What is CBH?
Hypnotherapy can take many forms, but one of the particular methods in which I’m trained is called Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy (CBH). This approach integrates social, cognitive, and behavioural psychology with a modern style of hypnosis.
CBH is evidence-based and works from the principle that thinking, feeling, and behaving are all interconnected. By exploring how you respond to certain triggers, we can uncover unhelpful thoughts or habits – and change them. I use a range of proven interventions drawn from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), enhanced by the power of hypnosis.
It’s much more than “just CBT plus a relaxing trance.”
How Does CBH Work?
The aim of CBH is to help you understand how your mind is currently managing situations, identify negative cycles or avoidance behaviours, and introduce healthier new responses. Hypnosis acts like a spotlight, focusing your attention and making it easier to absorb positive change at a deeper, more lasting level.
Together we can:
- Identify Core Beliefs: Understand how unhelpful thoughts took root and the reasons behind them.
- Replace Old Patterns: Reframe negative responses so you think, feel, and act in more beneficial ways.
- Strengthen New Skills: Through relaxation, imagery, and hypnotic suggestion, rehearse and reinforce new mindsets until they become second nature.
Techniques Used in CBH
Relaxation
Hypnosis can feel deeply relaxing, but the real purpose is to heighten focus and help you vividly imagine positive change. Relaxation calms your body and mind so you can approach challenges such as phobias or stress from a steady, safe place.
Self-Awareness
By turning your attention inward, we observe the thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations that arise in challenging situations. This heightened awareness allows you to use techniques like thought-stopping or thought-switching to let go of unhelpful patterns.
Suggestion
Hypnosis increases your receptiveness to realistic, constructive ideas. During sessions, we introduce empowering suggestions that positively influence your emotions and behaviours, helping you replace old habits with more productive ones.
Coping Skills
While we may explore past experiences to understand their influence, CBH also equips you with practical tools cope with the present. You’ll gain new ways to manage stress, build confidence, and respond better in situations that once felt overwhelming.
Problem-Solving
Structured problem-solving exercises break challenges down into manageable steps. Practising solutions in the therapy room prepares you to apply them in everyday life.
Role-Play
Role-play is a powerful way to practice assertiveness, boundaries, and self-expression. If standing up for yourself is difficult, these exercises build confidence in a supportive, non-judgemental setting.
Dehypnosis
Long-held negative beliefs can function like “negative self-hypnosis,” where unhelpful thoughts feel true. CBH helps you “dehypnotise” from those beliefs and replace them with healthier, more empowering ways of being.
Why Choose CBH With Me
I trained in Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy with the UK College of Hypnosis & Hypnotherapy, which specialises in evidence-based approaches grounded in psychology and research. My practice is built on clear structure, professional standards, and respect for each client’s individual needs.
CBH isn’t just about managing symptoms or probing into the past – it’s about creating meaningful, lasting change. By combining cognitive and behavioural insights with hypnotic techniques, you can break free of limiting beliefs and move forward with greater clarity, confidence, and self-awareness.
Sessions are available online via Zoom or face to face in Moray, Scotland. I work within my professional sphere of competence and, where appropriate, recommend medical or specialist care to ensure you receive the best support.
You don’t have to accept old stories about who you are or how you react to the world. CBH offers a practical, empowering path to rewrite your thinking and become the person you truly want to be.
Book your free clarity call now!