Hypnotherapy uses guided relaxation and focused attention to reach a heightened state of awareness — often called trance. It’s not about being controlled or put to sleep; it’s closer to daydreaming, or being absorbed in a good book, where your mind is more open to suggestion and change. Working directly with your subconscious, we address unwanted patterns, fears, or behaviours, and build new ones in their place. You stay aware and in control throughout.
A therapy with deep roots
Hypnosis has a longer history in psychotherapy than most people realize — in many ways, it’s where talk therapy began. Sigmund Freud and Josef Breuer used hypnosis in developing what became known as ‘the talking cure,’ and Carl Jung incorporated it into his early clinical work as well, both drawing on techniques pioneered at the Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris. Hypnotherapy today builds on that foundation, refined by decades of clinical practice since.
How it fits my work
For me, hypnotherapy isn’t separate from the rest of my work — it’s the same goal by a different route. Counselling helps you understand a pattern; hypnotherapy works with the part of your mind that keeps it running, so a change you’ve decided on has a better chance of taking hold. It’s not a magic fix, and it isn’t something done to you — it’s a tool you stay in charge of, used in the same values-based, you-direct-the-change way I approach everything at Little Owl.
What hypnotherapy can help with
People come to hypnotherapy for goals that often feel stuck despite their best efforts. Common focuses include:
- Anxiety, stress, and overwhelm
- Confidence and self-belief
- Breaking unwanted habits
- Sleep
- Easing specific fears and phobias
- Managing the experience of chronic pain, alongside your medical care
- Preparing for something demanding, like a presentation or a procedure
If your goal isn’t on this list, reach out anyway — we can talk through whether hypnotherapy is a good fit.
How to prepare for your session
The more relaxed and open you are, the more you’ll get from our time together. A few simple things help:
- Come with an open mind, and set aside any preconceptions about hypnosis
- Wear comfortable clothes, and make sure you’ll be warm
- Find a quiet space where you won’t be interrupted
- Have a light meal and some water beforehand
- Visit the washroom first, so you can fully settle in
Common questions
Will I lose control?
No — and it’s the first thing almost everyone asks me. Losing control is a myth: you stay fully aware and in charge the entire time. Hypnosis isn’t sleep or mind control; it’s more like being deeply absorbed in a book or film. You can talk, move, open your eyes, or end the session whenever you like, and I can’t make you do anything you don’t want to do.
What does a session feel like?
Most people describe deep, pleasant relaxation with a clear, focused mind — similar to that drifting state just before you fall asleep, or being so caught up in a film you forget the room around you. Some feel it strongly, others more subtly, and there’s no “right” way to experience it. For most people it feels easier each time.
Can anyone be hypnotized?
Most people can, as long as they’re willing to relax, focus, and follow along. It’s something you take part in, not something done to you — so your openness matters more than any special talent. If you can get lost in a daydream or a good story, you can almost certainly use hypnosis.
Is it safe?
Yes, when it’s guided by a trained, certified professional. Hypnotherapy is non-invasive, and many health organizations recognize it as a complementary support for concerns like anxiety, stress, chronic pain, and phobias. It doesn’t replace medical or psychological care where that’s needed — it works alongside it — and we’ll always talk through whether it’s a good fit for you.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on what you’re working toward. Some people notice a meaningful shift within a few sessions, while longer-standing patterns can take more time and repetition to reshape. We’ll set out a realistic picture together at the start and check in as we go, so you’re never committing to more than you need.