It’s an absolute pleasure to be recognised for the hard work and effort I put into my business and helping my clients. You can see that my clients think that I am the best of the best by looking at their testimonials HERE.

Three best rated 2021

Three best rated 2021

Working over Zoom

Since the pandemic, I have been working 100% online, via Zoom.

It has worked so well, with all of my clients being happy with the service provided PLUS the fact they can see me in the comfort of their own homes, I took the decision to work online from now on. (If this changes, I will update you).

The majority of my clients were very nervous to start off with, so being at home helped them not feel too far out of their comfort zone.

CONTACT ME

If you would like more information on how I work and how I can help you, please watch my FREE Webinar.

Who is Katy Stevenson?

The post Best of the best! appeared first on Hypnofife.

This may seem like a huge feat but it follows the same principles as before this pandemic.

Anxiety is rippling through the world at the moment, with so many people living in fear of what could happen and also grieving for the world that they’ve lost.

If you had the skills to calm your mind beforehand, you would utilise them just the same as you would during these unsettling times. You may just need to remind yourself to actually use them.

Calming your mind can be done in lots of different ways, you may have some go to techniques, or perhaps you don’t have any at all.

If you have no techniques, that’s OK, here are some for you to use.

If you already know some, are you actually using them, or do you forget and get yourself into a panic?

Calm your mind- 3 simple techniques:

Technique 1

If you are starting to feel overwhelmed with things that are going on around you, take a moment to recognise what it is that is triggering you. Is it the noise, the people, your own thoughts?

Take stock and note for later.

Notice where in your body you feel it. Then take back the control.

What does this mean?

Well, if your heart is racing, try making it faster. If you can achieve this, then you are controlling it, do the opposite…
Try slowing your heart rate down, just by thinking about it.

Often we let our minds race and lose the control. We think these things are happening TO us.

However, when we step into the driving seat and take the wheel of control, we can assist ourselves back into the right lane.

The same goes for your breathing, if it’s too fast, you’ll start to hyperventilate and get dizzy, causing you to feel even worse!

Technique 2

Ground yourself. Think about someone or something you really enjoy. Picture it in your mind, how it looks, feels, smells etc. Imagine your are there or with them and take a deep breath. Then breathe out, calmly. Do it again.

Take back the happy thoughts of something that makes you smile and bring it back into focus. Your body will then follow and relax.

Technique 3

Remember your favourite place in time and focus on it in detail. Was it a beach, a woodland walk, or a special holiday with friends or family?

Take a moment to remember one fantastic detail about it. Was there a funny moment that made you smile or laugh? Was there a sensation of true calm, bliss even? Think back to that time that made you happy.

The post Calm your mind- 3 simple techniques appeared first on Hypnofife.

We are now predominantly using Zoom for our meetings and sessions online, so I wanted to give you step by step instructions on how to set up for a Zoom session. So, have a look at the information, so that you are prepared for your next Zoom session (or Skype or Teams etc)

1. Check your lighting

Sit with your PC/Laptop etc in a position where the lighting is behind it, shining onto your face. Most people will sit with the light streaming onto their computer screen. Unfortunately however,  this puts their face into shadows. Also, make sure that light is not just shining onto one side of your face, creating a shadow on the other side.

2. Remove distractions

If you have children or pets, make sure that they are out of the room so that they do not come in and disturb you. Switch your phone onto silent, flight mode, so that you do not get any notifications during your Zoom session. The last think you want is a PING or a bark when you are trying to concentrate!

3. Go to the toilet

It may sound obvious but people often forget to go to the toilet before a session, then feel too embarrassed to say anything during the Zoom session, so sit uncomfortably. Also you do not want to waste time on going to the loo during your time slot, when you could’ve gone beforehand.

4. Sound quality

Being able to hear each other clearly during the session is very important. I would recommend using headphones to that you can hear clearly and also so that you can be heard. It also reduces background noise from your home. Don’t worry though, you don’t need to go and buy some, you can use the ones that came with your phone. It’s not a necessity though, as long as you can hear and can be heard you’re all good, so if you don’t have any, don’t worry!

5. Internet signal

Do your best to make sure that you are getting a good signal. For a Zoom session to work properly, the internet connection needs to be strong. If you are sitting somewhere in your house that doesn’t get a good signal, think about moving to an other part of the house where the session will be better.

