Oakes-Wilson Hypnotherapy

24/06/2025

It is often argued that it is what we do that counts, not what we think.

The thing is, in the privacy of our own mind, we allow ourselves to think whatever we like. 🤔
Maybe because we do not realise that our thoughts eventually become part of our belief system.
Moreover, our negative thoughts accumulate and are stored; in hypnotherapy we call this collection of negative thoughts our ‘stress bucket’.
Each negative thought is like another drop in that bucket.
When it overflows - that’s when we begin to feel rising anxiety, disturbed sleep, or that constant feeling of inner tension.
If this is something you’ve been experiencing, I’d like you to know that you can change it - and it starts with awareness.

The first step is simply to become more observant of your self-talk: the words you say to ourselves, the tone you use, and the way they make you feel.
You will notice that when you start paying gentle attention to your inner dialogue, certain patterns will emerge.
And from here, small but powerful shifts can begin because what you say to yourself - matters 💛

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Hi, I’m Silvia. If you've found this helpful follow me for more on overcoming anxiety and procrastination, building confidence and achieving emotional freedom.

11/06/2025

When I was about ten, I got my first pair of tennis rackets. 🎾

I remember playing for hours with friends in the street or on my own, whacking the ball against the wall. I used to love it.

I didn’t know the rules, but I was fast and good at hitting the ball back.

During summertime, we kids would play at the tennis courts by the beach.

I can still recall the softness of the surface, the smell of the clay that was crumbling in places, and the pine trees giving us shade. ☀️

One summer, a local coach spotted me and offered to train me - but my mum declined. It would have cost her too much. 💰
I remember the excitement of being seen and then the dampening realisation that money was the barrier.

A few years later, something similar happened with dance.
I took the first course, loved it, and was ready to sign up for the second but my mum said she wanted to save the money for something else.

I remember leaning on the windowsill that warm evening, watching some of the kids from the course walk past my house.

I felt like running through the door and out into the street to join them but there was nothing I could do.

These memories resurfaced years later, watching others excel at sports or dance. I’d quietly think, I missed my boat. ⛵
Opportunities lost. Potential unfulfilled.

Moments like these can shape our lives - and sometimes, without realising it, they can become self-fulfilling prophecies. We tell ourselves it’s too late, we’re too old, you learn best when you’re young. But the truth is, back then I was too young to make those decisions. Someone else made them for me.

But now, I’m free to decide for myself.

I have no excuse not to show up for that younger version of me.

So I did. I searched for some tennis courses in Bristol and last night, I had my first session.

I had such a good time.

I know my younger self did, too.

Who knows - maybe it was all part of the plan?

Maybe if things had gone differently, I wouldn't be a therapist, sharing this with you?

P.S. Is there something you’ve always wanted to pursue but felt like you needed someone else's permission? Maybe this is your sign. ⭐

09/06/2025

This work is different.
It’s more like a reset. A return to yourself.

It’s not about digging endlessly into the past - it’s about moving forward with clarity and confidence.
Because therapy isn’t just about understanding what happened.
It’s about creating space for what’s next - for how you want things to be.
So if something’s been holding you back...maybe it’s time to explore something different?

In my sessions, we get to the heart of things and begin to shift them gently, often from the very first meeting.
I use a blend of BWRT and solution-focused hypnotherapy, tailored to you.
Your story, your pace, your goals.
This approach is gentle, empowering, and often surprisingly fast.

✨ You don’t have to do this alone.
✨ It doesn’t have to take a long time.

Whether you’re experiencing anxiety, procrastination, looking to build confidence and achieve emotional freedom - I’m here to support you every step of the way.
If this speaks to you, I’d love to help.
Message me directly to book your free discovery call.
If you find this valuable and know someone who might be ready for a change - feel free to share. It might just be what they need to hear.

03/06/2025

Sometimes we wait for the perfect moment.
But very often, the moment we choose ourselves is the one that changes everything.
I see this time and time again - in my practice, in the stories of those I work with, and in my own life.
That moment of decision, when you choose to stop waiting for life to line up perfectly and instead start leaning into your own healing, is often the most powerful shift of all.

The thing is, we all have times when we hesitate.
We tell ourselves, ‘I’ll start when I feel more ready... when I’m less stressed... when I have more money’.
But deep down, we know that readiness rarely comes from outside circumstances.

It comes from within.
It begins with a decision to honour ourselves.
It's a quiet whisper that says, ‘I want something different', followed by a small but significant step.
That could mean reaching out for support, booking that first session, or simply admitting to yourself that something needs to change.
In my work with clients, I’ve witnessed remarkable transformations that begin from that simple yet profound place of choice.

When you choose yourself, you give yourself permission to grow, to heal, and to reconnect with the part of you that already knows the way forward.
It might not always feel easy - but it will certainly feel true.
And from that truth, change begins.
If any part of you has been waiting for a sign - this is it.
You just need to be willing.
That’s all it takes to start creating something new.
If this speaks to you, I’d love to walk alongside you.
Message me if you feel ready to explore the next step.

29/05/2025

I chose not to burn it. 🔥
I sat down to write… and this came through.
A reminder to myself and maybe to you?

