Not necessarily; different therapists have varied approaches, but if the cause of your problem is a repressed memory (one that you are unable to remember consciously), then bringing it back into conscious awareness can help you to view the problem from a different perspective and so feel differently about it. If you find the idea of revisiting old memories painful then your therapist can help you to dissociate from them so that you can remember the experience without experiencing the emotions associated to them.

No, you won't say or do anything at all that you don't want to. If you were given suggestions that you didn't morally agree with you would come out of hypnosis or disregard the suggestions.

No-one has ever remained in hypnosis indefinitely. Even if something were to happen to the hypnotherapist halfway through the session, you would still 'come out' of the trance state once rapport had been broken.

The only side effects are the beneficial ones of feeling more relaxed afterwards and feeling more positive about whatever it was you sought hypnotherapy for. Hypnosis is a perfectly natural state.

Anyone can resist hypnosis during a session and it won't work, however the question remains as to why someone would seek hypnotherapy if they didn't want it to help them. Hypnosis requires cooperation between two people - your therapist will show you the way and you can choose whether you want to go there or not.

If you are not prepared to accept that hypnosis could benefit you, then your best option would be to seek alternative treatment.

Hypnotherapists must belong to a professional association, such as The National Hypnotherapy Society (click here for my entry), in order to be eligible for Professional Indemnity Insurance. Often you can check on their website to see if your Hypnotherapist is listed on their members page or use their contact form or telephone number to request verification.

The most common reason for failure to induce trance is lack of rapport. To overcome this problem, make a few free initial consultations with different therapists and choose one that you instinctively trust.

You can - if they are related issues, however because hypnosis requires a complete focus of attention it is far better to concentrate on one problem at a time. People wishing to stop smoking (for example) who are afraid of doing so in case they gain weight can be helped with the correct approach. This is because many of us experience 'symptom substitution' - we can substitute one addiction for another. Your therapist should have the skills to recognize if this is the case and deal with the issue at its core.

13. What is a life coach?

A life coach is someone who aims to help and empower others to move forward and set personal and professional goals that will give them the life they really want.

By harnessing specialist techniques based on core psychological principals and natural intuition, life coaches provide clients with the tools to confidently face difficult situations, push past emotional barriers and eventually view life with fresh, hopeful and enlightened eyes.

Life coaching helps people from all professional and personal backgrounds improve their strengths and build upon their weaknesses to make the most of their lives.

Life coaching is about objectivity, structure and empowerment, not giving a list of instructions to be followed. An instructor shows a person exactly what to do, whereas a guide provides the tools and support a person needs to do something for themselves. A life coach therefore, is an individual who guides another individual from where they are in life, to where they want to be in life.

At the heart of it all lies the idea that clients must be given the power to help themselves. We all have different perspectives of the world - no one perspective is 'right' or 'wrong', but some perspectives are restrictive and can stop a person becoming who they want to be. It is within everyone's capability to adjust the limits of their own perspective. With the help of life coaching, anyone can learn to open their mind if they wish.

14. What happens during a life coaching session?

Life coaching sessions will typically be for a specific duration, often between 45 minutes and 60 minutes (depending on the life coach you choose). During the session, your life coach will ask you about what you want to get out of life, what areas you're unhappy with and where you'd like to see yourself ending up. Although a life coach will work with you, it’s often up to you to challenge or reflect upon certain ideas to help you move forward with your life. You will never be forced to make any decisions you don't feel comfortable with and all sessions will be confidential, allowing you to explore your thoughts and feelings privately.

Life coaching is often seen as a partnership between you and your life coach, who will gently encourage you to explore how to make positive changes in your life. A life coach should also offer support and feedback to help you to stay focused on your goals.

15. What is NLP?

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is thought to be one of the most effective and accessible self-help methods to come from modern psychology. NLP practitioners harness the power of language to break down the mental barriers we unknowingly create for ourselves. Many life coaches use NLP techniques to help 'reprogramme' clients' patterns of thinking and behaving.

16. Are there different types of coaching?

Yes. There are many different coaching styles coaches use to address different situations. It is important, therefore, that you choose a coach for whom you feel an affinity.

17. How is life coaching different from counselling?

The fundamental difference between counselling and life coaching is that counselling usually investigates the roots and causes of potential problems, whereas life coaching focuses mainly on the future to encourage personal-development and self-improvement. Life coaches are not (unless specified) qualified to diagnose or treat any health-related problems, although if the situation arises they may suggest you see a GP.

18. What can a coach help me with?

Life coaches utilise effective techniques to help their clients in all aspects of life. If you've ever struggled with anything - whether it be sticking to a diet, learning a language, moving out of your comfort zone, standing up for yourself at work, keeping a stable love life, or achieving those things you always wanted to do (see a whale, go to Asia, climb a mountain and other so called 'bucket-list' activities), then consulting a life coach could help you.

A life coach will approach things pragmatically. Through questions and exercises, he or she will try to get a good idea of how you look at the world. From this they will be able to identify the most effective route to your goal. Some people feel intimidated by the idea of change and so need to take things very slowly to fulfil their goals. In this situation a life coach might divide ultimate goals into smaller bite-sized pieces. Other people get impatient and lose interest if their dreams aren't realised immediately. In this situation a life coach might suggest introducing stronger reminders and incentives to keep them on track.

However you approach life, your life coach will be able to tailor your sessions to fit.

19. How many life coaching sessions will I need?

You can have as many or as few life coaching sessions as you like. Because many life coaches operate over the phone or via the Internet, the sessions can easily fit around your schedule. Some people hire a life coach once every few months, some people have a session once a week. Often, it is entirely up to you to decide.