Hypnotherapy with Dean, Clinical Hypnotherapist

01/09/2025

01/09/2025

Why Hypnotherapy Can Help Men Access Support
For many men, the word therapy comes with baggage. They imagine sitting in a chair for months on end, talking about childhood, or being asked to “open up” in ways that feel uncomfortable. That image alone is enough to stop a lot of men from ever stepping through the door.
Hypnotherapy offers a different experience — one that often feels far more practical, solution-focused, and results-driven. And that difference can make it easier for men to take the first step.
Science Over Stigma
What actually happens in hypnotherapy is very different from what most people expect. It’s not about being “put under” or losing control (that’s stage hypnosis — something entirely separate). Instead, hypnotherapy helps calm the brain, reducing the activity of the amygdala — the part that drives the “fight or flight” response — and encouraging the prefrontal cortex, the rational problem-solving centre, to take the lead.
In simpler terms: it shifts the brain out of stress mode and into calm clarity.
From a biological perspective, this reduces levels of cortisol (the stress hormone), helping the body rebalance. The result? Better sleep, improved focus, reduced anxiety, fewer cravings, and a noticeable lift in confidence and energy. For men who like facts and logic, the neuroscience behind hypnotherapy makes it feel less abstract and more like a tool for mental fitness.
Training the Mind, Not “Talking About Problems”
One of the reasons hypnotherapy resonates with men is that it feels more like training than therapy. Instead of endlessly dissecting the past, solution-focused hypnotherapy asks: Where are you now? Where do you want to be? And how can we get you there?
This forward-looking approach appeals to men who prefer action over analysis. It gives them a sense of movement, of working toward something concrete, rather than sitting still in difficult feelings.
Staying in Control
Another barrier for men is the fear of losing control. Some imagine that hypnotherapy means being made to do silly things, like in stage shows. The reality is the opposite. In therapeutic hypnosis, the client is always in control. You can open your eyes, speak, or stop at any time. That reassurance — that it’s not about giving up control but about regaining it — can be the key to helping men feel safe enough to try.
Results That Build Confidence
Once men experience the benefits, the change can be powerful. Sleeping better, feeling calmer, thinking more clearly — these improvements reinforce the idea that they can manage their stress and emotions. And when confidence grows, so does the willingness to keep going.
For many men, hypnotherapy feels less like “therapy” in the traditional sense and more like learning a set of mental tools they can carry into daily life. And that framing makes all the difference.

31/08/2025

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Mastering the Menopause. Whilst it’s said that nothing is certain except death and taxes, there is another inevitability that us ladies have

31/08/2025

What’s Changing — and What Isn’t

It’s not all bad news. Over the past decade, there’s been a noticeable cultural shift in how men’s mental health is discussed.

Campaigns, charities, and even sports clubs
have started to tackle the stigma head-on. You’ve probably seen slogans like “It’s okay not to be okay” on billboards, social media, and TV. These messages matter, because they chip away at the old scripts of silence.
One of the most powerful drivers of change has been high-profile men speaking out. From athletes like Tyson Fury talking about depression, to actors like Ryan Reynolds opening up about anxiety, to everyday men sharing their stories on podcasts and blogs — the conversation is becoming more visible. This visibility normalises the idea that men do struggle, and that seeking support isn’t weakness, but humanity.
Younger generations are also showing signs of being more open. Men in their teens and twenties are, in many cases, more willing to talk about mental health than their fathers or grandfathers ever were. Social media, for all its downsides, has played a part here — giving men a space to see that they’re not alone.

But here’s the catch: while awareness is rising, the actual numbers of men in therapy haven’t increased fast enough. Campaigns may make men nod in agreement, but turning that into action — booking the session, making the call — is still a big leap. The statistics around su***de, addiction, and untreated anxiety remind us that progress is uneven.

So yes, things are shifting. The silence is cracking. But the weight of old conditioning is strong, and for many men, the gap between knowing therapy is okay and actually going remains wide. This is why we need new approaches — ways of making therapy feel less daunting, less stigmatised, and more practical. And this is where hypnotherapy begins to stand out.

