Maddy Boardman Hypnotherapy

17/11/2021

Just a reminder that I no longer update this page very often and instead am active on, and can be contacted via, my new hypnotherapy business;

https://m.facebook.com/OldTownHypno/

Old Town Hypnotherapy, where modern clinical hypnotherapy helps you to resolve issues quickly in a relaxed, friendly environment. Swindon, Marlborough, online

09/03/2021

As many as one in ten of us are needle phobic (fancy name- trypanophobia- fear of medical procedures). Not a great phobia to have during a worldwide mass vaccination programme. Updated my skills today to ensure I was ready to help.

09/11/2020

Whilst we are all preoccupied with surviving one world pandemic, we need to stay vigilant about another major health crisis sneaking up on us. Our mental health was in trouble before Covid, with 1 in 4 suffering from a mental health issue. It has been estimated by Mind that 500,000 extra people will need to access support as a result of the pandemic. And that was before lockdown 2. We know loneliness and isolation are key factors that detrimentally effect mental health. So as we settle into this current lockdown, we must remember to keep exercising, keep eating well and if furloughed, keep structure to the day. Sleep, but not too much. Make the effort to meet a friend for a walk or a chat on a bench. Keep productive. Contact friends and family to check in and remember, this too will pass.

07/09/2020

Back in clinic at long last. Zoom sessions have enabled me to continuing seeing my clients during this challenging time and I plan to continue offering online therapy to those who prefer it, but my goodness it’s good to be back in the well sanitised flesh.
New clinic location in Bedwyn, Wiltshire. Back in Wantage on Friday.

15/05/2020

One of the most FAQ's I get is - what actually is hypnotherapy? So here goes -

Hypnotherapy is the therapeutic use of hypnosis. Hypnosis is a natural state of focused concentration that we all drift into a number of times in the day, just as when we daydream.

This dreamlike state is often referred to as Trance.

At the risk of getting too geeky, trance is an alpha/theta state of brain wave activity. The alpha state is activated when you are calm and relaxed, similar to just before you fall asleep. It feels nice.

In the theta state brain waves slow down even further than alpha waves, this occurs during a deep relaxation or meditative state. I am trained to guide you into a theta state.

When in the theata state the mind experiences an inner quiet, it becomes solution focused, capable of deep and profound learning, healing and growth. The science is there if you don't believe me. Look up Dr Spiegel's research as a starting point.

Although you're more open to suggestion during a hypnotic trance, you still have free will and moral judgment. Despite being pretty skilled at what I do, I can’t make you say or do anything you don’t want to. If I had such a superpower I would be on the Forbes rich list.

In my clinic I combine Hypnotherapy with Solution Focused therapy. Solution Focused is a future focused, goal directed approach to therapy that highlights the importance of searching for solutions rather than focusing on problems.

Hope that clears things up a bit. Happy Friday.

11/04/2020

One of the metaphors I use with teens:

As a man was passing by the elephants, he suddenly stopped, confused by these huge creatures that were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at anytime, attempt to escape from their bonds but for some reason, they did not.
He saw a trainer nearby and asked why these elephants made no attempt to get away. “Well,” the trainer said, “when they were very young and much smaller, we used the same sized rope to tie them and, at that age, it was enough to hold them. As they grew up, they were conditioned to believe they cannot break away. Now, they still believe that the rope can hold them, so they never try to break free.”
The man was amazed. These animals could break free anytime but did not, because they believed they couldn’t.
Sometimes, we could be like the elephants, going through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed before. Our belief is holding us back, not our ability.

20/03/2020

Last day in my lovely Wantage clinic today before moving appointments online from next week.

15/03/2020

For the moment both my clinics will remain open (with heightened hygiene measures). However, I will also be offering all my current and potential clients online skype/zoom therapy sessions for the foreseeable.

24/01/2020

I recently went to a conference where the headline speaker was a Dr David Hamilton. I’ve been aware of his work for a number of years and hearing him talk was fascinating. One of his areas of expertise is the placebo effect - something we are all aware of. What I didn’t understand fully was the incredible way our brain produces what is required to deliver our expectation. If we take a pill that we believe reduces pain, but it is actually a placebo, our brain alters our neuro chemistry to deliver our belief that our pain is going to lessen. An actual change in our biochemistry occurs and our pain is lessened. In a study, a group of people were told that their genes indicated that they were less prone to obesity. They were told this, it wasn’t true. But as a result they started to produce 2.5x their normal amount of lectin (an appetite suppressant). Another group were told their genes indicated they responded poorly to exercise. Not true. But their lung capacity reduced more than if they actually had that gene.
Beliefs can overrule genetics. Our minds are phenomenal.

04/11/2019

Lovely feedback from a hard working client

03/10/2019

Last night, for the first time in fifteen years of practice, I had an extremely uncomfortable exchange with a potential male client while lone working. My subconscious picked up of the non-verbal cues and my primate brain did exactly what it is designed to do and my flight or fight response kicked in. I swiftly left the building and called the police (having firstly called my husband who was 30 miles away and unable to offer immediate assistance but let's remember that the primitive mind is fairly stupid). The police response was both swift and professional, for which I am very grateful. As the adrenaline subsided and my logical, intellectual capacities took back control I started reminding myself of what I should’ve done. What I am trained to do is reframe the experience into a positive. So the good news is that I am absolutely unharmed and the experience has prompted both the clinic and I to revise and update our lone working policy and safety measures, keeping me and the rest of my colleagues much safer.

03/07/2019

Sleep is a fascinating and misunderstood phenomenon. In clinic I talk about the importance of Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep for keeping us mentally healthy. During REM sleep we process much of the previous day, emotionally doing some housekeeping. Non REM sleep always comes before REM sleep in 90 minutes cycles. The proportion of REM sleep increases the longer you sleep. So during the second half of a night’s sleep you are having up to 80% REM cycles. Lack of sleep, and by that I mean less than 7 hours, has a profound effect on our physical and mental health. Sleep deprived people are more anxious and less socially active. Blood glucose regulation and immune responses are impaired, risk of developing Alzheimer’s dramatically increase and a males' testosterone levels nosedive. The list goes on. For further reading I suggest Matthew walkers new book ‘Why We Sleep'. Mind blowing stuff.