“It opens doors to things you didn’t imagine you could possibly do” – student interview with Anja Henderson, Occupational Psychologist

We spoke to Anja Henderson, an occupational psychologist, after she completed the classroom training part of her Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy.

Hear what Anja has to say about how she plans to integrate the skills she learnt into her coaching practice, the prevalence of anxiety in today's society, and how techniques taught on the Diploma can reduce anxiety and “change the way you're thinking straight away”.

“My name is Anja Henderson. I'm an occupational psychologist, specialized in leadership assessment and development. I coach senior managers on their strengths and what they can work on in the business environment.

I chose the course because I wanted to get some more tools in my toolbox for my coaching sessions – how to help senior managers deal with stressful situations, improve their resilience, but also just in general, if they have issues, to give them something more to work with in those situations. And then in the long term, my aim is to have my own business with that. That's why I chose the course.

In terms of using the tools in my career, it's really just integrating all the practical exercises, everything that we've learned – and there's so much that we have learned! And just using that in the coaching sessions. Once I have my own business, I’ll obviously help my clients, people that come to see, to just live a better life. Reducing the anxiety levels, improving their self-confidence, dealing with situations differently. And just using everything I've learned to help in those situations.

I definitely think anxiety is one of the biggest issues in our society at the moment. And whether that's senior managers or children in school these days, it's everywhere. Anxiety about how we're perceived by others, anxiety about our own lives, about our next steps, about whether we are enough. It just goes through all kinds of levels in society – any age, anywhere, women, men. It's everywhere.

I think fulfilled [by the course] is the right word here. I think anxiety really stops us from being the best version of ourselves and I really think reducing anxiety is such an important step in being happier within ourselves with our lives. That obviously then impacts our relationships, our family life, our careers. Everything, everything in life I think is impacted by anxiety, and reducing it makes you happier.

I have applied that myself. I visualize a lot in terms of goal setting. I visualize how it will look like in the future, and it absolutely reduces my anxiety level. I'm not even worried that something couldn't or can't work out. I'm visualizing how I want it to look like, and I'm so confident that I will get there. It doesn't matter how long it will take but I know I will get there, for example. Or the cut-off ‘stopped' thought – it's such a small thing, but so powerful. It just changes the way you're thinking straight away. And again, it opens doors, to things that you didn't imagine you could possibly do.”

You can read or watch more student testimonials here.

And click here to view upcoming dates for our Diploma courses. 

About the author | Mark R. Davis

Mark is a therapist, trainer, meditation teacher – and a leader in developing the integration of hypnosis with cognitive behavioural psychotherapy approaches. As Director and Principal of The UK College of Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy, he is at the forefront of evidence-based hypnotherapy training – and is also very involved in the the integration of yoga and non-dual philosophy into Western Psychotherapy.

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