Types of therapy explained: EMDR, hypnotherapy, NLP and counselling
People often arrive asking for one named therapy when what they really want is to feel different. This guide sets the four main approaches used at AIP Therapy side by side, so you can see how they differ and why they are often combined.
Why one practice uses several approaches
James Harris works integratively. Rather than fitting every person into one method, he draws on EMDR, clinical hypnotherapy, NLP and talking therapy, and chooses between them according to what you bring, how settled you feel and what you would like to change. The approaches are tools, not identities, and most people experience a blend of them over time.
EMDR: working with memories that still feel live
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a structured approach for memories that still carry a strong charge. In a session you briefly bring a memory to mind while following a bilateral rhythm, usually side to side eye movements or tapping, then notice whatever comes up. You stay awake and in control throughout and you do not need to describe the event in detail. It is most often considered for trauma, PTSD, intrusive memories and nightmares, and it always follows a stabilisation phase first.
- Feels like: focused, sometimes tiring, paced in short sets
- Often considered for: trauma, PTSD, distressing memories
- Talking needed: relatively little detail
Clinical hypnotherapy: a calmer state for change
Hypnotherapy uses a relaxed, focused state, similar to being absorbed in a book, to work with habits, reactions and feelings that sit below conscious effort. You hear everything, remember the session and can stop at any time. Many people describe it as deeply restful. It is often used for anxiety, stress, sleep difficulties and building calm, and it can also support trauma work once a sense of safety is in place.
- Feels like: settled, absorbed, eyes usually closed
- Often considered for: anxiety, stress, sleep, confidence
- Talking needed: some conversation before and after
NLP: changing how a problem is represented
NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) looks at the structure underneath a reaction: the pictures, inner voice and sequences that run before a feeling arrives. Sessions are conversational and usually eyes open. At AIP Therapy it is used as one practical element within integrative work, never as a standalone quick fix, and without the inflated claims sometimes attached to it elsewhere.
- Feels like: practical, conversational, often curious
- Often used for: patterns, reactions, unhelpful self-talk
- Talking needed: moderate
Counselling approaches: space to talk and make sense
Counselling gives you room to talk things through with someone trained to listen well and reflect back. It suits people who want to understand what is happening, work through a relationship or life change, or simply be heard before deciding anything else. It also runs through every other approach here: even EMDR and hypnotherapy sessions begin and end with conversation.
How James decides what to use
Your free first session is partly an assessment. James asks what is going on, what you have tried, how you feel day to day and what you want from therapy. From there he suggests a starting point and explains why. If you feel strongly about one approach, or want to avoid one, that is respected. Plans are reviewed as you go, and if something is outside his scope he will say so and point you towards better support.
- Your goals and preferences come first
- Stability before any memory processing
- Approaches can be combined or changed
- Honest referral if another service suits you better
Common questions
Do I need to know which therapy I want before booking?+
No. Most people do not. Choosing the approach is part of what the first session is for.
Can EMDR and hypnotherapy be used together?+
Yes. Hypnotherapy is sometimes used to build calm and resources, with EMDR used later to process specific memories.
Are all of these available online?+
Yes. Each approach can be delivered over secure video as well as in person in Derby.
Is one approach better than the others?+
Not in general. Each suits different situations and people, which is why the choice is made with you rather than for you.
Where to go next
EMDR therapy in Derby
The EMDR service page.
Clinical hypnotherapy in Derby
The hypnotherapy service page.
NLP in Derby
How NLP is used here.
Counselling in Derby
Talking therapy.
Trauma therapy
Where approaches are often combined.
Online therapy
Every approach over video.
Therapy match quiz
Five questions for a suggested starting point.
Not sure where to start?
Your first session is free, and it is the easiest way to work out which approach fits.