Silence Your Inner Critic: Transform Negative Thinking with Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy Treatment in Clevedon
Are negative thoughts taking over your life?
Are you plagued with thoughts of your inadequacies, or do you focus on the negative in your life instead of seeing the positive?
You’re not the only one. Everyone has an inner critic: that persistent voice whispering doubts and insecurities. You know the one telling you that you are useless, ugly, stupid, will never achieve your dreams or be successful. But when it becomes more than just an occasional annoyance, it can affect all aspects of your life, crushing your spirit and even making you ill.
Whether your internal monologue takes the form of blaming yourself for not being good enough, always seeing the worst scenario or constantly comparing yourself unfavourably with others then hypnotherapy can help think more positively and foster a healthier inner dialogue.
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What is negative thinking?
This voice of self-doubt is responsible for most of our damaging self-talk. The incessant voice in your head, a relentless critic, berates your actions and chips away at your self-worth, leaving you feeling inadequate.
Negative thoughts worsen anxiety and depression, making it harder to cope with life’s difficulties. This constant self-criticism can lead to consistent avoidance of opportunities, a struggle to celebrate achievements because of an immediate focus on flaws, and an overall feeling of mental exhaustion that pervades your daily life.
Common negative thought patterns and their impact
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- Catastrophising – assuming the worst will happen.
- Self-blame – holding yourself responsible for things beyond your control.
- Black and white thinking – everything is good or bad.
- ‘Should’ statements – Self-reproach after making mistakes.
- Negative filter -focusing on the negative and refusing to see the positive.
- Overgeneralisation – taking one bad experience and apply it to everything.
- Name calling – self-directed insults following mistakes.
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The Impact of Negative Thoughts on Mental Health
Negative thoughts, which are both a symptom and a cause of psychological distress profoundly affected mental health. Allowing negative thoughts to dominate the mind creates a self-reinforcing loop potentially resulting in or worsening anxiety and depression.
How the brain creates cycles of negativity
Repetitive negative thinking isn’t just a mental habit; it physically alters the brain, strengthening negative pathways and impairing cognitive and emotional function.
Traditional approaches frequently fail to create lasting change because they primarily target the conscious mind, overlooking the subconscious where the majority (95%) of mental activity lives. Therefore, merely “trying to think positive” usually proves ineffective for persistent negative thoughts.
Why is a pessimistic mindset so destructive?
Negative thoughts warp our view of reality, harming mood, motivation, and actions, which is why they are so destructive. It fuels anxiety, depression, and self-doubt, hindering our ability to take risks and pursue goals. Constant negativity erodes self-image, leading to isolation and strained relationships. It impairs problem-solving skills, focusing on obstacles rather than solutions.
Signs your inner critic is holding you back
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- Constant self-doubt by questioning your abilities.
- Avoiding challenges because of fear of failure.
- Obsessively comparing yourself to others.
- Procrastination until you achieve unattainable standards.
- Downplaying your successes and ignoring positive feedback.
- Dwelling on past mistakes which hinders your progress.
Understanding Your Inner Critic
Our inner critic evolved as a way of protecting us from perceived threats and failure. It’s shaped in our formative years by past experiences, critical feedback, and internal societal expectations. Unfortunately, it can be overactive and unhelpful in modern times.
Why It’s Important to Stop this Destructive Self-Sabotage
It’s important to quiet this critical voice; its constant negativity undermines self-esteem and breeds crippling self-doubt. Fear of failure and judgment, fuelled by your inner critic, stops you from taking risks, trying new things, and stepping outside your comfort zone.
By learning to quiet this internal voice, you free yourself from self-imposed limitations, build resilience, embrace imperfections, and develop the courage needed to learn from mistakes, move forward, and ultimately unlock your full potential and live a more authentic, fulfilling life.
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How Hypnotherapy can stop Negative Thougthts
Hypnotherapy offers a gentle yet powerful approach to addressing inner negativity at its source—your subconscious mind. Hypnotherapy differs from traditional talk therapy by accessing and reprogramming the subconscious, where the source of your inner critic lives. Recognising the relationship between thought patterns and mental wellness makes interventions like seeing a hypnotherapist, which targets subconscious self-sabotaging beliefs, more logical.
Overcome your destructive inner critic through hypnosis
Techniques like visualisation and suggestion are used to create new neural pathways in the brain, reinforcing positive thoughts and behaviours. As these new pathways strengthen, they become the default response, lessening the power of negative thoughts. This can lead to significant improvements in self-esteem, reduced anxiety and stress, and a more optimistic overall mindset.
Changing your behaviour patterns isn’t easy. It will take time and effort and it won’t happen overnight. But using the power of your subconscious mind, hypnosis ultimately helps you build resilience against negativity and cultivate a more positive and empowering inner dialogue.
