A growing number of Sports Psychologists are begining to realise that Sports Hypnosis is far more effective at getting quick results than Sports Psychology ever was. In fact alot of the most effective techniques (such as visualisation) used in Sports psychology are themselves in fact forms of hypnosis, even though many Psychologists are blissfully unaware of this.

Sports Hypnosis differs from sports Psychology in various ways but particularly in that hypnosis works directly with the Subconscious part of the brain the part that controls our behaviours, so change with hypnosis is often rapid. This is of great interest to sports people who need to achieve 'the zone' when performing or if their sports behaviour is largely unconscious in nature - this is true for any sport that conscious regulation hinders performance - for instance if speed is necessary.

Hypnosis is based in the Subconscious mind, the non-critical part of the psyche. There is little need for conscious acceptance, other than the desire to be helped.

Some of the ways Hypnosis can help?

• Increase an athlete’s speed by slowing down their perception of time, hence they will run faster, punch quicker etc.

• Develop a new technique through in-trance visualisation without the intervention of gravity. Used for sports where gravity prevents an athlete from practicing techniques in slow motion (i.e. Diving, Gymnastics.)

• Install the self-image of an athlete: Change the view of the ‘under dog’ or ‘couch potato’ to that of a sports person.

•Install traits of a professional athlete.

•Programme endurance: The ‘will’ always breaks before the muscle unless you are specifically conditioned for endurance.

•Remove hesitations/freezing/choking during competition.

•Learn to enjoy the ‘pain’ of sports.

•Revisit a previous good performance and set up anchors to trigger that resourceful state again when required.

•Increase strength: Weight lifting increase bench press by 30% through hypnosis.

•Good nutrition instillation: Change to fitness attitudes and behaviours. Stop viewing food as a source of taste pleasure to viewing food as a source of fuel for the body. (as athletes do)

•Remove mental obstacles to success: Fear of Success or the repercussions that it may bring (i.e. Pressure to keep performing at a high level.)

•Install complex behaviours unconsciously: Reduces over consciousness of complex movements which can have an adverse effect on sporting abilities.