Many hypnotherapist’s we speak too are part of CORP, an ongoing research programme which is designed to help increase an understanding of the benefits of hypnotherapy for the wider community.
Crucially, it allows our hypnotherapists to monitor their own performance by using a scaling system to rate successes which are subjectively experienced by a client.
CORP seems to be leading the way when it comes to the level of sophistication being employed in creating this level of anonymised data.
Our team is dedicated in providing a statistical analysis of the results. These can track the improvements experienced by an individual over a set time.
Crucially, they also allow us to see how affective the treatment has been in meeting a client’s desired outcome.
Having our members engaged in this crucial exercise allows the Hypnotherapy profession build up a strong overview for the positive difference our work can make for thousands of people.
It also creates a mean average figure for when clients can expect to notice a possible difference in themselves.
To be able to provide an idea for a timeframe of change can be hugely reassuring, and comforting, for someone coming to see us for the first time.
So, if someone is experiencing a stress related condition, we can show them graphs and data which show approximate ‘uplift’ times. All are based on an array of anonymous responses provided by past clients.
The information should create a realistic ‘sense of hope’ for when things may start to get better for them. The benefit is it can really help someone in creating a focused engagement and a strong therapeutic alliance with their practitioner.
We encourage our members to take part in this exciting venture. If you’re not already measuring your outcomes via our tailored programming system, then do send us an email and we would be glad to provide further details.
We hope to start providing a separate quarterly newsletter which will provide updates on our latest findings. Watch this space!
One area whereby our training can make an immediate difference to someone’s life is the stop smoking session. This one-off appointment provides an opportunity for a client to wholeheartedly embrace a permanent and positive change.
The past few newsletters have focused on an overview of official data analysis from the ONS (Office for National Statistics).
The figures have allowed us to look at the effects of the pandemic on mental wellbeing and, separately, the rates of stress in younger generations.
In this newsletter, we’re looking at smoking. The ONS data shows us that around 6.9 million people were smokers in 2019 (that’s just over 14% of the population). It noted there was a continued downward trend for the habit.
The team also provided a breakdown of data which showed that just under 16% of men smoked in the UK with around 12.5% of women lighting up on a regular basis.
The highest proportion of smokers in UK consisted of people aged between 25 to 34. On the upside, since 2011, the largest fall in smoking has been among those aged between 18 to 24.
The good news for our members is that when a smoker intends to quit then they tend to wait longer before having their first cigarette of the day.
The ONS says just over 40% of smokers who’re looking to stop will light up within an hour of waking. This is compared to 60% who plan to continue the habit.
In other words, it could be argued that a significant number of people looking to stop may already have their intellectual focus engaged in the process of quitting – even prior to making that all-important appointment with you.
The team also said e-cigarettes were increasingly being used to help people stop and noted that Public Health England says, ‘vaping poses a small fraction of the risk of smoking.’
There are currently around three million people who use vape devices in the UK.
The ONS provided statistics for the number of people whose deaths were attributed to smoking: a total of 77,600 in England. And that’s notwithstanding the 500,000 hospital admissions which were attributed to smoking between 2018 and 2019.
In terms of a breakdown of the figures, more than 200 die each day in England alone due to smoking. This is just under 10 an hour (one every six minutes). No wonder it’s seen as a ‘leading cause of preventable death in the UK.’
Each year, Wales sees around 5,000 deaths a year while 10,000 people die in Scotland and 2,300 deaths are attributed to smoking in Northern Ireland. And, of course, there are also the diseases triggered by exposure to second hand smoke.
The statistics highlight that there is still a real need for helping people who want to stop the habit. Not only doing so will help to save the person money but it may also help to prolong their life. And the lives of those around them.
Smoking cessation sessions are one of the most positive aspects of the work which our members undertake for clients.
The end of the session can herald that wonderful moment when a client asks for the bin and drops their packet into it before leaving – and starting a whole new chapter in their life.