Sleep can become a surprisingly complicated business. You may be tired all day and then find your mind wide awake as soon as your head reaches the pillow. You may settle easily but wake repeatedly, or find yourself staring at the clock at three or four in the morning.
After a run of difficult nights, bedtime can begin to feel like something you have to get right. It is very easy to start counting the hours, monitoring whether you feel sleepy enough and wondering how you will cope tomorrow. All that effort can add another layer of pressure to the night.
Hypnotherapy can be used to support relaxation and aid sleep. I offer personal appointments from my practice in Hayle, Cornwall, and online.
The difficulties people bring to me
People contact me about patterns such as:
- finding it difficult to switch off at bedtime
- replaying conversations or planning the following day
- waking during the night and struggling to settle again
- waking earlier than they would like
- worrying about whether they will sleep
- disrupted sleep during periods of stress or change
- becoming increasingly frustrated with bedtime
We begin by looking at what has been happening, when the difficulty developed and what tends to go through your mind when you are trying to sleep. I want to understand your particular pattern and how it affects your nights.
What happens in a hypnotherapy session?
A session may include:
- guided relaxation
- focused attention and calming imagery
- easing some of the pressure you place on yourself to fall asleep
- looking at the thoughts and habits surrounding bedtime
- mental rehearsal of a steadier evening routine
- practising a calmer response to waking in the night
- practical changes that feel realistic for you
Hypnosis is generally experienced as a relaxed and focused state. You remain aware of what is happening, you can speak if you wish and you stay in control throughout.
There is no requirement to fall asleep in the therapy room. The appointment gives you time to experience a quieter state and practise responses that you can take back into your own evenings and nights.
A personal appointment or the 10 Day Sleep Reset?
A personal appointment
An appointment may be a good starting point when you would like to talk privately about your circumstances, your sleep has been affected by a particular period of anxiety or pressure, or you would prefer the work to be tailored to your own experience.
Appointments are available in person in Hayle and online.
The 10 Day Sleep Reset
The 10 Day Sleep Reset is a downloadable programme containing ten guided hypnotherapy recordings. I created it for adults whose minds have an unfortunate habit of clocking on for another shift just as the day is supposed to be ending.
You listen to one recording each evening as part of a structured bedtime routine. The recordings use gentle imagery inspired by Cornwall to support relaxation and reduce some of the pressure around sleep.
The ten days describe the structure of the programme. They are not a promise that a persistent sleep problem will resolve within ten days, and everybody’s experience will be different. You can read about the programme and listen to a free sample before deciding whether to buy it.
Explore the 10 Day Sleep Reset
Frequently asked questions
What if I wake at three or four in the morning?
We can look at what happens after you wake: the thoughts that arrive, the frustration, the clock watching and the pressure to get back to sleep immediately. The session may include practising a steadier response to being awake.
Persistent waking can have several causes, so medical advice may also be appropriate.
Will I lose control during hypnosis?
No. You remain aware of what is happening and can stop the exercise whenever you wish. Hypnosis does not require you to be unconscious or asleep.
Can I have an appointment online?
Yes. Sleep appointments are available online as well as from my practice in Hayle, Cornwall.
Can I use the Sleep Reset alongside an appointment?
Yes, when that makes sense for you. We can discuss whether a personal appointment, the audio programme or a combination would fit what you are experiencing.
When to speak to your GP
Hypnotherapy is a complementary approach and does not replace assessment or treatment for a sleep disorder or another medical condition.
Please speak to your GP if your sleep difficulties have continued for several months, are affecting your ability to cope during the day or could be connected with medication or another health concern. Medical advice is particularly important if you experience:
- loud snoring, pauses in breathing, gasping or choking during sleep
- pronounced daytime sleepiness
- unexpected episodes of falling asleep
- persistent pain, low mood or other unexplained symptoms
Do not stop or alter prescribed sleep or mental-health medication without speaking to the clinician responsible for your care.
Taking the next step
If you would like personal support, you are welcome to contact me about a sleep hypnotherapy appointment in Hayle or online.
If you would rather begin at home, you can explore the 10 Day Sleep Reset and listen to the free sample first.