Your mind keeps going
Replaying conversations, planning for every possibility or worrying about what other people think.
Hypnotherapy for anxiety & stress · Stockport
When your mind never seems to switch off.
You may be coping with constant worry, overthinking, tension or the feeling that you have to keep everything under control. Sometimes it shows through your body as well as your thoughts.
You do not need to know whether to call it anxiety, stress or something else before we talk.
Talk it through
Free 20–30 minute telephone conversationNo pressure · No obligation to book
“You may still be getting through each day. That does not mean it feels easy.”
Does any of this sound familiar?
Anxiety does not always look like panic.
For many of the people I meet, it means carrying on, looking after everybody else and holding a great deal of worry or tension privately.
You stay in control
Looking as though you are managing while privately feeling tense, exhausted or close to your limit.
Everybody comes first
Thinking about your family, colleagues or customers—and rarely asking what you need yourself.
Your self-talk is unkind
Using words against yourself that you would never dream of using with somebody you care about.
Rest does not feel restful
Sleeping too little or too much, struggling to switch off, or feeling tired before the day has begun.
Your body feels the strain
Tight shoulders, neck or back, headaches, a racing heart or an unsettled stomach alongside worry and tension.
Physical symptoms can have many causes. If they are new, unexplained or worrying you, please speak to your GP or another appropriate health professional rather than assuming anxiety is the cause.
A question I often ask
“If I could listen to the way you speak to yourself when nobody else is there, what would I hear?”
Sometimes the pattern began long before the current problem.
The way you were parented, the expectations you grew up with or the role you learned to play in your family can shape how you see yourself as an adult. That does not mean blaming your parents. Often they were doing what they believed was right at the time.
But perhaps you learned to be good, quiet, useful or not to disappoint anybody. Years later, you may still put everybody else first, worry about getting things wrong and speak to yourself far more harshly than you speak to anyone else.
Understanding a pattern can be the beginning of responding to it differently.How hypnotherapy may help
We begin by understanding what has been happening—not by telling you to “just relax”.
Hypnotherapy may help relieve anxiety by giving you a calm, focused space to explore the thoughts, beliefs and learned responses that have become automatic.
You remain in control
Hypnosis is not sleep and I cannot make you say or do anything against your will. We talk throughout the session.
We use your words
I do not read a generic script. Your experiences and the words that feel right to you shape the work we do.
I stay honest
Everybody responds differently. I will never promise a cure, a particular outcome or that one session solves everything.
A clear, unhurried process
What happens if you contact me?
You cannot book yourself straight into a therapy session. We speak first.
- 01
We speak first
A free 20–30 minute telephone conversation gives you space to explain what has been happening and ask me anything.
- 02
I understand your story
If we agree to continue, you complete an intake form. I read it before we meet, so your session does not begin with a stranger asking generic questions.
- 03
Your session is personal
We explore the experiences and beliefs that may be connected to how you feel now, at a pace that feels manageable to you.
- 04
You take support home
Your personalised recording uses words that mean something to you. You listen for at least 21 days, with check-ins from me along the way.
35 years of listening to peopleWhy work with me?
I understand what it is like when worry follows you through the day.
I know what it is like to keep going for other people, carry pressure home from work and spend your own time still thinking about everybody else. I also know what it is like to lose sight of yourself in all of that.
I have not been to university and I do not pretend that qualifications replace life experience. What I bring is 35 years of interviewing and listening to people, alongside my training as a Clinical Hypnotherapist and RTT Practitioner.
I talk to people the way I would want somebody to talk to me.
More about StephenA recent Google review
“For the first time in a long time I’m being kind to myself.”
I had my session with Stephen about four weeks ago. It has been a game changer. I thoroughly recommend and thank him for giving me my confidence and self belief back.
— Shaun G., ManchesterIndividual experiences and results vary. A testimonial is not a guarantee of a particular result.Sessions & Fees
Clear from the start.
First RTT or hypnotherapy session
Usually 2–2½ hours, including your personalised recording and follow-up support.
Further session on the same issue
Usually 90–120 minutes, with a new recording when appropriate.
A £50 appointment deposit forms part of the session price.
Talk it throughRelated reading
Read something that sounds familiar.
Workplace stress
Civil Service Stress at Work
What pressure can look like inside the Civil Service—and some practical places to begin.
Read the article Related supportSleep & Insomnia
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Explore this service Related supportConfidence & Self-Esteem
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Explore this serviceCommon questions
Before you decide whether to get in touch…
What if I cannot relax or switch my thoughts off?
You do not need to empty your mind or be good at relaxing. Most people I see arrive with busy thoughts. I guide you and we talk throughout.
Do I have to talk about childhood?
We look at what is relevant to you, and we work at your pace. The aim is not to blame anybody or force a memory. If something does not feel right, you tell me.
How many sessions will I need?
Everybody is different. After the first session, you listen to your recording for at least 21 days. A second session is usually around three weeks later if we both feel it would be useful. A third is your choice, not an automatic package.
Can I continue taking medication?
Yes. Hypnotherapy does not replace medical advice or prescribed treatment. Do not stop or change medication without speaking to the clinician who prescribed it.
Are sessions face-to-face or online?
Most of my RTT sessions take place face-to-face in Stockport, which is generally how I prefer to work. Online appointments are also available when appropriate.
What support is included afterwards?
I normally check in by WhatsApp or email around day five to seven and again at about two weeks. I may also send relevant information or worksheets depending on what you need.
Begin with a conversation
You do not need to have the right words.
Tell me a little about what has been happening and ask any questions. We can decide together whether I may be the right person to help.
Talk it throughFree 20–30 minute telephone conversation · No pressure to book