Becca, 29, works full-time and lives with her partner, while they both work full time. When Becca first came to me for hypnotherapy, she described feeling like she was constantly on edge. Anxiety had become a daily companion — not always overwhelming, but constantly in the background, making life feel difficult. She struggled with overthinking, poor sleep, and physical symptoms like occasional migraines, picking at her skin, and biting her nails. Her confidence at work was low, and even small decisions felt exhausting. She had a deep fear of not being in control, and despite being high-functioning in a busy marketing communications role, she often felt she was barely holding it all together.
Becca was also battling disrupted sleep — either struggling to fall asleep, waking every hour, or waking too early and feeling sluggish throughout the day. These broken nights made it harder to cope with daily challenges, especially in her job, where she felt under-confident. While she had some positive routines, like occasionally going to the gym or eating well, she felt she lacked consistency. There was a growing disconnect between who she wanted to be and how she was living her life.
From the start, Becca was open to the process and committed to engaging in her sessions fully. She was particularly interested in understanding how hypnotherapy could help her quiet the internal chatter — that constant, critical voice in her head that wouldn’t let her switch off. One of the foundations of our work together was helping Becca understand how her brain works when she’s anxious. We talked about the intellectual part of the brain — the rational, logical and predominantly positive “boss brain” — and how it gets hijacked by the emotional brain when stress and anxiety are too high. This understanding helped Becca realise it was part of her natural fight or flight response to be feeling so negative and she soon stopped blaming herself for the way she felt.
As part of our work, we explored the concept of neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to create new patterns and thought habits through repeated, positive actions and interactions. Becca started listening to my personalised relaxation recording each night to help her brain wind down before sleep. As her sessions progressed, she became more consistent in her self-care routines, noticing her thought patterns and listening to her own needs. We spoke about how decision fatigue affects us during the day and how simplifying her morning and evening routines could make a big difference to her mental load.
Another important element was talking about mirror neurons — the brain’s natural way of reflecting the emotions and energy of those around us. Becca began choosing her company more intentionally, spending time with people who made her feel safe and supported. As her own emotional state improved, she noticed that others around her also began to respond with more calm and confidence.
Over a period of only six weeks, Becca experienced a wide range of positive changes. She began to sleep more soundly, waking less often and feeling more refreshed in the mornings. She became more emotionally resilient — able to stay grounded during difficult conversations, support others without becoming overwhelmed or trying to fix them, and express her needs clearly. Her confidence at work began to grow. She no longer needed constant reassurance from colleagues and felt secure in the knowledge that she was doing a good job. She also stopped feeling guilty about setting boundaries or saying no when she needed time to rest.
One of the most empowering parts of Becca’s journey was moving forward with launching a catering business with her partner. Hypnotherapy helped her not only dream about the future but start putting real steps into action — planning, branding, and launching their first offering in time for Mother’s Day. The process helped her reconnect with her creativity and her sense of purpose, and she described feeling “really organised and confident” as she moved forward.
Physically, Becca noticed changes too. She felt more energetic, more inclined to go for walks, and more tuned in to her body’s needs. She drank less alcohol, and began to eat more intuitively — planning meals and making food choices that felt good without overthinking. One milestone that stood out was when a spider unexpectedly ran across her desk at work — something that would once have triggered intense fear. Instead, she calmly let it pass and carried on with her day. It was a powerful sign of how far she’d come.
By the end of our sessions together, Becca described herself as feeling “grounded” — a word that captures a deep sense of emotional safety and stability. On her happiness scale, she rated herself a 10 out of 10. But more importantly, she wasn’t chasing a euphoric high — she was simply living more peacefully, with clarity, confidence, and calm. She no longer felt trapped in her own thoughts or exhausted by daily life. She added more joyful moments into her week, connecting with friends and family within the boundaries of her energy levels. And most importantly, Becca was reconnecting with herself to enjoy time in solitude occasionally.
Becca’s story is a beautiful example of how small, consistent steps and a growing sense of self-awareness, helped her move from just surviving to truly thriving. It’s been a joy to witness her transformation in less than two months. Hypnotherapy works fast. To explore how it could help you, read our blog or book a call with me.
