Dorset Hypnotherapy Practice

24/08/2026

Being a member of AfSFH (as well as NCH and CNCH) means I adhere to high professional standards, have regular supervision and take additional training.

For you, it's a quality assurance, so you can be reassured that I have proper qualifications and there is oversight.

For me, it means I have access to the best further training and support (my supervisor is the CEO of AfSFH as well as having his own practice), as well as regular contact with a huge network of other successful clinical solution focused hypnotherapists. I love being at the sharp end of the field!

If you are considering hypnotherapy for anxiety, make sure that you choose someone that is a member of a professional association.

The AfSFH has a directory of registered members who are qualified, insured and DBS checked.
All members are required to engage in at least 21 hours of additional professional development activities per year, including undertaking regular supervision and further training as part of their continuous professional development.

Trust us to support you, when you choose an AfSFH member you also get the reassurance of our professional standards advice and support.

www.afsfh.com

07/08/2026

How does anxiety become almost automatic? Why can change seem so hard?

I took the lovely picture below when I was walking my dog this morning, of him following a well-trodden path. It’s clear and easy to follow, so we all just follow it automatically, Bentley included. Every time someone walks the same route, it becomes a little more established.

Our brains work in a remarkably similar way. 🧠🐾

Every repeated thought, habit or emotional response strengthens a neural pathway. If we've spent years worrying, expecting the worst, feeling anxious or lacking confidence, our brains simply become very good at following that familiar route. It’s not because of weakness or that we're at fault, it’s because our brains are doing exactly what they're built to do: choose the easiest path.

The exciting part is that we don’t have to stay on that path forever!

My clients become very familiar with this metaphor. Each time we practise a different way of thinking, notice what’s going well, imagine a better future, or respond differently to a situation, we're beginning to tread a new pathway. At first it can feel unfamiliar and takes real conscious effort… just like walking through long grass where there’s no path yet.

But with repetition, that new route becomes easier, and eventually, it becomes the path your brain naturally chooses.

That’s one of the reasons Solution Focused Hypnotherapy is so effective. It helps you build stronger, healthier neural pathways so your brain starts working for you rather than against you.

The old path doesn’t disappear overnight, but the less you use it, the more it naturally fades and eventually we can't see it any more. The new path now takes it's place as the familiar, natural route.

What path are you choosing today?

🌿 Small steps, repeated often = big changes over time.

Read my latest blog (link below) to understand a little more about how Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can support you to make positive change for anxiety, stress, phobias, unwanted habits, low confidence and more. I would love to help you create new pathways to a calmer, happier future.

The Path Your Brain Naturally FollowsTake a look at the photograph I took this morning. There is one clear path stretching into the distance. It’s obvious where people have walked before, and without thinking, most of us would instinctively follow it too. It’s the easiest route. Even my dog Bent...

01/08/2026

The desire to overcome anxiety, stress, fears and unwanted habits is why both children and adults come to see me at Dorset Hypnotherapy Practice - and many find that the solution focused approach is a welcome difference.

No talking about past problems, no long waitlists for help and no homework!

Just focus on where you want to be in life, what that would look/feel like and making positive changes towards that goal, using the transformative power of neuroplasticity.

Get in touch for a free 15 minute discovery call.

Picture of one of my fave places to walk the dog, Hengistbury Head 💛

01/08/2026

Love this quote from Milton Erickson (often described as the father of modern hypnosis):

‘You use hypnosis not as a cure, but as a means of establishing a favourable climate in which to learn.’

The neuroscience behind why we behave and react as we do is so fascinating - and often the key that turns that lock a tiny bit in the right direction.

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy is a collaborative approach that combines a solution focused conversation with hypnosis.
We’ll talk about your strengths, skills & resources.
We’ll notice what’s already working for you.
You’ll share your hopes for your preferred future and then we’ll use hypnosis, a gentle, collaborative, trance state which feels a bit like being absorbed in a good book. As Milton Erickson (often described as the father of modern hypnosis) said,

‘You use hypnosis not as a cure, but as a means of establishing a favourable climate in which to learn.’

