A Clinical Hypnotherapist with over 20 years experience helping adults & children overcome emotional / behavioural issues.
29/03/2026
Clients often enter my practice with a slight sense of scepticism and I am frequently told that hypnotherapy is their last ditch attempt at trying to make the change they've been struggling to make by themselves.
And the same was true for this young woman, who attended my 2 session smoking cessation course.
The feedback she gave was magic and just goes to prove, yet again, how transformative hypnotherapy can be! đ¤
23/03/2026
There is a common problem that causes some drinkers to wake up after a boozy night feeling full of anguish over what may or may not have happened the night before.
It can fill a person with feelings of shame, embarrassment, anxiety, or guilt.
When drinking, it's common to lose your inhibitions and, perhaps, behave or say things that you wouldn't dream of when you are sober. Your internal filter kind of gets switched off, and this can lead to problems for some.
It is possible to learn how to stay on the right side of the 'point of no return' and my Rethink Your Drinking Program helps people accomplish this easily.
Ever feel completely drained after spending time with certain people? It might not just be in your headâŚ
A new study has found that âdifficultâ friends or family members â those who create stress, conflict, or constant drama â could actually be speeding up your biological ageing. đł
Researchers discovered that each stressful relationship can increase your rate of ageing by around 1.5% â meaning your body could be ageing faster than your actual years.
Over time, that adds up⌠impacting not just how you feel, but your long-term health too.
Why?
Because these relationships act as chronic stressors. And chronic stress doesnât just affect your mood â it can increase inflammation, weaken your immune system, and raise the risk of anxiety, depression, and disease.
The important takeaway isnât to cut everyone off⌠but to become more aware.
⨠Notice who leaves you feeling calm, supported and energised
⨠Notice who leaves you feeling tense, exhausted or âon edgeâ
And then gently start creating healthier boundaries.
Because protecting yourself isnât selfish - itâs essential for your wellbeing đ
18/03/2026
Gut Health & Hypnotherapy
Your gut and brain are deeply connected, which is why stress and anxiety often trigger digestive discomfort. Hypnotherapy helps calm the nervous system, promoting a more balanced and comfortable digestion.
If youâve tried everything but still struggle with tummy troubles, why not explore a natural, mind-body approach?
Book a free consultation today & start feeling better from the inside out!
16/03/2026
The Mind-Gut Connection: How Hypnotherapy Can Support Digestive Wellness
Have you ever felt âbutterfliesâ in your stomach before a big event? Or noticed that stress and anxiety can trigger digestive discomfort? This isnât just a coincidenceâitâs the result of the powerful mind-gut connection.
The gut and brain are in constant communication through the gut-brain axis, a complex network involving the nervous system, hormones, and gut microbiome. When stress, anxiety, or emotional distress affect the brain, they can also disrupt digestion, leading to bloating, cramps, irregular bowel movements, and discomfort.
How Stress Affects Digestion -
When we experience stress, our body enters âfight-or-flightâ mode, releasing stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones can:
âď¸ Slow digestion, causing bloating and constipation
âď¸ Speed up digestion, leading to urgency and discomfort
âď¸ Increase gut sensitivity, making normal digestion feel painful
For some, these digestive disruptions become a long-term issue, affecting daily life and well-being.
How Hypnotherapy Supports Gut Health -
Hypnotherapy is a natural, science-backed way to help restore balance to the gut-brain connection. Through deep relaxation and guided imagery, hypnosis helps:
â Reduce stress & anxiety, preventing gut distress
â Calm the nervous system, easing bloating and cramps
â Rewire subconscious responses, breaking the cycle of discomfort
â Promote mindful digestion, leading to better gut function
By accessing the subconscious mind, hypnotherapy helps reset the way your body responds to stress, allowing digestion to function more smoothly and comfortably.
Is Hypnotherapy Right for You?
If youâve tried everythingâdiet changes, medications, supplementsâyet still struggle with digestive discomfort, hypnotherapy could be the missing piece. Itâs a gentle, holistic approach that works alongside your body, helping you find relief naturally.
Interested to learn more? Book a free telephone consultation and discover how hypnotherapy can support your digestive wellness.
09/03/2026
đ World Sleep Day: Unlock the Power of Rest đ¤
13th March is World Sleep Day, a reminder of the vital role sleep plays in our health and well-being. Yet, so many struggle with restless nights, overactive minds, and disrupted sleep patterns.
As a Clinical Hypnotherapist, I help people overcome insomnia, anxiety, and stress-related sleep issues through the power of hypnosis. By calming the mind and reprogramming subconscious patterns, you can enjoy deep, restful sleepânaturally.
If you find yourself tossing and turning at night, hypnosis could be the solution youâve been searching for. Ready to embrace better sleep, then do get in touch.
02/03/2026
đż Emetophobia Awareness Day â 5th March đż
Did you know that emetophobiaâthe intense fear of vomitingâ is more common than you may expect and can affect every aspect of daily life?
From avoiding certain foods to steering clear of social situations and even experiencing heightened anxiety around illness, this phobia can be deeply distressing. I even know someone who has such a powerful fear, that for a long time they could not work.
