Physical health
Hypnotherapy for headaches and migraines
Hypnotherapy can help you manage headache and migraine pain and take the edge off the stress and tension that so often set it off.
How hypnotherapy helps with headaches and migraines
If you get regular headaches or migraines, you will know how much of life they can take: lost days at work, cancelled plans, and the background worry about when the next one will come. Stress, poor sleep and tension are among the most common triggers, and the fear of an attack can itself become one more source of stress.
Hypnotherapy may help you manage headache and migraine pain and the stress that can trigger it. A 2026 systematic review of nine studies found hypnosis was consistently linked with a reduction in headache and migraine symptoms, although the studies had limitations. An earlier 2018 review found that hypnosis and relaxation approaches reduced headache activity.
Hypnotherapy is not a replacement for migraine medication or medical care. It gives you skills to lower your stress load, relax tension early, and feel more in control when symptoms start.
What we work on
- Spotting and calming your personal triggers, especially stress and tension
- Deep relaxation for the neck, shoulders, jaw and scalp
- Techniques to reduce how strongly pain is felt during an attack
- Better sleep and more regular routines
- Easing the anticipatory worry about the next attack
- Self-hypnosis you can use at the first sign of symptoms
How sessions work
It begins with a free 15–30 minute consultation by phone or video. Sessions are in person at 9 Coldbath Square, Farringdon, or online. Tim tailors each session to your pattern of headaches, using Ericksonian hypnotherapy and NLP, and teaches you self-hypnosis so you can use the techniques on your own.
Why Tim
Tim Dunton has more than 20 years of 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 Richard Bandler and John Grinder. He has worked with celebrities, sportspeople and business leaders.
Should I see my GP first?
Yes. Headaches and migraines should be diagnosed by a doctor. Seek urgent medical help for a sudden, severe headache, or a headache with weakness, confusion, a stiff neck or changes in vision.
Can I use it during an attack?
Many clients use self-hypnosis as soon as they notice early signs, alongside the medication their doctor has prescribed.
Does it help tension headaches too?
Tension headaches are closely linked to stress and muscle tension, which is exactly what the relaxation work targets.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Aim | Manage headache and migraine pain and the stress behind it |
| Evidence | Encouraging reviews, with study limitations |
| Typical course | Usually around five sessions (7 hours) |
| Format | In person in Farringdon, London EC1, or online |
| First step | Free 15–30 minute consultation |
| Fee | £150 an hour online, £195 in person |
Hypnotherapy works alongside medical care. Please see your GP about any medical condition, and keep taking prescribed medication unless your doctor advises otherwise.
See also: hypnotherapy for physical health, chronic pain and anxiety and stress.
The research
- Cardinal É et al (2026). Systematic review of 9 studies (406 people) of hypnosis for headache and migraine. Complementary Therapies in Medicine 99:103374. PubMed 41974234
- Flynn N (2018). Review of 8 studies of hypnosis and relaxation for headache. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis 66(4):343–352. PubMed 30152733
Individual experiences vary.
Related treatments
A free, no-obligation 15–30 minute call by phone or video. Or call 07975 653893.