You've booked your first hypnotherapy session. I'll be coming to your home. Now what?

If you're feeling a mixture of curiosity, hope, and perhaps some nervousness about having someone come into your space, that's completely normal. Let me walk you through exactly what to expect and how to prepare.

Why In-Person at Your Home?

For some people, having hypnotherapy in their own home is perfect. There's no tech to worry about, no internet connection to fail, no concern about camera angles or whether you're positioned correctly on screen.

You're in your most comfortable, familiar space. You can relax knowing you don't have to travel anywhere afterwards. You're already home.

But I also know that for others, inviting someone into your home when you're feeling vulnerable can feel uncomfortable. You're trusting a relative stranger to enter your personal space at a time when you might be dealing with anxiety, trauma, or overwhelm.

That's a big ask. And your feelings about that are valid.

Here's what I want you to know: I understand that trust. I respect your space. And my job is to make you feel as safe and comfortable as possible so the work we do together can actually help.

Before I Arrive

Choose Your Space

You'll need somewhere comfortable where we won't be interrupted. This could be:

Your living room
A bedroom
A quiet space away from other household members

The space doesn't need to be perfect or tidy. It just needs to be somewhere you feel comfortable sitting or lying down for 60-90 minutes.

As Long As You Are Comfortable, Let Other Members Of Your Household Know.

If you live with others, let them know you'll need uninterrupted time as long as you are comfortable and safe to do so.

A "do not disturb" sign on the door, headphones for them, or them being out of the house entirely. Whatever works for your situation.

That being said, I also have clients who do not share their hypnotherapy journey with next of kin for a variety of reason and I respect your choice and we can work around timing your appointments to help you with this. Just let me know.

Pets are usually fine, as long as they're settled and won't be disruptive. If they're likely to bark, jump up, or demand attention, it might be worth having them in another room.

Physical Comfort

You'll be sitting or lying down for the session, so think about comfort:
A comfortable chair, sofa, or recliner where your body is well supported
Pillows or cushions if you need extra support
A blanket nearby if you tend to get chilly when you relax
Wear comfortable, non-restrictive clothing

Timing

Book your session when you won't be rushed afterwards. Don't schedule it right before you need to pick up children, attend a meeting, or dash off somewhere. Give yourself space to process and integrate.

What Happens During the Session

The Pre-talk: Talking about what you want to change.

We won't dive straight into hypnosis. The first part of any session, especially your first one, is just having a chat. Some of this we will have probably talked about before but this is an important part of priming the subconscious mind for the changes you want.

I'll ask:

What is it you want? Not what you don't want. I need you to really focus on what you want to achieve.

What have you tried before?

What are you hoping to achieve? What are your goals?

How is this affecting your life? And what will have changed about you after we've worked together?

Does this "thing" you want to change benefit you in any way?

Will being free of this have any detrimental impact? For instance, if you wanted me to help you be free of chronic pain, would it be detrimental in any way? Or, if you were free of all that irrational, unhelpful anxiety and could achieve all those things that up until now you haven't been able to do because the what-ifs have got in your way... if the anxiety was gone, would that be detrimental to you?

Any concerns or questions about hypnotherapy?

These aren't just questions for the sake of it. I'm listening for patterns, understanding how your mind works, what might be keeping the problem in place, and tailoring the session to what you specifically need.

Be honest. If you're sceptical, say so. If you're nervous about having me in your home, tell me. This helps me work with you more effectively.

The Hypnosis Part: What It Actually Feels Like

Here's what will happen:

I'll guide you into hypnosis. This is called an induction. Just a posh word for helping you turn your focus inwards and allowing your conscious mind to wander, so we can work with your subconscious.

There are different ways to do this. Some therapists use progressive relaxation, gradually relaxing each part of your body. Others prefer quick inductions that get you there faster. Neither approach is right or wrong. I might use either depending on what feels right for you and what we're working on.

Your eyes might close, or they might not. Contrary to what you see in films, hypnosis isn't about closed eyelids. Some people find it easier to enter hypnosis with their eyes closed. Others prefer to keep their eyes open but soften their focus. If you're someone who can't visualise pictures with your eyes closed (aphantasia), you might actually find it easier with your eyes open. There's no "correct" way. Whatever works for you works.

You'll enter a focused state. You're not asleep. You're not unconscious. You're deeply relaxed but aware.

Think about when your mind drifts off whilst listening to a favourite piece of music. Or how time is suspended when you're watching a film you're completely absorbed in. Or when you get lost in a book and suddenly realise hours have passed.

Think about how you feel in those situations. I can guarantee you were in trance in all those examples. Hypnotherapy works in the same way.

