headfirst_hypnotherapy

17/10/2025

✨ Our is growing ✨ - Are you coming? 🍁 We’ve gone all pumpkin spice latte and LOVING IT!! 🎃

At our launch last month, over 40 holistic health + wellbeing practitioners came together - the energy, the connections, the conversations… it felt like something powerful had been seeded. 🌱

Now, we’re inviting you to our next event!

On Thursday 23rd October, 10.30am–12.30pm, the Oxfordshire Wellbeing Circle will gather for our very first Netwalk. 🍂

A gentle 30-45 minute walk in the autumn air, where the rhythm of our steps and the changing colours of the season invite us to arrive more fully in the moment.

Together we’ll walk, pause, and notice - letting conversation flow as naturally as the landscape around us. 🌿

📩 To join us:

Full details are sent to our members via our mailing list, which will be sent this week.

If you’re not on our mailing list (yet!) - DM us at today and we’ll send you the link to join.

We’ll also gather indoors either side of the walk for warm introductions, deeper conversations and connection that nourishes as much as it expands ☕️🧣

And here’s the best part 👇

This community is **FREE** to be part of.

It’s also inclusive of all people, all genders, and all backgrounds - because we grow stronger as a diverse community, not by hiding in silos. As health & wellbeing practitioners it should run through our 🧬 🙌

✨ Practical Notes: Dress for autumn 🍂, wear comfortable shoes 🥾, and bring water.

This isn’t “networking” in the traditional sense.

It’s about creating a space where you feel nourished as much as you give. Where collaboration happens naturally.

Where visibility grows through genuine connection. 🌟

Spaces are limited - and after the momentum of our launch, they won’t last long. So keep an eye on your emails 👀

If you’re a holistic health or wellbeing professional in Oxfordshire (or nearby counties)… this is your invitation to step inside the circle. 🌱

Because together, we’re building something nourishing, inclusive, and expansive. 🌿

Are you coming? 🍁.

Feel free to share our Instagram with your holistic health & wellbeing connections!

16/10/2025

💜 The Hummingbird Centre, based in Launton (near Bicester, Oxfordshire), is a warm and welcoming charity offering free support to anyone affected by cancer — whether you’re living with a diagnosis yourself, or supporting a loved one. From counselling and complementary therapies to groups and social activities, it’s a safe space where no one has to go through cancer alone.



💬 We know men don’t always find it easy to reach out for support – and yet, when the space feels right, it can make a world of difference.

That’s why The Hummingbird Centre has launched this new group, offering men who are living with cancer or supporting someone with cancer a safe, welcoming place to connect.

🗓 The group meets on the first Monday of each month, 6–8pm at The Hummingbird Centre, Launton.

➡️ If you or someone you know could benefit from this space, please do share this with them. The group is here to listen, to support, and to grow together.

08/10/2025

🌿 100 Hours of Counselling Completed 🌿

This week I reached an important milestone in my counselling training - completing 100 client hours at .

It has been (and continues to be) such a privilege to walk alongside people on their journey and to share in those moments of trust and courage. Every session has been a reminder of the resilience and humanity we all carry.

The Hummingbird Centre is a warm, welcoming space in Launton, nr Bicester that provides free emotional, social, and therapeutic support for anyone affected by cancer - whether directly or through a loved one. With counselling, complementary therapies, creative workshops, and supportive groups (including our men’s group), the Centre offers a safe place where guests can relax, connect, and find strength in community.

Although my placement hours are now complete, I’m really pleased to say I’ll continue to volunteer at the Centre as a trainee counsellor, and keep supporting / facilitating our amazing new men’s group, which takes place on the first Monday of each month from 6–8pm.

I’m hugely grateful to the incredible team at The Hummingbird Centre for all their support, and to the wonderful guests I’ve had the privilege of getting to know and continue to see each week.

It truly is a special place. 💙

20/09/2025

Call local Holistic Health & Wellbeing Practitioners, and Arts & Crafts Facilitators! 🌿 (we would also love you to share this post) 🙏

Are you based in Oxfordshire and surrounding and could you volunteer a one-off session (or more) at , a local cancer charity in Launton, nr Bicester, Oxfordshire? 💜

Hi, it’s Andy from - Co-Founder of the

I’ve been volunteering at The Hummingbird Centre for over a year as part of my counselling placement, and it’s become very close to my heart. 💜

The Centre is a local cancer support charity offering a safe, welcoming space for people going through cancer, or supporting someone close to them.

thehummingbirdcentre.org.uk

We already offer guests a variety of holistic wellbeing sessions - but we’re always looking for more practitioners and creatives so we can increase the range and frequency of what’s available, as we continue to support more and more people. Expanding what we offer also means we can bring greater variety to meet different guest needs.