6. Background

Don’t worry too much about the background of your Zoom session, as that’s not important. If it really bothers you however, you can add a background image from the menu at the bottom left of the screen, next to “Stop Video. Just click on the arrow and it will give you the option to Change Virtual Background.

In there, you’ll have some different ones available. In order for it to come out well, you need to be sitting in front of a blank wall, otherwise it won’t look right.

As you can see here, I’ve positioned myself in front of a blank wall but some things behind me are showing through.

It really depends on how important this is to you though! (I did rather enjoy a recent client’s holiday picture from South Africa. As she got hypnotherapy from me, I was looking at a beautiful swimming pool, lovely buildings and a blue sky!)

I hope these tips on how to set up a Zoom Session have been helpful for you. If you haven’t already booked in to get help on releasing anxiety and regaining your confidence and self-esteem, contact me now!

Katy

www.hypnofife.co.uk

free eBook on Overcoming Anxiety available here

Join my next webinar, see my website for more information.

The post Setting up for a Zoom session – 6 simple tips appeared first on Hypnofife.

If you are not being honest with yourself, you are doing yourself a disservice! The negative, worrying, over anxious thoughts that you think about the future: they hold you back from living a happy life.

The little stories that you tell yourself can become your reality.

When you start being honest with yourself and notice how negative your are being, your life can change.

🔥🔥🔥 If you’re ready to break free from them and would like to know how, then get in touch.

I have a free eBook available for download, or you can join me on my FREE Anxiety Release Webinar

Just click on the links to find out how.

The post Are you being honest with yourself? appeared first on Hypnofife.

The Nation is stuck indoors on a lockdown, trying to stop the spread of the Coronavirus. Everyone who is not a keyworker must stay inside… but what does this mean for you?

If you are already struggling with a Mental Health issue, this may heighten your anxiety and stress levels, to become unbearable.

In order to keep your head calm and your mind busy, I have listed some activities you could be doing on a daily basis.

Most importantly though, if you are feeling overwhelmed, speak to someone! Call a friend or family member and have a chat. Allow them to lift you out of the negative mindset. If you cannot do this, call Samaritans or someone else that is there to help you feel safe enough.

Here are some tips to help you through the Lockdown.

Daily

Deep breathing

Every morning, take a moment to do some deep breathing exercises and think about something you are grateful for. It can big as big or small as you like it to be, even just be thankful that you woke up! Set your intentions for the day. Then go and have a wash and put on clean clothes.

Dressing for the day

When you put on fresh clothes and shoes, you are telling your mind that you are ready to face the day ahead. Even putting on your make up will help you feel better. Dressing prepares you to feel ready for anything and helps you to be proactive and get things done. If you sit around in your PJ’s all day, you end up achieving very little, as your mindset says “nah, I can’t be bothered”.

Doing make up

Now, I am not saying that’s always a bad thing, as we all need a little down time, every now and then… but when it becomes a daily habit, that’s when it can become really negative for your mental health. There is then a stronger possibility that you may end up enhancing the anxiety and depression problems, and feel even worse by the end of the day.

Plan of action

If you have a plan of action or goal, you have something to concentrate on. The Coronavirus has us all in lockdown and nobody really knows how long it is going to last. Therefore, you have to plan your days, from a day to day and week to week basis. When you know what direction you would like to go in your mind is kept busy, and it makes the days go faster. It also gives you a sense of achievement. You could also plan what you’d like to be doing once this is all over!

What can you do?

Anything you’ve never had the time to do before is a good start. The possibilities are endless. From tidying out a room, cupboard or bookshelf to learning a new skill.

Yoga to release anxiety

If you are able, do some exercise every day. Whether it be joining in on an online exercise class (there are so many, you can Google or YouTube them), to going for a walk or bike ride, whilst we are still allowed. Even tending to your garden if the weather is nice.

I have started teaching my kids to play the guitar and we are doing arts and crafts. We are also learning to speak Spanish, using a very easy to use website, called Duolingo.

If this is not for you, try painting. (I do painting by numbers, which is great for people with talents elsewhere who still enjoy the process). Or even some yoga, which is great for the body and mind and can be as strenuous as you like!