How hypnosis feels is different for everyone. For some people, it's like sitting there with your eyes closed, just listening and following the sound of my voice and my words. For others, my voice fades in and out. You drift deeper and only catch certain words or phrases. Time can feel strange. You might close your eyes and feel like it's been ages, or feel like two seconds have passed when it's been twenty minutes. Some parts of the session you might remember in vivid detail, other parts will be blurry or barely there at all.

This is all completely normal and individual to you. No two sessions feel exactly the same, even for the same person. The most important thing is just to let me do my work. Don't try to help me, don't try to resist me. Just let whatever happens, happen.

The therapeutic work happens. Depending on what we're working on, this might involve exploring patterns, releasing old beliefs, building new resources, or working through specific memories. I'll use language carefully chosen to speak to your subconscious mind.

I'll be talking directly to your subconscious. This might seem odd at first. Like you're being cut out of the conversation. For instance, if your name was Sarah, you'll hear me saying things like "I'd like to talk to Sarah's subconscious mind..." or "I'd like to thank that part for always having Sarah's best interests as the focus for everything you do... Sarah wants to be able to..."

I'll be asking your subconscious mind to give me signals. Honest, unconscious signals. This might be by moving a finger or thumb on whichever hand we've chosen, or twitching your eyes and nodding your head. Your subconscious can do this in the same way it can fill your mind with what-ifs or jerk your hand away if you touch something hot. It's automatic, not something you consciously control.

You remain in control. You can hear everything I'm saying. You can speak if you need to. You can open your eyes at any point. If I suggest something that doesn't feel right, your mind simply won't accept it. You're not under my control. We're working together.

I'll bring you back gently. When the therapeutic work is done, I'll guide you back to full alertness. This is gradual and gentle. You'll feel relaxed, calm, maybe slightly drowsy. Like you've just had a really good nap.

After the Session: Reorientation and Integration

You might feel a bit spaced out for a while. This is completely normal. Like you've been in a deep sleep. I'll give you time to reorientate before I leave.

The changes amplify over time. This is important to understand: the work we've done continues after the session ends. Your subconscious mind keeps processing, integrating, making changes. The effects build and strengthen over the days and weeks following our session.

Strange thoughts and feelings might bubble up between sessions. Your subconscious mind might reveal something deeper that needs addressing. For many of my clients, the problem they came to me with is a symptom. Quite often, the problem is not THE problem. So I encourage you to jot down any thoughts, feelings, or dreams that come up between sessions.

Sometimes it's your subconscious mind replaying our session to make those changes even more powerful. Sometimes it uses the metaphor and imagery from the session to help you release more. These notes also help us focus on what you want or need to work on in the next session.

Understanding Your Subconscious Mind

Your subconscious mind is working 24 hours a day. Always listening. Always working. Always analysing, changing, adapting.

It controls nearly every reaction you make. Science suggests that you only make between 2-7% of actual conscious decisions. The rest? That's your subconscious running the show.

It's managing your heartbeat, your breathing, your digestion. It's storing memories, running emotional responses, detecting threats, managing habits and patterns. It's doing thousands of things you're not consciously aware of.

And it doesn't think in words or logic. It thinks in images, feelings, patterns, symbols, and associations.

This is why simply telling yourself "don't be anxious" doesn't work. Your conscious mind understands the instruction. Your subconscious, which is actually running the anxiety response, doesn't work that way.

What we're doing in hypnotherapy is allowing you, through intentional conversation, to get your logical conscious mind to relax and step aside for a bit. So we can work directly with the powerhouse that is your subconscious mind.

That's where real change happens. Not through willpower or logic, but by updating the programmes your subconscious is running.
And even reading this information will be talking to your subconscious mind right now and allowing those subconscious decision makers to start to understand what you need.

Common Questions and Concerns

"I'm nervous about having someone in my home"

That's completely understandable. You're inviting me into your personal space when you're feeling vulnerable.

Here's what might help: we can do our first session as a consultation where we just talk. No hypnosis. You get to meet me, see how you feel, decide if you're comfortable before we do any actual therapeutic work.

You're always in control. If at any point you're uncomfortable, you can ask me to leave. Your safety and comfort come first.

"What if I can't relax with someone watching me?"

You don't need to achieve perfect relaxation for hypnosis to work. Even if your mind is chattering, even if you're not sure you're "doing it right," the subconscious is still listening and the work is still happening.

If you're very anxious, tell me. I can adapt the approach. We can work with the anxiety rather than trying to force it away.

"What if I fall asleep?"

You might drift in and out. That's okay. Your subconscious is still listening. If you properly fall asleep, I'll gently wake you. It's not a problem.

"What if I don't feel any different?"

Some people have profound experiences in their first session. Vivid imagery, emotional releases, clear insights.

Others feel... nothing in particular. Just relaxed. Maybe a bit sleepy.

Both are normal.

