The Use of Symbology in Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy offers many ways for clients to approach and resolve difficulties, often without the need to revisit painful memories directly. One of the most effective approaches is the use of symbology — working with images, colours, shapes, or metaphors that the subconscious mind creates.
What Is Symbology in Hypnotherapy?
Symbology refers to the natural tendency of the subconscious to express thoughts and emotions through symbols rather than words. These might be colours, sensations, images, or even imagined objects that appear during a session. The hypnotherapist invites the client to work with these symbols as stand-ins for the underlying issues.
For example, a client might describe their anxiety as a heavy grey cloud, or their anger as a locked box. These symbols then become the focus of the therapeutic process, providing a safe and effective way to explore change.
Why Use Symbols Instead of Words?
Talking about trauma can sometimes be overwhelming or re-traumatising. With symbology, the client does not need to re-experience distressing events or even explain them in detail. Instead, the subconscious provides a symbol that represents the experience. By working with that symbol, the client can process and may resolve the issue in a way that feels safe and manageable.
This makes symbology a blind method — the hypnotherapist doesn’t need to know the details of the client’s trauma. The work happens at the symbolic level, guided by the client’s subconscious mind.
Benefits of Symbolic Work
Safe and non-intrusive – the client never has to disclose personal details they don’t wish to share.
Empowering – the subconscious leads the process, showing the client its own language of healing.
Effective for trauma and stress – issues may be resolved without reliving the original event.
Universally applicable – because symbols are unique to each client, this method can adapt to many situations.
A Typical Session Using Symbology
n a session, the hypnotherapist may ask the client to allow an image or sensation to represent the problem. This symbol is then transformed in some way — for instance, shrinking in size, changing colour, or being released. These changes in the symbol mirror changes in the subconscious, leading to real improvements in how the client feels and behaves. Symbology in hypnotherapy is a gentle yet powerful method that allows clients to resolve deep issues without revisiting trauma. By working with the subconscious in its own language, it creates the possibility of lasting change while protecting the client’s sense of safety.
Case Study: Hypnotherapy for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Relief
Meet Jane: Living with Fibromyalgia and Daily Pain
Jane, a woman in her mid-thirties, had been living with fibromyalgia for over 11 years. She was managing her condition with several daily doses of painkillers but wanted to reduce her reliance on medication and explore more natural pain relief options.
Understanding Chronic Pain and Hypnosis
Before beginning any hypnosis work, we discussed the importance of using hypnotherapy only for chronic pain that has a clear, diagnosed cause. In Jane’s case, her condition was well-documented and her GP was aware she was exploring additional approaches.
We explored how pain isn’t only about nerve signals — it’s also shaped by how the brain interprets those signals. I used a simple exercise to illustrate this.
Jane imagined being touched on the shoulder:
First by me (a neutral interaction)
Then by someone she loved
Finally, by a stranger
Although the same nerves would fire in each scenario, the emotional context altered the sensation dramatically. This helped Jane understand that her mind plays a key role in how pain is felt.
Using Hypnosis to Reframe Pain Signals
Once Jane was in a deep state of hypnosis, I asked her to assign a colour to her chronic pain — a colour that represented how it felt to her. Then I introduced a visualisation of a healing “magic lotion”, assigned a different, soothing colour.
We repeated a cycle of applying this lotion to each area of discomfort, watching as the colour of pain faded or blended away. With each repetition, the pain visualisation diminished, and Jane reported a sense of lightness and comfort returning.
To support lasting change, I embedded a suggestion that Jane had unlimited access to this lotion, and in time, her subconscious mind would learn to apply it automatically — no conscious effort needed.
Safe, Self-Directed Pain Relief
Importantly, I emphasised that this hypnotic technique would only affect her chronic, ongoing pain. Any new pain — which might indicate a new issue requiring medical attention — would still be clearly felt.
Jane was gently brought out of the trance with a sense of calm and empowerment.
Reduced Medication and Renewed Confidence
Two months after the session, Jane shared a powerful update:
“I’ve gone from taking painkillers several times a day to just two or three times a week.”
She felt more in control of her pain, less dependent on medication, and more hopeful about managing her fibromyalgia in the long term.
Final Note
Reducing pain medication should always be done under the supervision of a medical professional. Hypnotherapy can support your goals, but any changes to medication must be discussed with your doctor to avoid withdrawal symptoms or unmanaged pain.
Curious to try it for yourself?
🗓️ Book a free 15-minute consultation to explore how online hypnotherapy could help you.
What Is Parts Therapy?
