I am often asked what is hypnotherapy good for? Are there health benefits? My short answer to that is yes. there are huge health benefits and it’s good for everything! In my practice, I have recently been working with a young woman (38 years) suffering from a long term, but little-known condition, called vaginismus.

What is Vaginismus?

Vaginismus is a condition in which involuntary muscle spasm stops vaginal intercourse. It is the body’s automatic reaction to the fear of some or all types of penetration and you have no conscious control over it.

She described her body as being “locked” and sexual intercourse had been impossible since the outset. She had seen various doctors; specialists and a sex therapist about vaginismus and hypnotherapy was her last resort as she had found little solace in the talking cure. The causes of vaginismus are unclear but she felt she needed something to shift deeper in her subconscious mind.

Hypnotherapy is an incredibly effective way of addressing your worries, anxieties, fears and phobias. I am also trained in psychosexual dysfunction and this is an area in which hypnotherapy can make a really positive and life-changing impact.

We had six online sessions during which she talked about her vaginismus symptoms, what she was wanting to achieve and what might be creating blocks to these goals.  Once this was established, I used hypnosis – a relaxing state of trance – to create a positive shift in her subconscious mind.

The subconscious is not logical, but purely reactive and behavioural. It is where all our learned and sometimes “limiting” behaviours and fears are. This is where the blocks live and where hypnosis does it’s work.

How Hypnotherapy Can Help Vaginismus

Hypnosis is deeply relaxing and restorative and I encouraged her mind and body to completely relax and to realign. Once we achieve a relaxation response it becomes possible to combat negative thoughts and fears with positive ones and focus on what is achievable rather than the opposite. Anything you imagine and want you can create – so the potential benefits are huge!

She was able to reframe her thoughts and felt for the first time in control. I created an audio for her to listen to every night as she went to sleep to keep re-enforcing the positive messages to her subconscious and a few weeks later she contacted me to say she had some very good news! Not only was she able to have sexual intercourse for the first time in her life, she had also found herself jumping in a river – despite a lifelong fear of water and swimming! The sessions had unlocked several blocks and she felt liberated and happy.

Even though at times it had all seemed so overwhelming, she had persevered and was open to trying a different approach.  She said in an email to me…

“I do believe that if you’re willing to find a solution, it will always surface.” 

It’s a powerful message. She had felt depleted when we first met and now, she feels energised and empowered because she has achieved all the things she wanted and needed.

So, I would really encourage anyone struggling with vaginismus or a similar issue – or anything that you feel may be holding you back – to get in touch with me and experience for yourself the positive health benefits of hypnotherapy. Your life really can be transformed.