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Hypnotherapy for PTSD
A single event can change everything. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is the mind and body’s response when a traumatic experience becomes lodged in the nervous system — replaying, intruding, and preventing you from feeling safe in the present. Using a combination of clinical hypnotherapy and EMDR, I work with the feeling brain — not just the thinking brain — to help you process what happened and reclaim your life.
Why Hypnotherapy for PTSD?
How PTSD takes hold
PTSD develops when the brain’s natural trauma-processing system becomes overwhelmed. A threatening experience — a road accident, assault, medical emergency, sudden bereavement, combat, or anything that felt genuinely life-threatening — can leave the nervous system stuck in a state of high alert, as though the danger is still present.
Unlike ordinary memories, traumatic ones are stored as fragmented sensory impressions: images, sounds, physical sensations, and emotional states that didn’t get filed away cleanly. This is why trauma intrudes as flashbacks, nightmares, and intense bodily reactions — often triggered by things that merely resemble the original event, even when the rational mind knows there is no current threat.
Why hypnotherapy works where talking alone often doesn’t
Conventional talking therapies work primarily with the thinking brain — the cortex. But trauma is held deeper, in the limbic system and body. You can understand exactly what happened, analyse it, and discuss it at length, and still feel the same fear, the same freeze, the same hypervigilance — because the emotional brain hasn’t caught up with the rational one.
Hypnotherapy accesses the subconscious and works at the level where traumatic memories are actually stored. Combined with EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) — an evidence-based approach using bilateral stimulation to help the brain reprocess and integrate traumatic memories — this creates conditions for genuine relief, not just symptom management.
The memory remains — you don’t forget what happened — but it loses its power to hijack your present-day life.
If your trauma was prolonged or repeated — particularly in childhood, or within a relationship you couldn’t leave — you may be dealing with C-PTSD rather than PTSD. Learn more about hypnotherapy for C-PTSD →
Symptoms of PTSD
PTSD typically presents across four main areas:
Re-experiencing
- Flashbacks — feeling as though the event is happening again
- Intrusive images, sounds, smells, or physical sensations
- Nightmares, or disturbing dreams connected to the trauma
- Intense physical or emotional distress when reminded of the event
Hyperarousal
- Constantly feeling on edge or in “red alert” (hypervigilance)
- Being easily startled
- Difficulty sleeping or staying asleep
- Irritability, anger, or emotional outbursts
- Difficulty concentrating
- Intense physical reactions to reminders — racing heart, nausea, sweating, muscle tension
Avoidance
- Avoiding people, places, conversations, or situations that are reminders
- Emotional numbness or detachment
- Feeling cut off from others
- Loss of interest in things previously enjoyed
- A sense of a foreshortened future
Negative changes in thinking and mood
- Persistent guilt, shame, or self-blame about what happened
- Difficulty experiencing positive emotions
- Distorted beliefs about yourself or the world (“I am broken”; “nowhere is safe”)
- Feeling permanently changed or damaged by the experience
Physical and other symptoms
- Exhaustion and chronic fatigue
- Physical aches and pains without clear medical cause
- Memory difficulties, particularly around the traumatic event
- Increased use of alcohol, substances, or other avoidance strategies
- Self-destructive behaviour or thoughts of suicide (if you are in crisis, please contact your GP or call the Samaritans on 116 123)
Symptoms listed are indicative.
A formal diagnosis should be made by a qualified mental health professional or your GP.
Who Should do it?
Hypnotherapy and EMDR can be a powerful therapies for managing PTSD as they allows individuals to safely confront and reprocess traumatic memories, reduce anxiety and stress, and promote long-term healing and resilience, all within a controlled and therapeutic environment, Do you:
- Experience re-experiencing symptoms such as flashbacks, intrusive memories, or nightmares
- Find yourself living in a state of constant vigilance, anxiety, or emotional reactivity
- Have been avoiding people, places, or situations connected to a traumatic event
- Feel emotionally numb, disconnected from others, or unable to enjoy life
- Have tried talking therapies but feel the emotional charge around the trauma hasn't shifted
- Struggle with sleep, concentration, or physical tension linked to what you've been through
- Are ready to work at a deeper level — beyond just discussing what happened — to allow the nervous system to genuinely settle
- Want an evidence-based approach to trauma that addresses both mind and body
What our clients say
Testimonials
What you will achieve
Here are some of the achievements you are likely to achieve by working with me to help resolve your problems
Overcoming Triggers
Hypnotherapy can help you to identify and diffuse triggers, mitigating severe reactions and helping you navigate daily life with more ease and less anxiety
Improved Sleep Quality
By alleviating the anxiety and stress related to PTSD, hypnotherapy can enhance your sleep quality, providing much-needed rest and regeneration
A Regulated Nervous System
You'll find yourself able to respond rather than react — no longer hijacked by triggers, better able to tolerate stress, and less likely to be thrown into states of hyperarousal or shutdown.
Processing Trauma
Hypnotherapy provides a safe space to confront and process traumatic memories, assisting in the journey of healing and moving forward
Confidence and Self-Trust
As post-traumatic beliefs ("I'm damaged," "I can't cope," "the world isn't safe") are gently reprocessed, a more grounded, self-trusting sense of yourself begins to re-emerge.
Strengthening Relationships
By helping you manage your symptoms and develop better emotional control, hypnotherapy can foster healthier relationships, improving your interactions with loved ones and others.
Commonly Asked Questions about Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic approach that utilizes hypnosis to access the subconscious mind, allowing for positive changes in thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. It is a safe and effective method of addressing various issues and achieving personal growth.
Yes, hypnotherapy is a safe practice when conducted by a trained and certified hypnotherapist. Clients are always in control and cannot be made to do anything against their will. The therapist guides the client into a relaxed state where positive suggestions and therapy can take place.
Hypnotherapy can help with a wide range of issues, including addiction, anxiety, weight management, smoking cessation, phobias, and improving confidence or motivation. It can also be used for relaxation, stress management, and enhancing performance in various areas of life.
The duration of a hypnotherapy session can vary depending on the therapist and the specific needs of the client. Typically, sessions range from 60 to 90 minutes, although some might be shorter or longer. It is important to discuss session length and frequency with your hypnotherapist.
The number of sessions required will depend on the nature of the issue being addressed, the individual client, and their goals. Some clients may see positive results in just a few sessions, while others might benefit from ongoing therapy. Your hypnotherapist will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan.
Yes, almost everyone can be hypnotized to some degree. It is a natural state of mind that we enter multiple times a day, like when we daydream or become engrossed in a book or movie. However, the level of depth achieved during hypnotherapy may vary from person to person
During hypnosis, clients typically experience a deep state of relaxation and/or heightened focus. It is often described as a pleasant and calm sensation, similar to being absorbed in a daydream or meditative state. Clients remain aware of their surroundings and are always in control of their thoughts and actions.
Yes, it is common for clients to remember the majority, if not all, of what happens during a hypnotherapy session. While the experience may feel dream-like, hypnosis is not a state of unconsciousness. You will be able to recall the suggestions and insights provided by the therapist.
No, you do not need to believe in hypnosis for it to be effective. Hypnotherapy can benefit individuals regardless of their beliefs or skepticism. The therapy is grounded in scientific principles and works by accessing the subconscious mind to make positive changes.
When choosing a hypnotherapist, it is important to consider their qualifications, experience, and areas of expertise. Look for certifications from reputable hypnosis organizations and ask about their training and background. Additionally, a good fit between you and the therapist is crucial, so trust your instincts and feel comfortable in their presence.