Understanding the Inner Voices That Shape Our Behaviour
Have you ever said to yourself, “Part of me wants to do it, but part of me doesn’t”? That’s more than just a figure of speech — it’s a clue that different parts of your mind may be pulling in different directions.
Parts Therapy is a gentle and respectful approach to exploring and resolving inner conflicts through hypnosis.
A Brief History of Parts Therapy
Parts Therapy has its roots in the work of Paul Federn, a student of Freud, and was further developed by John G. Watkins and later Roy Hunter, who popularised the structured form used by many hypnotherapists today.
The idea is simple yet powerful: the subconscious mind contains many "parts" or aspects of the self, each with its own goals, beliefs, and functions. When these parts are in conflict, it can lead to emotional discomfort, unhelpful behaviours, or inner resistance to change.
Parts Therapy helps bring those parts into communication — and eventually, cooperation.
How Parts Therapy Works
Parts Therapy is usually carried out in a hypnotic state, where the conscious mind can relax and the subconscious mind becomes more accessible.
The client is guided into a deep state of relaxation or trance.
The hypnotherapist invites the part responsible for an unwanted behaviour or feeling to come forward.
The therapist then invites the part that wants to change the behaviour or resolve the issue.
A dialogue takes place — sometimes silently, sometimes aloud — facilitated by the hypnotherapist.
The goal is for the parts to understand each other’s intentions, agree on a more helpful solution, and reintegrate in harmony.
It's essential to note that all parts of the mind are trying to help in some way, even if their methods are no longer useful or appropriate.
When Is Parts Therapy Helpful?
Parts Therapy is especially useful in situations where the client feels stuck, conflicted, or unsure why they’re behaving a certain way. It’s often used to support:
Anxiety – especially when the cause isn’t fully conscious
Unwanted habits – such as overeating, nail-biting, or procrastination
Phobias – where fear persists even when it doesn’t seem rational
Addiction support – as part of a wider therapeutic strategy
Low self-worth or self-sabotage – helping understand internal blockers
Inner criticism or indecision – when people say "I’m my own worst enemy"
It’s also valuable in cases where clients don’t wish to disclose the full details of their issue. Because the process can take place within the client’s own mind, they’re always in control of what they share.
What Does a Session Feel Like?
Clients often describe Parts Therapy as a deeply personal and reflective experience. Some feel an emotional release, while others experience insight, and many leave with a sense of inner calm and clarity they haven’t felt in years.
You don’t need to "believe" in parts for it to work — just a willingness to explore what your mind already knows.
A Gentle Path to Inner Agreement
Whether you're struggling with anxiety, habits, or just feel at odds with yourself, Parts Therapy offers a gentle and respectful way to listen to yourself more deeply — and find new ways forward.
Curious to try it for yourself?
🗓️ Book a free 15-minute consultation to explore how online hypnotherapy could help you.
Case Study: How Parts Therapy Helped a Client Reduce Health Anxiety and Unnecessary Doctor Visits
John’s Story: Addressing Health Anxiety with Hypnotherapy
John, a man in his late thirties, found himself visiting the doctor more often than he felt was necessary. Though the medical complaints were minor, the habit was causing him significant stress and anxiety. Looking for answers, John turned to online hypnotherapy to explore what was going on beneath the surface.
Using Parts Therapy in Hypnosis
We chose to work with a technique known as Parts Therapy, a powerful approach in hypnotherapy where the practitioner facilitates a dialogue between different parts of the client’s subconscious.
In a deep state of hypnosis, I guided John into a trance and invited the part of his subconscious that was driving the excessive doctor visits to step forward. This part asked to be called Control.
Control shared an unexpected explanation: John was, in its view, a powerful magician who wasn’t yet ready to use his powers. Control believed it had to keep him weak — including through health anxiety — to prevent potential harm. While metaphorical, this belief held real weight in John’s inner world.
Introducing the Health-Oriented Part
Next, I invited another part of John’s subconscious — the one that wanted change — to speak. This part called itself Health.
Health argued that these frequent medical visits were raising John’s stress levels, worsening his overall well-being. It believed John might now be ready to handle his powers and that better, healthier ways existed to manage this fear of causing harm.
Reaching an Inner Agreement
Control listened. It acknowledged that John had grown and was now ready to use his abilities responsibly. Both parts agreed to work together — not against each other — to support John’s physical and emotional health.
To symbolise this agreement, I asked the two parts to shake hands and reintegrate, restoring harmony to John’s inner self.
Positive Results After Hypnotherapy
Several months later, John reported significant improvements:
He no longer made unnecessary visits to the doctor.
His blood pressure, which had previously been high, had returned to normal.
While his subconscious may have used the idea of magic as a metaphor, the outcome was very real: John experienced reduced anxiety, better health, and greater peace of mind.
