(FAQ) Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you can pay by Cash or Credit Card/Eftpos however there is 1.9% surcharge.  You also have the choice of paying via direct debit or by cash.  Any online sessions need to be paid in advance via either  with Credit card or direct debit.  A copy of the receipt must be sent prior to the session starting.

Unfortunately Hypnotherapy is no longer covered by Private Health or through Medicare.

It stands for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. A full explanation can be found under psychotherapy.

The first step is feeling comfortable and confident in the abilities of your therapist and also understanding a bit about how hypnosis works. Trance is a consent state so if you choose not to consent then you will not experience trance. Remember however that trance is only intense daydreaming. We move in and out of trance many times during the day doing basic things like reading, focusing on study, work or a hobby.

Elaine operates from the Townsville clinic and online  on Tuesday and Thursday from 12 to 7.    See details of clinic locations under Contact Us.

The list is extensive however an example would be to help curb cravings, to manage pain and to reduce the affects of trauma. EFT works very well with hypnosis as whenever we use EFT you are already in a light trance. It is very effective in dealing with many medical conditions such as providing relief for cancer patients, those suffering from neurological diseases, blood pressure and those who have been diagnosed on the autism spectrum.

The first session is 1 hour and thereafter either 1 or 1.5 hours depending on what you are trying to achieve. With children it depends on their age and their ability to concentrate. I allocate an hour for all my sessions both online and in clinic.   It is important to be on time for your appointments to ensure you get the full time allocated to you. The clinic can get very busy and I do my best to try and keep all the appointments on schedule.

It very much depends on the problem and the treatment plan. It is important to understand that Hypnotherapy is a process and although some clients may have significant change in 2/3 sessions normally 6 sessions is the average to start feeling the benefits of the treatment and to ensure that you are well on your way to permanent change. Psychotherapy, however, can take from 5-12 sessions to start to see and feel the benefits.

The Virtual Gastric Band Program is 4 or 5 sessions and Quit Smoking Intervention Program is completed in 1/2 sessions.  Children typically need an average of 3 therapy sessions.

The first session is all about collecting data, explaining and making you aware of your response to the problem and then providing insight and education on why and how hypnosis works.  At the end of this session I will be able to give you a reasonably accurate indication of how many sessions it will take and how much it will cost.

Everything that is discussed is confidential as per the code of ethics and conduct I adhere to under my professional accreditation.

The first session, the Initial Review Session runs for 1 hour .

For Adults  Firstly I take a thorough in-depth history, so I have a good understanding of your background including family relationships, school years etc. ​I may at this point evaluate your current stress levels if this is appropriate.​

Secondly, I raise your awareness and explain why you are responding the way you are and what is happening within the subconscious part of your mind.  I use an enhanced version of CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) to ​explain this.

Finally​,​  I explain hypnosis, how it works and why it works, ​dispelling any myths and misunderstandings that often come via the media or stage hypnotists.  At this point I will advise on what I believe to be the best way forward, including how ​many sessions it will take and how much it will cost.

For Children  Firstly I establish rapport and get to know your child.  This happens around getting to know the things they like, their relationships with friends and family, things they fear etc, I then explain what I do and how I work in language they understand.  Depending on the age of the child I may ask if they would like to speak to me without the parent being present, this is also with parental approval.

Secondly I explain to the parent and the child how hypnosis works

Finally I  engage the child in playing some simple and fun games to help them get comfortable with the idea of hypnosis and help them to understand that they are the boss of their mind and body

Please note that there is no therapy in the Initial Review Session although many people feel much better because they get to talk through their problems.