Concierge therapy · UK
Hypnotherapy and clinical hypnosis, by a registered UK therapist.
Clinical hypnotherapy — the evidence-based kind — for IBS, phobias, anxiety, pain and habit change. NICE-endorsed where it should be, honest about where it is not, and always from a therapist on a recognised UK register.
Why patients choose us
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A registered clinical hypnotherapist
Not a stage act and not a weekend course. A therapist on a recognised UK register — CNHC, BSCAH, GHR or NCH — with proper clinical training.
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Evidence-based indications only
Gut-directed hypnotherapy for IBS. Focused work for phobias, anxiety and pain. Where the evidence is thin, we say so before you book.
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Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What private clinical hypnotherapy costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our vetted therapists. Send the details and we quote firm figures for the right protocol.
In short
A standard hypnotherapy session in our network: £70–£150, most goals resolved in 4–12 sessions.
| Session or protocol | Indicative range | Typical duration | Course length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial assessment (60–90 min) | £90–£180 | 60–90 min | Same visit |
| Standard session (50–60 min) | £70–£150 | 50–60 min | Same visit |
| Gut-directed hypnotherapy for IBS (Manchester Model, ~12 sessions) | £900–£1,800 | 12 × 60 min | 10–14 weeks |
| Focused phobia protocol (1–4 sessions) | £150–£600 | 4–6 hours total | 1–4 weeks |
| Smoking cessation (1–2 sessions) | £150–£350 | 90–120 min | 1–2 weeks |
| HypnoBirthing antenatal course (4–5 sessions, couple) | £280–£500 | 10–15 hours | 4–5 weeks |
| Self-hypnosis coaching (single session + audio) | £90–£180 | 60 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by therapist, by location (London tends to sit at the top of the range), by whether the work is in person or by video, and by the length of the protocol. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
Hypnotherapy is unregulated. That is the problem.
Anyone in the UK can call themselves a hypnotherapist without training. That is why the same word covers a NICE-endorsed IBS protocol and a weekend-course stage act. We only work with registered clinicians.
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Not sure it will help?
For IBS, phobias, anxiety and pain, the evidence is real. For weight loss and personality change, less so. We tell you which is which.
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Worried about the therapist?
CNHC, BSCAH, GHR or NCH — we only introduce therapists on one of these registers, verifiable in public.
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Want it done properly?
A structured protocol, an audio for home practice, and a clear end point. Not endless open-ended sessions.
The journey
From enquiry to discharge — what happens, in order.
One therapist from first message to maintenance plan — with home-practice audio to consolidate the work between sessions.
Phase 1 · Before your sessions
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · In session
In person or by video
Phase 3 · After
Maintenance plan
- 01
Before
You tell us what you want to change
A short, confidential form. The problem, how long it has been going on, what you have already tried.
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Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: the right therapist, whether hypnotherapy is a fit at all, an indicative price and number of sessions.
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Before
We arrange the first appointment
Usually within one to two weeks. In person in London or by video across the UK — whichever suits.
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In session
First session — history and goals
60 to 90 minutes. A full history, agreed goals, a clear explanation of what hypnosis is and is not, and often a first light induction.
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In session
The therapeutic sessions
45 to 60 minutes each. Induction, focused suggestion tailored to your goal, and re-alerting. You remain aware and in control throughout.
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In session
Home practice between sessions
A self-hypnosis recording to use daily. Ten minutes at home is often where the change quietly consolidates.
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After
Review, taper and discharge
Progress is reviewed, sessions taper, and a self-hypnosis plan is left with you for maintenance. Booster sessions if needed.
Typical end-to-end: 4–12 weeks for most goals. Gut-directed IBS: 10–14 weeks.
When it helps
Where clinical hypnotherapy earns its place.
The indications with evidence behind them — and the ones we do not offer, because the evidence is against them.