Here are a few ways you can overcome negative thinking patterns:
Be kind to yourself
Cultivate self-compassion by treating yourself with the same kindness, concern, and understanding that you would offer a close friend. Positive affirmations, such as silently reciting “I am worthy” or “I am enough,” are a great way to boost your confidence and self-worth.
Journal your negative thoughts
Write down your thoughts to identify negative patterns. This allows you to recognise the exact circumstances and the sensory details (sights, sounds, smells etc.) that set you off. This will allow you to make positive changes to your thinking.
Confront your inner critic
Confronting your internal saboteur involves recognising negative self-talk, challenging its validity, and reframing thoughts. Ask yourself, Is it based on fact or emotion and is it true? Is this thought helpful? Turn the negative statements into positive and realistic ones.
Working with me to transform your inner dialogue and embrace a more positive mindset
How I can help
Low confidence or self worth is a very common problem and probably and one that I frequently help people with. Treatment involves an initial session to find out which areas of your life this affects and how that manifests itself. Treatment involves an initial session to find out which areas of your life this affects and how that manifests itself. From this, I will find the best way to treat you using a combination of hypnosis, Neuro Linguistic Programming, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
Treatment usually takes between 4 and 6 sessions.
They involve practical exercises you can use to help you change negative and unhelpful thoughts into more positive ones. I offer a hypnosis sessions that use visualisations and relaxation techniques to help you transform self-judgment into self-compassion. *
*Disclaimer. Results cannot be guaranteed, as I tailor this therapy to each individual. All I can promise is that I will do my best to help you.
How it works
Treatment usually takes between 4 and 6 sessions depending on your needs. You can pay for each treatment individually or buy a package, which includes the initial treatment and 4 following sessions and receive a discount.
Initial Session
The initial consultation will focus on finding out a bit about you and what you want to achieve from our time together. I will also explain to you how hypnosis works and what happens when you go into a trance. As well as addressing any questions you may have. From this, I will create a plan tailored to your specific needs. Then we will finish with a wonderfully relaxing hypnosis, so you know what to expect. This session will take up to 1.5 hours.
Subsequent Sessions
In the following sessions, I will use a using combination of NLP, CBT and hypnotherapy to help you. Hypnotherapy is a partnership so we will work together to make the changes you want to see happen. Each session will include hypnosis using guided visualisations and stories to engage with your subconscious. I will also provide you with self-hypnosis recordings and tools and techniques that you can use at home. Each session will take around 1 hour.
Not sure if it is right for you?
FAQs about hypnotherapy for changing harmful thoughts
What is hypnotherapy and how does it work to change negative thinking patterns?
This therapeutic method uses guided relaxation, focused attention, and heightened suggestibility to access the subconscious mind. The goal is to identify the root causes of negative thought patterns and introduce positive suggestions and reframing techniques to change them.
What types of negative thinking can hypnotherapy address?
Hypnotherapy can address a wide range of dysfunctional thinking patterns, including self-doubt, anxiety, worry, fear of failure, perfectionism, catastrophising and negative self-talk.
A therapist can tailor it to address specific thought patterns and cognitive distortions unique to your situation.
Is hypnotherapy effective for everyone struggling with negative thoughts?
While many people find hypnotherapy effective, results vary, and we cannot guarantee success. It depends on individual openness to the process and the specific issues being addressed. A personalised approach can enhance effectiveness.
Is hypnotherapy effective for specific types of negative thinking, like self-doubt or anxiety?
Hypnotherapy can effectively address various types of self criticism, including self-doubt, anxiety, and low self-esteem, by focusing on the underlying subconscious beliefs.
Is hypnotherapy just positive thinking or is there more to it?
While positive suggestions are part of the process, hypnotherapy goes deeper by addressing the root causes of negative thinking and creating lasting neurological changes.
How long do the effects for this problem last?
The effects can be long-lasting, especially when reinforced with personal practice, such as mindfulness or positive affirmations. Regular follow-up sessions can help maintain progress.
What happens during a session?
The first session begins with a careful assessment of your needs, followed by a discussion about your treatment goals. Then, a typical hypnotherapy session typically starts with a confidence-building exercise offering practical tools and techniques. A relaxing hypnotherapy session which will focus on a specific issue that is holding you back follows this
How many sessions will I need?
Session numbers change based on each person’s needs and how severe their negative thoughts are. Some people experience benefits after just a few sessions, while others may require more.
Can I do self-hypnosis to calm my inner critic?
Yes, you can use self-hypnosis to help manage negative thoughts. However, working with a qualified hypnotherapist initially can provide a solid groundwork and provide tailored support based on your specific needs, ahead of solo practice.