Final Thoughts: Why Hypnotherapy Works
Whether a client’s subconscious speaks in metaphors or symbols doesn’t matter. What matters is that the client finds meaning, resolution, and healing in a way that makes sense to them.
Hypnosis offers a safe, powerful space to explore internal conflicts and create lasting change.
Curious to try it for yourself?
🗓️ Book a free 15-minute consultation to explore how online hypnotherapy could help you.
Case Study: Reducing Anxiety with Hypnotherapy – Andrea’s Story
Hypnotherapy can be an effective way to reduce anxiety — even when the cause is unclear. In this case, a woman in her late thirties, whom we’ll call Andrea, came to me suffering from generalised anxiety. She wasn’t sure what triggered it, but it was affecting her sleep, her ability to concentrate at work, and her day-to-day life. When we began, she rated her anxiety as 9 out of 10.
Hypnotherapy for Anxiety When the Cause Is Unknown
Andrea’s goal was to reduce her anxiety to a manageable level. She was open to hypnosis, but during our initial discussion, it was clear she was reluctant to talk in detail about her feelings or past experiences — a common experience for many clients dealing with anxiety.
We chose to use Parts Therapy, a form of hypnotherapy where we communicate with different aspects of the subconscious mind. This approach doesn’t rely on conscious disclosure — it allows clients to resolve issues internally and privately.
How Parts Therapy Helped Andrea Quiet Her Anxiety
Once Andrea was in a deep hypnotic trance, I used ideomotor signalling — a technique that lets the subconscious respond through small finger movements. We invited the part of Andrea’s mind that was responsible for the anxiety to come forward (who we’ll call Alice), and the part that wanted the anxiety to stop (Clare).
Both parts declined to reveal their reasons out loud. This was unusual, but it reflected Andrea’s conscious reluctance to share. So instead, we adapted. I asked if they would be willing to speak to each other internally, and indicate to me when each had finished their turn.
What followed was half an hour of silent inner dialogue, guided by finger signals. By the end of the process, the two parts had agreed on a plan to let go of the anxiety. I invited them to “shake hands” (a symbolic gesture to seal the agreement), reintegrated them, and gently brought Andrea out of the trance.
Results: From 9 to 2 in One Session
After the session, Andrea rated her anxiety as just 1 or 2 out of 10 — a significant reduction. No details were shared with me, but that didn’t matter. Hypnosis works by empowering the client’s own inner resources.
This session remains one of the clearest illustrations of the phrase:
“All hypnosis is self-hypnosis.”
As a hypnotherapist, I act as a guide — the change itself is always created by the client.
Looking for Hypnotherapy for Anxiety?
If you're struggling with anxiety — whether you know the cause or not — hypnotherapy may help you find relief. You don’t need to talk through everything. With gentle guidance, your subconscious mind can begin to let go of what no longer serves you.
Curious to try it for yourself?
🗓️ Book a free 15-minute consultation to explore how online hypnotherapy could help you.
Why I Became a Hypnotherapist
My Journey to Helping Others Change Their Lives
When people ask me why I became a hypnotherapist, the answer isn’t just one single moment — it’s a journey of discovery, personal change, and a deep desire to help others live the lives they truly want.
The First Spark
My interest in hypnosis began when I discovered just how powerful the mind can be in shaping our habits, emotions, and even physical wellbeing. I realised that so much of what holds us back in life isn’t the world around us—it’s the patterns and beliefs we carry within. The idea that these could be changed gently, safely, and effectively fascinated me, so I began using hypnosis to teach people a set of tools to help them take better control of their lives.
From Curiosity to Commitment
Before becoming a hypnotherapist, I worked as a consultant in industry. I enjoyed parts of it, but I knew something was missing—a sense of real purpose and the chance to make a difference in people’s lives. Meanwhile, I was using hypnosis as a teaching tool and often finding people asking for help with specific issues such as phobias or anxiety.
I realised that many people were being held back from reaching their goals by issues that could be addressed relatively easily with hypnotherapy.
Training and Learning
Inspired to explore further, I trained with Hypnosis World and gained a Practitioner's Diploma in Hypnotherapy. I also studied techniques such as parts therapy, so that I could focus on therapies that avoid re-experiencing trauma to reach a goal. Throughout my training, I discovered just how versatile hypnotherapy can be — helping people overcome anxiety, change unwanted habits, build confidence, and improve wellbeing.
My Mission
Becoming a hypnotherapist has allowed me to combine my love of human connection with a practical, effective way to help people achieve real change. My mission is simple: to give clients the tools and confidence to take control of their own lives.
