Category: <span>Choosing the right therapist for you</span>

Harnessing the Power of Hypnotherapy for Men’s Mental Health: A Path to Healing

In today’s fast-paced world, mental health has become a critical concern for people of all genders. However, men often face unique challenges when it comes to addressing their mental well-being. The traditional societal expectations of stoicism and emotional restraint can make it difficult for men to seek help. In this blog, we explore an effective and often overlooked avenue for men’s mental health: hypnotherapy. We’ll delve into how hypnotherapy works, its benefits for men’s mental health, and how it can be a transformative tool in the pursuit of emotional well-being.

Understanding Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy, a therapeutic technique that involves inducing a deep state of relaxation and heightened suggestibility, has gained prominence in recent years for its effectiveness in addressing various mental health concerns. Contrary to common misconceptions, hypnotherapy is not about mind control or manipulation; it is a collaborative process between the client and the therapist. During a hypnotherapy session, the client enters a trance-like state, where they are more receptive to positive suggestions and can explore and address deep-seated issues.

Breaking Down the Stigma

One of the major barriers to men seeking help for their mental health is the stigma surrounding it. Men are often discouraged from expressing vulnerability or seeking therapy, which can lead to the suppression of emotions and unresolved issues. Hypnotherapy offers a unique solution by providing a safe and non-threatening environment for men to explore their thoughts and feelings without judgment. It encourages them to break down the walls of silence and stigma, paving the way for healthier emotional expression.

Benefits of Hypnotherapy for Men’s Mental Health

  1. Stress and Anxiety Management: Hypnotherapy is highly effective in reducing stress and anxiety levels. Men facing workplace pressures, relationship challenges, or other stressors can benefit from learning relaxation techniques and coping strategies through hypnosis.
  2. Overcoming Trauma: Men who have experienced trauma, whether it be from combat, accidents, or childhood experiences, often struggle with PTSD and related mental health issues. Hypnotherapy can help them process and heal from these traumatic experiences, providing relief and a path toward recovery.
  3. Anger Management: Traditional gender expectations can lead to suppressed anger, which can have negative consequences for mental health. Hypnotherapy can help men explore the root causes of their anger and develop healthier ways to manage and express it.
  4. Boosting Self-Esteem: Many men grapple with self-esteem issues but may find it difficult to address them openly. Hypnotherapy can uncover the underlying beliefs and insecurities that contribute to low self-esteem, empowering individuals to build a healthier self-image.
  5. Addiction Recovery: Substance abuse and addiction can take a severe toll on men’s mental health. Hypnotherapy can be a valuable complement to addiction treatment by addressing the underlying emotional and psychological triggers driving addictive behaviours.

Case Studies and Success Stories

To illustrate the effectiveness of hypnotherapy in improving men’s mental health, let’s explore a few real-life examples. John, a combat veteran, struggled with PTSD and anger issues. Through hypnotherapy, he learned to manage his emotions and find peace. Mark, battling addiction for years, found hypnotherapy invaluable in addressing the root causes of his addiction and maintaining sobriety.

A client I had, Jason, saw me for quit smoking and was so impressed he came back to give up alcohol altogether. Every year on the anniversaries he likes to send a text to remind me and himself how well he has done. He is now in his seventh year.

Another client, Ian, had been suffering from erectile dysfunction, something that many men really struggle to talk about. Working here, in a safe and confidential environment we were able to break down his anxieties and get his sex life back on track.

These success stories emphasize the transformative potential of hypnotherapy for men seeking mental wellness.

*Names changed to maintain confidentiality

The Role of Professional Hypnotherapists

It’s important to emphasize that hypnotherapy should be conducted by trained and certified professionals. These experts are skilled in creating a safe and supportive environment for clients to explore their subconscious minds and work through their mental health challenges. It is also a good idea to look at the experience of the individual therapist and how long they have been in practice. There are many new therapists qualifying and claiming, straightaway, that they can work with all manner of symptoms although many of these areas need specialised additional training. Make sure they are a member of a Professional governing body and CNHC registered.

Furthermore it is important to choose the right therapist for you.

In a society that often expects men to be emotionally resilient, hypnotherapy offers a unique and effective approach to addressing men’s mental health concerns. It empowers men to break free from stigma, heal from trauma, manage stress, and achieve emotional well-being. Through the guidance of trained professionals, men can harness the power of hypnotherapy on their path to healing.

How to use your trauma to heal yourself

A picture of  man holding up his arms in victory, standing in a cornfield with the sun beating down on him with the words "Your recovery can actually begin at that darkest moment" Brad Mace then the website www.positivelycalm.com

For eighteen years now I have been working with clients, mostly on a one to one basis, and the majority of this work has been trauma work using  hypno-analysis. Many of the clients that enter my consulting room have a pre conceived idea about hypnotherapy or hypnosis.  I tend to call this the ‘magic wand’ syndrome. That’s to say that they think that I can hypnotise them and take away their worries or fears and everything will just go away in one session like ‘waving a magic wand.’ It would be truly wonderful if therapy was that simple. It tends to be stage hypnosis that gives people this misconception. The clue is in the title ‘stage’ I am afraid. Hypnotherapy is a completely different ball game. I use clinical hypnosis alongside Psychotherapy. So let me explain further, when we suffer trauma the emotions related to that trauma can get repressed and this repression happens within the subconscious part of our mind.