25/05/2025

This time last week, I was at the stunning De Vere Wokefield Estate, surrounded by this amazing group of people.
I had the honour of presenting my case study, showcasing a client who broke free from procrastination and overwhelm - and stepped into confidence and calm in just six sessions.

But there’s more - my client (let’s call him Mark) not only got on top of things personally and professionally, but was also entrusted with managing a £1 million project by his company!

If you’re reading this and experiencing anxiety, self-doubt, or wondering whether things can get better - my answer is: yes, they can. And it all starts from the inside out.

We often define ourselves by our current circumstances or the things we've been told growing up. And what about those beliefs? They’ve often been shaped by other people’s limitations - and simply passed down. Sometimes, when you're in it, it can be hard to see it clearly. But the way you feel deep inside says it all - you know there's way more to what you're experiencing now. It's just about finding the way to get there.

Surround yourself with the right people - those who believe in you, challenge you, help you grow, and reflect back all that you’re capable of. You’ll know who they are. And if you haven’t found them yet - go looking. The right people will change your life.

My own life began to shift when I committed to my personal development journey and started learning from some of today’s most brilliant minds - one of them especially being Terence Watts, the founder of BWRT®.

Being part of the BWRT Congress and learning from fellow practitioners has been incredibly inspiring. It reminded me how much more I can give, become, and create - both for myself and the people I work with.
I've already signed up for two more CPDs because growth never stops. 🌱

Who's inspiring you to be your best self?

20/05/2025

What an amazing weekend at the 8th Annual BWRT® World Congress!
Presenting my case study - a six-session transformation from self-doubt and procrastination to confidence, calm, and a completely new relationship with food - was an incredible experience.
Seeing the response and connection from others reminded me why I do this work. The energy, the insights, the stories of change - it was amazing to witness what’s possible when we combine neuroscience, compassion, and the right therapeutic tools.
Huge thanks to everyone who presented, organised, and attended - sharing space with you was truly humbling and empowering at once.
Here’s to new friendships made and many more congresses to come!

18/05/2025

✨ It’s the 8th Annual BWRT World Congress this weekend and I'm honoured to be one of the presenters! 🔇

I’ll be sharing a case study that highlights the journey from self-doubt, procrastination and an unhealthy relationship with food - to confidence, self-worth and a new way of being in just six sessions.

I’m so looking forward to learning even more about what’s possible in the world of therapy from fellow practitioners and continuing to support my clients in becoming the very best version of themselves. ⭐

P.S. Photos coming up soon! Here's a little blast from the past while I was running my workshop 'Mastering Mindset and Mental Resilience.'

06/05/2025

Remember when you believed you could fly?
When confidence came naturally and the world felt full of possibility?
Somewhere along the way, fear crept in - but it wasn’t always there...

No, we were not born with fear. We learned it.
Every fear we carry is a learned response, shaped by experiences, messages, and moments that left their mark. 💔

And because the brain 🧠 is naturally wired to be vigilant and cautious, it starts scanning for more of the same… constantly looking for evidence. 🔍

The more we worry, the more those patterns take hold - becoming automatic, ingrained, and harder to notice. Like a quiet loop running in the background.

But here’s the good news: just as fear is learned, it can be unlearned.
When we become aware of our responses and decide to create new ways of being, we open up the space for something new to take root. ✨

And the best part? You can learn to do this, too.
So if you ever thought ‘I want to move forward but I don’t know where to start…’
This is your starting point.
DM me and I’ll answer any questions you may have, and together we’ll craft a plan to help you succeed.

02/05/2025

Big news! 🎉 I've been invited to present at the 8th Annual BWRT® World Congress 🌏
I’ll be sharing a case study that’s very close to my heart - one that shows how just six sessions helped a client move from years of disordered eating and deep-rooted self-doubt to rediscovering confidence, ease, and a new way of being.

It's a true privilege to be able to contribute to the growing 🚀conversation around transformation and to share what's possible in the world of therapy and personal development.
I had the chance to speak more about this journey in a recent interview - you can read it below if you feel drawn to learn more.

As we count down to the 8th Annual BWRT® World Congress, we’re shining a light on some of the dedicated practitioners who are driving change - not only in their clients' lives but in how we think about therapy itself. Meet Silvia Oakes-Wilson, a clinical hypnotherapist and Advanced BWRT® practit...

16/04/2025

31/03/2025

We all have moments we wish had gone differently.
Decisions we question. Words we can’t take back.
Experiences that left a mark.
On top of this, if we continue to carry them like a weight, over time, they may shape how we see ourselves.
Maybe, in the past, we were judged, criticised, or made to feel like we had to get everything ‘right’ to be accepted.
Over time, that external judgment may have become part of our inner voice - one that we may use as proof that we’re not enough.

So even if we now live in a completely different environment, and that experience is long gone, we may struggle to realise that we are free and can choose our own thoughts.
Just like a bird that doesn’t try to fly, even though the cage door was opened a long time ago.
But what if, instead of holding onto the past experience, we focused on the lesson?Here’s the thing - compassion is so needed here, especially when criticism is directed at ourselves.
It reminds us that growth doesn’t come from critising ourselves, but from accepting and moving forward with clarity.
You can be that nurturing voice that says to yourself: ‘It's okay. I've got you. I'll be with you every step of the way.’

What’s one lesson from your past that has helped you grow?