Integrative therapy uses a range of different techniques from different therapeutic disciplines or styles. It works by matching a person with options which best fit their needs. By customising therapy to the individual (rather than 'one size fits all'), integrative therapy aims to cultivate the best result by being holistic and thorough.

Enlighten Therapy specialises in advanced Clinical Hypnotherapy, Psychotherapy (Transactional Analysis), Psychonutrition, Positive Psychology, Mindfulness Training and Meditation. Even within the fields of clinical hypnosis and psychotherapy there are a broad range of styles and techniques utilised, including:

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
  • Cognitive Analytic Therapy
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
  • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
  • Functional Analytic Psychotherapy
  • Transference Focused Psychotherapy

Integrative therapy is not restricted to a particular style or school of thought. Instead, it can draw on different options as needed. Some advantages include:

  • Individualised: As mentioned above. Therapy can also be adapted to individual sessions and group therapy.
  • Flexible: There is no rigidity. Integrative therapy approaches supporting people with numerous protocols, which then can be adapted over time. This allows for dexterity of support based on changes in a person's life throughout the therapy process.
  • Adaptable: For example, if a person is dealing with anxiety, an integrative therapist may combine a treatment plan of clinical hypnosis, Gestalt psychotherapy, mindfulness meditation and CBT to not just help them feel better, but compliment their motivation, lifestyle and capacity.
  • Holistic: An often seen and used word, integrative therapy aims at helping people understand their personality, beliefs and mindset. The big picture of mind / body connection, relationships, thinking, emotions, behaviours and even spirituality are all considered important to be considered. Instead of just focusing on the issue from one perspective, integrative therapy tackles the presenting problem from a more expansive and holistic view.

Psychotherapy refers to techniques that help people change behaviours, thoughts, and emotions that cause problems or distress through 'talk therapy'. It is a broad method that describes treating psychological problems and mental distress using verbal and psychological techniques. Bringing the unconscious into the conscious awareness is also part of some Psychotherapy (see Transactional Analysis).

The process involves a trained therapist helping a client confront specific or general concerns. Depending on the approach used by the therapist, a range of techniques and strategies can be applied to support a client through reframing and re-deciding their issue.

Almost all styles of psychotherapy involve developing a therapeutic relationship, communicating by creating an adult-to-adult dialogue, and working to overcome problematic thoughts or behaviours.

When used in conjunction with clinical hypnosis, psychotherapy can become even more effective at tackling problems of the unconscious mind and can enhance the speed of positive change.

Psychotherapy can be used in different situations depending on the needs of the person:

  • Individual therapy: one-on-one with a therapist.
  • Couples therapy: helping couples improve their relationship.
  • Family therapy: focusing on the family system and dynamic between family members.
  • Group therapy: working with a small group of people sharing a common goal.
Psychotherapy can be cost-effective over time, especially if you don't require SSRI medication. There are many benefits to trying a session, even if you feel that something "off" in your life might be worth exploring.

There are many benefits of psychotherapy, including:

  • Improved communication skills
  • Healthier thinking patterns and greater awareness of negative thoughts
  • More significant insights about your life
  • Ability to make healthier choices
  • Stronger tolerance to stress and frustration
  • Improved family and friendship bonds
Hypnotherapy could be described as: experiencing hypnosis with a trained practitioner.

Like psychotherapy, the goal is to create positive change in a person’s life. In many instances, hypnosis can do so in a more rapid timeframe. A clinical hypnotherapist or trained hypnotist guides their client towards long-lasting change via the unconscious mind.

While a habit takes a minimum of 21 days to create, hypnotherapy can help start the process of change in a matter of hours.

Even though hypnotism may seem like a modern technique, it has over 125 years of science and research behind it. Many studies have shown hypnosis is highly effective in helping restructure the brain’s neuroplasticity—be that stopping an addiction, improving medical conditions, relieving chronic pain, or addressing mental health issues.

Clinical hypnosis uses a great deal of neuroscience, utilising these tools effectively when a person is in a hypnotic state, or trance. Many of these techniques are drawn directly from psychology, psychotherapy and talk therapy.

During hypnosis, your brain waves go deep into theta frequency. Theta waves oscillate between 4 Hz to 8 Hz (cycles per second) and are linked to experiencing emotions, daydreaming, intuition, relaxation, accessing the subconscious mind, and REM sleep.

By working in theta, the critical area of the mind (the wall between the conscious and subconscious) can be bypassed. Your unconscious mind can then process and accept suggestions for change by committing these ideas to memory.

Hypnotherapy helps us change the negative thoughts and limiting beliefs that run on continual loops in our brain. These repetitive thoughts cause undesired actions and negative thoughts or behaviours. By disrupting that loop, the action that follows naturally falls away.

Disclaimer: results for hypnosis may vary from person to person depending on the presenting issue. 
Transactional Analysis (TA) is a theory of personality, a language of behaviour, and an organised system of interactional therapy. It is grounded on the assumption that we make current decisions based on our early experiences in life.

The strength of TA therapy focuses on helping clients rethink and redecide these early decisions in light of present circumstances. This method of Psychotherapy emphasises both the cognitive and behavioural aspects of change as well as our resistance to it.

The end goal of transactional analysis is described as autonomy (awareness, spontaneity and the capacity for intimacy).

Transactional analysis was originally developed by the late Eric Berne (1961) who was trained as a Freudian Psychoanalyst and Psychiatrist. TA evolved out of Berne's dissatisfaction with the slowness and exclusivity of psychoanalysis, along with it's overly academic baggage.

He designed a method of therapy that any person could understand and would work equally as well within a group therapy setting.
Individual sessions runs for 50-60 minutes.

Couples or family sessions run for 90 minutes.
You do not require a referral from your GP to get started with me. A comprehensive consultation for all new clients is completed to ensure your needs can be met.

If you require a mental health diagnosis for any reason you will need to speak to your GP for a referral.
Rebates for private health insurance or a Medicare rebate for a Mental Health Treatment Plan are not available at this time.
Being in hypnosis is a very natural state that can be experienced by everyone. There are no documented cases of direct or malicious harm coming from clinical hypnotherapy, as its only purpose is to motivate, challenge limiting beliefs and suggest ideas for positive change.

Hypnosis is not mind control as it is a voluntary state. You cannot be forced into hypnosis, nor stay in trance. Your unconscious processing continually works to keep you safe, and no one can be forced to go against their morals or beliefs.

Just like psychotherapy, clinical hypnosis requires trust in your therapist. Any suggestions you hear that you don’t agree with will bring you entirely out of your trance, or they won’t be integrated by your subconscious mind.

Consent is always confirmed at the start of each session before proceeding.
Hypnotherapy creates a calm, receptive and relaxed state of mind, which immediately begins to lower the heart rate, blood pressure and muscular tension. In this state, people feel like they are drifting off to sleep and experience heightened states of physical, mental and emotional relaxation.

Under these conditions, you are much more open to motivating suggestions for positive change. This shift in brain wave energy keeps the conscious mind out of the way, allowing the absolute powerhouse of change— the subconscious mind— to do what it does best.
Unlike daydreaming or letting your mind drift off when relaxing, Hypnosis can induce variable states of amnesia depending on hypnotic depth, as this fluctuates during a session. Some hypnosis requires conversation between the practitioner and the client (such as regression work), so this hypnotic depth is lighter and may produce some recall.