London & online appointments
Hypnotherapy for stress in London and online
Do you feel constantly stressed, on edge or unable to switch off? Is stress starting to affect your sleep, your health or the people around you? I help people explore the pressures, worries and subconscious responses that can contribute to stress, so they can feel calmer, sleep better and enjoy life again.
Prices and appointmentsYour first appointment includes hypnosis.
What hypnotherapy for stress can help with
Stress can creep up slowly, until it affects how you sleep, think and feel. Hypnotherapy for stress can help with:
- feeling stressed, tense or on edge
- stress at work and burnout
- feeling overwhelmed by everything you have to do
- difficulty switching off or relaxing
- poor sleep and racing thoughts
- irritability and a short temper
- physical tension, headaches or jaw clenching
- stress eating, drinking or smoking more
It aims to help you feel calmer, clearer and back in control.
Your hypnotherapist: Susannah Saunders
I established my practice in 2003 and have over 20 years of experience as a clinical hypnotherapist. I work with stress, anxiety, sleep and confidence, tailoring sessions to your pressures, goals and everyday life.
- BSc (Hons) in Psychology
- Hypnotherapy Practitioner Diploma (HPD)
- Senior Qualification in Hypnotherapy Practice (SQHP)
- CNHC registered and a GHR registered member
Fees and appointments
£198
Per session, including VAT.
Approximately 50 minutes. Your personalised hypnosis recording is included. Your first appointment includes hypnosis as well as the consultation.
Choose an appointment at City Hypnotherapy Centre near Liverpool Street, London, or online by Zoom.
How hypnotherapy for stress works
We begin with the pressures you face, the situations where you feel on edge and the changes you want. Goals might include switching off after work, sleeping more comfortably or responding to a difficult conversation with greater confidence.
During hypnosis, I use relaxation, imagery and suggestions tailored to you. We can rehearse those situations, explore unhelpful expectations and practise calmer responses. Between appointments, your recording and manageable everyday steps support the work.
Stress and your GP
If stress is affecting your health or daily life, speak to your GP. NHS talking therapies may also be an option in England, including self-referral.
New, severe or unexplained physical symptoms need medical advice rather than being assumed to be stress. The NHS stress guide explains where to seek routine or urgent support. Hypnotherapy can sit alongside appropriate healthcare.
Working with a hypnotherapist for stress
Working with a hypnotherapist for stress starts with an initial consultation. In this first session, we talk about what is causing your stress and how you would like to feel.
We discuss what keeps the pressure going, how you respond and what you would like to change. I explain the approach and answer your questions. The first appointment includes hypnosis, so the work begins straight away.
My approach is solution-focused, so we concentrate on your goals and build on the progress you make.
What happens in a stress hypnotherapy session
Each session after the first starts with a short conversation about what has gone well since we last spoke. Most of the session is hypnosis, using the techniques that suit you.
After each session, you receive the personalised recording of that session to practise between appointments. Choose a safe, quiet time when you can relax. Never listen while driving, operating equipment or doing anything that requires your full attention.
Try my free hypnosis audio
Try my free 30-minute guided relaxation audio and get a feel for my voice and approach.
What is stress?
Stress is the body’s response to pressure. In short bursts, it can help you focus, react quickly and get things done.
When pressure builds up over weeks or months, it can turn into chronic stress. This can leave you feeling tired, tense and stretched thin, even after the pressure has passed.
Physical signs of stress
Stress affects the body as well as the mind. Common physical signs include:
- headaches or dizziness
- tense or aching muscles, especially in the neck and shoulders
- jaw clenching or teeth grinding
- stomach problems or IBS flare-ups
- a racing heart or chest discomfort
- tiredness and low energy
- changes in sex drive
Physical symptoms can have several causes. Seek medical advice about new, persistent or worrying symptoms rather than diagnosing stress from a symptom list.
Emotional and mental signs of stress
Stress can also affect how you think and feel. You might notice:
- constant worry or racing thoughts
- feeling overwhelmed
- trouble concentrating or making decisions
- forgetfulness
- irritability or a short fuse
- feeling low or tearful
- a sense of dread about the day ahead
- feeling you have lost control
Many people describe feeling frazzled, wired or running on empty.
How stress changes behaviour
When stress builds up, everyday habits can change. You might sleep badly or too much, eat on the run or reach for comfort food.
Some people drink, smoke or vape more, snap at loved ones or cancel plans. Others keep going on autopilot, saying yes to everything until they run out of energy.
The stress bucket
The stress bucket is a metaphor for the way demands can build up. Deadlines, caring responsibilities, conflict and repeated worry can leave less room to deal with the next challenge.