Hypno-analysis is a form of therapy that can allow us to access moments that have caused trauma and this helps release the trauma from our subconscious. There are also other therapeutic tools which I use, apart from hypno-analysis, which can help to do this. I believe in having different tools to support what works for each personality type, and am aware that what may not work for one just might work for anothe.  What I have found is that what all the most successful tools have in common is that they involve revisiting and working with the event that has caused the trauma in the first place!
So, when that client walks into my consulting room expecting me to wave that magic wand the last thing that they usually want to hear is that I am possibly going to take them back to face up to the trauma that caused their symptom. I say ‘possibly’ because this isn’t always the case. Suggestion therapy will work on some things, for example
quit smoking. I do know though, for most problems related to a neurosis, the cream of therapies is weeding out that root cause through analysis.
The fact that a client doesn’t want to face up to that trauma is the exact reason that they should even though this is quite understandable. Have you ever heard the phrase ‘feel the fear and do it anyway’? We don’t want to ‘go there’, of course we don’t , because it means reliving the moment. Most of our problems end up going back to something in childhood and that was a time when we couldn’t understand or rationalise how we were feeling hence repression. Revisiting that event and accessing the feeling is a way of reprocessing it and letting it go. Sometimes there needs to be some re-framing of that memory. Other therapeutic interventions such as EFT and EFTMR can also help with this and they are similar to hypnotherapy in that we are putting the clients mind into the theta state. This relaxed state makes us able to access the subconscious and it is also much easier for the client to talk about traumatic experiences and for me to work with them.

It’s not just a case of jumping into a memory and working with it straightaway. It would very often take much more than one session to be able to access traumatic memories, of which there would usually be more than one, and the right therapist would guide you very gently through the experience. Yes, emotion will be released but that release is a huge weight off the shoulders leading you towards freedom from your symptoms. I, myself was healed of my tourettes symptoms by revisiting an early traumatic moment that caused them. You can see my article about how this was achieved here.


These are great interventions to help with the relief of anxiety, depression, PTSD, phobias and so much more. So if you ever find yourself in front of a therapist who you were hoping was going to wave a magic wand but instead wants to help you confront and release those trauma then my advice would be FEEL THE FEAR AND DO IT ANYWAY! Remember, always go with a professional accredited registered therapist to help you achieve that freedom from fear and anxiety and know you are working hand in hand with the clinical professional. To book a free 30 minute consultation contact me here.

Choosing the right therapist for you

In this weeks blog I am talking about how to choose the right therapist for you. How do you know that the person you are seeing is going to meet your needs? First of all it is always important to check to see if a therapist has the relevant qualifications. This should be stated on his or her website or in any of their literature. If the particular therapist has the relevant qualifications then they will be a member of a governing body. This is very important because it governs the therapist with a code of conduct. This will include stipulations such as client confidentiality and continuing professional development which is required every year. Sometimes qualifications and governing body membership can be ascertained by the letters after their name. For example I am Brad Mace. Maphp (acc). Dhp. Maamet. and nrcp. These show that I am a member of the association for professional hypnosis and psychotherapy, a member of the association for the advancement meridian energy techniques and I am on the national register of Psychotherapists and counsellors. These qualifications can be checked by going to the website of the particular governing body or by contacting them by phone.
Once you have ascertained their relevant qualifications and governing body the next step would be to find out if you feel comfortable with them. This can also work both ways. A therapist has to be comfortable working with you and the particular symptom that you would like help with. This is where an initial consultation is important. I always offer a FREE initial consultation. This is free in price and also obligation free. That way I can get an understanding of what I will be working with and how I can help. I would never take on a client should I believe that I am not going to be able to give them the best therapy for their particular need. If I believe there is another therapist that would serve them better then I would refer them on in that particular case. This could be for a manner of reasons such as they may specialise in a particular area that you would like help with. So, it is important that when you meet your therapist for the consultation that you feel comfortable with him/her and that you ask any questions that you may need to. After all this is going to be the person that you are opening up to and trusting. I feel it is important to have this free initial consultation to ascertain exactly how we are going to work together. I would then explain in simplistic terms, so that the client is aware and understands what the therapy will entail and also give them an idea of how long this may take and costings. Of course we can only give an idea of this as there is no text book case with therapy. We all have different needs.
As in all consultations, even with your GP it is advisable to arrive with a list of questions so that these may be answered as we all know that when we have a specified time slot we can on occasions forget those important questions. For example; What are your qualifications? How many years experience do you have? Have you worked with this particular symptom before? If so, how many session has it normally taken? How flexible are you with meeting my attendance availability? How soon could we start therapy?
What’s your theoretical orientation? Not all therapists are the same when it comes to how they view your problems and their approach to getting you better. Some focus on childhood issues; others are concerned with the here and now. Some are directive and require homework; others see themselves as guides helping you navigate the winding roads of your psyche. Finding a fit with your style and personality is important.
I hope this has given you a good idea of what to look for and questions to ask. Whoever you choose for your therapy I wish you every success!

What Makes BWRT So Special?

That’s a question I’m often asked about BWRT, sometimes honestly, sometimes sarcastically. I understand the latter because …

Hypnotherapy discount for emergency service and care workers

In the fast-paced and high-stakes world of emergency services, the mental and emotional well-being of personnel is often …

Revolutionising Mental Health: BWRT – The Therapy World’s Storming Solution

  In recent years, the world of therapy and mental health has witnessed a paradigm shift in the way we approach and …