The good news is that help is available. Hypnotherapy has proven to be a powerful and effective approach in overcoming emetophobia. By working with the subconscious mind, hypnotherapy can:
â Reduce anxiety and fear responses
â Reframe negative thought patterns around sickness
â Build confidence and resilience in challenging situations
â Restore a sense of control and calm
If you or someone you know struggles with emetophobia, you donât have to face it alone. Hypnotherapy offers a safe, gentle, and supportive way to break free from fear and reclaim your life. đ
28/02/2026
Are You Present⌠or Absent?
I walk my dog regularly in the countryside, and Iâm often struck by a quiet irony.
We are surrounded by birdsong, shifting light, wind moving through trees, the rhythm of our own footsteps â and yet so many walkers are elsewhere. Headphones in. Eyes down. Minds occupied. Physically present, but mentally absent.
The same scene plays out in town. Families at cafĂŠs, each person scrolling. Friends waiting at crossings, heads bowed to glowing screens. Even at home, conversations compete with notifications. We are living in an age of constant connection â and yet, increasingly disconnected.
So the question becomes: Are you present⌠or absent in your own life?
What Does It Mean to Be Present?
Being present means your awareness is anchored in the here and now.
You notice what you see, hear, feel.
You engage with the person in front of you.
You experience moments instead of merely passing through them.
Presence is not about rejecting technology. Itâs about choosing where your attention rests.
Because attention is your life.
Wherever your attention goes, your experience follows.
The Intrinsic Benefits of Being Present -
đż 1. Nervous System Regulation
When you are present in nature â truly present â your body shifts.
Your breathing slows.
Your heart rate steadies.
Stress hormones reduce.
Natural environments gently guide us into a calmer parasympathetic state. The rustle of leaves, birdsong, open skies â these are regulating inputs. But they only work if we allow ourselves to receive them.
Headphones may fill silence, but they also block the subtle nourishment of the natural world.
đż 2. Mental Clarity & Emotional Balance
Presence reduces rumination.
Anxiety lives in the future.
Regret lives in the past.
Peace lives here.
When walking without distraction, thoughts settle. Problems untangle. Creativity surfaces. Many people report their best ideas arriving on quiet walks â not while scrolling.
đż 3. Deeper Relationships
When you are fully present in conversation:
You listen without preparing your reply.
You notice tone and facial expression.
You respond rather than react.
Children feel it. Partners feel it. Friends feel it.
Being fully heard is profoundly regulating for another human being. Presence communicates: You matter. Iâm here with you.
No app replicates that.
đż 4. Increased Gratitude & Joy
Presence sharpens appreciation.
The colour of autumn leaves.
The way your dog bounds through long grass.
The warmth in someoneâs voice.
These micro-moments build quiet joy â but only if we notice them.
When we rush or scroll, life becomes background noise.
Why We Drift Into Absence
Letâs be honest â itâs not weakness. Itâs conditioning.
Phones are designed to capture attention. Notifications trigger dopamine. Endless scrolling promises novelty. The mind becomes accustomed to constant stimulation.
Silence can feel uncomfortable at first.
But that discomfort is not emptiness â it is space. And space is where restoration happens.
Gentle Strategies to Reclaim Presence
This doesnât require a digital detox or radical lifestyle overhaul. Small shifts create profound change.
1. Walk One Route Without Headphones - even once or twice a week.
- Notice five things you can see.
- Four things you can hear.
- Three things you can feel physically.
- Engage your senses deliberately.
2. Create âPhone-Free Zonesâ
- At the dinner table
- During the first 30 minutes after work
- On dog walks
- Before bed
Presence grows where boundaries exist.
3. Practice Single-Tasking
- Do one thing at a time.
- Drink your tea without scrolling.
- Listen without interrupting.
- Walk without consuming content.
It sounds simple. It is really powerful.
4. Breathe Before Responding
- In conversation, pause for one breath before replying.
It brings you back into the moment and softens reactive patterns.
5. Notice Your Dog (if you have one of course!)
Dogs are masters of presence.
They sniff.
They explore.
They experience.
Walking with your dog can become a lesson in mindful awareness rather than a backdrop to a podcast.
The Consequences of Presence
When you practice presence consistently, you may notice:
⢠Reduced stress levels
⢠Improved sleep
⢠Greater emotional resilience
⢠Stronger relationships
⢠Increased contentment
⢠A quieter, clearer mind
⢠You stop racing through your days and begin inhabiting them.
So, next time you walk in the countryside, ask yourself:
What can I hear right now?
What colour is the sky?
How does the air feel on my skin?
Am I here⌠or somewhere else?
Life is not happening on your screen.
Itâs happening in the space between footsteps. In the warmth of conversation. In the wind moving through the trees.
The question isnât whether we have time to be present.
Itâs whether weâre willing to return to it.... đĽ°
23/02/2026
đ Hidden Rage in Menopause: Whatâs Really Going On (and How Hypnotherapy Can Help)
Many women in midlife are surprised by a surge of irritability, anger, or emotional intensity during perimenopause and menopause.
