headfirst_hypnotherapy

29/01/2026

✨ A quick hello & a heads-up

Hello and thank you for being here 👋

Whether you’ve followed recently or have been around for a while, I really appreciate you being part of this space.

I just wanted to share a small update.

Due to ongoing demand, I’ll shortly be operating a waitlist for new hypnotherapy clients.

If working together is something you’ve been considering, even just in the background - now might be a good time to get in touch.

www.headfirsthypnotherapy.co.uk

As always, there’s no pressure. Just an opportunity to explore whether it feels like the right next step for you.

All the best

Andy

Ready to feel better and cope better with life’s pressures? Book your Initial Consultation or Discovery Session with Andy and take a confident first step.

28/01/2026

Have you ever noticed your body not responding the way you expect when you’re under pressure?

You might feel tense, shut down, disconnected, or unable to perform in moments that really matter - even though you know you’re capable. It can be confusing and frustrating, and often leads people to blame themselves.

In my latest article in Hypnotherapy Directory - 'When the body doesn’t respond under pressure', I explore why this happens, and why it’s not a personal failure. It’s often the nervous system doing its best to protect you, even when that response isn’t helpful.

📖 You can read the article here:
https://www.hypnotherapy-directory.org.uk/articles/when-the-body-doesnt-respond-under-pressure

If this resonates, you’re not alone, and there are supportive ways to help your body respond differently over time.

Learn why pressure affects the body so strongly, and how the nervous system shapes how we respond in moments that matter.

16/01/2026

A natural evolution of my practice ✨

My hypnotherapy practice has grown steadily over the past few years, and I’m incredibly grateful that much of this continues to come through recommendations and word-of-mouth.

Alongside hypnotherapy, my work has continued to expand and deepen, with additional counselling training shaping the way I support clients.

From April 2026, counselling will formally become part of my service as I qualify as a pluralistic psychotherapeutic counsellor / psychotherapist, after 5 years of training and placement.

As the practice has evolved, it’s felt important to create more space for this work and to offer clients choice around setting and location, depending on what feels right for them.

My Upper Heyford therapy space remains my main base, where I work on other days, and I continue to offer online sessions as well with the UK and Internationally.

From February, I’m also really pleased to share that I’ll be working from an additional wellbeing location:

Body Performance Therapy Centre
Based at The Hatchery, Middle Aston
Tuesdays & Thursday.

I’ve been drawn to The Hatchery for some time - the people, the businesses, and the sense of wellbeing community there feel genuinely aligned with how I work and the direction my practice is naturally taking.

This step feels like a calm, considered next chapter - not a change in direction, just more ways to support people.

I’m looking forward to working alongside some brilliant businesses and practitioners here!

16/01/2026

A little re-introduction 👋

If you’re new here — or you’ve been quietly following for a while — I’m Andy.

I’m a Solution-Focused Hypnotherapist based near Bicester, working in person and online with adults and young people aged 16+.

I support people who feel stuck in unhelpful thinking patterns — when the mind won’t switch off, emotions feel harder to manage, or confidence and motivation feel knocked. Often life looks fine on the outside, but internally it feels effortful or out of balance.

The areas I most commonly support include:
• anxiety, overthinking and worry
• low mood and motivation
• stress, overwhelm and burnout
• confidence and self-belief
• emotional and behavioural patterns that keep repeating

My work is calm, practical, and forward-focused.
We don’t analyse the past endlessly - instead we focus on helping the brain settle, loosen unhelpful patterns, and build new, more supportive ways of thinking and responding over time.

If you’ve been noticing that things feel harder than they should - or you’re ready for something to shift - this approach may be a good fit.

👉 The best place to start is an Initial Consultation.

This is a relaxed, one-to-one session where we look at what’s been going on, what you’d like to feel different, and whether Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy feels right for you.

You can book directly via my website, or message me if you’d like to ask a quick question first.

Sometimes it’s not about fixing -it’s about creating space, clarity, and steadier ground to move forward from.

https://www.headfirsthypnotherapy.co.uk/hypnotherapy-discovery-session-bicester-oxfordshire

Andy

Book an initial consultation with HeadFirst Hypnotherapy to explore support for anxiety, stress and low mood in a friendly, non judgemental setting.