Minimise the news!

If you are constantly watching the news, all about the coronavirus, you may end up in a heightened state of anxiety. Keep your news updates to a minimum if you can. The same goes for social media. If the groups or people you follow are very negative or are talking about the Coronavirus or politics all the time, and that gets too much, think about stepping back from it for a little while.

Daily contact

phone call

If you can, do your best to contact someone every day. This will keep you in contact with the world, so that the isolation of the Lockdown period is not too overwhelming.

Use the time to contact people that may be in your thoughts but you’ve not spoken to for a while. It’s good to talk! If not on the phone, then there are plenty of social media apps you can use.

When you are feeling overwhelmed

There may be times when it all just gets a little too much for you and you are not coping. These are the times when you need to do some self-care.

• Doing some breathing exercises, will help you calm your mind and settle your feelings back to being more relaxed again. Have a look at some of my breathing exercises on my YouTube videos HERE.
• Have a cup of tea or a drink of water and do nothing for 20 minutes.
• Read a book and distract yourself.
• Think about a time that you were really happy or relaxed. Imagine yourself back there and soak up the positive feelings it evokes.
• Watch a relaxation video HERE.
• Have a nice relaxing bath or shower.
• Go for a walk and make sure to LOOK UP, taking in the sights, taking deep breaths of fresh air.
• Join a group of friends in a quiz or daily online activity.
• Tidy up, it will help you feel less anxious!
• Remind yourself that this is only temporary, things will get better.

Get some direct help from Katy

Katy Stevenson is a wife and mother of 2 young boys. She’s been a practising Hypnotherapist since 2009 and loves to help people to release their anxieties quickly, and help them regain their confidence and self-esteem.

If you’d like to have a chat with Katy about having a 1 to 1 session and releasing your anxious thoughts and feelings, for good, then get in contact with her now.

Obviously, during the Coronavirus pandemic, appointments are online only. Katy uses a secure online service, called Zoom, which is a private and secure meeting room, similar to Skype.

To book a free telephone consultation, please go to her online diary here. https://calendly.com/katystevenson/strategy-call
You can also watch her free webinar HERE, to find out more about Hypnotherapy.

The post Tips to help you through the Coronavirus Lockdown appeared first on Hypnofife.

When Sarah arrived, walking through my door (looking absolutely terrified) I really felt for her. She was totally flattened by life. 3 kids, a career in Finance and barely an ounce of self-confidence left.

She wanted to stop feeling so low and be free from anxiety and stress, once and for all.

Sarah admitted that she’d let things get out of control to the point that she’d lost all faith in her own abilities. She has been given a warning from work to basically sort herself out or her job would be at risk. She was making a lot of mistakes and was unaware that she even had anxiety.

Home life

At home things were tense. Sarah was either arguing with her husband, about everything and anything or just not caring and letting things overwhelm her. The kids were pushing her to her limits, constantly and she didn’t have the mental energy to deal with it. They all knew this. Anxiety pulls the energy from you and can make you feel exhausted.

She had tried counselling many moons before but didn’t get much from it, so didn’t think anyone could help her. Her friend had recommended to come and see me, so she mustered up as much courage as she could and phoned me.

Once on the phone call, I could hear how trampled down with life she was and also how much she WANTED to change, to become anxiety free. I booked her in.

First session

When Sarah came in the office, she took a seat, with an air of trepidation. I explained to her that hypnosis is not mind control and she would be fully aware of where she was, at all times. In fact, hypnotherapy is a state that she goes into regularly, like when falling asleep or awakening, or even daydreaming.

I explained that I would not be in control of her thoughts and certainly cannot see into her head. This made her feel less anxious, knowing that she wasn’t giving over her control to me, a total stranger.

After a good chat about stress and anxiety and how to cope with situations day to day, I taught her some amazing tools she can keep in her toolkit, to use whenever she needed them.

We then proceeded with the hypnosis. She really enjoyed it, so much so that she couldn’t believe that it had been 25 mins, as it only felt like 5 minutes! She felt so much more chilled out, like a weight had been lifted.

The change process

Over the next 3 weeks, she learned lots of really helpful tips on how she can control her own mind and deal with any negativity or anxiety/anxious thoughts, if it popped into her head. She practised all her bits of homework and loved each session she attended.