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Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
NICE lists gut-directed hypnotherapy as an option where diet and first-line treatment have not worked. The Manchester Model has the strongest evidence.
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Specific phobias
Spider, dental, flying, needle. Often resolved in one to four focused sessions using desensitisation under hypnosis.
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Anxiety and exam performance
Generalised worry, presentation nerves, test anxiety and sports performance — all respond well to ego-strengthening and rehearsal under hypnosis.
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Chronic pain (adjunct)
NICE NG193 lists hypnotherapy among the options for chronic primary pain, alongside CBT and acupuncture.
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Smoking cessation
Cochrane evidence is weak to moderate — worth trying as one option, especially alongside NRT or varenicline.
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Insomnia (adjunct to CBT-I)
Wind-down suggestion and self-hypnosis audio, layered on top of cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia.
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HypnoBirthing / antenatal
Katharine Graves and Mongan-method antenatal courses for calmer, more confident labour and delivery.
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Red flag: unsafe uses
Recovered memory therapy and past-life regression have no evidence base and can cause harm — we do not offer them.
Types of hypnotherapy
Not one thing — several distinct protocols.
Each option is a defined protocol with an evidence base and an end point — not open-ended sessions billed indefinitely.
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Gut-directed hypnotherapy (IBS)
Twelve structured sessions on the Manchester Model, targeting gut sensitivity and the brain-gut axis. The most evidenced use of hypnosis in the UK.
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Focused phobia work
A short protocol — one to four sessions — for spider, dental, flying, needle and other specific phobias. Often decisive.
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Anxiety and performance
Ego-strengthening, mental rehearsal and self-hypnosis for exams, interviews, presentations and sport.
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Chronic pain adjunct
Not a stand-alone cure. Layered onto pain-management plans to reduce distress, improve sleep and shift the pain experience.
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Smoking cessation
One or two sessions targeting the habit loop. Best combined with nicotine replacement or medication.
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HypnoBirthing / antenatal
Structured four to five session antenatal course for the couple — breathing, imagery and self-hypnosis for labour.
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Habit and skin conditions
Nail-biting, trichotillomania, and the scratch cycle in chronic urticaria or eczema — where a psychosomatic loop maintains the problem.
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Self-hypnosis coaching
A single session that leaves you with a personalised audio and a technique you can use for life. No commitment to more.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of clinical hypnotherapists, we picked them.
Registered therapists in London and across the UK — video sessions bridge the gap. Not listed publicly — introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every therapist in our network.
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Registered with CNHC, BSCAH, GHR or NCH — not self-styled
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Clinical training appropriate to the indication (BSCAH for healthcare-professional referrals)
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Evidence-based practice — no recovered-memory work or past-life regression
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Trauma-informed, and honest about when hypnotherapy is not the right tool
Safety and expectations
What hypnotherapy is — and, honestly, what it is not.
Hypnosis is fundamentally safe. The things worth understanding are the contraindications, the myths, and the red flags that tell you a therapist is not the right one.
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You are not asleep and not controlled
Hypnosis is focused attention with heightened suggestibility. You remain aware, in control, and can end the session at any moment.
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A hypnotherapist is voluntarily regulated
Anyone in the UK can call themselves a hypnotherapist without training. We only work with therapists on CNHC, BSCAH, GHR or NCH — verify the register.
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Home practice matters
Ten minutes a day with the self-hypnosis audio is where most of the change consolidates. Skipping it halves the result.
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Sessions are 45–90 minutes
Long enough for induction, therapeutic work and gentle re-alerting. Most clients feel deeply relaxed and clear-headed afterwards.
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Abreaction is uncommon but managed
An unexpected emotional release can occur — a trained therapist recognises and contains it safely. This is one reason training matters.
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Contraindications exist
Active psychosis, unmanaged severe personality disorder, deep dissociation and acute intoxication are relative contraindications. We screen for these before booking.
