SARUM U3A

At our September meeting, Chairman Jenny Mawer introduced our Speaker, Tara Economakis, a practicing hypnotherapist. Hypnotherapy is becoming more popular in the UK now and many members were curious, and keen to have it explained.
Tara began by refuting some taboos, and distancing herself from stage hypnotists. She gave her definition of hypnosis as a state of altered awareness which is usually achieved with the help of another person. She claimed that hypnotherapy uses this altered state of awareness to bypass the limiting beliefs of the conscious mind. This enables a person to access their own experience–based capabilities and resources to effect a change in behaviour and to allow personal development.
The aims of hypnotherapy, as explained by Tara, are admirable. They are to reduce suffering and distress, to be able to cope with demands of modern life, and improve self–confidence. Practitioners claim success dealing with a wide range of problems, from allergies, grief, infertility, insomnia, migraine, to obsessions.
We were told that it induces no loss of patient control. The patient initiates a change in behaviour by modifying their conscious and unconscious messages with the help of a practitioner. Sadly, I feel we did not learn how this was done. However, this is an interesting subject which many of us will research and discuss.
Members were informed of the computer classes being held at South Wilts Grammar School. Information and application forms are from Age Concern, Brown Street.