What to Expect in an IBS Hypnotherapy Session

For many people living with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), finding relief can often feel like a daunting task. With symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, and irregular bowel movements disrupting daily life, you might wonder if hypnotherapy could be the solution you’ve been searching for. If you’re considering IBS hypnotherapy, you may ask, “What happens during a session?”

Understanding what to expect can help to ease any uncertainty and empower you to begin your hypnotherapy journey with confidence. Here’s a step-by-step overview of what an IBS hypnotherapy session includes, the techniques used, and how it can benefit you.

The Purpose of IBS Hypnotherapy

IBS is closely tied to the gut-brain axis—a sophisticated communication system between your brain and digestive system. Stress, anxiety, or emotional distress can disrupt this connection, leading to heightened sensitivity or worsened IBS symptoms. Hypnotherapy helps to rebalance this connection, creating long-term relief and fostering resilience.

Gut-directed hypnotherapy focuses on easing this miscommunication. By guiding you into a deeply relaxed state, the therapy encourages your body to “rest and digest,” reducing sensitivity in your digestive tract. Over time, you gain relief from symptoms while tackling the mental strain associated with IBS. Sessions also work on improving your emotional well-being and overall quality of life.

Step-By-Step Guide to a Hypnotherapy Session

1. The Initial Consultation

Every hypnotherapy experience begins with an in-depth consultation. This foundational meeting is designed to tailor your care and establish trust. Farah, a Clinical Hypnotherapist in Sheffield, uses this time to fully understand your unique circumstances, including your medical history, lifestyle, and specific challenges related to IBS.

During the consultation, you’ll discuss:

• The type and frequency of your symptoms.
• Possible triggers, such as dietary factors, stress, or emotional events.
• Your therapy goals, whether they involve managing flare-up triggers, reducing anxiety, or improving digestion.

After the initial consultation, you’ll receive an MP3 recording tailored to your needs. This recording becomes an invaluable tool, reinforcing your progress between sessions and promoting long-term symptom management.

2. Understanding the Process

Farah ensures you feel informed and supported by walking you through what hypnotherapy entails, answering any concerns along the way. Hypnosis might sound unfamiliar or intimidating, but in reality, it’s a natural state akin to daydreaming, where you remain fully aware and in control.

Farah’s approach is informative and compassionate, helping to demystify the process and create a sense of safety.

3. Creating the Right Environment

A calm and supportive setting is vital for successful hypnotherapy. Whether you attend sessions in person in Sheffield or online, you’ll be guided in creating a distraction-free environment. For in-person sessions, Farah provides soothing music and a serene atmosphere to help you relax fully.

4. Guided Relaxation and Hypnosis

Hypnotherapy sessions start with a guided relaxation phase where you enter a deeply calm state known as a trance. This state enables you to focus intensely on positive and therapeutic suggestions tailored to your needs.

Farah may use guided imagery, such as visualising a peaceful environment or imagining your digestive system functioning comfortably. These visualisations target the gut-brain axis, reducing hypersensitivity and helping your body react calmly to triggers.

5. Personalised Techniques

Each session with Farah combines advanced techniques, including Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). These methods work together to address the unique physical, emotional, and mental dimensions of IBS:

• CBT techniques help identify and reframe thought patterns that may amplify stress or anxiety around symptoms.
• NLP strategies enable you to cultivate healthier responses to common IBS triggers.

This evidence-based approach ensures your session goes beyond symptom control, empowering your long-term well-being.

6. Positive Suggestions

Central to the process are personalised affirmations designed to reprogramme how your mind communicates with your gut. If social gatherings often trigger your symptoms, for instance, affirmations such as “I remain calm and confident in social situations,” or “My digestive system feels settled and in control,” may be suggested.

These affirmations work on both conscious and subconscious levels, fostering lasting changes in how you manage IBS.

7. Returning to Wakefulness

After the session, Farah gently guides you back to wakefulness, leaving you feeling refreshed and relaxed. To support your ongoing progress, she provides tools like guided hypnosis recordings, allowing you to continue practising at home and reinforcing the benefits of therapy.

Why Choose Farah?

Farah brings a unique set of skills and experience to her practice. Having trained at the prestigious Clifton Practice Hypnotherapy Training School, she is also an IBS4IBS Approved Practitioner, leveraging techniques backed by rigorous evidence. Her expertise extends beyond hypnotherapy; Farah incorporates mindfulness, yoga therapy, and Ayurvedic wellness principles for a truly holistic and personalised approach.

The IBS4IBS programme, which is led by renowned practitioner Helen Bremner, focuses on managing IBS through gut-directed hypnotherapy. The approach aligns with NICE guidelines, emphasising the connection between “fight or flight” responses and IBS symptoms. Techniques such as hypnotherapy help restore the “rest and digest” state by improving bowel blood flow and reducing stress-induced symptom flare-ups.

Farah’s warm and compassionate style ensures clients feel supported and understood throughout their hypnotherapy experience. With her, you’ll gain a deep understanding of the gut-brain axis and practical tools to help you move forward with confidence.

Benefits of IBS Hypnotherapy

Farah’s hypnotherapy sessions focus on creating real, measurable changes. Clients typically attend 6 to 8 sessions, though significant improvements can sometimes be seen in fewer visits. Among the key benefits are:

• Symptom Relief: Gut-directed hypnotherapy eases abdominal pain, cramping, and changes in bowel habits by calming the gut-brain axis.
• Stress Management: Learn practical techniques to reduce stress and avoid symptom flare-ups.
• Improved Emotional Resilience: Address anxiety and frustration related to IBS, giving you a greater sense of control.
• Tailored Care: Every session is customised to address your unique symptoms and triggers.
• Sustainable Results: Reinforcing therapy with a MP3 recording ensures long-term improvement, with many clients enjoying relief years after completing their sessions.

Take the First Step

IBS hypnotherapy is a proven method of not only managing symptoms but also improving overall quality of life. Whether you’re looking to minimise flare-ups or regain your confidence, Farah is here to support you.

Based in Sheffield, Farah offers in-person appointments as well as online consultations, making her services accessible no matter where you are. Take the next step toward relief—visit Interlude Hypnotherapy to book your first session or learn more about her holistic and evidence-based approach.

Relief is closer than you imagine. Reclaim control over your gut health and begin living the life you deserve.

To learn more about IBS.

➡️ What is IBS Hypnotherapy and How Can It Help You?

➡️ Common IBS Triggers and How Hypnotherapy Addresses Them

➡️ Stress and IBS: How to Break the Cycle Naturally

➡️ Surviving the Festive Season with IBS

➡️ Why the New Year is the Best Time to Start IBS Hypnotherapy

➡️ The Science Behind IBS Hypnotherapy

➡️Why Choose an IBS4IBS Approved Practitioner?