Sessions are tailored to you, because you are the expert in your own life, and together we explore the changes that matter most to you.

Maybe contact your local for a chat?

29/07/2026

Thought I'd share a few of the lovely WhatsApp messages I've received lately.

From flying and balloon phobias (among others), to anxiety and confidence, avoiding burnout, finding joy again after grief, to helping with not snacking and even confidence grooming tricky dogs, the variety of clients who come through through my door is a testament to the versatility and efficacy of solution focused hypnotherapy.

If you'd like to finally move forward from something that's been holding you back, please get in touch for a free discovery call!

12/07/2026

Do you say yes when you want to say no?

You might be using the fawn response, a people-pleasing survival strategy many of us learned to stay safe.

In my latest blog I explain what the fawn response is, how it shows up in relationships and work, and how solution focused hypnotherapy can help to start building new, healthier ways of responding.

Read more: https://wix.to/q9pAW6h

Most of us have heard of "fight or flight." It's the phrase we think of when our heart pounds before a presentation, or perhaps when we are short with someone we love after a long, stressful day. Many people know about "freeze" too, that deer-in-headlights feeling where the words won't come and we s...

06/07/2026

I’m currently looking for businesses that would like to take advantage of a heavily discounted new workplace wellness series I’ve just launched.

The series includes 3 x 1-hour sessions, delivered one week apart, and is designed to help employees better understand what happens in the mind when we feel stressed, anxious or demotivated. It also provides simple, practical tools to help rewire unhelpful patterns, move forward more positively, and regain motivation and focus, with deep relaxation included in every session.
Feedback from participants so far has been fantastic:
✨100% said they would like more workshops
✨Across 38 sessions attended, the average rating has been 4.9/5

I’m offering significant discounts to businesses willing to take part as a case study. All participant feedback and information will remain completely anonymous.

If you’d like to find out more, please get in touch or visit: www.dorsethypnotherapypractice.co.uk

05/07/2026

What's the story you tell yourself?
Do you ever catch yourself saying...
💭 "I'm just an anxious person."
💭 "I'm not very confident."
💭 "I always overthink things."
💭 "I'm just not good enough."

The fascinating thing is that neuroscience shows our brains are constantly looking for evidence to support the story we tell ourselves.

If we keep telling ourselves we're not capable, our brain notices every setback and quietly files it away as proof.

But what if we started telling ourselves a different story?
✨ "I've got this."
✨ "I'm learning and growing."
✨ "I'm becoming more confident."
✨ "I can cope."

Our brains begin to notice the moments that support that story instead.

That doesn't mean pretending life is perfect. It means training your brain to notice your strengths, your progress and the possibilities ahead, rather than getting stuck in old patterns.

I've written a new blog exploring how the stories we tell ourselves shape our thoughts, feelings and behaviour, and how changing that narrative can help us create a calmer, more confident future.

I'd love to know...
What's one positive thing you could start saying to yourself today?

You can read the full blog here:
🔗 https://www.dorsethypnotherapypractice.co.uk/blog

Read the latest insights from Dorset Hypnotherapy Practice on anxiety, stress, phobias, unwanted habits, sleep, confidence and performance improvement. Supporting adults, children/teens and employee wellness, with practical tips to help with lasting positive change.

03/07/2026

It can be hard to truly understand how debilitating generalised anxiety can be until you’ve experienced it yourself.

These two clients came to me with very different stories, but both were feeling anxious, overwhelmed, and stuck. Over the course of 6 weeks of Solution Focused Hypnotherapy, they were able to make real, positive changes...gaining confidence, clarity, and a sense of control again.

Reading these words over the last week, like “the positive impact on my life has been massive” and “I feel I have my life back” is such a reminder of why I do this work.

Anxiety can make life feel smaller, heavier, and harder than it needs to be, but with the right support, things really can change.

If you’re struggling with generalised anxiety and feeling lost, please know that you don’t have to stay there. Change is possible, and support is available. 💛

In person sessions in Ferndown, or across the UK, Europe and North America online.