“Beneath the social mask we wear every day, we have a hidden shadow side: an impulsive, wounded, sad, or isolated part that we generally try to ignore. The Shadow can be a source of emotional richness and vitality, and acknowledging it can be a pathway to healing and an authentic life. We meet our dark side, accept it for what it is, and we learn to use its powerful energies in productive ways. The Shadow knows why good people sometimes do “bad” things. Romancing the Shadow and learning to read the messages it encodes in daily life can deepen your consciousness, imagination, and soul.” (Jung, ref. published in 1958).

I would like to focus on ‘authentic living’. Being authentic in how we feel, think and behave is the key to happiness, and the happiness of others. How am I going to justify this? Well, I will start by looking at the behaviour of children at a young age. They have not been taught how to behave in different situations—how to behave with babies, in church, at the doctors, in school, when in trouble, when someone is hurt, on holiday, when meeting someone for the first time, when someone has done something wrong. There thousands of other examples that I might give here. They are conditioned and taught in order to suppress many of their feelings and behaviours. In regard to social identity theory (Henri Tajfel and John Turner), we, many of us, form our identity from perceived membership of a social group. However, we all have identities that are moveable and we act differently in different situations. Perhaps, the more we act in a certain way, the more we are repressing. Put in another way, the more we act, the more we push towards the shadow.

There are some people I know who act like teachers. They have been taught to be teachers, and they have been conditioned to act like teachers. They have done this for so long that they are unable to think or act or behave like themselves. They are lost in their social world, and they have lost touch with their real, instinct self. They wear a teacher mask (a social mask). One can apply this principle to politicians, soldiers, bank managers, born again Christians, and all sorts of different types of people who act within a social format in their home environment. There are some therapists who do this do.

On the first day on the stage 2, Shaun said that, as therapists, we must keep it real. This is 100 percent. We need to explore our shadow, and notice the difference between our pleasure seeking self, our childlike self, and our repressed acting self’. Although that was quite Jungian—incidentally, for a period of over twelve years, he gave pseudonyms to different parts of his body, real of spiritual–using Jungian terminology, we need to know difference between our shadow, our ego and our persona. That sounds difficult to me. Perhaps I could explain it better using Freudian language. If the shadow represents a place where we house our repressed thoughts, feelings and behaviour mechanisms, we need to bring this to the fore—from the pre-conscious into the conscious—come to terms with these internal conflicts and to act on them in order to take care of ourselves, and our needs.

Once we have brought some of this material to the fore, we can be in tune with ourselves and understand ourselves much better—including knowing our intrinsic needs and desires. This will help us to behave, feel and think more authentically as therapists or clients, but most importantly in our everyday lives. The powerful energy that we gain from this investigation, will help us all to take care of ourselves in an appropriate (Jung calls it ‘productive’) way.

Dear Dr Kraft

Thank you for seeing me last Thursday. I know that you are very busy in Harley Street. I wanted to say that the hypnotherapy gave me a huge amount of space to work through my problems. I am so pleased with what I have achieved in such a short space of time. Thank you ever so much. I have decided not to come next week, but I will ring you in the future if I need any more help. Hypnotherapy, and the way you use it, has helped me so much this week. I also used self hypnosis to help me when things get tough.

Michael

Dear Hypnotherapist

I have been looking for a hypnotherapist in London for some time now and I have not had much luck. I looked on the Internet and have found some really dodgy looking people. Some say that they are hypnotherapists and others say that they are hypnotists, others combine hypnotherapy with psychotherapy and others used NLP and CBT. What a mess. What do you do. I am completely confused; I think that I need to speak to someone and have a session just to plan what I need to do in the treatment. What can you offer me. You look like you are at the top of the field. Are you a specialist hypnotherapist? I see that you work in Harley Street. Please help. S

Dear S

I am a hypnotherapist and psychotherapist. The approach that I use combined psychodynamic psychotherapy with hypnotherapy–I also use some behavioural approaches to treatment. In the first session–the consultation–both therapist and client will discuss the form of treatment and ask and respond to questions. I can offer you an hour’s consultation in order to do this. If you would like to book an appointment, please ring 0207 467 8564.

David Kraft: Psychotherapist and Hypnotherapist

Dr David Kraft is the managing director of London Hypnotherapy UK and London Psychotherapy. He is a highly skilled hypnotherapist and psychotherapist and is top in his field. Based in Harley Street, he offers one-to-one sessions to adults and teenagers. David trained at the BST Foundation and obtained two diplomas in clinical hypnotherapy. He also has a diploma in clinical psychology. He is a member of the British Society of Clinical and Academic Hypnosis and a fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine.

Dear hypnotherapist

I am looking for a hypnotherapist and /or psychotherapist in London and I wondered whether you can help me. I have been suffering from depression for some time now. I went to my GP and he sent me to a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist prescribed me Anafranil, and I was on 150mg a day for several months. I started on 10mg per day and this increased to 150mg.  I didn’t feel any better. I was depressed, numbed and felt out of control. It affected my relationship with my husband, and I stopped having sex with him. I only had sex when I wanted to have sex and this was only once or twice a week. I miss the closeness that I once had with my husband. What is this drug?

