Welcome to Innova Hypnotherapy
Your home to rest, restore and renew
Who we are
Alecia Hennessy
Hypnotherapist and Psychotherapist
Your dedicated clinical hypnotherapist, Alecia, has an extensive background in healthcare. With over 25 years of experience as a pharmacist, she has witnessed many people suffering from diverse illnesses and ailments and has seen varied levels of success with traditional treatment.
A deep curiosity about the human condition and a passion for learning led Alecia to study Neurolinguistic Programming over several years through The Tad James Company, obtaining her diploma in November 2022. This ignited her fascination with hypnosis, and it seemed natural for her to delve deeper into this. A Diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy followed from The Australian Hypnotherapy College in August 2023. Since then, Alecia has regularly treated clients from her home office in Merewether. Her time as a pharmacist has given her great insight into both physical and mental illnesses and she has found that Hypnotherapy can assist in alleviating many conditions, by tapping into the unlimited power of the subconscious mind.
The power of hypnosis combined with psychotherapy has seen Alecia create lasting positive change with her clients. She describes it as a beautiful, relaxing, gentle, and effective therapy with unlimited applications.
Alecia continues to study and develop her skillset. She is currently undertaking her Master’s in Counselling through the University of Canberra. A busy working Mum, Alecia understands the demands, the pressures, and the struggles of today’s complex world. Known for her empathy, kindness, warmth and intuition, Alecia founded Innova Hypnotherapy as a place to assist clients rest, restore and renew.
Diploma of Clinical Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy – Australian Hypnotherapy College
Diploma of Neurolinguistic Programming and Hypnotherapy – The Tad James Company
Trainer of NLP and Timeline Therapy
Master Practitioner of NLP, Time Line Therapy
Level One Certified Practitioner Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
Specialist Accreditation in Rapid Anxiety Reduction Method (RARM)
Master Accreditation in Quit Smoking
Master Accreditation in Weight Loss and Virtual Gastric Banding
Current NSW working with children check, national police check, first aid and cpr certificate.
Professional Indemnity and Public Liability Insurance
Member Of Australian Hypnotherapists Association
What is Clinical Hypnotherapy?
Clinical Hypnotherapy is an effective therapeutic technique that utilises the power of hypnosis to facilitate positive change in an individual's mental and physical well-being.
While in a hypnotic state, also known as trance, profound change can be achieved. When combined with psychotherapy, we can reshape beliefs, feelings and behaviours.
Hypnosis opens the door to your subconscious mind, where we hold our memories, negative emotions, beliefs and programming. By bypassing your conscious mind or critical faculty, change can be made quickly and easily. Hypnosis is a dream-like state that deeply relaxes your conscious mind and body, and while in this state, we can install new beliefs and behaviours to achieve positive outcomes.
Hypnotherapy can assist in treating
- Anxiety and Stress
- Low Mood and Depression
- Post Natal Depression
- Post Traumatic Stress
- Over-thinking or Ruminating
- Performance improvement for athletes
- Phobias and Fears
- Addictions such as smoking, vaping, alcohol, gambling, drugs
- Grief and Loss
- Insomnia, sleep disorders
- Irritable bowel
- Chronic pain
- Weight management
- Unwanted behaviours or bad habits, such as nail biting, hair pulling, bed wetting
- Build self-esteem and confidence
- Create excellent study habits and exam confidence
- Performance improvement for athletes
- Create the future you want – improve motivation, focus, energy, creativity
- Guide and assist with facing life challenges and changes
Hypnosis is not sleep;
it is an awake state of
deep relaxation.
FAQs
Hypnosis is a naturally occurring state of deep relaxation, focused attention, and heightened suggestibility. The Egyptians and Greeks have used it since ancient times to promote healing. The word “hypnosis” is derived from the Greek word for sleep; however, you are always in control, and most people retain a certain level of awareness. It is a state of focused attention, and individuals are more open to suggestions. It is often described as a dreamlike state where the conscious mind drifts away.
During a hypnotherapy session, your therapist will guide you into a state of trance. While in this relaxed state, the hypnotherapist will use carefully crafted suggestions and imagery to help you address a specific issue.
A typical hypnotherapy session begins with a discussion of your goals and concerns. Together, we will devise a treatment plan. The hypnotherpaist will then guide you into a relaxed state using various techniques such as fixed eye focus, progressive muscle relaxation or guided imagery. Once you are in hypnosis, the hypnotherapist will use positive suggestions, anchors and therapeutic techniques tailored to your specific needs.
Everyone can be hypnotised. Trance occurs naturally, twice a day, regardless of whether you know it. It occurs in the moments just as we drift off to sleep and upon waking when we are not operating with our full awareness.
Hypnosis is not sleep; it is an awake state of deep relaxation. Most people remain aware of what they experience, though they describe it as a dream-like state. If you have ever driven somewhere and arrived at your destination safely without recalling the details of your journey, you were likely in a state of hypnosis.
Everyone!
As a clinical hypnotherapist, I can work with children with their parents’ consent, provided they can follow instructions. Hypnotherapy is simply following instructions to relax.
Absolutely! The prime directive of your subconscious mind is to keep you safe. You will never do anything under hypnosis that you would not do in a fully alert and aware state. You are always in control. A strict code of ethics also governs members of the Australian Hypnotherapists Association.
Many people notice an instant change, an immediate improvement. Some may notice gradual changes as the suggestions come into effect. It also depends on the individual and what ails them.
The number of sessions will vary depending on the issue being treated and whether it is a chronic condition. Hypnotherapy can treat many less complex issues in one session.
Yes, many private healthcare insurers cover Clinical Hypnotherapy. We recommend you check your cover with your fund. You will be issued a receipt with the provider details to claim. At this point, Hypnotherapy is not covered by Medicare.
No. Medicare does not cover Hypnotherapy yet, so no referral is necessary.
Either online through the link, or you can fill out the contact form and we will be in touch, or by calling 0428 392 224.
Alecia has a beautiful private space in her home in Merewether with plenty of street parking out the front.
Absolutely. Hypnotherapy via Zoom or Skype is proven to be just as effective as face-to-face therapy. Some people feel even more relaxed when surrounded by the comfort of their own homes. All you need is a quiet, comfortable space where you won’t be distracted or interrupted, as well as your laptop.
What is the Unconscious Mind
vs
the Conscious Mind
Although you may not know it, you have two minds - the conscious (or thinking) mind and the subconscious (or unconscious) mind. Many believe in a third mind - the higher self or soul.
The easiest way to explain this is to picture an iceberg.
Our conscious mind is like the top of the iceberg that we can see above the water. This is our critical faculty, our thinking and analytical mind. Below the surface, the iceberg is enormous. This is like our unconscious mind; it is out of our awareness.
The unconscious mind is responsible for keeping the body running. It controls when we breathe, blink, pump our heart, digest and so much more. Its prime directive is
to keep us alive. It is where we store our memories, emotions, beliefs, and behavioural programming.
Hypnotherapy and NLP use the unlimited power of the unconscious mind to make lasting and permanent change. In a therapeutic setting it can be used to change your limiting beliefs and negative emotions, it can alter your physical state through inducing deep relaxation and can eradicate unwanted behaviours or habits to create the life you have always imagined.
Ready to make some changes?