✨ We’d love to hear from qualified and accredited practitioners who can offer wellbeing sessions in areas such as (but not limited to):

Relaxation, reiki, yoga, mindfulness, breathwork, massage, hypnotherapy etc

or maybe you can support with...

Arts, crafts, and creative activities etc

or maybe papering treatments - nails, skin, facials etc.

or provide...

Gentle educational or supportive sessions to help guests and families on the cancer journey (e.g. stress reduction, resilience, lifestyle support) etc

💡 This isn’t an ongoing commitment unless you’d like to discuss continuing - even a single session can bring comfort, connection, and joy to guests and their families.

If you’re interested, drop me a DM here and I’ll connect you with the Centre team.

Let’s bring our wellbeing community together to support theirs. 💜

We are open Tuesday-Friday from 10am.

15/09/2025

📰 A little surprise!

I wrote this article for the NCPS (National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society) professional student magazine over a year ago… and only just realised it was published last year. 😅

The NCPS is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counsellors and psychotherapists, and it feels like a milestone to see my work included in their magazine.

In the piece, I share my journey from Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy into Person-Centred Counselling - and how both approaches have shaped the way I practise today. 🌱

Sometimes you forget how far you’ve come until you look back.

14/09/2025

Ever scrolled Instagram and thought…
wow, they’re supporting people?

But have you ever asked what’s behind it? 🤔
Because real support isn’t just captions, clever words and marketing fluff
It’s about training.
It’s about ethics.
It’s about accountability.

And here’s my why.
I’ve always been drawn to supporting people, whether in HR, in hospitals, in education or with the elderly.
During lockdown I reached out for therapy myself, and that experience reshaped how I saw myself and others.
It showed me the power of having a space where you don’t have to fit a mould, where you can just be you.
That’s why I chose this path.

For me, this isn’t a side hustle.
I’m now in year five of counselling training which means placements, regular supervision and being continuously challenged in my practice.

With hypnotherapy, I’m bound by professional associations to complete ongoing CPD and have monthly supervision.
Because learning and accountability never stop.

This is evidence-based therapy, rooted in training and accountability - not just clever marketing or surface-level promises.

When you choose support, it’s worth asking what it’s really built on.

And yes, you’ll find me here on Instagram.
Do I want to be on social media every day? Not really.
But I run a business, and showing up online is part of that.
It’s a necessary evil in many ways.

What matters, though, is what happens off screen.
Most of the time I’m in my therapy room actually supporting people.

You won’t see me at every networking event.
You won’t see me filling my diary with endless one to ones.
To all you social media gurus - yes, I don’t show up half as much as I should on various platforms.

My priority is making sure I’m grounded, well and energised so that when I’m with my clients, they get the best of me. 🌿

That’s the foundation I stand on when I say I support people.
Not flashy words. Not quick fixes.

Just safe, ethical, grounded support centred on you. 💙

11/09/2025

Stress and worry can keep the brain stuck in survival mode — shrinking the calm, learning parts and over-activating the fear circuits.

But here’s the good news: positive focus, compassion, and connection literally guide your brain to grow in healthier directions. 🧠💡

This is neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to rewire itself. And it’s exactly what we nurture in Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy:
🌿 calming the nervous system
🌿 focusing on small wins and future goals
🌿 rehearsing confidence + resilience in trance

Every session is like giving your brain a chance to practise flourishing.
You’re not fixed. You’re adaptable. You’re the sculptor.

—
🔗 Curious about how SFH could support you? I offer sessions here in Oxfordshire (Upper Heyford, Bicester) and online across the UK and beyond. Book your Initial Consultation today.

04/09/2025

🧠 New Blog: Why Does the Brain Always Need Something to Worry About? 🧠

Ever notice how your mind keeps finding something new to stress about - even when things are going well? That’s not weakness. It’s how the brain is wired for survival. But when worry takes over, it can leave you stuck in a loop of stress, overthinking, and exhaustion.

