Emotional health
Hypnotherapy for stress
Hypnotherapy helps you step out of constant pressure, relax deeply and handle demands with a clearer head.
How hypnotherapy helps with stress
Stress is your body's alarm system stuck in the on position. Deadlines, money, family and a phone that never stops can keep you braced for action long after the moment has passed, until tension, irritability and poor sleep start to feel normal.
Hypnotherapy works on that alarm directly. Research shows it can reduce stress: a 2026 review pooling five randomised trials found that mindful hypnotherapy reduced stress and distress (Padilla et al., 2026), and in a German randomised trial, five weekly group hypnosis sessions reduced people's stress compared with an information booklet, with the benefit still there at 12 weeks (Fisch et al., 2020). An earlier review found that six of nine trials showed less stress after hypnosis, although those studies were small (Fisch et al., 2017).
The evidence for anxiety, which so often travels with stress, is stronger still. A 2019 review of controlled trials found that people who had hypnosis reduced their anxiety more than about 79% of people in comparison groups (Valentine et al., 2019).
What we work on
- Learning to relax deeply and quickly, on demand
- The triggers that set your stress off, and a calmer response to them
- Switching off from work in the evenings and at weekends
- Racing thoughts at night and sleep
- Perfectionism, overcommitment and difficulty saying no
- Feeling overwhelmed, and regaining focus and perspective
- Tension habits such as jaw clenching or nail biting
How sessions work
You start 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 you, combining Ericksonian hypnotherapy and NLP, and teaches you self-hypnosis so you have a reliable way to reset in a few minutes, wherever you are.
Why Tim
Tim Dunton has over 20 years' experience and is a member of the General Hypnotherapy Register. He is a Master Practitioner of NLP trained by Richard Bandler and John Grinder, and a Life and Executive Coach, so he understands high-pressure working lives. His clients include celebrities, film producers, sportspeople and business leaders, and he worked with cast members on a Samsung global TV project to help them manage stress and anxiety.
Will I lose control under hypnosis?
No. Hypnosis is a focused, relaxed state. You stay aware, you hear everything, and you can open your eyes whenever you choose.
How quickly will I feel a difference?
Many of Tim's clients notice they feel calmer after the first session. Lasting change comes from the sessions together with the self-hypnosis you practise at home.
Is stress the same as anxiety?
They overlap. Stress is usually a reaction to pressure you can name; anxiety can carry on without an obvious cause. If worry is your main problem, see hypnotherapy for anxiety.
| 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
- Padilla VJ, Muñiz V, Scheffrahn K, Elkins G (2026). Meta-analysis of five randomised trials of mindful hypnotherapy. Behavioral Sciences 16(1):107. doi:10.3390/bs16010107
- 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
- Fisch S, Brinkhaus B, Teut M (2017). Hypnosis in patients with perceived stress – a systematic review. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 17:323. PubMed 28629342
- 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
Individual experiences vary.
Related treatments
- Hypnotherapy for anxiety
- Hypnotherapy for panic attacks
- Hypnotherapy for PTSD and trauma
- Hypnotherapy for OCD
A free, no-obligation 15–30 minute call by phone or video. Or call 07975 653893.