London Hypnotherapy UK and London Psychotherapy is committed to helping people who suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Dr David Kraft has worked with individuals who suffer from this condition and has treated them successfully.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common GI disorder. Up to 20% of the population in London suffer from this condition. Clients who come for hypnotherapy often complain that they have a number of symptoms–diarrhoea, constipation, feelings of being bloated, stomach pain and frequency. IBS can be classified as follows:

                        IBS-C=Constipation-predominant

                        IBS-D=Diarrhoea-predominant

                        IBS-A=Alternating constipation and diarrhoea

                        IBS-O=Other abdominal symptoms

Dr Kraft uses gut-directed hypnotherapy–that is to say the Manchester approach (Whorwell, Prior and Faragher, 1984). After induction and deepening, Dr Kraft uses guided imagery and the river metaphor to help the client to take control of his or her feelings; the process is combined with the direct application of hand warmth on the stomach. Dr Kraft also uses the tree metaphor–this is a particularly powerful technique because the tree represents strength and solidity–and content free therapy. Again, this help clients to gain control. They are also taught self hypnosis.

Most patients have shown a remarkable improvement and this has had a knock on effect on their lives. Hypnotherapy reduces tension and anxiety; it also reduces depression, and thus has a good effect on IBS symptoms.