If you are in search of real career solutions, try a clinical hypnotherapist. Woman and Home sent one reader to try it out
Alison Templeman Wright, 42, is married to Paul, a teacher. They have two children.

"I've been taking an art degree that finishes in May, and I'm working part-time in a coffee shop. My husband has recently had to take a salary cut, and would love me to go back to work full-time to supplement the family income. I'm excited, but also nervous.”

Nowadays more and more drugs such as Prozac and anti-depressants are being described, but depression is on the increase, so obviously drugs are not the answer in most cases.  One of the aspects of poor coping strategies is that it can manifest itself in Social Phobia.  This is where people will do almost anything to avoid being around other people for fear of being laughed at, humiliated or even the fear of being ill in public.  I am seeing more and more of this type of condition and it’s a shame that people resort to drugs or leaving their jobs because they don’t know what else is available to them. One person I know even dropped out of university, despite being a brilliant student, because he had become a social phobic.

I thought I’d share with you a case, which is not dissimilar to other cases I’ve worked on, where the person had a social phobia.

(Oct 2004) "Jane" had dieted most of her life and at the age of 52 decided enough was enough. She came to me because she was beginning to feel difficulty in walking and was worried generally about her health. What attracted her to me was losing weight without dieting or drugs.

She weighed at that time over 17 stone.

Session 1: Down the Beverly Hills...

The first thing I did with Jane was to get her to become aware of her language i.e. ‘I want to lose weight.’ This language implies she may find it again. It may sound trivial but what we tell ourselves matters.