30/08/2025

How Men Cope Instead

When men don’t feel able to seek help, the struggles don’t disappear. They just find other ways of coping — some that look socially acceptable, and some that carry serious risks.

Overworking

For many men, work becomes the hiding place. Throwing themselves into longer hours or constant busyness helps them avoid uncomfortable thoughts. From the outside, this can even look admirable — “he’s such a hard worker.” But underneath, it’s often a way to drown out stress or low mood with distraction. Eventually, burnout creeps in, leaving both mental and physical health in tatters.

Alcohol and Substances
Another common outlet is alcohol. It’s socially accepted, even encouraged in some male circles, making it an easy “solution” to stress. A pint after work turns into several, and alcohol becomes less about enjoyment and more about numbing. Some turn to drugs for the same reason — a quick escape from constant pressure. Of course, these habits only deepen the problems over time.
Anger and Withdrawal
Unexpressed emotions have to go somewhere. For some men, that means bursts of anger or irritability that damage relationships at home or work. For others, it leads to shutting down altogether — withdrawing from friends, family, and hobbies. Both routes isolate men further, cutting off the very connections that could help them heal.

Physical Symptoms

Stress doesn’t just stay in the mind. It shows up in the body too. Men who avoid dealing with mental strain often end up with tension headaches, back pain, digestive problems, or trouble sleeping. Chronic stress can even contribute to heart disease and other serious illnesses. What starts as “just stress” can become a real threat to long-term health.

The heartbreaking part is that many of these men don’t connect the dots. They’ll see the doctor about chest pain or insomnia but never mention the anxiety that drives it. The physical symptoms get treated, while the root cause quietly remains.

29/08/2025

Why Men Don’t Seek Help

If the statistics are so stark, the obvious question is: why aren’t men using therapy more? It’s not because men don’t struggle. It’s not because they don’t feel pain or stress. It’s not because therapy doesn’t work for them.
The real reasons are tangled up in culture, beliefs, and learned behaviours that start young and stick hard.
The “Man Up” Myth
From childhood, boys are often told to toughen up. Crying, showing fear, or admitting sadness can be met with phrases like “don’t be a baby” or “be a man.” These small messages pile up, shaping a belief that vulnerability is dangerous — or worse, shameful.
By adulthood, many men carry the unspoken rule: “Don’t talk about it. Don’t show weakness. Just get on with it.” Therapy, with its image of sitting in a chair and talking about feelings, collides head-on with that conditioning.
The Fix-It Mindset
Many men approach problems with a practical, fix-it mindset. If the car breaks, fix it. If the roof leaks, fix it. But when the “problem” is stress, anxiety, or a heavy sense of not coping, there isn’t a spanner or screwdriver that will do the job.
Instead of reaching for therapy, men often double down on trying to fix it themselves: working longer hours, pushing harder in the gym, distracting with alcohol or hobbies. But emotional pain doesn’t respond to willpower in the same way a DIY project does.
Fear of Vulnerability
Opening up to a stranger about your private thoughts can feel risky. “What if they think I’m weak? What if they don’t get it? What if I can’t find the words?” For men who have rarely been encouraged to express emotions, the idea of therapy feels like stepping into alien territory.
This fear is made worse by the stereotype that therapy is only for people who are “broken.” Many men don’t realise therapy can be about growth, clarity, and learning — not just crisis management.
Distrust of Traditional Therapy
For some, the hesitation is less about stigma and more about style. The image of “talking endlessly about childhood” doesn’t appeal to everyone, especially men who value solutions and forward motion. Traditional models can feel too abstract, too slow, or too far removed from the practical relief they’re looking for.
This is where many men disengage entirely. Rather than risk trying something they imagine won’t suit them, they stay silent and carry the weight alone.