We use the image to discuss what is adding pressure, what can change and where recovery fits into your day. It is a way of explaining accumulated stress, rather than a literal description of sleep or different parts of the brain taking control.
Hypnotherapy for stress at work
Workload, uncertainty, difficult relationships and feeling unable to step away can all contribute to work stress. We can focus on switching off after work, preparing for challenging conversations and feeling less driven by constant urgency.
Individual support works best alongside practical changes where these are needed. If you are an employer, my corporate wellbeing workshops page explains sessions for teams at your workplace or online.
Hypnosis for burnout and exhaustion
Long periods of pressure can leave you exhausted, detached or struggling to recover. If exhaustion is persistent, speak with your GP about possible causes and the support you need.
Hypnotherapy can support rest, boundaries and confidence while you address the demands contributing to exhaustion. It does not replace changes to an unsustainable workload, workplace support or medical assessment.
Hypnotherapy for feeling overwhelmed
Overwhelm can make even small tasks feel impossible. Your mind may race from one worry to the next, making it hard to know where to start.
Hypnotherapy for feeling overwhelmed aims to calm the mind, so you can see things in proportion and deal with one thing at a time.
Stress, sleep and switching off
Stress and sleep are closely connected. When stress is high, it can be hard to fall asleep, or you may wake in the early hours with your mind racing.
Poor sleep then makes the next day more stressful. Hypnotherapy aims to help you relax at bedtime and sleep more soundly. My page on insomnia hypnotherapy has more on this.
Stress and the body
Stress can accompany muscle tension, jaw clenching and digestive discomfort. Speak with a GP or dentist about new, persistent or painful symptoms rather than assuming they are all caused by stress.
Hypnotherapy can focus on relaxation and how you respond to discomfort alongside appropriate care. My page on IBS hypnotherapy explains support for people with an assessed bowel condition.
Stress during big life changes
Moving house, planning a wedding, starting a new job or having a baby can bring pressure alongside the positive changes. You may need time and support to adjust.
Harder times, such as divorce, redundancy, money worries, illness or bereavement, can add more pressure. Hypnotherapy aims to help you feel steadier, so you can cope with change more calmly.
Stress for parents and carers
Parents often juggle work, childcare and family life with little time for themselves. New parents may also be coping with broken sleep and a big change in identity.
Carers, and people caring for both children and ageing parents, can feel stretched in every direction. Hypnotherapy for stress aims to help you recharge, so you can look after others and still have energy for yourself.
Exam stress and study pressure
Exams, coursework and professional qualifications can bring stress, late nights and fear of failure. Students may struggle to sleep, revise or remember what they have learned.
Hypnotherapy for exam stress aims to help you feel calm and focused, so you can show what you know on the day.
Stress and anxiety: what is the difference?
Stress often relates to demands or pressures you can identify. Anxiety can involve persistent apprehension or fear, including when there is no immediate demand. They can overlap, and a clinician can assess symptoms that are persistent or difficult to manage.
My page on anxiety hypnotherapy explains support for worry, anxious anticipation and confidence.
How stress affects daily life
Stress can affect your mood, your relationships and your health. You might feel short with the people you love, lose interest in hobbies or find it hard to enjoy time off.
Over time, it can affect work, confidence and how you see yourself. Many people keep going until their body forces them to stop.
Who stress hypnotherapy can help
Stress hypnotherapy can help many different people, including:
- busy professionals and City workers
- managers, directors and business owners
- people with burnout or work-related stress
- parents, new parents and carers
- students and people facing exams
- people going through divorce, redundancy or a move
- those with stress-related sleep problems or tension
- people going through the menopause
- people-pleasers and perfectionists who struggle to slow down
- anyone who feels stressed, overwhelmed or on edge
It can help whether your stress is recent or has built up over years.
The beliefs behind stress
Expectations such as “I have to do everything myself”, “rest is lazy” or “I must always say yes” can add pressure to an already demanding day. We explore which expectations fit your experience and what you would like to do differently.
Hypnosis can include rehearsal of setting a boundary, asking for help or resting without criticising yourself. My pages on people-pleasing and perfectionism explore these patterns in more detail.
Stress, hypnosis and the subconscious mind
Subconscious is a useful word for responses and expectations that feel automatic. You might tense up when an email arrives, rehearse a difficult conversation repeatedly or feel guilty when you try to rest.
Hypnosis uses focused attention, imagery and therapeutic suggestions to practise different responses to those familiar situations. We connect this with realistic changes in daily life rather than assuming every source of stress can be solved through your thoughts.
