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Overcoming Kinesiophobia:  How Tai Chi and Mindfulness Help You Move Without Fear Understanding Kinesiophobia Kinesiophobia is the fear of movement — particularly the fear that physical activity will cause pain, re-injury, or harm. It’s common after accidents, surgery, or chronic pain conditions. While the original injury may have healed, the mind can still associate movement with danger. This creates a powerful protective response where muscles tighten, breathing becomes shallow, and activity levels drop. Over time, avoidance leads to deconditioning, stiffness, and increased sensitivity , creating a vicious cycle: the less we move, the more we hurt, and the more fearful we become. Kinesiophobia isn’t “all in the head.” It’s a real and measurable psychological barrier affecting physical recovery, confidence, and quality of life. But there is hope — and it often begins with gentle, mindful movement. How Tai Chi Gently Rebuilds Confidence in Movement Tai Chi, often described as “ m...

  Cannabis Psychosis and Hypnotherapy: Understanding the Risks and Finding Recovery The number of people in the UK experiencing cannabis-related psychosis has risen sharply in recent years. What was once seen as a mild or “natural” relaxant has, for some, become a trigger for serious mental health difficulties. At the West Midlands Hypnotherapy Centre , we provide specialist hypnotherapy for cannabis addiction, anxiety, and psychosis recovery , helping clients to regain control, confidence, and emotional balance in a calm and confidential setting. What Is Cannabis Psychosis? Cannabis psychosis occurs when cannabis use triggers symptoms such as paranoia, hallucinations, confusion, or delusional thinking . This is most likely to happen when people use high-strength cannabis products (such as “skunk”), start using at a young age, or use it daily. Studies published in The Lancet Psychiatry show that daily users of high-potency cannabis are five times more likely to experience ...

  How NLP and DBT Can Work Hand-in-Hand to Aid Recovery By West Midlands Hypnotherapy Centre At West Midlands Hypnotherapy Centre, we recognise that every person’s path to recovery is unique. Emotional healing rarely follows a straight line, and sometimes combining complementary approaches can make the journey smoother and more effective. Two such approaches— Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) —can work beautifully together to help people regain balance, confidence, and emotional control. DBT: Building Stability and Emotional Awareness DBT was originally developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan to support people who struggle with intense emotions or self-destructive patterns. It blends cognitive-behavioural methods with mindfulness and acceptance practices , helping individuals to develop emotional stability and resilience. The core DBT skills include: Mindfulness – becoming aware of thoughts and feelings without judgement. Distress Tolerance ...

Weaving Stories into Tai Chi for Rehabilitation When you’re teaching Tai Chi in a rehabilitation setting, the focus often starts with the physical — posture, alignment, breath, balance. But the heart of the practice goes much deeper than that. One of the most powerful ways to reach your students — especially those recovering from injury or illness — is through story . Why Stories Help Healing We are all storytellers at heart. Stories shape how we see ourselves and how we make sense of change. In rehabilitation, where students may be rebuilding trust in their bodies or confidence in their movement, stories can turn exercises into meaningful experiences. A good story does more than entertain — it helps people feel connected , motivated , and hopeful . It invites them to see their recovery as a journey, not a battle. Making Movements Meaningful Tai Chi already gives us a rich language of imagery — White Crane Spreads Wings , Wave Hands Like Clouds , Embrace Tiger, Return to Mountain. When...

Understanding the Importance of the Emotion Mind in DBT At West Midlands Hypnotherapy Centre , many of our clients come to us looking for ways to better understand and manage their emotions. Whether it’s anxiety, stress, low mood, or relationship difficulties, it often feels as though emotions take control before logic can step in. This is where the principles of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) can be particularly helpful. While hypnotherapy works at a subconscious level to promote calm and clarity, DBT offers a practical framework for recognising how our emotions influence thoughts and actions. One key concept within DBT is the Emotion Mind — a state we all experience, but rarely stop to understand. What Is the Emotion Mind? The Emotion Mind is the state we enter when our feelings take over . Our emotions influence how we think, what we say, and how we behave. Logic often steps aside, and our reactions become led by the intensity of the moment. When we’re in Emotion Mind, we mi...

At West Midlands Hypnotherapy Centre , many of our clients come to us after trying other forms of help such as counselling, CBT, or medication. They’re often determined to make a change, yet something seems to keep pulling them back to old habits, fears, or physical symptoms. This isn’t because they don’t want to get better — it’s often because something deeper is happening beneath the surface. One of the most overlooked factors in the healing process is what therapists call secondary gain . What is Secondary Gain? Secondary gain refers to the hidden benefits or protections that a person receives from their symptoms or struggles. These benefits are rarely conscious, but they can be powerful enough to keep a problem in place — even when the person sincerely wants to change. For example: Someone living with anxiety might avoid stressful events or expectations. A person with chronic pain may receive care, attention, or time to rest that their busy life doesn’t otherwise allow. ...