The work is happening on a subconscious level. You might not consciously feel it during the session, but you'll notice changes afterwards. Patterns shift. Anxiety eases. Behaviours change. It's not always dramatic. Sometimes it's just a quiet sense of "oh, I handled that differently than I usually would."

Trust the process. The subconscious mind is absorbing everything, even when your conscious mind is convinced nothing's happening.

"When will I notice results?"

Often, I'll make a suggestion during the session: "I don't know whether in a week, a month, or a year, you'll suddenly realise that you haven't felt or wanted [whatever we treated] anymore."

The freedom comes from that realisation. You're not consciously tracking whether the anxiety is gone or whether the craving has disappeared. You're just living your life. And then one day, could be next week, could be months from now, you notice. You haven't had that panic attack. You haven't reached for a cigarette. You haven't replayed that conversation in your head.

Whatever we released doesn't bother you anymore. Not because you've been fighting it or managing it, but because it's simply gone. The pattern was released, and you're free of it without even noticing the exact moment it left.

How Many Sessions Will You Need?

Most people need multiple sessions. Hypnotherapy isn't usually a one-and-done fix. We're working with patterns built up over years. They can take time to shift.

Some issues, like phobias or specific fears, often shift within 2-3 sessions. You'll likely notice beneficial changes after the first session
Habits are much the same shifting in 2-4 sessions depending on the job it is supposed to be fulfilling.
For deeper patterns like anxiety, confidence, or stress, most people notice real change within 3-6 sessions.
Complex trauma or deeply embedded patterns may need 6-10 sessions.

Everyone's different. We'll always review your progress together and go at a pace that feels right for you.

You're Ready

The fact that you've booked a session means you're already doing the hardest part: showing up for yourself.

Make your space comfortable. Be honest about your feelings and concerns. Let me guide the process. And trust that your subconscious knows what to do.

Your first session is the beginning of something. Not the whole journey, just the first step. And that's exactly what it needs to be.

Preparing for Your First In-Person Hypnotherapy Session

28/01/2026

You've booked your first hypnotherapy session. I'll be coming to your home. Now what?

If you're feeling a mixture of curiosity, hope, and perhaps some nervousness about having someone come into your space, that's completely normal. Let me walk you through exactly what to expect and how to prepare.

Why In-Person at Your Home?

For some people, having hypnotherapy in their own home is perfect. There's no tech to worry about, no internet connection to fail, no concern about camera angles or whether you're positioned correctly on screen.

You're in your most comfortable, familiar space. You can relax knowing you don't have to travel anywhere afterwards. You're already home.

But I also know that for others, inviting someone into your home when you're feeling vulnerable can feel uncomfortable. You're trusting a relative stranger to enter your personal space at a time when you might be dealing with anxiety, trauma, or overwhelm.

That's a big ask. And your feelings about that are valid.

Here's what I want you to know: I understand that trust. I respect your space. And my job is to make you feel as safe and comfortable as possible so the work we do together can actually help.

Before I Arrive

Choose Your Space

You'll need somewhere comfortable where we won't be interrupted. This could be:

The space doesn't need to be perfect or tidy. It just needs to be somewhere you feel comfortable sitting or lying down for 60-90 minutes.

As Long As You Are Comfortable, Let Other Members Of Your Household Know.

Pets are usually fine, as long as they're settled and won't be disruptive. If they're likely to bark, jump up, or demand attention, it might be worth having them in another room.

Physical Comfort

Timing

Book your session when you won't be rushed afterwards. Don't schedule it right before you need to pick up children, attend a meeting, or dash off somewhere. Give yourself space to process and integrate.

What Happens During the Session

The Pre-talk: Talking about what you want to change.

We won't dive straight into hypnosis. The first part of any session, especially your first one, is just having a chat. Some of this we will have probably talked about before but this is an important part of priming the subconscious mind for the changes you want.

I'll ask:

What is it you want? Not what you don't want. I need you to really focus on what you want to achieve.

What have you tried before?

What are you hoping to achieve? What are your goals?

How is this affecting your life? And what will have changed about you after we've worked together?

Does this "thing" you want to change benefit you in any way?

Any concerns or questions about hypnotherapy?

These aren't just questions for the sake of it. I'm listening for patterns, understanding how your mind works, what might be keeping the problem in place, and tailoring the session to what you specifically need.

Be honest. If you're sceptical, say so. If you're nervous about having me in your home, tell me. This helps me work with you more effectively.

The Hypnosis Part: What It Actually Feels Like

Here's what will happen:

I'll guide you into hypnosis. This is called an induction. Just a posh word for helping you turn your focus inwards and allowing your conscious mind to wander, so we can work with your subconscious.

You'll enter a focused state. You're not asleep. You're not unconscious. You're deeply relaxed but aware.

Think about when your mind drifts off whilst listening to a favourite piece of music. Or how time is suspended when you're watching a film you're completely absorbed in. Or when you get lost in a book and suddenly realise hours have passed.

