Heather Fountain Hypnotherapy Clinical Hypnotherapist

10/11/2025

𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐨𝐤𝐚𝐲.𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐦.

It’s the soft strength of choosing one slow breath…
one grounded moment…
one steady step forward.

Resilience doesn’t mean pretending the storm isn’t there.
It means recognising that the storm will pass and you have the inner capacity to stand, sway, breathe…
and return to yourself.

Each time you regulate your breath,
soothe your nervous system,
and speak gently to your mind
you build new pathways of calm,
rewiring your brain for peace.

Your calm is your power.
Your resilience is your comeback.
And your pace is perfect.

09/11/2025

Who Dreads the Christmas–New Year Season… and Why?

Not everyone looks forward to the holidays.
For many, this time of year brings emotional heaviness, not joy and that’s okay.

Here are some of the most common reasons people struggle with the festive season:

✅ Grief feels sharper — the empty chair at the table is louder than ever.
✅ Family tension, conflict, or unresolved trauma can make gatherings unbearable.
✅ Loneliness becomes amplified when everything around you celebrates connection.
✅ Financial pressure creates stress and shame.
✅ Burnout and emotional exhaustion make extra expectations overwhelming.
✅ Anxiety makes crowds, events, and noise difficult to cope with.
✅ Complex childhood memories resurface.
✅ Big life changes — divorce, illness, loss — make the season feel heavy.
✅ High self-expectations lead to pressure to “make it perfect.”
✅ Feeling like you didn’t achieve enough this year brings self-doubt.
✅ Addiction recovery becomes harder with triggers everywhere.
✅ Seasonal depression reduces energy and motivation.

You are not broken if you feel this way.
You are not alone.
Your feelings are valid — and you don’t have to pretend to be festive if you aren’t.

Be gentle with yourself.
Create boundaries.
Protect your peace.

09/11/2025

Heather Fountain is a Clinical Hypnotherapist, Psychotherapist, NLP Master, Educator, and Founder of Heather Fountain Hypnotherapy and Hypnotherapy Training College Africa (HTCA). With deep roots in mind–body healing, neuroscience, and compassionate therapeutic practice.

Heather has established herself as one of the leading voices in modern hypnotherapy across South Africa and the African continent.

Her integrative approach blends clinical hypnotherapy, somatics, neuroplasticity, and intuitive awareness to create impactful, sustainable transformation for her clients and students.

Leadership, Vision & International Collaboration

Heather is the driving force behind Hypnotherapy Training College Africa, a multi-campus institution founded in July 2025 with locations in Durban, Gauteng, and Cape Town. Her mission is to bring world-class hypnotherapy education to Africa and Mauritius, grounded in science, ethics, and deep respect for the human experience.

Lecturer, Assessor & Mentor , Australia

In addition to her leadership in Africa and Mauritius , Heather is also a lecturer, assessor, and student mentor for Hypnotherapy Training College Australia (HTCA-Australia).
Her international work includes:
• Delivering online theory and clinical skill training
• Marking and assessing student submissions
• Providing developmental feedback for student practitioners
• Guiding students through ethical decision-making and client-care frameworks
• Supporting emerging therapists to grow their confidence, clarity, and competence

Her mentoring style is known for its blend of clarity, emotional intelligence, directness, and encouragement — supporting students to become strong practitioners in their own right.

Therapeutic Expertise

Heather specializes in:
• Clinical hypnotherapy
• Somatic therapy
• Neuroplasticity integration
• Age regression & parts therapy
• Anxiety, burnout & stress reduction
• Abundance mindset reprogramming
• Relationship conflict and emotional communication
• Trauma resolution and nervous system regulation
• Guided meditations, healing scripts & subconscious integration

Her sessions are layered, intuitive, deeply supportive, and rooted in ethical practice. She offers clients a space of safety, emotional containment, and genuine transformation.

The Rewire Collection

Heather is the creator of the Rewire Collection, a suite of professionally recorded therapeutic MP3 sessions combining hypnotherapy, somatic healing, and neuroscience. Topics include:

• Anxiety regulation
• Burnout recovery
• Sleep restoration
• Habit transformation
• Abundance rewiring

These audios are designed for daily practice, subconscious emotional release, and self-guided therapy reinforcement. These are available for purchase now.

Educator, Writer & Curriculum Developer

Heather is the author, designer, and developer of extensive therapeutic and academic materials, including:

• The 4-Module Basic Hypnosis Course
• Practitioner teaching notes, assessments & student guides
• Full learner manuals for online and in-person training
• Trauma-informed healing workbooks
• Neuroplasticity education materials
• Guided meditations and healing scripts
• Corporate wellness presentations
• Somatic grounding and nervous-system tools

Her written materials are loved for their richness, clarity, strong structure, and aesthetic consistency.