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No miracle-cure claims
Hypnosis works for specific problems, in specific people, in a specific way. Anyone promising a guaranteed cure is not the therapist you want.
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False memory — a real risk if misused
The British Psychological Society warns against recovered-memory work under hypnosis. We do not offer it, and neither should anyone else.
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Red flags
A therapist off any register, personality-change claims, past-life regression, or pressure to buy long packages upfront are all reasons to walk away.
Reading your therapy notes
Your therapy summary in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whatever the protocol, the summary the therapist sends you at the end of a course keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Therapy language can be jargon-heavy — we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the summary before you decide on maintenance, just ask.
- 01 Header
Presenting problem and goals
The problem you came with, in your own words — and the concrete, measurable goal the sessions are aimed at.
- 02 Approach
Model and techniques used
Which model — gut-directed, ego-strengthening, desensitisation, mental rehearsal — and the specific inductions and suggestions used with you.
- 03 Progress
Session-by-session progress and home practice
What shifted between sessions, how home practice went, and any adjustments to the plan.
- 04 Impression
Outcome, maintenance and when to return
Read this first: what has changed, your self-hypnosis maintenance plan, and when a booster session would be sensible.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for clinical hypnotherapy varies by insurer and by indication — some fund it as part of psychological therapy or IBS pathways, most treat it as self-pay. We confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about hypnotherapy.
Quick answers on regulation, evidence, cost and what actually happens in a session.
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Is clinical hypnotherapy the same as stage hypnosis?
No. Stage hypnosis selects a highly suggestible volunteer for entertainment. Clinical hypnotherapy is a structured therapy — a focused attentional state used to deliver evidence-based suggestion for a specific goal. You are aware, in control, and cannot be made to do anything against your values.
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Does hypnotherapy actually work?
For some things, well — gut-directed hypnotherapy for IBS has the strongest evidence and is endorsed by NICE. Specific phobias, exam anxiety, chronic pain adjunct and habit work also have reasonable support. For other uses (weight loss, personality change) the evidence is weak — we tell you which is which.
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Is hypnotherapy regulated in the UK?
Voluntarily. There is no statutory register — anyone can call themselves a hypnotherapist. Check practitioners against CNHC (government-recognised voluntary register), BSCAH (for healthcare professionals), GHR or NCH. We only work with therapists on one of these registers.
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How many sessions will I need?
A specific phobia often resolves in one to four sessions. Smoking cessation is usually one or two. Anxiety and performance work sits around four to eight. Gut-directed hypnotherapy for IBS is a twelve-session protocol. Complex problems may need twenty or more.
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How much does private hypnotherapy cost in London?
An initial assessment is £90–£180. Standard sessions are £70–£150. A full gut-directed IBS course is £900–£1,800. A phobia protocol is £150–£600 in total. HypnoBirthing courses are £280–£500 per couple.
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Can hypnotherapy help with IBS?
Yes — gut-directed hypnotherapy using the Manchester Model is one of the best-evidenced psychological treatments for IBS, and NICE lists it as an option when first-line treatment has not worked. Response rates in trials are around 70 per cent, sustained at follow-up.
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Is hypnotherapy safe?
For most people, yes — it is fundamentally safe. Rare risks include transient headache or dizziness, and unexpected emotional release (abreaction), which a trained therapist manages. It is not appropriate in active psychosis or unmanaged severe dissociation, which is why screening matters.
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Can I be made to do or say anything against my will?
No. Hypnosis does not override your values, and you cannot be made to reveal or do anything you do not want to. If a suggestion did not fit, you would simply not accept it — or you would open your eyes and stop the session.
Related treatments
Looking for something else?
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Cognitive behavioural therapy
Structured talking therapy for anxiety, depression and more.
Learn more -
IBS
Gut-directed hypnotherapy is one option — the full picture.
Learn more -
Counselling
Open-ended talking therapy with a registered counsellor.
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All tests and procedures
Every test and procedure we arrange.
Learn more