Hypnotherapy for Anxiety
Anxiety can take many shapes. For some it is the racing thoughts that never quieten down at night. For others it is the tightness in the chest before a meeting, the restless worry before a journey, or the sense of dread that strikes for no clear reason. Living with anxiety can feel exhausting and isolating, as if your mind and body are working against you rather than with you.
The good news is that anxiety is not permanent. It is a learned pattern and patterns can be changed. Hypnotherapy for anxiety works with both the conscious and subconscious mind to gently break those loops and create new, healthier responses.
At AbsoluteU Clinical Hypnotherapy in Horsham, West Sussex, I help adults, teenagers, and children move away from fear and towards calm, confidence, and freedom.
At AbsoluteU, I help adults, teenagers, and children move away from fear and towards calm, confidence, and freedom.
Why Hypnotherapy Helps with Anxiety
Most people try to control anxiety with sheer willpower, telling themselves to calm down or avoiding situations that feel too much. Yet the feelings come back, often stronger than before, because the root of the problem lies in the subconscious.
Hypnotherapy for anxiety is powerful because it speaks directly to the part of the mind that holds those patterns. In a calm, safe state you can release unhelpful beliefs, reprogramme old habits, reduce physical symptoms such as palpitations or dizziness, and build resilience to face challenges with more ease. You also learn to create new associations so that the situations that once triggered fear begin to feel manageable, even neutral.
Alongside hypnosis, I draw on CBT and NLP. These provide conscious techniques such as reframing thoughts, simple breathing strategies, and self-hypnosis that you can take into daily life. The combination of subconscious and conscious tools helps you not only find relief now but also stay equipped for the future.
The subconscious is a wonderful and powerful part of us. Once you start working with it, change can happen more quickly and naturally than you might expect.
The Evidence for Hypnotherapy for Anxiety
It is important to know that hypnotherapy for anxiety is not only based on personal experience but also supported by a growing body of research. Studies have shown that hypnotherapy can reduce both the psychological and physical symptoms of anxiety, and that it can be as effective as other recognised treatments such as CBT.
- A systematic review in the BMJ (2019) found evidence that hypnosis can significantly reduce anxiety in both adults and children.
- A study in the American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis (2016) showed that hypnotherapy helped reduce pre-exam anxiety in students, improving both performance and wellbeing.
- Research in Contemporary Hypnosis (2001) demonstrated that hypnotherapy for anxiety was particularly effective when combined with CBT techniques, showing improvements in long-term resilience.
This research supports what I see every day in practice, when you work with the subconscious mind, change becomes easier and anxiety no longer has to control your life.
Types of Anxiety I Work With
Anxiety looks different for each person. Some of the most common issues I help clients with include:
- Generalised anxiety disorder – Persistent and overwhelming worry that feels impossible to switch off
- Panic attacks – Sudden surges of fear with physical symptoms such as racing heart, dizziness, or chest tightness
- Social anxiety – Fear of being judged or embarrassed in everyday social or work situations
- Performance anxiety – Worry before exams, interviews, public speaking, or sporting events
- Travel anxiety – Fear of flying, driving, public transport, or busy roads
- Obsessive compulsive patterns (OCD) – Repetitive behaviours such as checking, handwashing, or counting, driven by intrusive thoughts
Whatever form your anxiety takes, hypnotherapy provides a safe and practical way to change the way you think, feel, and respond.
The Impact of Anxiety
Anxiety does not just sit quietly in the background, it colours everything. It can stop you from sleeping, make you second-guess decisions, keep you away from opportunities, and hold you back from living the life you want. You might avoid journeys, social events, or even speaking up at work. Over time, anxiety can shrink your world until it feels like there is less and less space for joy, freedom, or ease.
But imagine what changes when the grip of anxiety loosens. Picture waking up with a clear head, ready to face the day without the familiar knot of dread. Imagine driving where you need to go, boarding a plane for a holiday, or standing in front of colleagues and speaking with calm confidence. Think about how different family life feels when evenings are peaceful again, when your child goes to school with a smile, or when you can laugh and relax with friends without that constant background worry.
Hypnotherapy for anxiety is not about erasing who you are, it is about giving you back the space to be yourself. Clients often say it feels like having their freedom restored, the freedom to make choices, to take opportunities, to enjoy life without fear calling the shots.
When anxiety no longer dictates how you think and feel, you can begin to step into the version of yourself that has been waiting underneath all along.
The Change You Can Experience
When you begin hypnotherapy for anxiety, the shifts can feel life changing. Clients often say it is like being given their freedom back after years of living in the shadow of worry.
Imagine what it would be like to walk into a meeting with a calm, steady mind, able to focus on what you want to say instead of what others might think. Picture yourself planning a journey with confidence, boarding a plane for a holiday, or driving down the motorway without that familiar knot in your stomach. Think of how different your evenings could feel if you were able to relax fully, enjoy time with family, and sleep peacefully through the night.
Parents often notice transformations in their children too. A child who once cried before school may now walk in happily, stomach ache gone. A teenager who avoided social situations may begin laughing with friends again, free from the constant churn of anxious thoughts. These small but powerful changes ripple through the whole family, restoring ease and hope.
One adult client told me how she used to panic every time she was asked to speak at work. After a few sessions she found herself standing up in a meeting, sharing her ideas clearly and confidently, and later told me, “I felt like myself again, not someone ruled by fear.”
A parent of a ten year old boy explained how their mornings had changed.
“He used to cling to me at the school gates, worried and tearful. Now he waves goodbye and runs in smiling. The relief for him, and for us as parents, is enormous.”