Think about how you feel in those situations. I can guarantee you were in trance in all those examples. Hypnotherapy works in the same way.

This is all completely normal and individual to you. No two sessions feel exactly the same, even for the same person. The most important thing is just to let me do my work. Don't try to help me, don't try to resist me. Just let whatever happens, happen.

The therapeutic work happens. Depending on what we're working on, this might involve exploring patterns, releasing old beliefs, building new resources, or working through specific memories. I'll use language carefully chosen to speak to your subconscious mind.

You remain in control. You can hear everything I'm saying. You can speak if you need to. You can open your eyes at any point. If I suggest something that doesn't feel right, your mind simply won't accept it. You're not under my control. We're working together.

I'll bring you back gently. When the therapeutic work is done, I'll guide you back to full alertness. This is gradual and gentle. You'll feel relaxed, calm, maybe slightly drowsy. Like you've just had a really good nap.

After the Session: Reorientation and Integration

You might feel a bit spaced out for a while. This is completely normal. Like you've been in a deep sleep. I'll give you time to reorientate before I leave.

The changes amplify over time. This is important to understand: the work we've done continues after the session ends. Your subconscious mind keeps processing, integrating, making changes. The effects build and strengthen over the days and weeks following our session.

Sometimes it's your subconscious mind replaying our session to make those changes even more powerful. Sometimes it uses the metaphor and imagery from the session to help you release more. These notes also help us focus on what you want or need to work on in the next session.

Understanding Your Subconscious Mind

Your subconscious mind is working 24 hours a day. Always listening. Always working. Always analysing, changing, adapting.

It controls nearly every reaction you make. Science suggests that you only make between 2-7% of actual conscious decisions. The rest? That's your subconscious running the show.

It's managing your heartbeat, your breathing, your digestion. It's storing memories, running emotional responses, detecting threats, managing habits and patterns. It's doing thousands of things you're not consciously aware of.

And it doesn't think in words or logic. It thinks in images, feelings, patterns, symbols, and associations.

This is why simply telling yourself "don't be anxious" doesn't work. Your conscious mind understands the instruction. Your subconscious, which is actually running the anxiety response, doesn't work that way.

What we're doing in hypnotherapy is allowing you, through intentional conversation, to get your logical conscious mind to relax and step aside for a bit. So we can work directly with the powerhouse that is your subconscious mind.

That's where real change happens. Not through willpower or logic, but by updating the programmes your subconscious is running.And even reading this information will be talking to your subconscious mind right now and allowing those subconscious decision makers to start to understand what you need.

Common Questions and Concerns

"I'm nervous about having someone in my home"

That's completely understandable. You're inviting me into your personal space when you're feeling vulnerable.

Here's what might help: we can do our first session as a consultation where we just talk. No hypnosis. You get to meet me, see how you feel, decide if you're comfortable before we do any actual therapeutic work.

You're always in control. If at any point you're uncomfortable, you can ask me to leave. Your safety and comfort come first.

"What if I can't relax with someone watching me?"

You don't need to achieve perfect relaxation for hypnosis to work. Even if your mind is chattering, even if you're not sure you're "doing it right," the subconscious is still listening and the work is still happening.

If you're very anxious, tell me. I can adapt the approach. We can work with the anxiety rather than trying to force it away.

"What if I fall asleep?"

You might drift in and out. That's okay. Your subconscious is still listening. If you properly fall asleep, I'll gently wake you. It's not a problem.

"What if I don't feel any different?"

Some people have profound experiences in their first session. Vivid imagery, emotional releases, clear insights.

Others feel... nothing in particular. Just relaxed. Maybe a bit sleepy.

Both are normal.

Trust the process. The subconscious mind is absorbing everything, even when your conscious mind is convinced nothing's happening.

"When will I notice results?"

Often, I'll make a suggestion during the session: "I don't know whether in a week, a month, or a year, you'll suddenly realise that you haven't felt or wanted [whatever we treated] anymore."

Whatever we released doesn't bother you anymore. Not because you've been fighting it or managing it, but because it's simply gone. The pattern was released, and you're free of it without even noticing the exact moment it left.

How Many Sessions Will You Need?

Most people need multiple sessions. Hypnotherapy isn't usually a one-and-done fix. We're working with patterns built up over years. They can take time to shift.

Everyone's different. We'll always review your progress together and go at a pace that feels right for you.

You're Ready

The fact that you've booked a session means you're already doing the hardest part: showing up for yourself.

Make your space comfortable. Be honest about your feelings and concerns. Let me guide the process. And trust that your subconscious knows what to do.

That's where real change happens. Not through willpower or logic, but by updating the programmes your subconscious is running.
And even reading this information will be talking to your subconscious mind right now and allowing those subconscious decision makers to start to understand what you need.