No. Hypnosis is a natural state of focused, relaxed attention, similar to being absorbed in a good book or film. You remain fully aware and in control throughout, and can bring yourself out of it at any time. My role is to guide you; the change comes from you.

Clinical hypnosis is very different from stage hypnosis. In therapy, trance is a deeply relaxing state of focused attention, like "zoning out" on a familiar drive. During trance, brainwave activity slows from a busy, alert pattern to calmer patterns seen in deep relaxation or meditation. This quiets the constant "chatter" of the conscious mind and makes it easier to take on helpful new perspectives linked to your goals, such as feeling calmer, sleeping better, or responding differently to stress.

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (SFH) is a brief, goal‑oriented therapy that combines solution‑focused talking therapy with clinical hypnosis and clear, brain‑based explanations of stress and anxiety. Rather than spending sessions analysing painful memories in detail, SFH gently acknowledges what has happened and focuses on your strengths, resources, and preferred future. Over a series of weekly sessions, this approach can help reduce anxiety and low mood, improve sleep and confidence, and support lasting changes in thinking and behaviour.

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy brings together three elements:Solution Focused psychotherapy – a well‑researched talking therapy that focuses on where you want to get to, what is already working, and small, realistic steps towards your goals.Brain‑based understanding – clear explanations of how stress and anxiety affect the brain's survival systems and thinking centres, so your reactions make sense and change feels achievable.Clinical hypnosis – guided relaxation and focused attention that help calm the nervous system and reinforce positive, goal‑oriented suggestions, supporting new, more helpful patterns of thinking and behaviour over time. Change is collaborative: you set the goals, and together we build a plan that fits your life. Hypnosis is not a "magic fix" on its own; it works best as part of a structured, solution‑focused process where you are actively involved between sessions.

Rather than exploring the past in depth, solution focused hypnotherapy concentrates on where you want to get to and uses hypnosis to support that change. That said, I also bring person‑centred counselling training into how I work, so sessions are warm, unhurried and genuinely tailored to you.

This varies by person and goal, but most clients have between 6 and 12 sessions. Because the approach is solution focused, many people notice a difference within the first few sessions.

While the exact number of sessions varies by person and goal, many people notice meaningful changes within a short number of weekly sessions:Initial consultation: A first session to understand your goals, explain how SFH works, and outline a plan. This is often where the brain‑based education is most prominent, helping you understand stress, anxiety, and how hypnosis can help.Weekly sessions: Each session typically includes a review of progress, solution‑focused conversation to refine goals and next steps, and a period of hypnotic trance to reinforce calm, confidence, and the changes you want.Between sessions: You may be invited to practise brief exercises to support the work.Sessions are usually experienced as relaxing and enjoyable, with no need to relive traumatic or painful memories in detail. Difficult experiences are acknowledged and respected, but the therapeutic work is directed towards building the future you want, not re‑analysing the past.

Solution focused hypnotherapy draws on techniques from CBT and NLP alongside hypnosis, and has a growing evidence base. Research supports the key components of SFH:Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) has been studied since the 1980s. Reviews of many studies report positive outcomes for a range of psychological difficulties, often in relatively few sessions, with benefits including reduced stress and improved wellbeing.Clinical hypnosis has over 200 controlled studies. Evidence is strongest for pain, anxiety (including procedure‑related anxiety), irritable bowel syndrome, and some sleep difficulties, with promising findings for stress‑related problems and habit change. Major bodies such as the British Medical Association and NICE recognise hypnotherapy for specific indications (for example, IBS).Emerging neuroscience research suggests that both solution‑focused interactions and hypnotic states are associated with measurable changes in brain networks involved in attention, emotion regulation, and self‑referential thought, consistent with the idea of gradually "rewiring" unhelpful patterns.

No, you can book directly with me.

Yes. I offer full sessions online via video call and have worked with clients across the UK and internationally.

Yes. I work with young people aged 12 and up, both in person and online. I am a qualified teacher with many years of experience working with children and young people in educational settings, and I hold an enhanced DBS certificate. My background as a teacher gives me a clear understanding of the pressures young people face, from academic demands to social and family expectations.For anyone under 18, both the young person and a parent or guardian need to consent to sessions. Because the work is collaborative, it is vital that the young person is choosing to attend and is willing to take part in sessions for the best outcomes. Get in touch and I can talk through how sessions work for this age group, including confidentiality and how we involve parents appropriately.