Clinical Hypnotherapist in London - Susannah Saunders

The best hypnotherapist for you is someone with suitable training and experience who you feel comfortable talking to. Rapport matters: you should feel listened to, able to be honest and clear about how the sessions will work. It is a personal choice. Try my free hypnosis audio to hear my voice and get a feel for my approach, or contact me to discuss what you would like help with.

Personal recommendations, professional registers and detailed client reviews can help you make a shortlist. Look for experience relevant to your concern, as well as qualifications and a clear explanation of fees. A recommendation is a useful starting point; speaking to the therapist helps you decide whether they are right for you. You can read my clients’ reviews here.

Look for recognised hypnotherapy training, ongoing professional development and membership or registration with a relevant professional body. You can check practitioners on the CNHC register. My qualifications include a BSc (Hons) in Psychology, the Hypnotherapy Practitioner Diploma (HPD) and the Senior Qualification in Hypnotherapy Practice (SQHP).

I established City Hypnotherapy Centre in 2003 and have over 20 years of experience in clinical hypnotherapy. I work with people experiencing anxiety, fears, low confidence and unwanted habits, including professionals, managers and business owners. You can read more about my experience and qualifications.

Yes. I am registered with the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) and the General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR). My About page explains my qualifications and professional background. Registration is one useful check when choosing a therapist, alongside their experience and how comfortable you feel with them.

It is easier to talk openly when you feel understood and comfortable with your hypnotherapist. That helps me understand what happens for you, what you have already tried and what you want to change. Your questions and preferences matter too. You do not need to have everything neatly explained before getting in touch.

Yes. My free 30-minute guided relaxation audio gives you a chance to hear my voice and try a guided session at home. Listen somewhere quiet where you can sit or lie down comfortably, never while driving. It is a useful introduction; your individual sessions will be tailored to you.

Reviews can tell you how clients experienced a therapist’s manner, sessions and support. They cannot tell you exactly how you will respond or how many sessions you will need. Read them alongside information about training, approach and fees, then ask questions about your own situation. My reviews page shares clients’ experiences.

Hypnosis is a state of focused attention in which therapeutic suggestions and imagery can be used. Hypnotherapy is the therapeutic work that uses hypnosis to help change thoughts, feelings, habits and reactions.

Many reactions happen automatically: worrying before a meeting, reaching for a cigarette or feeling tense in a situation you know is safe. These learned responses are often described as subconscious. Hypnotherapy uses focused attention, suggestions and imagery to help change those associations and practise more helpful responses, rather than relying on willpower alone.

I draw on several approaches, including solution-focused, cognitive behavioural and curative hypnotherapy, alongside NLP and coaching where appropriate. Hypnosis can include therapeutic suggestions, mental rehearsal, imagery and work on beliefs that keep a difficulty going. The combination depends on what you want help with. Read more about hypnotherapy.

Many people describe hypnosis as comfortable, absorbing and relaxing. You might notice your body becoming less tense while your attention settles on my voice or on an image we are using. Experiences vary; you do not have to feel deeply asleep or experience something dramatic for a session to be useful.

No. Clinical hypnosis is used in a private therapeutic appointment to work towards goals you have discussed with your therapist. Stage hypnosis is entertainment. In my sessions, we focus on the thoughts, feelings and reactions you want to change, using suggestions relevant to your own circumstances.

Yes, finding it difficult to relax is a common reason people seek hypnotherapy. You do not need to arrive feeling calm or know how to meditate. We can start by discussing what makes it hard to settle, and I adapt the pace and guidance to help you become more comfortable.

You do not need to arrive convinced or know exactly what hypnosis will feel like. It helps to be willing to participate, ask questions and try the exercises we agree on. If you are sceptical, tell me what concerns you. Trying my free audio can also make the process more familiar.

Yes. Research has examined hypnosis for specific problems, including anxiety and some physical symptoms. A 2019 meta-analysis of hypnosis for anxiety found benefits compared with control conditions, with stronger results when hypnosis was combined with other psychological approaches. Evidence differs by condition; my treatment pages link to relevant studies where available.

People come to me for help with anxiety, phobias, public speaking, confidence, sleep difficulties and unwanted habits. I also work with the emotional and psychological aspects of concerns such as sexual performance anxiety and menopause. The treatments page explains the different areas in more detail.

Hypnotherapy can help you change the anxious expectations, self-critical thoughts and automatic reactions that keep worry going. Sessions can include rehearsing situations calmly, challenging frightening predictions and reducing the habit of repeatedly checking or seeking reassurance. See hypnotherapy for anxiety for more detail about my approach.

Yes. I work with people who dread presentations, meetings, pitches and speeches, including experienced professionals whose nerves have never gone away. Hypnosis can include mental rehearsal and work on the fear of being judged, so you can concentrate more on what you want to say. Read about public speaking hypnotherapy.