I think that I am obsessional too. I worry about things over and over again and this makes me feel worse about myself. I want to speak to a psychotherapist or psychologist about this because it is getting worse, and I cannot control my actions, or my thoughts. Can you help? Thank you.

Geraldine

Dear Geraldine

Anafranil is a tricylic antidepressant (TCAD). The trade name is Anafranil, but it is perhaps better known as Clomipramine Hydrochloride. Tricyclics work by blocking the reuptake of neurotransmitters noradrenaline and serotonin into the neurons. This sustains and prolongs the effects of these transmitters. However, secondary changes then happen: the numbers of the neurotransmitter receptors then reduce. 150mg is a large dose of this particular drug.

You have asked me whether I can help. The answer is certainly, ‘yes’. However, it is important to note that I don’t want to interfere with what you are doing with your psychiatrist. If you would like to see me, please ask your psychiatrist to write to me, and then I will will see you in Harley Street. I have worked with depression in the past and have had a tremendous amount of success. I have worked in conjunction with psychiatrists; however, I prefer to work on this problem without the use of medication.

The address is below

London Psychotherapy, 10 Harley Street, London, W1G 9PF, UK

The best of luck

Dr David Kraft  

Dr David Kraft is a psychotherapist and hypnotherapist working in central London. He is the founder member of London Hypnotherapy UK and the managing director or London Psychotherapy. A fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, David trained at the BST Foundation in London where he gained both the Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis and the Advanced Certificate in Clinical and Strategic Hypnosis. He also has a Diploma in Clinical Psychology. David has published widely in national and international journals in the field of psychotherapy integration and hypnosis. Further, David has given three lectures at the Royal Society of Medicine. He is a member of BSCAH and the Section of Hypnosis and Psychosomatic Medicine at the Royal Society of Medicine.

Dear Dr David Kraft

I want to ask you whether you can help me. I had hypnotherapy with your father, Dr Tom Kraft, and I want to know whether you can see me too. I saw him three years ago and he helped me with my research. He was a mine of information about hypnotherapy and psychotherapy, and I went to him for assistance. I was not a patient, but I did receive a basic training on hypnosis from him. At the time I was doing the UCL course and he was my tutor. I wanted to ask some more questions. Can you see me in Harley Street, or can we meet at the Royal Society of Medicine. I assume that you are a fellow there too. I remember having coffee with your father in the bar at the Royal Society of Medicine one time and he helped me with a piece of coursework that I was doing.

I am now working in private practice and need help with the following areas: performance anxiety, weight loss hypnotherapy, smoking cessation hypnotherapy, IBS treatment strategies (in particular how to use imagery in treatment, and the ‘river approach’), covert sensitization, and some more information about systematic desensitization.

Can you help

Thanks

J

Dear J

Yes, of course, we can meet. You can ring me on 0207 467 8564. We can meet at the Royal Society of Medicine in the first instance if you like. I, like my late father, use a combination of psychodynamic psychotherapy and hypnotherapy.

Dr Kraft

Dr David Kraft is a fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and a member of the British Society of Clinical and Academic Hypnosis (BSCAH). He has written several papers in both international and national journals_Contemporary Hypnosis (the official journal for BSCAH and ESH), and the Australian Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. David is also on the General Hypnosis Register and a member of the Hypnosis and Psychosomatic Medicine Section of the Royal Society of Medicine. He has a diploma in clinical hypnosis and two diplomas in clinical and strategic hypnosis. Dr David Kraft is currently working in private practice in Harley Street, London. He is one of the leading hypnotherapists in his field.   

Dear hypnotherapist

I have been suffering from depression for some time, and I don’t know it is genetic or whether I have had bad experiences in the past. All I can say is that sometimes I feel dreadful, I feel useless, and can’t get out of bed. I feel that I don’t want to do anything, and that everything is useless. I first went to my GP and she gave me beta blockers. I then went for a one off session to see a psychiatrist and he worried me. He said that I had clinical depression and he prescribed me Allegron. I was taking 25mg for some time and this made me feel out of control. I felt that my emotions were numbed and that I didn’t care about what was going on around me. Please help me.

I heard that hypnotherapy was usefull and can help people get out of depression. I also read that it provides support and that one can use hypnotherapy to boost you at your time of need. Can you help? Two of my friends said that they have used hypnosis. Is hypnotherapy the same thing as hypnosis? Please help.