Sarah’s anxiety went from a 10, to a 5, then finally to zero. Her confidence and self-esteem went from being at rock bottom to a very happy 8.

Sleep

When she first came to me her she slept for approximately 4/5 hours per night, now she was getting a perfect 7.5-8 hours per night. No longer did she wake 2 or 3 times per night, she always slept right through and felt great in the morning.

Sarah’s final session

As she stood in my office on her 4^th and final session, Sarah glowed. She was not a new person, she was an improved version of herself. She had found her old self again and it felt wonderful. She reported back having a new vitality for life.

Sarah could honestly say that she was now free from anxiety.

She was no longer stressed and snapping at her family and was able to deal with everything calmly

Sarah became free from anxiety

and capably.

Family life

She had more tolerance for her children and her husband was delighted to have a happy, loving having his wife back again. No longer someone to fight with anymore. She was so settled and full of joy!

Eventually, Sarah changed her monotonous job and found somethings that she really enjoyed… she valued herself and her ability to do things.

She only wished that she had come to me sooner, as our sessions had had such a positive impact on her life.

Help is here for you, if you want it

You can now see how Sarah became free from anxiety. If you would like to make a huge change in your life, like Sarah did, and get back your happier self, get in touch with me now.

I offer a FREE, no obligation telephone call, so we can discuss how I can help you.

Contact me now, or BOOK A FREE STRATEGY CALL

Katy

07967587033

katy@hypnofife.co.uk

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The post How Sarah became free from anxiety appeared first on Hypnofife.

Social anxiety can be overwhelming and we may feel trapped in a place that’s out with their comfort zone. Away from the comforts of home.

Some of you may already be thinking about excuses you can make to not go, perhaps you will get a sudden illness and need to stay at home.

According to the UK’s mental health charity Mind, 1 in 5 people cancel last minute for their staff Christmas parties, due to sickness, when actually it’s anxiety. The pressure of having to participate in the festivities is too much for some.

Janice

Janice (35) from Dunfermline explains how she struggled to cope with a work’s Christmas party last year.

Social anxiety keeps you isolated

“We were told it was going to be the party of the year and we had better not miss it by our Line Manager. Already I felt the sweat start to stick my shirt to my back, I felt like I had no choice but to go!

I had to get the train over to Edinburgh. 30 mins sitting with noisy, excitable people going to other nights out, my hands were shaking and I was imagining all the things that could go wrong that night. Social anxiety is no fun.

Once I was at the party, I spent the evening fake smiling and constantly looking towards to the exit. By 2 hours in I felt like a nervous wreck! I faked a migraine and pretty much ran for the train home.”

She reported feeling like a failure that she couldn’t do it.

We discussed what things she could’ve done instead.

1. Be in the moment

When we are worried about a future event, we tend to over analyse it. We think about all the possibilities of everything that could go wrong (and most likely won’t). Do your best to stay in the moment and not try and be a fortune teller. You could try imagining all the fun things that would go right!

2. Speak up

If you have a friend or close colleague you can talk to, open up. Let them know how you are feeling and see if they can offer you some support. If you tell them you struggle with social anxiety, they are more likely to offer you a listening ear or even buddy you on the night, so you aren’t feeling so alone.

3. Limit your time

Give yourself a time limit, a few hours perhaps, then allow yourself the freedom to leave. Don’t force yourself to be in a place just because it’s expected. It’s your life, look after you first. When you have a timescale, you can break it down in your mind, reducing the pressure. Anxiety may tell you that you need to continue to be there to the end, you don’t.

4. Stay off the booze

Alcohol is often a trigger for people and can make their social anxiety a lot worse. People drink to relax but then can end up acting unlike themselves and severely regret it afterwards. If this is you, stick to the non-alcoholic drinks and keep your head straight. You can still enjoy yourself without getting drunk. Plus, if you drive, you can get home sooner.

5. Breathe

When anxiety does start to kick in, we tend to shallow breathe, which makes things worse. If you notice this happening, redirect your breath deep into your belly and count to 3, breathing in for 3, out for 3 and hold in between for 3. You could also check around you for 5 things you can see, then hear, smell, taste and touch. If you still feel anxious, look for 4 things and then keep going until you are calm. For other helpful tips, see here for some videos.