Hilary has a busy office job and has always considered herself capable and committed to her job. But when she first came to me for hypnotherapy, she described being “in a bad place.” Everything felt overwhelming, and poor sleep had become a constant struggle. There wasn’t a single crisis or triggering event that pushed her to seek support; it was the accumulation of anxiety, exhaustion, and a sense that she was no longer coping in the way she used to.
At the time, Hilary felt anxious almost constantly. Even the smallest problems could quickly spiral into major concerns. Her mind felt busy and unhappy, particularly at night, and she found it increasingly difficult to switch off. Sleep, which should have been restorative, had become another source of stress from lying awake too many nights.
Before hypnotherapy, Hilary’s sleep was severely disrupted. She struggled to fall asleep, woke several times during the night, and then found it hard to get back to sleep once she was awake. On a good night, she might manage three to four hours of broken rest. This ongoing lack of sleep left her feeling permanently tired and unable to focus.
The impact of sleep deprivation spilled into every area of her life. Her energy levels were low, and emotionally she described herself as tearful and not in a happy place. Although she loved her job, she began to feel unable to show up as her best self and achieve the work her boss needed. Her stress levels crept up, as her ability to cope with her family’s phone calls and everyday chores diminished.
Hilary noticed anxiety creeping in, where she woke up thinking about things she hadn’t done or felt she could have done better, replaying events and conversations in her mind. These racing thoughts made it even harder to rest and reinforced the cycle of broken sleep, affecting her motivation to do anything fun outside of work.
Before coming to hypnotherapy, she experimented with over-the-counter sleep medications, which helped briefly but stopped being effective over time. Despite her efforts, nothing seemed to provide lasting relief.
When Hilary first began hypnotherapy, she admitted she was sceptical. She had never had any previous experience with hypnotherapy and wasn’t sure what to expect. However, she found the process reassuring and easy to understand. Having a clear explanation of what was happening in her brain helped remove fear and uncertainty.
Learning how different parts of the brain respond to stress was a turning point. Once it was shown visually, Hilary could see why her thoughts and sleep patterns had become so disrupted — and, crucially, how they could be changed. Understanding that her reactions were not personal failings but natural responses helped her stop blaming herself and start engaging with the shifts she needed more compassionately.
Between sessions, Hilary used the personalised relaxation recording I provided. She listened to it during sessions and continued to use it at night whenever she struggled to sleep. She also adopted a simple but effective routine known as “3-2-1”: eating three hours before bed, stopping drinking two hours before bed, and putting her phone away one hour before bedtime. Avoiding phone use at night was difficult at first, but after a while, it became part of her normal routine and made a noticeable difference.
As the weeks progressed, Hilary began to notice real changes. She started falling asleep much more quickly, and when she did wake during the night, she found it far easier to drift back to sleep. On nights when sleep felt more unsettled, she used the relaxation recording and was usually asleep again before it finished.
Where she had once been lucky to get three or four hours of broken sleep, Hilary now averages around seven hours a night, sometimes even eight. Although she still wakes briefly on occasion, sleep no longer feels like a battle.
Improved sleep had a profound effect on her overall wellbeing. Her stress levels dropped, and she found it easier to deal with problems as they arose. Her mood lifted noticeably; she described feeling happier and calmer most of the time. Her confidence improved and even though she still experiences occasional self-doubt, it no longer dominates her thinking.
Hilary also noticed that making everyday decisions became easier. With better sleep and a calmer mind, she felt more able to make choices about how to spend her days off, and stick to her plans, rather than second-guessing herself or feeling overwhelmed.
Looking back, Hilary describes her experience of hypnotherapy as life-changing. She feels she has found a happier, less stressful version of herself — someone who can cope better with what life throws her way. Just as importantly, she knows she has tools she can return to if sleep or anxiety begins to wobble again, and that support is available if she needs it.
Hilary’s story is a powerful example of how improving sleep can transform your nights, having a positive effect on the daytimes too. With the right understanding, simple routines, and consistent support, it is possible to move out of exhaustion and into a calmer, more balanced way of living.