( Hypnotherapy for anxiety )
Hypnotherapy for anxiety
Hypnotherapy can help relieve anxiety by teaching your body and mind to settle, and by changing the patterns that keep worry going. In a relaxed, focused state you remain aware and in control while we work on how you respond to the things that make you anxious. I'm a registered mental health nurse with more than 13 years in the NHS, and I offer hypnotherapy in person in Wymondham, near Norwich, and online.
( 01 )
When anxiety takes over
Anxiety is a normal alarm system. Sometimes it stays switched on. You might recognise:
- Racing or looping thoughts, especially at night
- A tight chest, churning stomach or shallow breathing
- Avoiding places, people or situations
- Feeling on edge, irritable or exhausted
- Worry about health, work, relationships or the future that won't switch off
If that sounds familiar, you're not broken. Your nervous system has learned to protect you a little too well, and it can learn something new.
( 02 )
How hypnotherapy helps
Hypnosis is a natural state of deep relaxation and focused attention, a bit like being absorbed in a good book. You hear everything, you can speak, and you can stop whenever you want. In that state we can:
Practise calm
Your body learns what settling feels like, so it's easier to find again.Rehearse the hard moments
You picture a situation that worries you and practise meeting it calmly.Change the story
We look at the beliefs and habits that feed anxiety, and strengthen ones that help.Give you tools
Self-hypnosis and simple techniques to use between sessions.
I rarely use hypnosis on its own. Most sessions combine it with EFT tapping, NLP or Havening, chosen for what you bring. The research suggests this works better than hypnosis alone.
( 03 )
What the research says
The best summary is a 2019 meta-analysis that pooled 17 trials of hypnosis for anxiety. On average, people who had hypnosis ended up less anxious than about 79% of people in the comparison groups. That rose to about 84% at later follow-up. Hypnosis worked better when combined with other psychological approaches.
The studies varied in size and quality, and hypnotherapy isn't one of the NHS's first-line treatments for anxiety disorders. CBT is, and it's free through NHS Talking Therapies, which you can contact without seeing your GP. Some people try hypnotherapy alongside that, or instead of it if CBT hasn't suited them.
( 04 )
The kinds of anxiety I help with
- General worry and stress
- Social anxiety and confidence
- Health anxiety
- Exam, interview and performance nerves
- Fears and phobias, including fear of flying
- Anxiety linked to a difficult past experience, where Havening often helps too
( 05 )
Why a mental health nurse
My NHS work took me through GP surgeries, community mental health teams and services for teenagers and older adults. That means I recognise when anxiety is part of something that needs medical care, and I'll tell you if I think you'd be better supported elsewhere. It also means I won't hurry you.
( 06 )
What a course looks like
01
A free 15-minute call
To see whether we're a good fit.02
A 90-minute assessment
In person or online, to understand your anxiety, what keeps it going and what you want to change.03
Usually six 60-minute sessions
With practice between them. Some people need fewer, some more.04
A personal hypnosis recording
To listen to at home, if it would help. My Custom Hypnosis recordings are made just for you.
( 07 )
In person or online
In-person sessions are at The Sawyers, a calm 17th-century house in Suton, just outside Wymondham and about ten miles from Norwich. Hypnotherapy also works well online or by telephone, so you can have sessions from home anywhere in the UK.
( 08 )
Questions people ask
- Will I lose control?
- No. Clinical hypnosis isn't stage hypnosis. You stay aware, you can speak, and you can stop at any time. Nobody can make you do anything you don't want to.
- Does hypnotherapy work for anxiety?
- The research is encouraging: a 2019 review of 17 trials found hypnosis reduced anxiety more than the comparison treatments. It isn't the same for everyone, and it works best as part of a wider plan.
- How many sessions will I need?
- Six sessions after the assessment is typical. We'll review progress as we go, so you're never committing to more than you need.
- Can hypnotherapy be done online?
- Yes. Online sessions work in the same way, and many people find it easier to relax at home.
- I take medication for anxiety. Can I still have hypnotherapy?
- Usually, yes. Please don't stop or change medication without talking to your GP first.
- Do you work with children and teenagers?
- Yes. I work with children from age 5 and with teenagers, as well as adults. A parent or guardian comes to the first session and stays nearby for the rest.
- What does it cost?
- The 90-minute assessment session is £150, and follow-up sessions are £110 for 60 minutes. Six- and twelve-session programmes are also available. The first 15-minute call is free.
Hypnotherapy isn't a crisis service. If you're in crisis, call NHS 111 (choose the mental health option), or 999 in an emergency. Samaritans are available any time on 116 123.
Written by Danielle Sands, RMN, clinical hypnotherapist. Last reviewed October 2026.
- Valentine KE, Milling LS, Clark LJ, Moriarty CL. The efficacy of hypnosis as a treatment for anxiety: a meta-analysis. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 2019. doi.org/10.1080/00207144.2019.1613863
Ready to feel calmer?
Book a session, or start with a free 15-minute call to talk through whether hypnotherapy is right for you.