Hypnotherapy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

It is estimated that 10-20% of the population suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome.* This condition can cover a range of symptoms such as abdominal pain, an urgent need to go to the toilet and bloating. If you feel you may be suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome your first port of call should always be your GP to rule out any other causes.

If your diagnosis is confirmed you may be looking at ways of helping yourself. There are practical steps you can take to support yourself which you can find on the NHS or NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) websites. However NICE also recommend hypnotherapy for supporting you with the condition.

Hypnotherapy for IBS

There is a particular type of hypnotherapy that has been found to support patients with IBS. This is known as gut directed hypnotherapy. I have undergone training in this from the Clinical Hypnotherapy School.

It is important to stress that this hypnotherapy will not necessarily help everyone who has IBS although it is estimated that about 70% of IBS patients will benefit from this type of hypnotherapy. Different types of hypnotherapy also support clients with IBS but the studies have only currently been undertaken with specific gut directed hypnotherapy.

When I work with a client with IBS there are up to 6 hypnotherapy sessions and each session builds upon the hypnosis that has been done in earlier stages. Clients do not need to commit to the 6 sessions. Sessions can be committed to on a week by week basis.

In the first session I find out more about how IBS affects a client and explain about how hypnotherapy works and how it can support them. I guide clients through some breathing exercises that they can use between sessions before going into the relaxing hypnotherapy. During each successive session the hypnotherapy itself gets longer and more detailed. I give clients an audio to listen to at home which supports the process.

Hypnotherapy online for IBS

I work with clients both face to face and online via Zoom. Hypnotherapy online is particularly appropriate for clients with IBS who may want to have access to a toilet. This can help you feel more secure and relaxed right from the start. To find out more about how hypnotherapy works online please click here.

*Information taken from the NICE website