What to Expect From a Hypnotherapy Session With Me

Before diving into hypnosis, we start with a conversation. I take the time to get to know you and your goals. I want to know what brought you to hypnotherapy and what you’re hoping to change or resolve so we can tailor a plan for you. Hypnotherapy is a collaborative process and requires a solid foundation. This meeting is all about building trust, ensuring you feel safe, supported, and heard. The initial session usually lasts around 2 hours. In some cases, the conversation goes the entire time, while in others there is a little time left where we can do a short hypnosis session to see how good it feels.

A Conversation in a Warm and Supportive Space

Relaxing and Trusting your Process

To prepare for a session, you take a few moments to settle yourself into the relaxing recliner in my office, or in your own chosen space at home. I use calming words and visualization techniques to help you reach a deeply relaxed state. It might feel like a very focused meditation or daydream where your mind can relax and tune in to itself. You’ll remain aware and in control, but you’ll feel calm, open, and focused on your inner world--the place where you can make real change.

During hypnosis, you’ll be aware of everything happening and can talk, remain silent, or even stop at any time. It’s important to know that you’re always in control. Hypnosis is a collaborative process, and your mind will only accept suggestions that resonate with you.

Our initial and ongoing conversations are vital parts of the whole process.

You’re Always in Control

Once in this focused state I will use guided imagery, positive suggestions, or other techniques tailored toward acheiving your goal. For example, if you’re working on reducing anxiety, or preparing for a test, I may guide you through visualizing calm, empowering scenarios. If you’re tackling a habit, I can help your mind explore and anchor new feelings and patterns of behaviour. If you want to work on a fear or phobia, I can help you reframe negative associations, reducing its emotional intensity.

The Work

Deeper Emotional Work

For deeper emotional work, you might find yourself connecting with significant memories, revisiting pivotal life events, or even exploring past emotional imprints still influencing you today. As you explore these deeper layers, you may notice emotions naturally surfacing, which is a very positive part of the process. In those moments, I will gently guide you to process these feelings in a way that feels safe and empowering. The goal is to unlock emotional blocks and gain clarity.

No two people have the exact same experience under hypnosis, and no two sessions are exactly alike. Some people can experience moments that feel like being in, or watching a movie. Some people may have experiences of shapes, colours or sounds. Others still may not even see anything, but feel sensations in their body. Sometimes people can experience all of these at different times. Each experience is incredibly unique to the individual, and you will only do the work you’re ready for in the best way for you.

Everyone is Unique

When the session is complete, you’ll be gently guided back to full awareness. Many people describe feeling grounded, calm, and centred at this time. Sometimes people notice feeling "different", but can't yet explain how.

Post-hypnosis, you’ll have a moment to reflect on your experience and share your thoughts and feelings. This discussion often brings in new insights for the conscious mind to integrate. Sometimes clients prefer to reflect on the session on their own time and share their insights over an email or in future sessions. Whatever is most comfortable for you is best.

Sharing your experience and insights helps me track your process, and allows me to tailor future sessions for you.

Present Awareness and Reflection

Integration Over the Coming Days

Everyone experiences the changes from hypnotherapy a little differently. Some people notice shifts right away, while for others, changes build gradually over time. Hypnotherapy often brings profound insights. You might find that old feelings lose their intensity, you make new connections, or you’re able to see your experiences from a more compassionate perspective. These moments of revelation can feel freeing, like a weight has been lifted. A common description I hear from my clients is that they experience more space to move through life - like whatever was blocking them is finally unlocked.

Hypnotherapy is about clients feeling and seeing results. It is not about keeping you as a client for years and years. The techniques used are designed to find and change patterns of behaviours. Some issues have a clear and simple origin, and can often be changed quickly, while others have developed over time, are multi-layered and will require a bit more patience and investigation. Sessions are usually scheduled every 1 to 2 weeks, and on average people see real progress on a goal within 4-6 sessions.

Timelines and Future Sessions