What stress hypnosis feels like
Hypnosis is a natural, relaxed state, similar to daydreaming or the moment before sleep. You stay aware of what is happening and in control throughout.
Stress hypnosis is a clinical process, very different from stage hypnosis. It can be the most relaxed you have felt in a long time.
Techniques used in hypnotherapy for stress
Sessions are tailored to your goals and may include:
- comfortable relaxation and gentle breathing
- exploring expectations that add to pressure
- personalised suggestions for calm and confidence
- rehearsal of setting boundaries or asking for help
- imagery for switching off after a demanding day
- responding differently to repetitive worry
- self-hypnosis in a safe, quiet place
- noticing and building on useful changes
- preparing for a meeting, exam or other challenging situation
We choose the techniques together and adapt them to what feels useful.
Everyday ways to lower your stress
Small, realistic changes can give you more room to recover: protect a break, make one task manageable, ask for support or spend time doing something you enjoy. We discuss changes that fit your circumstances.
The NHS stress guide includes practical suggestions such as movement, breathing exercises and achievable goals. If you rely more on smoking, alcohol or other habits when under pressure, we can discuss that pattern and suitable additional support.
Is hypnotherapy for stress right for you?
Hypnotherapy may suit you if you want support with feeling tense, switching off, anxious expectations or confidence under pressure. We discuss your goals and any healthcare or therapy you already receive.
The work is tailored to your situation. When pressure comes from circumstances that need to change, we include realistic steps, support and boundaries rather than placing responsibility solely on you.
Choosing a hypnotherapist for stress
When choosing a hypnotherapist for stress, look for recognised qualifications and experience of working with stress, anxiety and sleep. It also helps to feel comfortable with the person you choose, and an initial consultation is a good chance to ask questions.
I hold the SQHP and HPD qualifications and have been practising as a clinical hypnotherapist since 2003.
The benefits of hypnotherapy for stress
Hypnotherapy for stress aims to help you feel calmer, clearer and more like yourself. Benefits can include:
- feeling calm and in control
- better sleep and more energy
- a clearer, more focused mind
- handling pressure with confidence
- more patience with the people around you
- a more relaxed body
- more time and energy for the things you enjoy
- a brighter outlook on the future
If you would like help with stress, contact me to find out more or book your initial consultation.
Research and practical support for stress
A 2020 randomised trial by Fisch and colleagues studied 95 adults with elevated perceived stress. A structured group hypnosis programme with recordings and an educational booklet reduced reported stress compared with the booklet alone. The programme differed from individual appointments, so its findings do not predict a personal outcome.
A small pilot trial of mindful hypnotherapy also reported improvements in perceived distress. The NHS stress guide offers practical steps and routes to care. For work pressures, HSE guidance explains the importance of addressing demands, support and other working conditions alongside individual support.
Stress hypnotherapy: frequently asked questions
Answers about work pressure, burnout, sleep, hypnosis and appointments in London or online.
Understanding stress and when to seek support
What is stress?
Stress is a response to demands or pressure. A short busy period may feel manageable, while repeated demands without enough recovery can leave you tense or overwhelmed. Sessions look at your own pressures and the changes you want, rather than comparing how much you should be able to cope with.
What is the difference between stress and anxiety?
Stress often relates to pressures you can identify. Anxiety can involve persistent worry or apprehension, including when there is no immediate demand. They can overlap. We can discuss your experience, and a healthcare professional can assess symptoms that are persistent or affecting daily life.
Can stress affect my body as well as my thoughts?
Yes. Stress may accompany tension, disturbed sleep or changes in everyday habits. Physical symptoms also have other possible causes. Seek medical advice about new, persistent or worrying symptoms rather than assuming they are stress-related; hypnotherapy can then sit alongside appropriate care.
Why do I feel stressed even when I have time off?
You may still be anticipating demands, checking messages or criticising yourself for resting. Those patterns can make it difficult to use time off for recovery. We explore what happens for you and rehearse switching activities, setting boundaries and allowing a pause.
Is feeling stressed a sign that I am weak?
No. Feeling under pressure is not a character judgement. Your workload, responsibilities, resources and recovery all matter. Sessions give you space to consider what needs support or change, alongside building confidence in how you respond.
Should I speak to my GP about stress?
Speak to your GP if you are struggling to cope, symptoms are affecting daily life or things you have tried are not helping. You can also discuss ongoing exhaustion or physical symptoms. Hypnotherapy appointments can complement the healthcare or therapy that is appropriate for you.
What if I think physical symptoms are caused by stress?
