Again and again across a wide range of therapies, it has been shown that a strong therapeutic relationship is the most crucial aspect to getting desired results, so it’s really important that you can imagine working with the therapist. That is why I offer a free consultation, for us to find out if we ‘click’.

What qualifications do they have? Hypnotherapy is unfortunately still relatively unregulated in the UK and in many countries around the world. Check that they have attended an accredited course and are registered with a recognised body. In the UK, the overarching body is the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC). If you are going to see someone for a specific condition, you might find that the therapist has attended additional trainings also.

Check that they have professional indemnity insurance (they will have to have this if they are registered with the CNHC or with another Professional body such as the National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH) or the General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR).

You may want to know how long a hypnotherapist has been working for and about their special interests or additional training. Interestingly research published showed that newly qualified therapists gained the same results (if not better) than more experienced therapists.

Check their fees and be aware that low price does not always mean value for money. Find out how long their sessions are and whether they offer support between sessions either by video call, email, messaging or telephone.

Our first session is about me finding out about you and the issue that you want to address. This sets the foundation for your sessions with me. We’ll explore the symptoms you’re experiencing, discuss what you’d like instead and establish your goals of therapy. There will be plenty of time for you to ask me any questions and to clarify how hypnotherapy can support you. This is a collaborative process: I will guide and support you, but real change happens when we work together.

During the session, I’ll explain how hypnosis works, address any questions or concerns and even dispel some common myths. You’ll also experience a short hypnotic session to help you get a feel for the process in a safe, comfortable way. Before we finish, I’ll ask for your feedback so I can tailor future sessions to suit your needs. I need to know what kind of a therapist you need me to be for you to be totally happy. My goal is to ensure you feel confident, reassured and ready to move forward on your journey to relief and well-being.

The ongoing sessions will continue to work towards your goals and these will use cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy techniques, incorporating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness, Somatic Therapy, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and other approaches which may be appropriate.

Many people expect hypnosis to feel drastically different from normal consciousness, but in reality, it’s often a state of relaxed focus. You may notice subtle physical changes, such as fluttering eyelids, slight finger twitches, shifts in breathing, changes in skin temperature and colour or changes in pulse rate, but you may not be aware of them at all. Some simply feel calm and focused, rather than detached or “zoned out.” In fact, hypnosis is used in sports performance, where athletes stay highly alert while making mental adjustments. Whatever your experience, you’ll remain aware and in control throughout the process.

No, it’s a common myth, but you cannot get stuck in hypnosis. Hypnosis isn’t a state you’re “trapped” in, it’s a process you actively engage with. At any time, you can choose to open your eyes and return to full alertness.

Hypnosis is not magic; it’s a collaborative experience. You remain in control throughout and the worst that could happen is that you drift into sleep and wake up feeling refreshed!

No, hypnosis isn’t about making you do anything against your will. As a hypnotherapist, my goal is to help you find relief from physical or emotional challenges, not to entertain. I follow a strict Code of Ethics, just as I did in the NHS as a Lead Principal Speech & Language Therapist.

You remain in control throughout the process. If a suggestion doesn’t feel right for you, you have the ability to reject it. Hypnotherapy is a collaborative and respectful experience designed to support your well-being.

Not at all! Hypnosis is a collaborative process where you remain fully in control. You can move, adjust or even stop at any time if needed; it won’t affect the session. My role is to guide you, but you decide how much you engage with the experience.

For hypnosis to be effective, an open and willing mindset is key. I’ll show you how to use hypnosis to positively influence your own reality, giving you practical skills to take control of your thoughts, feelings and experiences in a meaningful way.

It will depend, because every case and everyone is different. Typically, I would expect to see someone for approximately 4-6 therapy sessions. The nature of what you are seeking to achieve and the way in which you respond will dictate the length of the episode of care.

No, just as a doctor cannot guarantee that, however, I can guarantee you ways of dealing with your issue and maybe minimising the unwanted negative effects that you're experiencing. The evidence tends to suggest that hypnotherapy can be very useful with particular types of issues. My personal experience is that when people really engage with the process, they can have a good level of success with regards to this.

What I can guarantee is that I will put in my best effort to help you reach your goals and invite you to do the same, so you reach your desired outcomes and goals.

Hypnosis is not dependent upon relaxation, contrary to popular opinion. You can be responsive to hypnosis and not be relaxed. On occasions, part of my job will be to help you relax if we think it will be useful to help you relax, but it’s not essential.

Being unconscious is not really so useful to us. A lot of people think that being in hypnosis is like being unconscious, because you are sitting with your eyes closed, but that’s about the only similarity really. You’ve still got to be active; you’ve got to be engaging your imagination, you’re going to be thinking; you’re going to be connecting with me. Sometimes it will be quite stimulating, you might find it quite uplifting sometimes, quite opposite to being unconscious.

No, not at all! You will only tell me what you want to tell me. I can’t make you tell me anything that you don’t wish to.