In the blog, you’ll discover:
✨ Why your brain scans for danger, even when you’re safe
✨ How the “default mode network” keeps worry ticking in the background
✨ Why stress blocks clarity and calm
✨ How Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy helps rewire worry into resilience

I’m Andy Selway-Woolley (he/him), a Clinical Solution-Focused Hypnotherapist based in Upper Heyford, near Bicester, Oxfordshire. I also offer online sessions across the UK and internationally, giving you flexible access to support wherever you are.

Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy blends gentle trance with future-focused conversation. Instead of fighting worry, it helps your brain create new patterns - building calm, clarity, and confidence step by step.

👉 Read the full blog now to learn why your brain worries and how hypnotherapy can help you break the cycle. If you’re ready to stop being ruled by “what ifs” and start feeling more in control, book a short introductory call today.

📍 In-person: Upper Heyford, near Bicester, Oxfordshire (easy access from Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire)

💻 Online: UK-wide and international

Does your mind keep jumping to worry? Neuroscience shows we’re wired for overthinking - but Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy helps retrain the brain for calm, focus, and resilience.

04/09/2025

💷 Did you know your Health Cash Plan could cover hypnotherapy? 💷

So many people put off getting support because of the cost. But if you have a health cash plan through your employer or personal policy, you may not need to.

At HeadFirst Hypnotherapy (Upper Heyford, near Bicester, Oxfordshire), I’m delighted to highlight how these schemes can make it easier to access professional Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy - whether online or in person.

With many health cash plans, you can claim back part, or even all of your hypnotherapy session costs by submitting a valid receipt, making wellbeing support far more affordable and accessible.

Health cash plans often reimburse everyday therapies like hypnotherapy up to a set annual limit. Providers that frequently cover CNHC-registered hypnotherapists include:
✨ Paycare
✨ Westfield Health
✨ Health Shield
✨ And others — though you should always check your own policy

At HeadFirst, you’ll receive a full invoice compliant with most schemes, and I can add any details your provider requires.

You can choose the flexible option of online hypnotherapy, ideal for busy professionals, remote workers, or anyone across the UK and internationally. Alternatively, sessions take place in my private garden-room therapy space in Upper Heyford, conveniently located for Bicester, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, and Warwickshire.

👉 Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy combines positive talking therapy with gentle trance to reduce stress, improve sleep, build confidence, and quieten intrusive thoughts — without needing to revisit the past.

📍 In-person sessions: Upper Heyford, near Bicester, Oxfordshire (nearby counties: Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire)

💻 Online sessions: UK-wide and international

✨ Don’t wait to make a change - check your health cash plan today and see if your sessions could be covered. Your momentum can start now.

Many UK health cash plans cover hypnotherapy as part of employee benefits and flexible benefit schemes. Discover which UK providers reimburse therapy costs, average allowances, and how employees, HR professionals, and busy professionals can use cash plans to claim back online hypnotherapy for stress

04/09/2025

🌈 LGBTQIA+ Affirming Hypnotherapy 🌈

Finding an inclusive therapist who truly understands and celebrates your identity can sometimes feel daunting. That’s why I’ve written a new blog on LGBTQIA+ affirming hypnotherapy — exploring how Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy can support people across the spectrum of identities, including gay, le***an, bisexual, trans, q***r, non-binary, pansexual, asexual, and questioning clients.

In the blog, I share how this approach can support you with:
✨ Coming out anxiety and self-expression
✨ Building dating and relationship confidence
✨ Reducing stress and low mood linked to minority stress
✨ Strengthening self-esteem and self-acceptance

I’m Andy, a qualified hypnotherapist based in Bicester, Oxfordshire, and I’m also part of the LGBTQIA+ community myself. I understand how important it is to have a safe, affirming space where you can feel seen and supported without judgement.

I offer sessions both in-person in Oxfordshire (easily accessible from Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, and the Cotswolds) and online across the UK and internationally.

Wherever you are, you can access support that fits into your life. Sessions are welcoming, future-focused, and designed to help you feel calmer, clearer, and more confident in yourself.

👉 Read the full blog now to discover more about LGBTQIA+ affirming hypnotherapy and how it could support you. If it feels right, you’re welcome to book a short introductory call to ask questions before arranging a Discovery Session.

📍 In-person sessions: Bicester, Oxfordshire (nearby counties: Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Cotswolds)
💻 Online sessions: UK-wide and international

Explore LGBTQIA+ affirming hypnotherapy - safe, inclusive support for gay, le***an, bisexual, trans, q***r, non-binary, pansexual, asexual and questioning people. Available online UK-wide and in Oxfordshire, Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy helps reduce anxiety, ease coming out stress, boost dating and