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About Achelois Clinical Therapy

My background in health, psychology, and therapy and why it matters.

It matters because it means you get a qualified, experienced therapist committed to providing great care. It matters because it means I can help!

My name is Wendy Paterson, I am a qualified Clinical Hypnotherapist, registered with the General Hypnotherapy Standards Council, and a member of The National Hypnotherapy Society. I hold a Diploma and an Advanced Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis, having trained at one of the very few Hypnotherapy schools in the UK to be recognised by The British Psychological Society. I am also qualified in the specialist technique of eye movement therapy EMDR. This can be a powerful tool in the treatment of trauma along and other emotional difficulties. I hold the relevant qualification to be a member of the NCHC an organisation set up by the government to ensure patients are treated by appropriate practitioners. It also means that I can be referred patients by GPs and other NHS staff. Each of these organisations has a Code of Conduct which requires professional and ethical practice.

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I worked as a Registered Nurse for over 25 years, working in Acute Medicine, Critical Care, and Public Health. I have a BSc Hons in Behavioural Sciences, a Graduate Diploma in Public Health Nursing, a BSc Hons in Critical Care Nursing, and a Post Graduate Qualification from the University of Leicester in Psychodynamic Therapy. 

 I worked in a busy therapy centre for four years.

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Along with training in adult mental health and wellbeing, I have undertaken specialist training in areas pertinent to child mental health and wellbeing, working closely with CAMHS and education services. Regularly visiting schools to work with children and young people who were experiencing emotional difficulties.  As I have mentioned this has led to a specialist interest in child, but particularly teen, mental health and wellbeing. I cannot express the enormity of the joy I get when a young person finishes their therapy sessions and is so obviously much happier and more able to employ good strategies when they are challenged. That is better when they finish than when they came started.

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For decades I have been fascinated by the mind and how it can lead us into light or darkness. Its capacity to adapt and change is immeasurable. We are profoundly affected by what the deepest part of our mind focuses on, this is, however, not always a conscious process. The unconscious is like our storage facility, it holds our memories, experiences and related feelings. Its default position is to respond in a familiar way, using the information already there. It draws upon our previous behaviours and habits. These behaviours and habits can be either helpful or unhelpful. By specifically engaging the unconscious mind, whilst encouraging the conscious mind to concentrate on something else, we can communicate with the human hard drive if you will. The meaningful act of challenging habitual thoughts that have led to habitual behaviours is the essence of hypnotherapy; it is where the change happens, and this then becomes a catalyst for the conscious mind to take note. It is Focused Attention and Mind Management. 

No two people are alike, and neither are their dreams and ambitions.

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Why have I included all this information? All of this professional and life experience, knowledge and passion are relevant because it informs you of my experience in dealing with people with knowledge, experience, empathy and compassion.  But more importantly, it means that the therapy you receive will be of a high standard. The reason I became a therapist was to assist people in making the most of their lives and challenging the things that stand in the way. I absolutely love hypnotherapy, it can be such a powerful method of creating deep and long-lasting change, yet is often considerably shorter in duration than most talking therapies. Hypnotherapy is effective. The clinical hypnotherapy I offer will be practical, yet based on empirical findings, neuroscience and established practice.

I repeat, it matters because I can help.

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Therapy session

How I Work

Hypnotherapy sessions are, as with all health appointments, strictly confidential **  Sessions are usually

one-to-one. Initial appointments are typically one and a half hours, subsequent sessions are one hour. As well as face-to-face in-person appointments, I am experienced in providing effective online therapy. The duration of the treatment would very much depend upon the presenting problem but 3-4 sessions is a suggested minimum time frame. This reflects the timeframe in which a habit or behaviour can develop; it usually takes about three to four weeks; hence the time frame for appointments, we are then able to create a change in existing behaviour.  The requirement for sessions would very much depend upon the level of engagement and work between sessions too. Some treatments, smoking cessation, for instance, are usually only one session; others will require a longer duration. Following the initial assessment, a brief review of progress will be performed at each appointment, before continuing with the therapy.

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I may incorporate differing therapy techniques such as Cognitive Behavioural, Solution Focussed, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, etc. along with hypnosis as a way to bring about the changes sought. Hypnotherapy, as with all talking therapies, has its foundation in the relationship between patient and therapist. As this relationship is fundamental to the process, I offer you a free initial 20-minute telephone consultation session before making any decisions as to whether you want to continue to work together. That way you know you are with the right person for you.

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When dealing with children it is usual that once the initial assessment is completed the child engages in the session without an adult present; unless of course, the child would be too worried to do so, or simply that they prefer an adult to be present. Every case will be different so a mutual decision will be part of the ongoing assessment. In older children, it is most likely that they are alone during the initial assessment and subsequent treatment. Confidentiality will be maintained with children as with adults**

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All patient information will be held as per laws on data protection and GDPR rules.

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**unless there are significant concerns for your or another person’s well-being as a result of your actions. Should this occur, permission would be sought to refer you to the most appropriate agency. On very rare occasions it may be necessary to refer without your consent in order that your safety is preserved.

For children or young people should any of the above significant concerns arise it may be necessary to disclose information to parents in the first instance.

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