6. Time out

Allow yourself permission to leave, whether completely or just for 5 minutes to calm your mind. You don’t need to be a smoker to go and stand outside. Quite often you find people outside smoking because they need time away from others, and they are feeling overwhelmed. People use smoking as an excuse to get away.

You don’t need an excuse though, getting some fresh air is enough. If you need to go home, then do so. You are not responsible for other people’s mental health, give yourself permission to leave when you are ready to do so.

Don’t be isolated with social anxiety

I hope this helps you. Remember though it is all about whatever YOU can manage for yourself, nobody else.

If you would like to be free of anxiety, Katy can help. She is a Hypnotherapist who specialises in anxiety release. Get in touch with her now for the help you need to feel happy and confident in yourself again.

Katy Stevenson
07967587033
www.hypnofife.co.uk

The post 6 tips for Surviving Christmas parties with social anxiety appeared first on Hypnofife.

Do you spend too much time stressing and want to stop worrying what others think about you?

It may seem like human nature but should we really care what other people think? I mean, Mrs Doyle over at number 49 may keep peering over her bins at you on a Thursday morning but does it really matter?

If you think about it, honestly and truly, what is the actual impact of her not liking/disapproving of you? How do you stop worrying?

Firstly, as long as you are not bellowing S Club 7 songs out at the top of your lungs and resurrecting dead cats with your voice at 2 am, then it’s all OK. Worrying about other opinions of you seems to be rife nowadays, so what can we do to change this behaviour?

Here’s 6 ways to stop worrying what others think about you

1. Don’t try and please everyone, it’s impossible! You could be the greatest, smartest, funniest person ever, and there will still be people that dislike you, for their own reasons. Usually jealousy but it could be that you remind them of someone from their past that did them wrong. It’s not your fault, so let it go.

2. Other people’s opinion of you is none of your business, so mind your own – this is one of my favourite quotes as it’s so true. Other people aren’t living in your shoes, they aren’t paying your bills, so why should you care what their opinion of you is? Their negativity is their problem, not yours, so let it go.

3. Stop paying attention to other people’s opinion of you – they are probably a whole lot less interested in you than you realise. If you are too busy concentrating on what they are thinking about you, you are missing out on living your life.
   It’s also quite satisfying to not care whether they like what you are wearing today, for example. Not caring shows confidence and confidence is empowering. People are generally more drawn to confident people, so hold your head up high!

4. Focus on you – if you refocus the energy you’ll stop worrying and concentrate on improving yourself. Imagine how productive and empowered you could become!
   So take a deep breath and focus on what you want to achieve, today/week/month, then do it. Satisfying yourself with achievements is beneficial to your own well being and you’ll be far too busy to worry about what others think of you.

5. Get some rhino skin/new friends – The more sensitive you are to things, the more upset you’ll be. Start off pretending you are not over sensitive, and practise daily. You’ll become stronger and more able to let go of your sensitivity and keep it for when it’s required.
   Remember, when people put you down, it’s often a reflection on their insecurities. “Normal”, nice people don’t go around insulting others. Choose your friends carefully. If they are the type to put you down all the time, are they even worthy of being your friend?

6. The Law of Attraction – if you concentrate and focus on bad things, you’ll notice them happening. When you stop worrying and shift your focus onto positivity & thanking the Universe, you are more likely to get positivity back. I’ve tested this on many occasions and it’s definitely worked.
   I personally like to thank the Universe for 3 things, first thing in the morning. It sets up my day and allows me to focus on what’s good in my life. The happier I am, the less other people’s negativity will affect me, as I’m happy within myself, it makes me feel stronger.

I hope this helps some of you to stop worrying so much.

Of course not everyone will agree with what I’ve written but that’s okay, I don’t really care!

Good day to you all, and keep on smiling,

Katy x

Katy Stevenson
Clinical Hypnotherapist

www.hypnofife.co.uk

The post 6 Ways to stop worrying what others think about you appeared first on Hypnofife.

There’s a lot of misconception around hypnotherapy and it’s benefits, thanks to stage hypnosis.

