Sometimes we know exactly what we want to change, yet find ourselves stuck: unable to quit, to quiet the anxiety, to feel confident, to break a pattern that no longer serves us. That’s because lasting change often lives below the surface, in the part of the mind that habits, fears and beliefs are rooted in.

Hypnotherapy works with that deeper level, gently and safely, to help you make the changes you’ve been struggling to make on your own.

What hypnosis help with

Hypnotherapy is a focused, deeply relaxed state in which the mind is more open to new perspectives and helpful suggestions. You remain aware and in control throughout. In my practice, it is used alongside psychosocial therapy, drawing on your own strengths and resources to support the changes you want to make. It can be helpful for:

• Stress and anxiety: learning to calm the body and mind, and to respond to pressure with more ease and confidence.
• Habit change: support for stopping smoking or vaping, nail-biting and other unwanted habits, alongside practical strategies and, where needed, medical care.
• Sleep difficulties: quietening a busy mind and building a more restful routine.
• Confidence and performance: preparing for exams, public speaking, interviews, sport or other challenging situations.
• Fears and phobias: reducing the intensity of specific fears, such as flying, needles or the dentist.
• Pain and physical symptoms: changing how pain and discomfort are experienced, including stress-related symptoms such as irritable bowel syndrome.
• Preparing for medical or dental procedures: feeling calmer and more in control beforehand.

Hypnotherapy is not a quick fix, and it is not suitable for everyone. I will talk with you about whether it fits your needs, and it is always your choice.

What you need to know about hypnosis

A little reassurance about hypnosis

If the word “hypnosis” brings to mind stage shows, swinging watches, or people clucking like chickens, you’re not alone, and I’d like to put your mind at ease. Therapeutic hypnosis is nothing like the entertainment version. It’s a calm, natural, and completely safe experience, and you stay in control the whole way through.

Here are a few things worth knowing:

You won’t be asleep or unconscious. Hypnosis is actually a state of heightened focus and awareness, more like being deeply absorbed in a good book or a film than being asleep.

It’s a natural ability we all have. Far from being strange or unnatural, hypnosis is simply a state of focused attention that everyone drifts into every day. In therapy, we just use it intentionally, and gently, to help you make the changes you want.

You are always in control. I have no power over you, and no ability to control your mind. Hypnosis isn’t something done to you; it’s something we do together, and you remain fully in charge throughout.

Everyone can experience it, in their own way. Because it’s a natural ability, hypnosis is open to everyone, though people experience it differently. For some it’s a deep, profound state; for others, simply a pleasant sense of focus and calm. Both work perfectly well.

You can’t be made to do anything you don’t want to. Whatever you may have seen on a stage, you always decide what feels right for you. You won’t do, say, or reveal anything you’d rather not.

You’ll remember what matters. You don’t forget what happens in hypnosis, any more than you forget an ordinary conversation. You simply hold on to what’s important and let the rest go.

You can’t get “stuck.” It’s not possible to become trapped in hypnosis, you can return to full alertness whenever you wish.

And it’s entirely safe. Hypnosis is a state you already move in and out of naturally every day. In therapy, that natural ability is simply guided, with care and purpose, toward the change you’re hoping for.

If you have any questions or hesitations, you’re welcome to ask. Feeling comfortable and safe is the starting point for everything we do.