Arrange medical advice rather than diagnosing the cause yourself. Chest discomfort, palpitations, dizziness or other symptoms need appropriate assessment, especially when new, severe or unexplained. The NHS guidance linked on this page explains how to seek routine and urgent help.
What is the stress bucket?
It is a metaphor for accumulated demands and the room available to cope. We use it to discuss what adds pressure, what could change and where recovery fits. It is not a literal explanation of brain anatomy or a claim that dreaming automatically removes a measured amount of stress.
How hypnotherapy for stress works
Can hypnotherapy help with stress?
Hypnotherapy can support relaxation, confidence and changing familiar responses to pressure. We identify situations you want to handle differently and use personalised imagery, suggestions and rehearsal. Practical steps between appointments help connect the work with your daily life.
How does stress reduction hypnosis work?
We discuss your pressures and goals before using focused attention and tailored suggestions. You might rehearse ending the working day, preparing for a meeting or responding to a worrying thought. The aim is to practise more useful responses that fit your circumstances.
What does hypnosis for stress feel like?
Some people notice deep relaxation; others experience quiet concentration. You can hear my voice and remain involved in the process. You do not have to empty your mind, picture everything vividly or perform relaxation correctly for us to work together.
Will I stay in control during hypnosis?
Yes. You can speak, ask questions, adjust your position or stop at any time. We agree goals and use suggestions that fit them. Clinical hypnotherapy is collaborative, and you do not need to accept an idea that feels uncomfortable.
What do you mean by subconscious stress responses?
These are learned expectations and reactions that can feel automatic, such as tensing when a message arrives or feeling guilty about resting. We use hypnosis to explore and rehearse alternatives to those responses. This does not mean that your circumstances or practical pressures are imaginary.
Will hypnosis remove every source of stress?
No. It can support how you respond and the changes you choose, but it cannot remove a workload, financial difficulty or caring responsibility. We include realistic steps and support, alongside the therapeutic work, so the plan reflects the life you are living.
Do you use breathing techniques or self-hypnosis?
Where useful, we can practise comfortable breathing, imagery or self-hypnosis as part of your plan. These are adapted to you rather than prescribed as a single routine for everyone. Use relaxation practice somewhere safe, without needing to drive or operate equipment.
Is there research on hypnosis for stress?
A randomised trial in adults with elevated perceived stress found improvements following a structured group programme with recordings compared with an educational booklet. Other studies have explored mindful hypnosis. These findings support further study; the programmes and participants differ from an individual appointment, so they do not promise a particular result.
Work, burnout and everyday pressures
Can you help with work-related stress?
Yes. We can focus on switching off, confidence in difficult conversations, repetitive worry and feeling driven by urgency. When workload or working conditions need attention, practical workplace support also matters. Tell me about the pressures and what you would like to handle differently.
Do you work with managers, business owners and City professionals?
Yes. You can bring concerns such as decision pressure, responsibility for others, demanding schedules or feeling unable to step away. We agree goals around your own situation. Appointments are available near Liverpool Street in the City of London or online.
Can hypnosis help with burnout or exhaustion?
Sessions can support rest, boundaries and confidence while you address the demands contributing to exhaustion. Persistent exhaustion deserves medical assessment, and changes to workload or other support may be needed. We discuss how hypnotherapy can fit your wider recovery plan.
Can sessions help me switch off after work?
Yes. We can explore checking messages, mentally replaying the day or worrying about tomorrow. Hypnosis may include rehearsal of finishing work and moving into an evening routine. We connect this with a practical boundary or habit that suits your responsibilities.
Can you help with feeling overwhelmed by a long to-do list?
We can work on the urgency, self-criticism or worry that makes it hard to choose a next step. Rehearsal can focus on starting one manageable task or asking for help. The aim is to support clearer choices rather than simply adding more tasks to your list.
Do you help parents and carers with stress?
Yes. We can discuss the pressure of combining work, caring and family responsibilities, including guilt about taking time for yourself. Sessions can focus on recovery, confidence and asking for support. The plan takes account of what you can realistically change.
Can hypnotherapy help with exam stress?
Sessions can address anxious anticipation, fear of failure and confidence with study or exam-day routines. We may rehearse approaching a paper calmly and returning attention to the next question. Tell me about the exam date and any learning or access needs when enquiring.
Do you offer stress management workshops for employees?
Yes. My corporate wellbeing service includes group sessions and tailored programmes for organisations, delivered at your workplace or online. The corporate page explains the options and how to enquire. This is separate from booking an individual stress hypnotherapy appointment.
