Emotional health
Hypnotherapy for anxiety in London
Hypnotherapy can help relieve anxiety, and the research backs it. Work with an experienced hypnotherapist to calm the alarm system behind worry, tension and panicky feelings.
How hypnotherapy helps with anxiety
Anxiety is one of the conditions where the evidence for hypnotherapy is strongest. A 2019 review of 17 controlled trials found that people who had hypnosis reduced their anxiety more than about 79% of people in comparison groups, and the benefit was even larger at follow-up (Valentine et al., 2019). The same review found hypnosis worked best when combined with other psychological approaches, which is exactly how Tim works, blending hypnotherapy with NLP and mindfulness.
A 2025 analysis of 142 studies found that hypnosis clearly reduced anxiety before medical procedures (Lahoud et al.), and a 2020 randomised trial found a five-week hypnosis programme reduced people's stress compared with written advice alone (Fisch et al.).
You are not alone in this, and neither was Tim
If you live with anxiety, you will know how hard it is to explain to someone who has never felt it. You probably already know the feeling is out of proportion. Knowing that rarely makes it stop.
Tim has overcome anxiety of his own, so he understands what you are going through, and he knows how to help. You will never need to justify the irrational part to him.
What is happening underneath
Whatever form your anxiety takes, the same process is running underneath. Part of your mind is trying to protect you. It sounds the alarm, and your body prepares for fight, flight or freeze: your heart beats faster, your breathing changes and your muscles tense. In anxiety that alarm has become too sensitive, and worrying about the physical feelings turns it up further. That loop is how a wave of panic builds.
Hypnotherapy works directly with these automatic responses, so your mind saves the alarm for situations that genuinely call for it. None of us is born anxious. It is a learned response, and what has been learned can be changed.
What we work on
- Constant worry and tension that never quite switches off
- Panicky feelings, and the fear of having another (see panic attacks)
- Social anxiety and the fear of being judged
- Health anxiety
- Work stress and feeling overwhelmed
- Nerves before presentations, interviews or exams (see confidence and public speaking)
- The limiting beliefs and past experiences that keep the alarm switched on
How sessions work
- A free consultation. 15–30 minutes by phone or video, so you can ask questions and decide whether Tim is right for you.
- Empowering you in the present. Understanding your pattern: what sets it off, what your body does, and when it began.
- Healing the past. Using advanced techniques such as regression, you revisit the experiences behind the response from a calm, observing distance, without reliving them.
- Designing a positive future. In a relaxed state you rehearse the situations that used to trigger you, responding calmly.
- Tools to keep. Tim teaches self-hypnosis and mindfulness techniques you can use every day.
Sessions take place in person in Farringdon, central London, or online. Every session is tailored to you, using Ericksonian hypnotherapy and NLP rather than a script. Tim expects most clients to notice progress after each appointment, and after 7 hours (usually five sessions), any further sessions for the same issue are £97.50 an hour (see the halve-fees promise). Anxiety often affects sleep too, and if your fear centres on one thing, see phobias.
Why Tim
Tim Dunton has over 20 years' experience and has been training since 2004. He is a member of the General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR), an Advanced and Ericksonian Hypnotherapist, and a Master Practitioner of NLP trained by its co-founders, Richard Bandler and John Grinder. He has helped celebrities, film producers, sportspeople and business leaders, and worked with Samsung on a global TV project helping cast members see things afresh without stress and anxiety. More about Tim.
Can hypnotherapy help with anxiety?
Yes. Hypnotherapy can help relieve anxiety, and a 2019 review of 17 controlled trials found a substantial benefit that was still there, and larger, at follow-up.
Will I lose control?
No. Hypnosis is a relaxed, focused state. You hear everything, stay in control and can open your eyes at any time.
What if I take medication for anxiety?
Hypnotherapy works well alongside it. Keep taking it as prescribed and talk to your GP before making any change.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Typical course | Usually around five sessions (7 hours) |
| Session length | 1 hour |
| Format | In person in Farringdon, London EC1, or online |
| First step | Free 15–30 minute consultation |
| Fee | £150 an hour online, £195 in person; see prices |
Hypnotherapy works alongside medical care. Please see your GP about any medical condition, and keep taking prescribed medication unless your doctor advises otherwise.
The research
- Valentine KE, Milling LS, Clark LJ, Moriarty CL (2019). The efficacy of hypnosis as a treatment for anxiety: a meta-analysis. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis 67(3):336–363. PubMed 31251710
- Lahoud MJ, Gurary ST, Elia N (2025). Meta-analysis of hypnosis around medical procedures (142 studies). Anaesthesia 81(1):103–115. PubMed 40991959
- Fisch S, Trivaković-Thiel S, Roll S, et al. (2020). Group hypnosis for stress reduction and improved stress coping: a multicenter randomized controlled trial. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 20:344. Full text
Individual experiences vary. See all psychological problems Tim works with.
Related treatments
- Hypnotherapy for stress
- Hypnotherapy for panic attacks
- Hypnotherapy for OCD
- Hypnotherapy for PTSD and trauma
A free, no-obligation 15–30 minute call by phone or video. Or call 07975 653893.