Specialist Hypnotherapy

I specialise in several areas relating to women’s health. Click on the area(s) of interest to you to read more.

Anxiety & Low Mood

Stress and anxiety can come and go in life.  Similarly, a low mood can pass after a few hours, days or weeks.  Depression and severe anxiety can be more serious, complex and can require medical assessment and care.

Our mental health can sometimes be affected by our patterns of thinking, and what meaning we give to the circumstances, changes and events that occur in our life.  If you’re facing something that you need extra support with, these sessions will give you the protected time to explore your feelings, and set realistic goals, as well as hypnotherapy providing in increase in confidence and calm.  This can be very helpful with issues such as:

  • Health anxiety

  • Dental/needle fears & phobias 

  • Preparing for or recovery from procedures or surgery

  • Changing jobs or place of residence

  • Relationship difficulties or lack of satisfying relationships

  • Feeling overwhelmed by exams or deadlines

  • Burnout

Maternal Pathways

Women can breathe life into many areas of life.  You may be at a place where you’re thinking about what children would mean for your partnership, or perhaps how things might work on your own.  Or, you may want to work through releasing plans to build a family and appreciating a renewed vision for your future.   It’s well known that these journeys can be like a roller coaster at times, involving excitement, anxiety, hope, overwhelm, joy, loss and growth. 

Hypnotherapy can allow you to feel more supported and focused, decreasing your stress levels not only during and after sessions, but by learning ways to manage expectations and uncertainty.  You may not be able to control all the outcomes, but you can control how supported you feel in your journey so that you can move ahead with preparation and clarity.

Hypnobirthing

Hypnobirthing can be a wonderful way of managing pregnancy and preparing for birth.  With my training in Easibirthing I’m able to help you, whether you’re aiming for a natural birth, preparing for a caesarian section, want to plan for the unexpected, or you wish to address fears around pregnancy and birth. Together, we can use tried and tested strategies and techniques to ensure you have the best chance of positively influencing your experience, so that you, and your birth partner if appropriate, feel empowered and calm.

Postnatal Care

The adjustment to a birth can be a wonderful thing, but you may benefit from some impartial support around the physical, mental, emotional and practical changes that occur around this time. It’s possible to blend yoga and hypnotherapy beautifully here.  The use of restorative yoga can be a wonderful way to very gently move and soothe the mind and body, whilst hypnotherapy can release any fears or doubts, boost your mood, and help with tiredness and motivation. I would suggest a session prior to birth so we can plan a postnatal recovery plan based on your needs. 

Menopause

The menopause can be a natural process that typically occurs around the age of 52, although it can start earlier or later. It can also be brought on as a result of surgery or medical treatment, such as a hysterectomy or ovarian suppression.  It can therefore be a transitional process or one that is sudden. Common symptoms include hot flushes, problems sleeping, weight gain, brain fog, mood swings or anxiety and night sweats. 

I’m pleased to be able to offer sessions of CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), relaxation and self-hypnosis for the management of menopausal symptoms. This can provide support as an accompaniment to HRT, or as an alternative approach. These sessions are grounded in the training I’ve completed with the British Menopause Society, including the work of clinical psychologists Myra Hunter and Melanie Smith. Together, their research in randomised, controlled trials showed that CBT and relaxation techniques were effective in reducing the effects of hot flushes and night sweats for both natural menopause and as a result of breast cancer treatments.

I can also refer clients to medical menopause specialists for attention outside of my scope of practice, including bespoke HRT, should you wish to explore this option.

Cancer Care

The cancer journey requires specialist support and care.  During my many years as a specialist oncology nurse, I saw that whilst hypnosis and complementary therapies don’t replace medical advice and treatments, they can offer invaluable support. Hypnotherapy can help increase coping skills and enhance a sense of relaxation, greater control and wellbeing.  I can help you feel able to cope with:

  • Pain management

  • Anxiety

  • Preparation for surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy & scans 

  • Fears and phobias, eg. needle phobia or claustrophobia

  • Insomnia

  • Hot flashes

  • Fatigue

  • Finding a new normal

  • Coping with recurrence or fear of recurrence

I have worked with hundreds of people living with and beyond cancer, and I can offer hypnotherapy to  increase your ability to plan your treatment and the next phase of your life so you can gain realistic hope. 

For Carers

For the caring role to be a healthy experience, carers need support and care themselves.  However, the reality is that many carers feel exhausted and overwhelmed at some point.  The cornerstones of creating a positive caring experience include:

  • Being able to feel you can manage the caring situation, and feeling that you can predict what is ahead of you in the role

  • Having a sense that you have the necessary skills, ability, support and resources to manage

  • Finding meaning or purpose in the caring situation 

I can help those who care for little ones, someone living with cancer or another long-term illness, such as dementia or stroke.  I have worked closely with carers to increase a sense of control, satisfaction, self-care and an ability to cope with stress and burnout for over two years and this was the feedback:

  • 100% of these carers felt the service exceeded their requirements and felt an increase in being able to cope

  • 100% would recommend to another carer

For Creatives

Sometimes the creative process can give rise to wonderful periods of effortless momentum.  When it doesn’t it can be difficult to hold on to your self-belief, motivation or to know what to try to next to make a change. At other times it can be an overload of intense work, lack of work or wanting to pivot into a different type of performance or creativity which feels overwhelming. 

If you’re feeling ready for a new way of viewing your situation, hypnotherapy can be incredibly useful.  I’ve worked with performers, writers and artists who have not only reclaimed their voice and goals but got back a real sense of enjoyment in their work and a renewed sense of purpose and direction.