Integrated, Science-Based Approach

Heather merges:
• Brain-body neuroscience
• Hypnotherapy
• Somatic regulation
• Interoceptive awareness
• Mindfulness practices
• Intuitive therapeutic presence

She guides clients and students in understanding how the nervous system, subconscious programming, trauma memories, and behaviour loops influence health, performance, and emotional resilience.

Corporate Speaker & Wellness Facilitator

Heather is a sought-after speaker at wellness and corporate events.

Her keynote presentation for the CSIR Wellness Day — includes:
• Understanding stress, anxiety & burnout
• Neuroplasticity for resilience
• Somatic grounding practices
• Lifestyle-based brain regulation
• The science of nervous system safety

Her speaking style blends insight, storytelling, neuroscience, and calm authority.

Values & Personal Presence

Heather’s values guide every part of her work:

• Integrity
• Healing
• Authenticity
• Compassion
• Human dignity
• Service

Clients consistently describe her as grounding, wise, intuitive, and emotionally safe.

Heather Fountain is a healer, educator, visionary and international mentor and master.

Her work spans continents, generations, and dimensions of healing, bringing clarity, science, and compassion into every space she steps into.

Written for release 7 November 2025.

08/11/2025

Your brain grows stronger every time something goes wrong

We all love winning. Nailing the test. Hitting the goal. Hearing that yes. But here is the twist. Your brain actually learns more when things fall apart.

Every time you fail, your brain lights up like a repair crew rushing to a broken bridge. Scientists call this error-driven learning. When a plan fails, your brain activates special correction circuits that rewrite the pathway between neurons. It says this didn’t work so let’s build a better route next time.

That means every wrong answer leaves a mark. Not a bad one. A smarter one. Success repeats what you already know. Failure builds what you did not know yet. That is why athletes study missed shots. Why musicians repeat the parts they mess up. Why inventors burn through bad ideas before the genius one arrives.

You are not broken when you fail. You are rewiring. You are literally upgrading. So the next time something does not work out, pause. Take a breath. Ask yourself what this moment is teaching your brain to do next time.

Progress rarely feels like progress in the moment. But your brain is busy building. And every stumble is a step forward in disguise.

06/11/2025

People with a dysregulated nervous system or those who are neurodivergent (ADHD, autism, autism spectrum disorder, etc.) often unconsciously (sometimes consciously and intentionally though as well) sleep with their hands in a “dinosaur hands” or “T-Rex hands” position. This just means you keep your arms tucked high and tight to your body with both your elbows and your wrists bent.

Holding the arms close can be a self-soothing behavior. The predictable sensory input can be calming to those with certain disorders as outlined above. Holding the arms in close can also reduce the sensation of unexpected touch from the environment, which can be overwhelming for some individuals. This creates a predictable and filtered sensory environment.

Some people with the above-outlined disorders may also have difficulty sensing their body’s position in space, and holding their arms in a T-Rex position may be a way to help them feel more “grounded” or aware of their body.

While sleeping with T-Rex arms may provide comfort in the moment, it does come with some risks. The sleep position has been linked to excessive pressure on the arms and wrists. These can cause tingling, numbness, or morning stiffness when the sleeper awakes. If this sleep position is used too frequently, it can also contribute to carpal tunnel.

How to manage discomfort:

📑Body pillows or weighted blankets: These can provide a sense of security or pressure that may help reduce the need to keep the arms in the “T-Rex” position.
📑Occupational therapy: An occupational therapist can provide strategies and tools to help manage sensory needs.
📑Experiment with other sleeping positions: Try to consciously change positions throughout the night to relieve pressure on your arms and wrists.

I will put several different “exercises” that you can do on your own to help regulate your nervous system in the comments section.

SOURCE: https://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/dinosaur-hands-sleeping/

Don’t forget to follow for more posts like this 🥰

06/11/2025

🌐 Convenient Hypnotherapy from Anywhere

No matter where you are, you can experience the life-changing benefits of hypnotherapy. With remote sessions or in person sessions, I’ll guide you through personalised therapy from the comfort of your home.

Take the first step toward better mental and emotional well-being today—wherever you are in the world.