Sleep, habits, boundaries and related concerns
Can hypnotherapy help when stress is affecting my sleep?
We can work on bedtime worry, rehearsing the next day and feeling unable to switch off. Your recording can support practice at a safe, quiet time. Persistent sleep difficulties may also need medical advice; my insomnia page explains the support I offer in more detail.
Can sessions help with irritability or snapping at people?
We can explore the build-up to those moments and rehearse pausing, communicating a need or responding differently. The aim is to create more choice when you feel stretched. Tell me if anger or relationships feel unsafe so we can consider the most appropriate support.
What if stress makes me smoke, drink or eat more?
Tell me about the habit and the situations in which it increases. We can address triggers and expectations and discuss suitable support for the behaviour itself. If alcohol or another substance has become difficult to manage, appropriate healthcare or specialist support may also be needed.
Can stress work include nail biting or other automatic habits?
Yes. We can discuss whether the habit increases with pressure and address the situations linked to it. My nail biting page explains the more specific work on biting, cuticle picking and automatic urges, including practical care for your hands.
Can hypnotherapy help with stress-related muscle tension or jaw clenching?
We can work on relaxation and the pressure or anticipation around tense moments. A GP or dentist should assess persistent pain, jaw symptoms or damage to teeth. Hypnotherapy can fit alongside that care, rather than diagnosing or treating every physical cause.
What if people-pleasing or perfectionism adds to my stress?
We can explore expectations about doing everything correctly, saying yes or disappointing others. Hypnosis can include rehearsal of a boundary, asking for help or completing a task without repeated checking. My related treatment pages give more detail on those patterns.
Can you support stress during divorce, redundancy or other life changes?
Yes. We can focus on the uncertainty, confidence and everyday routines affected by a change. Sessions provide space to practise handling difficult moments and identify useful support. Legal, financial or medical questions remain with the appropriate professional.
Can hypnotherapy sit alongside counselling, CBT or medication?
Often it can, depending on your circumstances. Tell me about the care you receive so we can consider whether the approaches fit together. Keep following your prescriber’s advice about medication and speak with them before making any changes.
Appointments, fees and stress hypnotherapy in London
What happens at my first stress hypnotherapy appointment?
We talk about the pressures you face, how they affect you and what you want to change. I explain the approach and answer questions. Your first appointment includes consultation and personalised hypnosis, so the therapeutic work begins in that session.
How much does stress hypnotherapy cost?
Sessions cost £198 including VAT and last approximately 50 minutes. The personalised hypnosis recording of each session is included. Your first appointment includes both the consultation and hypnosis. The same session fee applies in London and online.
How many stress hypnotherapy sessions will I need?
The number depends on your goals, circumstances and any related concerns. We discuss a plan at the first appointment and review progress together. Useful measures might include switching off more comfortably, responding differently under pressure or following a boundary you have chosen.
Is my personalised hypnosis recording included?
Yes. After each appointment you receive the personalised recording of that session to practise between meetings. We can discuss a listening routine that fits your day. Never listen while driving, operating equipment or doing anything that requires full attention.
Where do you offer stress hypnotherapy in London?
Appointments are at City Hypnotherapy Centre, Longcroft House, 2–8 Victoria Avenue, London EC2M 4NS. The practice is near Liverpool Street station and Bishopsgate in the City of London. You can also choose an online appointment.
Do you offer online hypnotherapy for stress?
Yes. Sessions are available by Zoom from a private, quiet space. Use a reliable connection, a charged device and clear sound, and choose somewhere comfortable where you will not be interrupted. Your personalised recording is included, as with a London appointment.
What qualifications and experience does Susannah Saunders have?
I have practised as a clinical hypnotherapist since 2003 and hold a BSc (Hons) in Psychology, the Hypnotherapy Practitioner Diploma and Senior Qualification in Hypnotherapy Practice. I am CNHC registered and a GHR registered member. My About page gives more detail.
How do I book stress hypnotherapy or hear your approach first?
Use the contact page, call 07973 896907 or email susannah@cityhypno.co.uk to enquire about London or online appointments. You can also try my free 30-minute guided relaxation audio to hear my voice and get a feel for the approach before booking.
Stress hypnotherapy near Liverpool Street
City Hypnotherapy Centre
Longcroft House, 2–8 Victoria Avenue
London EC2M 4NS
Choose an appointment near Liverpool Street station and Bishopsgate in the City of London, or meet online by Zoom.
Find more room to feel calm
Get in touch to discuss the pressures you are facing and the changes you would like. Sessions are £198 including VAT, with your personalised hypnosis recording included.