Anxiety in Children and Teenagers
Most of the children and young people I see come because of anxiety. It might appear as school refusal, bedtime worries, reluctance to join activities, or unexplained tummy aches that always seem to come on school mornings. Parents can often see the pattern clearly, but children struggle to explain it. What feels irrational to an adult can feel very real and frightening to a child.
Hypnotherapy for anxiety is particularly effective with children because they naturally use their imagination. This makes it easier for them to rehearse new, more positive ways of thinking and behaving in hypnosis, which they then carry into daily life. Children usually adapt quickly and, on average, need fewer sessions than adults to see noticeable change.
Parents often notice shifts within weeks. Tearful mornings become calmer, bedtime routines settle, and school days stop being such a battle. One parent told me their daughter, who once clung to them at the school gate, now runs in smiling and ready to join friends. The relief for her, and for the whole family, was immediate.
For teenagers, hypnotherapy for anxiety can reduce the constant churn of overthinking and self-doubt. A boy who once avoided social gatherings began laughing with friends again, his confidence returning. These transformations ripple outwards, bringing peace not just to the young person but to everyone around them.
If your child is struggling, hypnotherapy for anxiety can help them build confidence and resilience while giving you peace of mind as a parent. Knowing your child is supported and learning life-long skills brings reassurance that the whole family can feel.
My Approach
Every person’s experience of anxiety is different, which is why I never use a one size fits all method. When you come to me for hypnotherapy for anxiety, we begin by exploring how your anxiety shows up in daily life and what you want instead. Together we uncover the subconscious beliefs that keep those anxious patterns alive and begin to reprogramme them so you can respond with calm and confidence.
In our work, hypnotherapy for anxiety is often combined with CBT and NLP. This means we address both the subconscious and the conscious mind. Hypnotherapy helps you let go of old automatic responses and create new, healthier ones, while CBT and NLP provide practical tools you can use straight away, such as simple breathing strategies, reframing thoughts, or confidence anchors for stressful moments.
I believe that the most effective change happens when you feel equipped beyond the therapy room. That is why hypnotherapy for anxiety with me always includes teaching you skills that last, whether that is self-hypnosis for calm, techniques for speaking in public, or routines that help a child feel more secure going into school.
Above all, my approach is collaborative and supportive. You will be listened to, never judged, and encouraged to move at a pace that feels right. When I work with children, parents are part of the process too, so progress is reinforced at home and the whole family feels supported.
This is not about quick fixes. Hypnotherapy for anxiety creates lasting internal change, helping you or your child move past anxious patterns and step into a steadier, more confident way of living.
Frequently Asked Questions
Each session lasts around 60 to 75 minutes. We start by talking through your experiences, goals, and any recent challenges. I then guide you into a calm, focused state where the subconscious mind becomes more open to change. In this space we can release unhelpful patterns and begin creating healthier responses. You remain aware and in control at all times, and many people describe the process as deeply relaxing.
The number of sessions varies depending on the individual and the type of anxiety. Some people notice a change within two or three sessions, while others benefit from longer support to reinforce new patterns. Children and teenagers often respond quickly to hypnotherapy for anxiety because they are so open to imagination-based change. We will review progress regularly so you always know where you are on the journey.
Yes. Even if anxiety has been part of your life for a long time, it is still a learned pattern, not a fixed part of who you are. Hypnotherapy for anxiety helps unpick those old habits and replace them with calmer, more balanced responses. Many clients who thought they would always live with anxiety have been surprised by how quickly they notice real shifts.
Almost everyone can experience hypnosis. It is simply a natural state of focused attention, similar to being absorbed in a book or film. You remain aware throughout, and I guide you gently so the process feels safe and supportive. Even if you find relaxation difficult, hypnotherapy for anxiety can still work effectively for you.
Absolutely. In fact, most of my younger clients come for anxiety-related issues. Children and teens often take on new patterns quickly because of their strong imaginations. Sessions are designed to feel comfortable, engaging, and age-appropriate. I also involve parents so that progress is supported at home, giving the whole family more confidence and peace of mind.
Everyone is different, but many people describe feeling calmer, more in control, and able to face situations that once felt overwhelming. Parents often see their children becoming more confident at school, making friends more easily, and sleeping better. Adults report being able to travel, speak in public, or enjoy social events with a freedom they thought was lost to them. Hypnotherapy for anxiety is about creating lasting change, not just short-term coping strategies.
Free Anxiety Toolkit
Taking the first step towards change can feel daunting, which is why I created a Free Anxiety Toolkit. It is designed to give you practical support straight away, so you can begin calming your mind and body even before your first session.
Inside you will find simple breathing techniques, a guided self-hypnosis audio, quick tips for easing overthinking, and practical strategies you can use at work, at home, or while supporting your child. The toolkit draws on the same blend of hypnotherapy for anxiety, CBT, and NLP that I use in sessions, giving you proven tools you can rely on whenever you need them.
Many people find that even these small steps make a difference, calmer mornings, more peaceful evenings, and greater confidence to face the day ahead. Parents often tell me the resources also give them ways to support their children when school or social worries take over.
You can download your free copy today and start using the techniques straight away. It is a simple but powerful step towards taking back control from anxiety.
Take the Next Step
You do not have to keep living with the cycle of anxiety. With the right support, change is possible. Hypnotherapy for anxiety can help you find calm, confidence, and the freedom to live more fully.
If you are ready to take that step, I would love to hear from you. You can contact me by phone, email, or through the form on this website. Sessions are available in Horsham, West Sussex, and online, so you can choose what feels right for you.
Your journey towards feeling calmer and more in control can start today.
