Rue Asher BA (Hons), Dip THP (N-SHAP) MCRAH
Rue has been a qualified Clinical Hypnotherapist for 16 years, originally training as a Hypno-Psychotherapist at the National School of Hypnosis and Psychotherapy. She is a registered member of The National Society of Hypnosis & Mindfulness and uses a combination of the Eriksonian model of hypnosis - an advanced form of traditional hypnotherapy, NLP and Brief Strategic Therapy.
She gained her Advanced Hypnotherapy Practitioner Diploma in 1997 becoming a member of the Central Register of Advanced Hypnotherapists (CRAH) - a training body affiliated to the institute for Complementary Medicine (British Register of Complementary Practitioners) - Member of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and member of the British Complementary Medicine Association (BCMA).
Having worked with a wide range of conditions over the last 16 years, including behavioral modification, emotional disorders, motivational coaching, and in the charity sector, within the prison service as a Stress Management Therapist, she now specialises in offering hypnosis for clients that are giving up or wish to stop smoking or vaping, as a HypnoBirthing Practitioner and runs a clinic specialising in weight control.
Master classes attended at the LCCH (London College of Clinical Hypnosis):
• Cessation of Smoking
• Brief Strategic Therapy
• Managing Stress
Professional Development Seminars:
• Ethics
• Psychotherapy for Psychotherapists
• Research Methods in the Social Sciences
*All above training through Centre Training or CRAH
Ethical Practice:
It is in my interests to run an ethically led practice as the majority of my business comes from client referrals. Therefore if you discover that hypnosis is really not for you or you decide you don’t feel ready to stop smoking even after the session is underway, I offer an opt out option part way through, of which you are free to leave without charge. My aim is to have calm, happy and satisfied non-smokers walk out of my door.
A Personal Testimonial
Occasionally, even now I indulge in the fantasy of a cigarette and a glass of wine, sitting out on a sunny terrace somewhere, but I would never make it become a reality, as I know the benefits of becoming a non-smoker far out way any short-term pleasure. I cannot kid myself that it’s possible for me to become that mythical of all creatures the ‘social smoker’ and I’m fully aware as an ex addict, I can have any cigarette I want, except that first one!
I thought I'd never give up. In truth I just hadn't been ready. Eventually what had once been a pleasure had become a thorn in my side, and like any bad relationship, I had begun to hate and resent it - the amount of money I was spending, the smell on my clothes and so on. I often found myself apologising for it, which sometimes led me to behave defensively and angrily with anyone who criticised me for doing it. To top everything off I felt it was seriously contributing to some digestive problems I was having at the time.
I was working at this point as a hypnotherapist treating all sorts of issues and I have to confess smoking amongst them. I felt uncomfortable about this, as of course I was smoking, but felt justified by remembering the story of a smoking counsellor who would light up in front of his clients, remarking should eyebrows be raised, "but it’s not me who wants to give up!" But I knew in my heart this was a pretty lame excuse.
Eight years ago I finally made the decision to give up and used my knowledge and experience as a hypnotherapist to help me do so. I didn’t make a fuss, in fact I didn’t tell anyone until I was sure I had succeeded. I also included a technique, which made sure I didn’t put on any weight or replace the habit with another unwanted one.
I can honestly say I haven’t looked back since and have enjoyed helping countless others take the same step as I did, to successfully give up for good. It is without doubt the best thing I have ever done and if you too decide to take the plunge and become a non-smoker, hand on heart, it will be one of the most worthwhile decisions you've ever made (and your doctor will be really pleased too!)"
(Rue Asher, 2014)
Talk to Rue about how she can help you stop smoking using hypnotherapy 01273 470498
About hypnosis & how hypnotherapy can work to help you stop smoking:
It's common to feel apprehensive about a hypnotherapy session especially if it is your first time, however if you would describe yourself as feeling 'scared' then read on to put your mind at rest. Afterwards if you still feel more than just a little apprehensive, it may be worth considering an alternative method, although it is worth remembering, The New Scientist Magazine which reported hypnosis 'as the most effective way of giving up smoking' (October1992 edition).
The misconception and impression that many people who want to stop smoking hold about hypnosis is that it's something magical, mystical and even dangerous. Hypnosis has even been portrayed as a scary form of mind control, where people are made to give up control of themselves. Hypnosis is in fact the complete opposite, as people visit clinical hypnotherapists or utilise self-hypnosis because they want help to gain more control over their lives, to change limiting habits (for example to stop smoking) and behaviours.
The phenomenon of hypnosis is firstly, and most importantly, a natural state of mind, which means that virtually every person has the capacity to respond to hypnosis on some level. Hypnosis is simply a state of physical, mental and emotional relaxation - a state of reverie - along with a heightened state of awareness. This change of consciousness is extremely comfortable and relaxing, just like those moments before you fall asleep and as you start to wake up in the morning. You'll feel very relaxed, yet your mind will still be highly focused and aware.
Hypnosis - a familiar sensation?
Hypnosis is a means of moving into a perfectly natural state of mind, that people actually move in and out of several times a day. Everyone has experienced this trance like state, although they may not have called it hypnosis. We all go in and out of different levels of consciousness all day. Daydreaming, reading, or even driving are all examples of every day tasks when we may enter an altered state of awareness.
Have you ever had the experience of driving along the motorway and suddenly realised that you passed your exit several miles back? Or have you ever been so caught up in a TV programme, a book, a film or computer game that you've lost track of time, or not realised that someone has been talking to you?
These changes in our awareness occur when we become so wholly focused on a task to the exclusion of everything else. Our sense of time may become distorted and subjective and we no longer pay attention to outside disturbances.
Hypnosis is just another example of an altered state of awareness. The difference being that it can be utilised for self-change as we are also much more open and responsive to positive suggestion in this state.
So, when a hypnotherapist guides you into hypnosis they are not asking you to experience anything strange that you haven't experienced before. This is why sometimes people come out of trance unsure whether they were actually hypnotised or not, as it is such a familiar feeling.