Low self-esteem is the trigger for both over-eating and over-drinking, says Georgia Foster. The 41-year-old hypnotherapist knows from experience, having suffered weight and self-esteem issues for 16 years.

Ms Foster, who is from Melbourne, Australia, moved to London in 1994 where she got qualifications in clinical hynotherapy. She gave lectures on the subject before setting up two private practices in London.

She has written two books about how hypnotherapy can help binge drinking and eating, and will be in Singapore later this month to share her techniques.

She says: 'The focus of my therapy is over-eating and drinking. Both have the same underpinning issue.'

That issue, she argues, is sabotage. When we feel stressed, anxious or vulnerable, we revert to the thing that soothed us the last time we felt that way. We look for an escape.

It's the unconscious or emotional mind that has us reaching for a bottle of wine or a box of cakes, says Ms Foster.

She explains: 'To the outside world our inner chatter is silent, but internally, how we talk to ourselves can be abusive and violent. I call this syndrome 'Radio Crazy', as it goes on and on, and in desperation we try to silence it through drinking too much.'

When you stop escaping and are able to have a drink when you want one and not because you need one, says Ms Foster, then that's when you stop drinking purely out of habit.

The type of drinking she is referring to is not alcoholism but habitual drinking.

'My work is training the unconscious mind. The lovely thing about hypnosis is that it is quick. It trains the mind to turn off negative dialogue.'

Hypnosis is a state of deep mental relaxation, similar to sleep. It is a state where the conscious mind starts to move into the background, as the unconscious mind comes forward.

Hynotherapy works by feeding the unconscious mind with positive statements, and repeatedly, through a hypnotherapist or listening to a self-hypnosis CD.

Depending on the negative issues pervading the mind, positive talk will be tailored to suit them.

This is why hypnotherapy can be used for a host of emotional triggers, such as smoking, a fear of flying or even public speaking.

Ms Zoe Northcote-Smith, 31, had four hypnotherapy sessions with Ms Foster.

She said: 'When I met her, I was obsessive about food and drink and I smoked heavily. I had low self-esteem and was very sensitive.'

Ms Northcote-Smith worked in an insurance company and was out drinking five nights a week.

'I gradually realised that I drank to get drunk, and that is not good. I was also going home and crying and waking up the next morning with horrible hangovers, coupled with depression and paranoia.'

Now, she is a non-smoking, health-conscious massage therapist who is planning to get married next year.

She says: 'I no longer obsess about food and I no longer binge or feel guilty for eating.'

On her drinking: 'I drink to enjoy the taste of the wine, to relax with my friends and not just to get drunk.'

And this outcome, says Ms Foster, is simply from training the mind to recognise fear or acknowledge an emotion.

The trick is not to attach yourself to a negative action (like binge drinking) but a positive one, like running 5km to let off steam or going for a soothing walk in the park.

She says: 'Hypnosis is a positive, powerful tool which helps people move forward and take positive action with life.'

GEORGIA'S WORKSHOPS

Ms Georgia Foster will be in Singapore to hold workshops on the Weight Less Mind and the Drink Less Mind at the Holiday Inn Parkview, Cavenagh Road.

Each workshop costs $350 and includes a book and a self-hypnosis CD.

>> The Weight Less Mind is on July 28 from 10am to 4pm.
>> The Drink Less Mind is on July 29 from 10am to 4pm.

Register at www.georgiafoster.com