Emotional health
Hypnotherapy for PTSD and trauma
Hypnotherapy can help take the charge out of difficult memories, so the past stops intruding on the present and you can feel safe again.
How hypnotherapy helps with PTSD and trauma
After a frightening or overwhelming event, the mind can stay on guard. Memories return uninvited, sleep is broken, you feel jumpy or numb, and you find yourself avoiding anything that reminds you of what happened. This is the protective system doing its job too well, long after the danger has gone.
Research shows hypnotherapy can reduce these symptoms. Two 2016 research reviews, each pooling six studies, found that hypnotherapy-based treatments reduced PTSD symptoms with large effects, and one found the improvement held at follow-up (Rotaru & Rusu, 2016; O'Toole et al., 2016). The studies were small, so more research is needed.
UK clinical guidelines (NICE) recommend trauma-focused CBT and EMDR for PTSD. Hypnotherapy works well alongside that care, and Tim is glad to work with your GP or mental health team.
What we work on
- Building a strong sense of safety and calm before anything else
- Easing the emotional charge of memories, viewed from a calm, observing distance, without having to relive them
- Flashbacks, triggers and the startle response
- Broken sleep and nightmares (see insomnia)
- The background anxiety, tension and hypervigilance
- Low mood, guilt and self-blame (see depression)
- Rebuilding confidence to return to places and activities you have avoided
How sessions work
You start with a free 15–30 minute consultation by phone or video, where you can say as much or as little as you like. Sessions are in person at 9 Coldbath Square, Farringdon, or online from somewhere you feel safe. Tim tailors every session to you, combining Ericksonian hypnotherapy and NLP, goes at your pace, and teaches you self-hypnosis to calm yourself between sessions.
Why Tim
Tim Dunton has over 20 years' experience, has trained since 2004 and is a member of the General Hypnotherapy Register. He is an Advanced and Ericksonian Hypnotherapist and a Master Practitioner of NLP trained by Richard Bandler and John Grinder. His clients include celebrities, film producers, sportspeople and business leaders.
Will I have to talk about what happened in detail?
No. Much of the work can be done without describing events in detail, and you stay in control of what you share.
Can I have hypnotherapy while seeing an NHS therapist?
Yes, and many people do. Let your therapist or GP know, so your care fits together.
Is it suitable straight after a traumatic event?
In the first weeks, the priority is safety, support and seeing your GP. Talk this through with Tim at your free consultation.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Typical course | Usually around five sessions (7 hours) |
| Session length | 1 hour |
| Format | In person in Farringdon, central London, or online |
| First step | Free 15–30 minute consultation |
| Fee | £150 an hour online, £195 in person |
See all psychological problems Tim works with.
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
- Rotaru T-S, Rusu A (2016). A meta-analysis for the efficacy of hypnotherapy in alleviating PTSD symptoms. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis 64(1):116–136. PubMed 26599995
- O'Toole SK, Solomon SL, Bergdahl SA (2016). A meta-analysis of hypnotherapeutic techniques in the treatment of PTSD symptoms. Journal of Traumatic Stress 29(1):97–100. PubMed 26855228
- NICE NG116 (2018). Post-traumatic stress disorder. nice.org.uk/guidance/ng116
Individual experiences vary.
Related treatments
A free, no-obligation 15–30 minute call by phone or video. Or call 07975 653893.