Hypnotherapy can help address automatic self-criticism, fear of failure and beliefs that lead you to doubt your abilities. We can use therapeutic suggestions and mental rehearsal to practise speaking up, accepting praise or saying no more comfortably. My confidence and self-esteem page also covers imposter syndrome and self-worth.

Hypnosis can be used to work on the learned fear response, frightening expectations and avoidance associated with a phobia. Sessions focus on the situations you find difficult and how you want to respond. Read about phobias hypnotherapy or fear of flying hypnosis for examples and research links.

Hypnotherapy can help with the worry, tension and mental activity that make it hard to settle at night. Sessions can address dreading bedtime, watching the clock or becoming anxious after waking, alongside suggestions for rest and relaxation. My insomnia hypnotherapy page explains this in more detail.

Yes. I offer dedicated stop smoking and quit vaping sessions, and work with other habits such as emotional eating. We look at the triggers, expectations and automatic responses that keep the habit going, then use hypnosis to support different responses. Smoking and vaping appointments have a separate fee, listed on my prices page.

Hypnotherapy can be used alongside other care where appropriate. Tell me about any diagnosis, medication or therapy you are receiving so we can discuss how the work fits together. Continue to follow your prescriber’s advice about medicines. You can contact me before booking if you would like to discuss your situation.

I offer in-person hypnotherapy at City Hypnotherapy Centre, Longcroft House, 2–8 Victoria Avenue, London EC2M 4NS. The practice is near Liverpool Street station, in the City of London. You can find the address and map on my contact page.

Yes. City Hypnotherapy Centre is a short walk from Liverpool Street station, in a courtyard just off Bishopsgate. It is convenient for people who live or work in the City and for those travelling into London. The practice address is Longcroft House, 2–8 Victoria Avenue, London EC2M 4NS.

Yes. You do not need to live or work in the City to book an appointment with me. You can travel to the Liverpool Street practice from elsewhere in London or further afield, or choose an online session. Tell me which format you prefer when you enquire.

Yes. I offer both face-to-face hypnotherapy in London and one-to-one sessions online by Zoom. Online appointments let you work with me from home without travelling to the practice. We still discuss your goals and use hypnosis tailored to the difficulties you want help with.

We meet by Zoom. The appointment includes a conversation and guided hypnosis, just as an in-person session does. You need a reliable internet connection, a device with sound and a quiet place where you can sit or lie down comfortably without being interrupted. You can ask about the setup before your appointment.

Choose the format in which you can comfortably concentrate and talk privately. Some people prefer coming to the practice and setting time aside away from home. Others find it easier to relax in familiar surroundings or fit sessions around work. Both options are available; we can discuss what is practical for you.

You can ask to use a mixture of London and online appointments. This can be useful if you travel for work or cannot get to the practice every time. Let me know when arranging your sessions so we can agree the format and check availability.

I also work with clients internationally through online appointments. Contact me with your location, time zone and what you would like help with, so I can confirm availability and suitability. You will need a quiet, private space and a reliable connection for the session.

My standard bespoke one-to-one hypnotherapy sessions cost £198 per session, including VAT. Sessions last approximately 50 minutes, and the first appointment includes hypnosis as well as the consultation. Dedicated stop smoking and vaping appointments have a different price. See fees and appointments for current details.

We talk about what you want help with, when the problem occurs and what you would like to be able to do differently. I explain my approach and answer your questions. The first appointment includes hypnosis, so you can experience the process and begin the work straight away.

A standard one-to-one appointment lasts approximately 50 minutes. This includes time to talk and hypnosis tailored to your goals. Allow yourself time to arrive at the London practice, or get settled for Zoom, so the session can begin without a rush.

The number depends on the difficulty you want to address, how long it has affected you and how you respond. Many of my clients work with me for four to six sessions, but we discuss your needs individually and review progress. Dedicated stop smoking and vaping appointments are structured differently.

Yes. You receive a personalised recording of your hypnosis session to listen to between appointments. This lets you repeat the suggestions and rehearsal we have used. Choose a quiet time when you can safely relax and follow the listening guidance I give you; do not listen while driving.

Think about the situations you want help with and what you would like to change. You do not need to write a detailed history or practise hypnosis beforehand. Wear something comfortable and mention any relevant health conditions or ongoing treatment. For an online session, test your sound and choose somewhere private.

Yes. You are welcome to contact me with questions about your concern, the sessions or whether my approach would suit you. You can also call 07973 896907. If you would like to hear my voice first, try the free relaxation audio.

Use my contact form or call 07973 896907. Tell me briefly what you would like help with, whether you prefer the London practice or Zoom, and any dates that matter, such as a flight or presentation. I can then discuss availability and the next step with you.