» Listings for 2015

1. X Factor Winner Matt Cardle uses Hypnosis to Quit Smoking

   Posted on 9:04am Sunday 19th Jul 2015

   X Factor Winner Matt Cardle is the latest celebrity to turn to hypnotherapy.

   He has recently quit smoking to help him get in shape for his West End debut in hit musical Memphis.

   

   Back in when he became the X Factor winner, could Matt have imagined that he would win a standing ovation at a gala press night at the Shaftesbury Theatre, where he is playing the lead role of Huey, a DJ who defies segregation in the American South to promote black music? The show also stars Beverley Knight, who plays aspiring singer Felicia.

   Speaking to the London Standard Matt Cardle explained that getting ready for the show was the hardest experience of his life:

   “I’m not unfit, but I could be fitter. Bev said, ‘You’re going to have to get fit and stop smoking’. That’s the first thing she said, ‘You’ve got to quit the fags or you won’t make it’. And I was like, ‘Really?’ And I now know there is no way on God’s green earth I could have done it if I still smoked.

   “I was smoking 30 a day. I’m all right now — I went to see a hypnotist in Harley Street. I won’t go back to smoking. That’s me done.”

   It’s great to hear what so many people who have used hypnosis to help them quit smoking for good say. Once you make that choice to finally stop smoking cigarettes for life then it can even be hard to see why you smoked them in the first place.

2. How do you explain the unconscious mind?

   Posted on 12:40pm Saturday 18th Jul 2015

   I like to be able to explain to people how our mind works and the best way to do that is often to use examples...

   So, using the example of speaking to a smoker who wished to become a non smoker, I would explain to them... The brain is, very simply divided into two separate parts – the left brain which deals with logical thought, is the part that is critical and deals with most of our daily decision making process – it is the conscious part of our mind.

   The other part of our brain – the right brain – becomes more creative as we relax and is responsible for all our memories, feelings, emotions and creativity – it is the unconscious part of our mind.

   There isn’t normally a lot of communication between the left and right halves of our brain - for example – your left brain knows all the good reasons why you shouldn’t smoke – but your right brain has the feeling that you want to smoke.

   One of the rules of psychology is that, where the left and right brain are in conflict – the right brain nearly always wins. That’s why simply deciding to stop smoking may not be enough – it is like telling someone experiencing a panic attack – not to worry. Logical thought simply doesn’t  get through in our normal waking state – to the right – unconscious brain where our feelings are – does that make sense?

   If I say to you – tomorrow you’re not going to smoke anymore – the little voice in your left brain will say to “So that’s what he thinks – the idiot!!” or words to that effect. Whereas if instead I lead you into a pleasant relaxed state of hypnosis and I turn the statement into a positive form – like – “As from now you’re a non-smoker and really enjoying being a non-smoker” – its really saying the same thing but is much more readily accepted by your whole brain.

   By working with you on the positives we can really help all of you to see and understand that what you want is the best for you. Both parts of you really want to achieve the same thing and give you the best in your life that you can have.