08/01/2026

Why reassurance doesn’t switch health anxiety off!

If you live with health anxiety, you might recognise this cycle:

A sensation or physical change appears → worry rises → reassurance helps… briefly → then the doubt returns.

Health anxiety isn’t about imagining symptoms. Anxiety changes how the body feels and keeps the nervous system on high alert, even after reassurance is given.

I’ve written a short blog exploring why reassurance brings only temporary relief, why the body can feel so convincing when anxiety is high, and what actually helps the nervous system settle instead.

If you’ve ever thought “why doesn’t this stop once I’ve been told I’m fine?”, this may help things make more sense.

👇 Read the article below:

Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy is a complementary approach for emotional wellbeing and does not replace medical or psychological care.

Struggling with health anxiety and constant reassurance-seeking? Learn why anxiety creates physical symptoms, why reassurance doesn’t last, and how calming the nervous system can help. Support available in Upper Heyford, nr Bicester, Oxfordshire or online.

08/12/2025

Happy Holidays ✨

Thank you so much for your support this year. I’m not taking on any new clients until early in the New Year, but if you’d like to work together in 2026, please feel free to join my waitlist.

My hours will be slightly amended next year with limited evening appointments and earlier daytime sessions.

Wishing you a peaceful and restorative festive season.

Andy - HeadFirst Hypnotherapy 🎄

10/11/2025

Understanding Adult ADHD and How Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy Can Support You

🧠 ADHD isn’t just about distraction - it’s about wiring.

When I was diagnosed with ADHD at 45, it suddenly made sense why my brain worked the way it did - full of ideas, energy and creativity, but sometimes overwhelmed by too many tabs open at once.

In my latest blog, I explore the neuroscience behind ADHD and share how Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy (SFH) can support adults with ADHD to feel calmer, more focused, and confident.

✨ Here’s how SFH can help:

✅ It quietens the busy mind - activating the brain’s relaxation response to reduce overwhelm.
✅ It builds focus and motivation - using solution-focused techniques that encourage small, achievable wins (great for the ADHD reward system).
✅ It supports emotional regulation - helping you feel more balanced and resilient day to day.
✅ It strengthens confidence and self-belief - shifting focus from “what’s wrong” to “what’s working.”

SFH works by helping you retrain your brain to access calmer, more resourceful states, building neural pathways that support long-term change and emotional wellbeing.

I offer in-person sessions from my garden therapy room in Upper Heyford, near Bicester, Oxfordshire, and online hypnotherapy across the UK and beyond.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in cycles of distraction, procrastination, or self-doubt, this blog may help you see your brain differently - and remind you that change is possible.

➡️ Read the full blog below
👉 https://www.headfirsthypnotherapy.co.uk/blog/adhd-solution-focused-hypnotherapy-oxfordshire

✨ Supporting adults and teens (16+) across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire and online to find calm, confidence and clarity.

Struggling with focus, overwhelm, or a constantly busy brain? Discover how Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy can support adults with ADHD to feel calmer, more motivated, and in control. Oxfordshire hypnotherapist Andy Selway-Woolley shares his personal ADHD journey and the neuroscience behind focus, con

07/11/2025

Sometimes I feel heavy about how much noise there is about success.
Everyone talking about growth, hustle, levelling up - like it means you’re doing something wrong when it’s not as intense as this.

When I changed careers, it was never about that.
I just wanted to support people every day and feel proud of the work I was doing.
That’s always been enough for me. Learning, growing, being qualified..

But living with ADHD means my brain doesn’t always see it that way.
It thrives on momentum - new ideas, big plans, the next project.
It’s exciting, but also exhausting.
Because when my brain’s chasing the next thing, it forgets to notice what’s already working.

And that’s the danger, isn’t it?
When you’re always chasing, gratitude never gets a chance to land.
It’s like the goalposts keep moving, and no one ever stops to ask, what if this is already good?

I don’t want my life to be about constant striving.
I want it to feel steady.
Grounded.
Content.

Because if gratitude never lands, success starts to feel pretty empty. Then it becomes all about the show… 🤷‍♂️

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.