You might think, âThis isnât me. Why am I so angry?â
Youâre not broken.
And youâre definitely not alone!
Research on womenâs hidden rage highlights how many women spend decades suppressing anger to keep the peaceâbeing the good daughter, partner, mother, employee. By the time menopause arrives, the body and mind are no longer willing to keep carrying that emotional weight.
Hormonal shifts can lower emotional inhibition, meaning long-suppressed feelings finally surface. This can feel like rage, resentment, or a powerful urge to reclaim yourself.
đ¸Why This Matters in Menopause
Menopause is not just a hormonal transitionâitâs an identity transition.
Years of over-giving, self-silencing, and unmet needs can suddenly feel unbearable.
Suppressed anger has been linked to increased stress, anxiety, low mood, and physical symptoms such as tension and fatigue. Menopause can amplify all of this.
Often, this ârageâ is simply a sign that your boundaries, needs, and identity are ready to be honoured.
đ§ How Hypnotherapy Can Support Menopausal Women
Hypnotherapy is a gentle, effective way to work with emotional patterns at the subconscious levelâespecially when talking alone doesnât feel enough.
It can help you to:
⨠Safely process long-held emotions
⨠Calm the nervous system and reduce stress
⨠Release emotional tension stored in the body
⨠Reframe beliefs like âI must copeâ or âMy needs come lastâ
⨠Build confidence, boundaries, and emotional resilience
⨠Feel more in control of mood swings and emotional overwhelm
Rather than suppressing anger, hypnotherapy helps you listen to what your anger is telling youâwithout being consumed by it.
đ¸ A Gentle Reminder
Menopause is not a breakdown.
For many women, itâs a breakthroughâa time when the truth finally speaks.
Your anger is not a character flaw.
Itâs often a signal that itâs time to put yourself back on your own priority list.
đŹ If Youâd Like Support
If youâre navigating emotional overwhelm, mood changes, or a sense of âsomething needs to change,â you donât have to do it alone.
I offer specialist hypnotherapy support for women in perimenopause and menopause, tailored to your unique experiences and goals.
Feel free to get in touch or visit my website to learn more about how hypnotherapy could support you - www.andreaaro.co.uk.
21/02/2026
Hypnotherapy: Itâs Not Just for Anxiety and Weight LossâŚ
Many people think hypnotherapy is only for things like stress, phobias, or stopping smoking. But in clinical practice, hypnosis can help with some surprisingly practical and life-changing issues.
Recently, Iâve been working with a client who struggled to wear a new set of dentures. The gag reflex was so strong that he had to pull them out almost immediately, retching and feeling distressed. The other significant consequence of this is that he cannot, yet, eat a full and proper diet of food.
I worked with him over 3 sessions and after his 2nd appointment he was comfortably able to tolerate them for up to two hoursâa huge step towards full adaptation and confidence.
This is just one example of how hypnotherapy can help the brain and body adjust to change.
Other areas people are often surprised to learn hypnotherapy can support include:
⨠Dental anxiety and gag reflex during treatment
đ¸ Menopause symptoms such as hot flushes, anger and sleep disruption
đż IBS and other gutâbrain disorders
đ¤ Sleep problems, nightmares and circadian rhythm issues
𩺠Chronic pain and medically unexplained symptoms
đ¤ Performance issues such as public speaking or exams
đ§ Habit disorders like nail biting, skin picking or teeth grinding
Hypnotherapy works with the subconscious mind and the nervous system, helping the body learn new, calmer responses where old patterns were getting in the way.
If youâve been struggling with something and thought, âHypnotherapy probably wonât help with this,â it might be worth a conversation. You may be pleasantly surprised! âşď¸
16/02/2026
Don't let fear of flying ruin your holiday!
Hypnosis can prove to be an effective way to reduce fear so that you can get on with looking forward to your getaway - not dread it.
Watch my video by following the link to find out more....
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Itâs interesting to think back about the cues that determine your path in life. I stumbled across the whole notion of hypnotherapy when I was expecting my first child back in 2001.
I was booked in to take a tour of the Crowborough Birthing Centre and I arrived very early and my midwife was about to head into watch a presentation about hypnobirthing, a concept I had never come across. Because I was so early, I was invited in to watch and found the whole thing thoroughly fascinating, but I was very advanced with my pregnancy and not at all anxious about childbirth and I did not pursue it any further.
Several weeks later at another hospital visit - where you get paired up with other expectant parents - I was chatting with a dad-to-be, who was telling me about an introduction to hypnotherapy course that he had just taken part in. It seemed to be quite a random avenue for this young man to be exploring and it piqued my interest and so I asked for the details of the course and I signed myself up just a few months after I had my daughter. I enjoyed it so much that I joined the 2 year Diploma later that year. Thankfully my daughter was a great sleeper and so I was able to study around her nap times or I would take her to the local creche and study!
I find being a Hypnotherapist thoroughly rewarding. Helping teach individuals new skills and coping mechanisms and helping them to live the life they deserve, by helping remove emotional or behavioural obstacles.