H

Dear H

Thank you for your enquiry. The first thing that I should say is that I don’t want to interfere with anything that your psychiatrist has said; I should also point out that I am not a psychiatrist and I do not prescribe medication. If you would like to see me for a consultation, that is fine, but you would have to get a referral letter from your psychiatrist. I wold then be happy to see you. Allegron is the trade name for Nortriptyline and it is a tricyclic antidepressant (TCAD). They work by blocking the reuptake of serotonin and noradrenaline into the neurons: they prolong the effects of these neurotranssmitters. I tend not to user labels in therapy. I find that labelling someone is unhelpful, and many people have been affected by false or generalized labelling. I use hypnosis in my practice to augment the work that I do in the psychodynamic psychotherapy. Essentially, the term hypnotherapy is a misnomer. Although I often use the term for convenience, hypnotherapy refers to a form of treatment in which the therapist uses hypnosis; however, I believe that hypnosis should only be used with another existing therapy such as CBT, psychotherapy, dentistry, clinical psychology etc. Perhaps, it is not worth getting bogged down with terminology. If you would like to book a session, please feel free to ring the number below. Hypnosis, used in conjunction with psychotherapy, which is the approach that I take, is a very powerful and effective form of treatment which has no side effects, and it is a programme which does not use medication.

The best of luck

Dr David Kraft, London Hypnotherapy UK & London Psychotherapy

David Kraft (PhD) is a member of the British Society of Clinical and Academic Hypnosis (BSCAH), and a fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine; he is also a member of the Hypnosis and Psychosomatic Medicine. Section of the Royal Society of Medicine, and on the General Hypnotherapy Register. He has published articles in’ Contemporary Hypnosis which is the official publication for BSCAH. He has also written articles in the Australian Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. He has also written two obituaries–one in  the BSCAH newsletter and one in the British Medical Journal (BMJ).  He has a diploma in Clinical Psychology, a diploma in clinical hypnosis and advanced diploma in clinical and strategic hypnosis. Dr David Kraft works as a psychotherapist and hypnotherapist in private practice.

Address–10 Harley Street, London, W1G 9PF

Phone Number–0207 467 8564.

London Hypnotherapy UK–Information

London Hypnotherapy UK is one of the leading centres for hypnotherapy in London. Based at 10 Harley Street, London, W1G 9PF, London Hypnotherapy is easily accessible and right in the heart of the West End. The offices are open from 9am until 10pm at night and they are also open on Saturdays and Sundays during the day.

The hypnotherapist is Dr David Kraft. He is a specialist hypnotherapist and psychotherapist working in private practice. He has published papers in both national and international journals in the field of hypnosis and psychotherapy integration: he has written on anxiety, sleeping disorders, driving phobia, covert sensitization (aversion therapy) in the treatment of smoking addiction and alcohol addiction, sexual disorders, hyperhidrosis, anorexia, bulimia and IBS. He has published four articles in Contemporary Hypnosis which is the official Journal of the British Society of Clinical and Academic Hypnosis (BSCAH).  Dr Kraft is a fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, a full member of the British Society of Clinical and Academic Hypnosis (BSCAH), a member of the Hypnosis and Psychosomatic Medicine Section of the Royal Society of Medicine; he is also on the General Hypnotherapy Register, holding the General Qualification in Hypnotherapy Practice. He holds the BST Foundation Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis and the Advanced Diploma in Clinical and Strategic Hypnosis; he has a diploma in Clinical Psychology and a certificate in Psychoneuroimmunology.

Dr David Kraft works at 10 Harley Street, but also offers telephone psychotherapy sessions on request. This works for some poeple; obviously hypnosis is not done during telephone sessions. Although principally a psychotherapist, his approach hypnosis with psychodynamic psychotherapy. Dr Kraft uses hypnosis to work with the full gamut psychological conditions–in particular, he helps individuals suffering from anxiety, eating disorders (mostly, bulimia), sleeping disorders, depression, OCD, phobic anxiety, IBS, panic attacks, PTSD amongst many others. Hypnosis is not always used; however, the procedure is always discussed with the client, and the programme of treatment is designed by both client and therapist. Some therapeutic programmes have been renamed recently by hypnotherapists–they speak off stop smoking hypnosis, weight loss hypnosis, confidence hypnosis, sleeping disorders hypnosis etc. The techniques employed here are not new; however, they have been labelled as such to make it easier for clients to understand, and search for on the world wide web.  

For an appointment, please ring 0207 467 8564. If you are interested in hypnosis, you are welcome to phone up for a consultation. Dr Kraft is sometimes available to have an informal chat about hypnotherapy and how hypnosis works. If you are interested in using hypnosis, or if you are thinking about a career in hypnotherapy, then Dr Kraft might be able to help you and give you some advice. Dr David Kraft is also the managing director of London Psychotherapy.  

It is important to note that hypnosis is a very safe form of treatment and that there are no side effects. At London Hypnotherapy UK, we believe that every individual has the ability in the hypnosis to realize his or her own potential, and this can be augmented and worked on outside the consulting room. Dr David Kraft also teaches self hypnosis to his clients: this helps because it gives individuals more control between sessions. In addition, the use of hypnosis provides a cost effective form of treatment; results are long lasting and the whole approach does not use medication.

Key Words and Terms: Hypnosis, Hypnotherapy, Psychotherapy, BSCAH, Royal Society of Medicine, London Hypnotherapy UK