Anxiety/Stress/PTSD

The good news is that the stress response can be retrained. Hypnosis works with the subconscious mind, where automatic reactions, habits and beliefs are stored. Many clients notice they feel calmer and more in control within a few sessions, though every person’s pace is different. Together we’ll set a plan that fits you.

Stress Management Hypnosis

Stress management hypnosis combines deep relaxation with focused suggestion to change how your mind and body respond to pressure. Instead of just coping with stress, you learn to switch off the “fight or flight” reaction that keeps you tense, tired and on edge. It can help with:

• Work and financial pressure
• Overthinking and constant worry
• Trouble falling or staying asleep
• Tension, headaches and stress-related physical discomfort
• Emotional eating and stress-related weight gain

You’ll also learn simple self-hypnosis tools to use between sessions, so the calm you feel in my office goes home with you. Research on hypnosis for stress is encouraging, including controlled trials of group hypnosis programs.

Hypnosis and Social Anxiety

If the thought of meetings, parties, phone calls or being the center of attention fills you with dread, you’re not alone. Social anxiety is one of the most common anxiety conditions, and it often leads people to avoid situations they actually want to be part of.

Hypnosis and social anxiety are a natural fit. In a relaxed, focused state, we can:

• Identify where the fear of being judged began
• Replace self-critical beliefs with calm, confident ones
• Rehearse social situations in your mind until they feel familiar and safe
• Shift your attention away from self-monitoring and toward the people and moment in front of you

Many clients say they feel more at ease speaking up, meeting new people and leaving the house. This approach also supports teens and young adults who struggle with shyness, school pressure or peer anxiety.

PTSD Hypnotherapy

Trauma can leave your body stuck in survival mode, with flashbacks, nightmares, startle responses, irritability or numbness. PTSD hypnotherapy offers a gentle, client-led way to ease those reactions. It does not require you to relive or retell your story in detail.

In sessions, we focus on:

• Calming the nervous system and reducing hypervigilance
• Easing intrusive memories and the emotional charge attached to them
• Improving sleep and reducing nightmares
• Rebuilding a sense of safety, confidence and control

This also applies to complex PTSD (CPTSD), which comes from long-term or repeated trauma. For deeper or longer-standing patterns, we may draw on advanced hypnosis techniques. Hypnotherapy is a complementary approach, not a replacement for medical or psychiatric care. If you’re already working with a therapist or doctor, I’m happy to work alongside them. Research on hypnosis for PTSD is promising but still developing, and I’ll always be upfront about what it can and can’t do.

What to expect in a session

Your first step is a complimentary 30-minute consultation. We’ll talk about what you’re experiencing and what you want to change, and you can ask me anything. Sessions are relaxing. You stay aware and in control the entire time. Most clients describe it as deep calm, not sleep. I’ll also teach you practical tools to use at home. Learn more about Fay Kelly and my approach.