Oakes-Wilson Hypnotherapy

08/11/2025

14/10/2025

Yesterday I completed my Psychology of Trauma and Abuse course with the ever-inspiring Terence Watts and it’s deepened my understanding of something I see so often in my work:
how profoundly our early experiences shape the way we move through life.

When we’re young and something frightening or confusing happens, our brains don’t yet have the tools to process it. So we adapt - we go into survival mode, doing whatever it takes to feel safe.
And those protective strategies often stay with us long after the danger has passed.

It’s a bit like carrying a heavy backpack filled with stones from childhood - each one representing moments of fear, sadness, or loneliness we didn’t have the capacity to unpack back then.
Over time, that weight can show up as anxiety, self-doubt, or patterns that seem to repeat no matter how much we want things to be different.

But here’s what I want you to know: you don't have to feel defined by your past. Those old responses were your mind’s way of keeping you safe - and they can be gently reworked, released, and healed.

Want to know more? Please get in touch and let’s explore what’s possible. 💛

03/09/2025

Ten years ago, I walked through a door that changed everything.

Next month it will be 10 years since I first walked through this door – to become a clinical hypnotherapist. I had the privilege of being mentored by the amazing David Newton – the father of Solution Focused Hypnotherapy. We laughed, we learnt, we changed lives… starting with our own.
In the months to come, it became clearer than ever before how much power we actually have to change our lives – for the better.

What really struck me was that very often we don’t recognise our own power.
Maybe because we haven’t been taught that we have it? Instead, we lean into '… the future’s not ours to see' and resist the idea that we can make decisions that can change our life.
We wait for the external, for a sign or someone else’s approval.
The truth is, accepting responsibility for our future can feel scary – because it means it’s a result of our own doing. But that is the beauty of it. It’s about declaring what we want and taking clear action – whilst being in alignment.
Giving space for the truth within us – to be seen and heard.

Walking through that door all those years ago showed me and my clients that they can create the life they want. Because when we learn to trust ourselves, everything begins to change.

What truth within you is waiting to be seen?

P.S. In the photo – me and my dear colleague and fellow hypnotherapist walking down memory lane the other day.

22/08/2025

Therapy isn’t just about understanding what happened. 🤔

It’s about moving forward with clarity and confidence.
Creating space for what’s next – for how you want things to be. ♥

If you’ve been feeling stuck or something’s been holding you back… maybe you’ve been analysing your past?
Wondering about your next step while looking back at your earlier experiences?

💖 In my sessions, we get to the heart of things and begin to shift them gently, by focusing on how you want things to be, rather than how you don’t want them to be.

🌀 I use a blend of BWRT and solution-focused hypnotherapy, tailored to you.
Your story, your pace, your goals.
This approach is gentle, empowering, and often surprisingly fast.

Whether you’re experiencing anxiety, procrastination, looking to build confidence, or achieve emotional freedom – I’m here to support you every step of the way.

If this speaks to you, I’d love to help.
💌 Message me directly to book your free discovery call.

21/08/2025

'What advice would I give to someone experiencing anxiety?' I was asked the other day.
In this short video, I share some practical tips for easing anxiety and creating space for calm.
If this speaks to you, I’d love to hear your thoughts - drop a comment below and let me know what resonates most.

20/08/2025

Mysterious, powerful, and untapped… 💭
That’s how many describe the subconscious mind.
A hidden force, hard to reach, and for some, impossible to change.
It’s often seen as the “automatic pilot” that controls things we do without thinking.

The thing is, everything we learn, since the moment we were born, becomes part of our subconscious.
It's like our operating system focused on our self-preservation. 🛡
It will do this by keeping us in alignment with beliefs that have been created and stored. Keeping us in check with what we have learnt.
Some of these beliefs serve us beautifully… but others, often created long ago, quietly hold us back - shaping our patterns, reactions and choices in ways we may not even realise.

This is why change can sometimes feel hard, even when we consciously want it. The subconscious mind is simply trying to keep us safe - but it doesn't always update the map.
The good news? These patterns are not set in stone.

When we work with the mind - rather than against it - something shifts. Instead of battling old habits with willpower alone, we create a space where the mind feels safe enough to let them go.
Methods like BWRT® and clinical hypnotherapy speak the “language” of the subconscious. We’re not forcing change - we’re facilitating it, allowing the mind to gently release outdated beliefs and replace them with more empowering ones.

It’s an incredibly freeing process - one where change feels natural and deeply aligned.

So… what old patterns might you be ready to let go of?
And how different could life feel when you’re no longer held back by beliefs that no longer serve you? 🤔

15/08/2025

This week, I said goodbye to the sea.
Growing up by the coast, the beach was always my reset button.
It was where I went to breathe, reflect, and see life more clearly.

The sea had a way of lightening whatever I brought with me.
When I moved to Bristol, I had to find new ways to feel that same clarity.
I realised it was about stepping back, creating space, and letting the noise quiet down.
The truth is, we all need that place.
A space that helps us remember what matters, puts our thoughts in order.
Sometimes it’s the ocean. Sometimes it’s a park. Sometimes it’s just a quiet moment of stillness in our own home.

What’s the place that always brings you back to yourself?

If you find yourself ready to create more of that space in your everyday life, I’d love to explore it with you. Together, we can uncover what helps you reset, let go of the weight you’ve been carrying, and reconnect with clarity and freedom.

11/08/2025

Three weeks away. 🏖⚓🌞
Friends, family, hours on the beach, late nights.
And now - three days left.
I’m thinking about how much a break changes the way we see our ‘normal’ life.
I love the insights that come when I slow down and realise that what I’ve been carrying could simply be put down.
Away from the usual routines, I notice the things I really miss… and the things I don’t.
When we step back from autopilot and look at life with fresh eyes, clarity steps in. Focus shifts to what truly matters and drives us forward.
We realise we don’t need to overhaul everything - sometimes it’s just letting go of one habit, one thought, one ‘should’ that’s been weighing us down.
I’m heading back soon, but I’m taking that clarity with me.
What’s your favourite thing about holidays?