Support for low mood and motivation in Stockport · Online across the UK

You want things to feel different, but you’re not sure where to begin.

You may still be doing what absolutely has to be done while everything else waits. Perhaps you feel tired, disconnected, unmotivated or simply stuck in the same days.

You do not need the right label or a polished explanation before we talk.

Talk it through

Free 20–30 minute telephone conversationNo pressure · No obligation to book

“Let’s start with what life has felt like lately, and take it from there.”

Does any of this sound familiar?

Low mood is not always obvious from the outside.

You may go to work, look after other people and appear to be getting on with life, while privately feeling as though something in you has gone quiet.

Everything feels like effort

Ordinary things—replying to a message, making food, getting dressed or leaving the house—can feel much bigger than they used to.

You keep putting things off

You know what needs doing, but cannot seem to begin. The longer it waits, the more disappointed or frustrated you feel with yourself.

Your world has become smaller

You may spend more time alone, turn down invitations or lose touch with people who once helped you feel connected.

Old habits fill the space

Television, scrolling, comfort eating, alcohol or staying in bed can offer temporary distraction without changing what sits underneath.

You have lost your spark

Things you once enjoyed no longer draw you in, and you may struggle to remember the last time you felt interested in your own life.

Your inner voice has become unkind

You call yourself lazy, weak or a failure when the truth may be that you have been worn down for a long time.

These experiences can have many causes and this page does not provide a diagnosis. Please speak to your GP if low mood has lasted more than two weeks, is becoming difficult to manage, may be linked to medication or another health condition, or you feel you need medical support.

A question worth asking

“What has changed—not just in how you feel, but in how you are living?”

There may be more than one thing sitting underneath it.

Some people have been lonely for a long time. Others have fallen out with family, lost confidence at work, stopped doing the things that gave their week structure or spent years putting everybody else first.

Low mood can then affect sleep, food, alcohol, relationships and how much time you spend alone with your own thoughts. One difficulty begins feeding another until it becomes hard to know where to start.

We also listen to the words you use against yourself. If you have heard “you are lazy” or “you never finish anything” often enough, those words can begin sounding like facts rather than somebody’s opinion—including your own.

If self-criticism feels especially familiar, you may also recognise my page about confidence and self-esteem.

Understanding the pattern gives us somewhere honest to begin.

How I work

I am interested in the whole person—not simply the label.

I use Clinical Hypnotherapy and Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) to explore beliefs and patterns that may be keeping you stuck, when careful screening suggests that my approach is appropriate.

We talk before deciding

I want to understand what has been happening, what support you already have and whether I am genuinely the right person for you.

We look beyond “try harder”

We explore experiences, beliefs and routines without reducing your difficulty to laziness, willpower or a lack of positive thinking.

Your recording is personal

The recording uses your language and what we have understood together—not a generic script intended for everybody.

I stay within my role

I do not diagnose or claim to treat clinical depression. Hypnotherapy does not replace your GP, prescribed medication or NHS mental health care.

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 room to explain what has been happening and ask me anything.
02
I understand the wider picture
If we agree to continue, you complete an intake form. I read it before we meet, including relevant health information and medication.
03
Your session is personal
We explore the experiences, beliefs, routines and relationships that may be connected to how you feel now—without assuming one cause fits everybody.
04
You take support home
Your personalised recording uses language meaningful to you. You listen for at least 21 days, and I check in around day five to seven and again at approximately two weeks.

You do not have to explain everything perfectly.

My approach

Most people know that something doesn’t feel right, but they’re not always sure how to put it into words.

I’ve spent 35 years interviewing, listening to and supporting people. You might tell me, “I have no get-up-and-go,” “I keep putting everything off,” or “I just don’t feel like myself.” You don’t need to explain it perfectly. We can take our time and talk about what has been happening.

Some people have taken antidepressants for many years. Others have never spoken to their GP. I will not tell you what your low mood “really” is or ask you to choose between medical care and working with me.

I listen carefully, ask straightforward questions and stay honest about whether I may be able to help.

More about Stephen

Shared with permission

“I am still me… but a brighter, healthier version of me.”

I listened to the tailored recording every single day for five weeks, and still “top up” twice weekly. What a difference it has made.

— Ian, Greater ManchesterBased on a handwritten letter received from a client. Individual 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.

£150

Further session on the same issue

Usually 90–120 minutes, with a new recording when appropriate.

£140

A £50 appointment deposit forms part of the session price.

See full Sessions & Fees Talk it through

Continue with what feels familiar.

View all articles

Related support

Confidence & Self-Esteem

When low mood sits alongside self-criticism, people-pleasing or a belief that you are not quite good enough.

Explore this service Related support

Anxiety & Stress

When feeling worn down also comes with overthinking, tension, worry or always expecting something to go wrong.

Explore this service Men and mental health

When Men Finally Say: “That Sounds Like Me”

Why many men keep coping quietly—and what can happen when they finally feel able to say something out loud.

Read the article Free reflection resource

Daily Reflection Journal

Four printable pages for noticing your thoughts, what lifts your mood and the moments you want to remember.

View the free journal

Has low mood begun affecting your sleep or daily routine?

Explore Sleep & Insomnia support

Common questions

Before you decide whether to get in touch…

Do I need to know whether this is low mood or depression?

No. You do not need to diagnose yourself before contacting me. We can talk about what you have noticed. If your symptoms suggest that medical or specialist mental health support would be more appropriate, I will say so honestly.

Do you treat clinical depression?

No. I do not diagnose or claim to treat clinical depression. My work may be considered for low mood, negative self-talk, lost motivation or feeling stuck after careful screening. It is not a replacement for your GP, NHS care or another suitably qualified mental health professional.

Can I attend while taking antidepressants?

Medication is discussed during screening, but I do not advise on prescriptions. Never stop, reduce or change antidepressants without speaking to the clinician who prescribed them.

What if I am having thoughts of harming myself?

Hypnotherapy with me would not be the right first support if you are at risk of harming yourself or need urgent mental health care. Use the NHS urgent-support information below, contact your GP or speak to your existing mental health team.

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. I do not promise a permanent result within a fixed number of sessions.

What support is included afterwards?

I normally check in by WhatsApp or email around day five to seven and again at approximately two weeks. I may also send information or worksheets relevant to what we discussed.

Begin with a conversation

You do not need to wait until everything feels unmanageable.

Tell me what your days have been like and what seems to have changed. We can talk it through and decide whether I may be the right person to help.

Talk it throughFree 20–30 minute telephone conversation · No pressure to book