If you’ve ever wondered whether hypnotherapy could help you, I’d love to help you explore the possibilities. Change is possible—sometimes all it takes is the proper support and a willingness to take the first step.
How Online Hypnotherapy Works: What to Expect in Your First Session
Online hypnotherapy is an easy and effective way to tackle personal challenges, whether you're dealing with stress, anxiety, or even chronic pain. If you’re new to it, you might wonder what happens during a session. Let me walk you through it!
Before your first session, I will ask you to provide some details about your goals and lay out the expectations for each of us during hypnosis. Our sessions will be held over Zoom, as I have found this to be the most reliable platform.
First, we’ll discuss your goals. Whether you want to manage anxiety, quit a habit, or overcome a phobia, this conversation is essential. It helps me understand your unique needs, ensure that the session is tailored to you, and make you feel understood and cared for.
Once we get into the actual hypnotherapy part, I’ll guide you into a state of deep relaxation. Rest assured, you’ll still be fully aware and in control the whole time, ensuring your safety and comfort. I’ll help you get into a calm, focused state using techniques like guided imagery or progressive relaxation. This is when the real magic happens as we address the goals you brought to the session.
The first session lasts 90 minutes. Any further sessions last one hour. An hour is enough time to enter a hypnotic trance deeply and make real progress, and from experience, this is the optimum duration. The initial 90 minutes session allows us to discuss your needs, answer questions and define a therapy plan tailored to you.
Afterwards, you’ll likely feel relaxed and more connected to your emotions. I might suggest a few follow-up practices to reinforce our positive work. If you decide to have regular sessions, you’ll find that the changes we work on become a natural part of your daily life, leading to long-lasting benefits.
So, now that you know what to expect, you can feel confident going into your first online hypnotherapy session. It’s a step toward achieving your personal goals, and I’ll be with you every step of the way!
Curious to try it for yourself?
🗓️ Book a free 15-minute consultation to explore how online hypnotherapy could help you.
What Is Hypnosis?
Understanding the Natural State That Helps You Change From Within
If you’ve ever become so absorbed in a book, film, or daydream that you lost track of time — congratulations, you’ve experienced a form of hypnosis.
Hypnosis isn’t about losing control or being "put under". In fact, all hypnosis is self-hypnosis. The hypnotherapist is simply a guide — you’re always in charge.
So, What Is Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is a natural, altered state of awareness — like being deeply relaxed and focused at the same time. In this state, your mind becomes more open to helpful suggestions, insights, and change.
It’s often compared to trance, but trance itself isn’t mysterious. People move in and out of trance-like states every day:
When driving on autopilot and arriving with no memory of the journey
When getting lost in thought or imagination
When deeply engaged in creative work
These are all forms of natural trance. Hypnotherapy simply uses that natural state purposefully — to help you overcome challenges or make lasting, positive changes.
You’re Always in Control
A common misconception is that hypnosis makes people do things against their will. In reality:
You remain aware of your surroundings
You can open your eyes or speak at any time
You cannot be made to accept suggestions that conflict with your values or beliefs
If at any point something feels wrong or uncomfortable, the mind simply rejects the suggestion or brings you out of trance. Hypnosis is not mind control — it’s a collaborative process, and the client always has the final say.
A Brief History of Hypnosis
The roots of hypnosis go back centuries. Ancient Egyptian sleep temples and early healing rituals used trance-like states for therapeutic purposes.
In the 18th century, Franz Mesmer popularised mesmerism (from which the word “mesmerise” comes), but his ideas lacked a scientific foundation. The term "hypnosis" was later coined by James Braid, a Scottish surgeon, who saw it as a kind of sleep — although we now know it's more like focused awareness than sleep.
In the 20th century, Milton H. Erickson, a psychiatrist and hypnotherapist, revolutionised the field by using indirect suggestions and storytelling. His compassionate, client-centred approach became the foundation for modern hypnotherapy.
What Can Hypnosis Help With?
Hypnotherapy can support a wide range of issues, including:
Because the process is led by the client’s own subconscious mind, each session is highly personalised.
Can Hypnosis Work Online?
Yes — hypnosis works just as well online as in person. All that’s needed is a quiet space, a good internet connection, and a willingness to participate. Many clients find online hypnotherapy more comfortable and convenient, especially in their own familiar environment.
A Gentle, Collaborative Process
Hypnosis isn’t something done to you — it’s something you do with the guidance of a trained practitioner.
You’re the one making the changes. The hypnotherapist is there to help you access the tools and insight you already have.
Curious to try it for yourself?
🗓️ Book a free 15-minute consultation to explore how online hypnotherapy could help you.