📧 info@thispractice.net | 📞 +27 82 887 9099
🌐 heatherfountainhypnotherapy.com

06/11/2025

When your nervous system is out of sync, it means your body stays in stress, making it hard to relax, focus or feel safe. It’s as though your internal wiring is always on high alert, even when there is no danger. Contact me on 082 887 9099 or email me on info@thispractice.net

14/10/2025

Migraines and Unprocessed Trauma: A Complex Interplay

A significant and well-documented correlation exists between migraines and unprocessed trauma, which often remains overlooked due to the physical manifestation of symptoms despite potential emotional or neurological roots. The following breakdown elucidates this relationship:

1. Trauma and the Nervous System

Unresolved trauma can lead to a state of heightened nervous system vigilance (fight, flight, or freeze), resulting in:
• Overactivation of the amygdala (threat detection).
• Underregulation by the prefrontal cortex (rational calming).
• Tension in the autonomic nervous system, influencing blood vessels, pain pathways, and inflammatory responses—all factors directly linked to migraines.

2. Somatic Memory and Pain Pathways

Unprocessed trauma is often stored in the body as somatic memory, with migraines acting as a somatic expression of unhealed experiences. Common mechanisms include:
• Tightening of neck/shoulder muscles (protective body memory).
• Dysregulated pain circuits in the brain (neuroplastic changes caused by chronic stress).
• Migraine attacks acting as the body’s “release valve” for trapped emotional energy.

3. Stress, Triggers, and Flashbacks

Individuals with trauma histories often exhibit:
• Lower thresholds for stress—everyday pressures feel heavier.
• Heightened sensory sensitivity—to light, sound, and smells (all common migraine triggers).
• Migraines triggered by trauma reminders (subconscious flashbacks activating the same neural pathways).

4. Research Connection
• Studies demonstrate that people with Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have significantly higher rates of migraines and chronic headaches.
• PTSD and complex trauma are associated with both the frequency and severity of migraines.
• Emotional suppression (not processing trauma) correlates with higher migraine occurrence.

5. Healing Perspective

Migraines in trauma survivors are best approached as both neurological and psychological:
• Hypnotherapy & psychotherapy: help process stored trauma and calm the nervous system.
• Somatic practices: grounding, breathwork, movement to release embodied tension.
• Neuroplasticity work: retraining pain pathways to reduce sensitivity.
• Lifestyle support: hydration, balanced sleep, reducing overstimulation.

In summary: Migraines can be seen as the body’s way of carrying unresolved trauma. Addressing the trauma—through safe processing, nervous system regulation, and integrative therapies—can reduce both the frequency and severity of migraine episodes.

14/10/2025

Who is a child that is parentified ?

Child who takes on roles and responsibilities that are typically the duty of a parent , emotionally, practically, or both.

This reversal of roles often occurs in dysfunctional family systems, where the child becomes the caretaker instead of being cared for.

Types of Parentification
1. Emotional Parentification
The child becomes the emotional support system for a parent or family member.
• Example: A child comforting their mother through her depression or marital conflict.
• Result: The child learns to suppress their own emotions to stabilize the parent.
2. Instrumental (Practical) Parentification
The child takes on adult responsibilities such as cooking, cleaning, managing finances, or looking after siblings.
• Example: An 8-year-old consistently caring for younger siblings because the parents are absent or unreliable.

Causes

Parentification can occur in families where:
• A parent is ill, addicted, or emotionally unstable.
• One parent is absent (due to divorce, death, or work).
• The family system lacks healthy emotional boundaries.
• Cultural or financial pressures push the child into an adult role early.Psychological and Emotional Impact

Short-term “gains”
• The child often becomes highly responsible, empathetic, and mature.
• They may receive praise for being “so grown-up” or “so strong.”

Long-term costs
• Chronic guilt or anxiety about others’ wellbeing
• Difficulty setting boundaries in adult relationships
• Tendency to attract emotionally dependent partners
• Burnout or depression from always putting others first
• Identity confusion , not knowing who they are outside of caretaking roles

Healing and Recovery

Healing involves:
• Recognizing the role reversal and its effects.
• Therapeutic work on boundaries, inner child healing, and self-worth.
• Allowing vulnerability and learning to receive care rather than only give it.
• Reparenting oneself — nurturing the inner child who never got to simply be a child

References
• Boszormenyi-Nagy, I. & Spark, G. M. (1973). Invisible Loyalties: Reciprocity in Intergenerational Family Therapy. Harper & Row.
• Chase, N. D. (ed.). (1999). Burdened Children: Theory, Research, and Treatment of Parentification. Sage Publications.
• Hooper, L. M. (2007). The Application of Attachment Theory and Family Systems Theory to the Phenomena of Parentification. The Family Journal, 15(3), 217–223.

14/10/2025

12/10/2025

In this beautifully animated RSA Short, Dr Brené Brown reminds us that we can only create a genuine empathic connection if we are brave enough to really get in touch with our own fragilities.

11/10/2025