Beverley Bley’s mission is to enhance the health, happiness and productivity of her clients through C.H.A.N.G.E. (Counseling, Hypnotherapy And Naturally Generated Excellence). 

Of the first part of her professional career Bley recalls, “I became a nurse back when doctors made house calls.” By her mid 40’s, she had witnessed a shift in the medical profession in which specialists outnumbered general physicians. “No one was taking care of the whole person and I couldn’t spend the rest of my working years in that environment”, she exclaims.

A career search workshop led her to hypnotherapy. “I wanted to do something that would allow me to utilize my nursing experience,” she says. “After going back to school, I became a Certified Master Hypnotherapist and opened my hypnotherapy practice in 1995. I operate a general practice because that’s what I believe in—similar to an old fashioned doctor, the kind that did everything,” she explains. Clients range from children with attention deficit disorder to adults with brain injuries and early stage Alzheimer’s. Because of her nursing background, she helps individuals through a wide range of illnesses. “I work with anyone that is dealing with anything, as long as they have a desire to change”.

Hypnotherapy is a client-centered therapy process that utilizes physical and mental relaxation to enable the subconscious mind to be more receptive to positive suggestions. Bev explains, “It’s not about putting someone in a trance or taking control of another person’s mind,” and jokingly adds, “I have enough trouble controlling my own mind!” 

It is a myth that not everyone can be hypnotized. It’s a natural state. Everyone goes into a state of hypnosis several times a day—when you daydream, hear a song on the radio that takes you back to another time, or when you lose track of time while driving to work.

On average, initial appointments last 2.5 hours because Bley takes time to learn of her client’s strengths and vulnerabilities while addressing the issue at hand. “I don’t use scripts, my approach is based on the individual client,” she explains. “Clients typically arrive with a negative perspective, saying things such as “I don’t want to be scared” or “I don’t want to hurt anymore.” Because the conscious mind is responsible for critical and analytical thinking it is necessary to quiet that part of the mind by guiding the client into a relaxed state. Then the subconscious mind is free to explore the issues of concern in a positive manner.”

Put simply, she adds, “I chit-chat with the subconscious to reframe their thoughts.” While other approaches often try to convince individuals that they should feel a certain way, hypnotherapy guides patients to discover the initial event, or imprint, that triggered the feelings they have today. Once identified, the client has validity for why and how they think, act and react as they do. Then hypnotherapy is used to reframe those no longer beneficial or exaggerated thoughts and feelings.

“Hypnotherapy is a short-term therapy with long-lasting results. My clients often feel differently almost immediately. I usually see a client only a couple of times and then they are able to cope with stressors on their own. I also provide them with a recording of our session so they can replay the session at home.” 

 Beverley has trained many other hypnotherapists in the area and also serves as a public speaker, motivator and educator. As the keynote speaker at a nursing conference, she introduced participants to waking hypnosis so they can assist their patients in more comfortably transitioning through various situations. She regularly leads “play-shops” at assisted living facilities, offering a light-hearted approach to helping participants cope with various stressors.

When asked what lies ahead, without hesitation she speaks of her vision for the medical profession to have a greater understanding of the benefits, advantages and the efficiency of using hypnotherapy. “It would be such an advantage for hospitals to have a hypnotherapist on staff. Tremendous fear can be experienced before a procedure and hypnotherapy can provide the patients comfort.”

While Beverley has been busy helping everyone around her for 18 years, hypnotherapy has been helping her as well. “I am an entirely different person now than before hypnotherapy became part of my life,” she says. “I managed the pain of a critical fall and two surgeries with self-hypnosis and Advil. Through my knowledge of the subconscious mind, I can better maintain a sense of mental balance and an increased sense of well-being.”

“I do not mind working on the weekends and holidays because what I do is incredibly rewarding,” she remarks. “You can’t do what I do and not be okay with going that extra mile for a client. I know this is exactly what I’m supposed to be doing. I am passionate about what I do and I feel so blessed to be doing it.”

C.H.A.N.G.E. is located at 2020 Downyflake Lane, Suite 302 in Allentown.  For more information, visit 4Change.com or call 610-797-8250. See ad on this page.