Most people attribute it to making a fool of yourself in front of people. However, stage hypnosis is for the entertainment of others. This is very different from Hypnotherapy (the clue is in the word) THERAPY!

So what is hypnotherapy then, I hear you ask?

Well, it’s a way of helping people make changes in their lives, which they may have difficulties doing for themselves (with no chicken clucking involved at all!)

You see, our subconscious mind is geared into protecting us and sometimes it can get a little over protective. For instance, if you had a car crash, you may develop a fear of cars. This is your subconscious minds way of stopping you from being in another crash, clever eh?! Although it thinks it’s doing the right thing, it’s obviously very unhelpful for the person.

Getting hypnotherapy can allow you to make the changes from a deeper level, which you may not have any control of yourself.

Comfy hypnotherapy chair

What happens during a session?

I would have a chat with you about your particular requirements from the sessions. We would then have a discussion, followed by the hypnotherapy. This part is where you can get comfortable, then you go into a state of hypnosis. (Have no fear, this just means a nice relaxed state in order to speak directly to the Subconscious Mind, bypassing the critical, Conscious mind). Most people really enjoy 20 mins of relaxation whilst the change work is happening. Hypnotherapy can be really effective and change your future for the better.

A good point to remember though is that Hypnotherapists don’t have a magic wand!

So expectations need to be set over what can actually be achieved. If you want to lose weight or stop smoking, for instance, if you don’t put in any of the work yourself it’s unlikely to help.

Hypnotherapy a collaboration between you and your therapist, this what makes it achievable.

If you’d like some help from Katy Stevenson, Hypnotherapist, you can contact me via my website www.hypnofife.co.uk, email;  katy@hypnofife.co.uk or visit my Facebook page @hypnotherapyfife.

The post What is Hypnotherapy and why the hell do I need it anyway? appeared first on Hypnofife.

Off work

John had been off work for 4 months. He couldn’t go in anymore as he felt everything was getting on top of him. His anxiety and depression was crippling him. He wasn’t able to think straight on the job and so he went to the doctor.

The doctor offered him anti-depressants but he didn’t want to take medication. He had heard of so many people getting trapped on them for years at a time, that wasn’t an option.

So he sat and waited it out.

The anxiety and depression sat with him.

Things got worse.

He became more stressed, frustrated, angry, lost and highly anxious. He fell out with his wife and he couldn’t deal with the kids. The house got messier and on top of him but he didn’t have any energy to deal with it. He tried but it was so exhausting. Depression zapped his energy.

He wanted to be free from anxiety and depression but he didn’t know how.

Eventually, he took up someone’s suggestion to try hypnotherapy

Free of anxiety and depression, finally!

He searched through the internet, looked through all the testimonials and then found me.

After just the first session his mindset changed dramatically. The hypnotherapy and things I had taught him had totally clicked and he went home and found the energy to do some of the things he’d been putting off.

By the second session I could visibly see the difference that had been made. He was far more upbeat and determined to get his life back. Following on from this sessions he took back up some of the hobbies and activities he had previously loved but hadn’t had the energy or inclination to do.

By his third session he had made the decision to return to work the following week and was looking forward to it. He was buzzing as he was really beginning to feel like his old self again.

On the fourth and final session, he told me about his first week back at work. Things had happened but they just didn’t get under his skin anymore. He dealt with things in a totally calm manner and really felt like he was back to his normal relaxed, happy self again.

He never though it would happen but here he was now, free from anxiety and depression!!!

We said our goodbyes and we both felt that this had been a life changing experience for him.

Bittersweet

It’s always sad for me to say goodbye as I felt like I had gotten to know him well and helped him through his darkest times. However, I know that what I have done is given him his life back.

He may come back for a relaxation session in the future, like a mental massage, to keep him grounded and his brain in tip top condition. (Choice, not a necessity).

Almost all of my client’s go through the same process, coming in with the life sucked out of them and end up feeling on top of the world again!

Do you want to feel better again?

If you feel like John did and want to completely change your life around, get in touch with me. I can help you.

Hypnotherapy really does work. Read here for more information on how I can help YOU.

Get in touch for a free chat to discuss things further.

Katy

07967587033
www.hypnofife.co.uk

Facebook: @hypnotherapyfife    or Katy Stevenson’s Hypnotherapy

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