have to be started again from the beginning.

OCD can first occur during childhood but more frequently first occurs during adolescence or early adulthood. The pattern of severity can vary over time. As with other forms of severe anxiety it can be accompanied by depression. In some people eating disorders may occur.

Assessment for Hypnotherapy for Obsessive Compulsive Thoughts, Behaviour and Rituals

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 the onset of OCD and possible origins.



• Explore the nature and pattern of the obsessional thoughts and compulsive behaviours / rituals.



• Identifying any specific situations/events which particularly trigger the obsessional thoughts and compulsive behaviours / rituals.



• 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.



• Consider your own perceptions and feelings about yourself.



• Explore general perceptions and thinking patterns that possibly may be exacerbating obsesional thouughts and compulsive behaviour.



• Consideration of how people around you are affecting you eg: sources of support.



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



• Identify and review 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.



• Explore strategies that would be beneficial to you personally in controlling obsessional thoughts and compulsive behaviours.

Programme of Hypnotherapy for Obsessive Compulsive Thoughts, Behaviour and Rituals

Depending upon the above we will then agree a programme of hypnotherapy to help you to achieve freedom and calm. This could include:

• Raise your general background level of calm.



• Building upon your motivations for overcoming the anxious feelings. Positive motivations are an important tool for creating change.



• If an early experience is relevant we will address this to enable you to let go of any negative associations leaving you free to move on.



• Work to give you more awareness and control over your thinking and your emotions.



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



• Reframe any general negative perceptions and thinking patterns that are contributing to the obsessional thoughts and compulsive behaviours and replace with more positive perceptions and patterns.



• Strengthen positive practical strategies for dealing with obsessional thinking patterns and compulsive behaviours.



• Where necessary strengthen your general levels of self-esteem, confidence and sense of security.



• Reduce negative thoughts and doubts and reinforce your confidence in your ability to succeed.



• 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 four or more 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 01606 590 288 or Mobile: 07904 162904 or please click here to send me a message using a Contact Form.

Our postal address is:

"Tranquil Spirit" is only 15 mins by car from Junction 18 (Holmes Chapel Junction) on the M6 .

We are 2.9 miles/7 mins by road from Winsford Railway Station 3.7 miles/10 mins by road from Hartford Railway Station both stations being on the Birmingham New Street to Liverpool Lime Street line operated by London Midland. You can view a timetable by Clicking Here

We are 12 mins/4.6 miles by road from Northwich Railway Station and 10 mins/3.6 miles by road from Greenbank Railway Station both stations being on the Manchester Picadilly to Chester line operated by Northern. You can view a timetable by Clicking Here

There are also regular bus services from the Northwich, Winsford, Crewe and Warrington directions.

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, Merseyside or Greater Manchester areas. 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.