28/08/2025

Men, Therapy, and the Conversation We Still Need to Have

I know what you might be thinking: “We’ve already had this conversation a hundred times.” And you’d be right — the topic of men’s mental health and therapy has been written about, debated, and campaigned on for years now. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: men are still not using therapy as much as they need to.
That’s why this isn’t just another piece on the same old subject. It’s part of a necessary repetition — saying the same thing in new ways, over and over, until it finally breaks through the wall of stigma and silence that keeps so many men from asking for help.
Because while awareness campaigns have grown, while more celebrities and athletes have spoken out, and while younger generations are slowly becoming more open to talking about mental health, the statistics haven’t shifted enough. Men are still struggling in silence. And silence, all too often, is deadly.
The Numbers We Can’t Ignore
In the UK, around 1 in 8 men experience a mental health problem every year. That’s millions of fathers, brothers, husbands, sons, colleagues, and friends. Yet men remain far less likely than women to access psychological therapies. According to NHS data, only about a third of those receiving talking therapy are men.
And here’s the most alarming figure of all: su***de is the single biggest cause of death for men under 50. Not cancer, not heart disease, not accidents — su***de. In fact, men make up around three-quarters of all su***des in the UK.
Behind these numbers are real stories — men who looked “fine” on the outside but carried battles no one else could see. Men who didn’t feel able to ask for help until it was too late. Men who convinced themselves they had to “just get on with it,” because that’s what they’d been taught to believe.
Globally, the picture isn’t much brighter. In countries all over the world, men are consistently less likely to seek help for depression, anxiety, or addiction, despite high prevalence rates. In some cultures, therapy isn’t even part of the conversation at all — leaving men with even fewer options.
These statistics aren’t just numbers on a page. They’re a clear sign that something is broken in the way we approach men’s wellbeing. And if repeating this conversation again — and again — is what it takes to help even a few more men step through the door of a therapist’s office (or book a hypnotherapy session), then it’s worth every word.

27/08/2025

This week's Blog is a big one, but still needs to be said.

Link: https://www.hynotherapywithdean.com/post/men-therapy-and-the-conversation-we-still-need-to-have

25/08/2025

When We See People Being Inauthentic — and Why We Need to Be the Positive

Let’s talk about something that many of us have felt but don’t often say out loud.
There are times when you see someone — maybe in your field, your social circle, or even online — who just isn’t being real. You can sense it. They’re performing. Polished on the outside, but lacking substance underneath. They might be using their role or image to create attention or influence that doesn’t feel earned. And still, they seem to be getting away with it.

I experienced this not too long ago with someone in my professional space. Her version of success was loud, rehearsed, and carefully curated — but the authenticity just wasn’t there. And yet, people seemed drawn in.

At first, I felt that deep frustration. The kind that sits quietly under the surface and whispers, “This isn’t fair.” I’ve worked hard to build a practice based on real connection, care, and integrity — so seeing someone take shortcuts and still get results? It rattled me.

But here’s what I reminded myself — and what I share with clients all the time:
You can’t control what other people do. You can only control how you respond.

So I chose to pause, take a breath, and reflect: How do I want to show up? What kind of energy do I want to put into the world?

Instead of getting pulled down by her behaviour, I decided to use it as fuel to go further in my own way — with honesty, calm, and real purpose. I started being more visible, more vocal, and more grounded in what I truly believe in. Not to compete — but to connect. To offer something real.

Because here’s the truth: people who show up unauthentically will eventually be found out. Maybe not today, maybe not next week — but it always happens. The cracks appear.

The image slips. And when that happens, what lasts is trust — the trust you build when you’ve stayed true to yourself.

This kind of mindset shift is exactly what solution-focused hypnotherapy helps with.
We don’t dwell on what’s unfair or out of your hands. We focus on what is within your control — your thoughts, your energy, your next steps.
Instead of asking:
“Why do they keep getting away with it?”
“Why is this happening to me?”
“Why do I feel so stuck?”
We ask:

“What do I want instead?”

“What strengths have I forgotten I have?”

“What’s one small step I can take today that moves me forward?”

And through guided, relaxed sessions, we help your brain get out of overthinking mode and into clarity and calm. You leave not just feeling better, but thinking differently. More focused. More in charge of your path.

If you’ve found yourself caught up in someone else’s noise — whether it’s jealousy, dishonesty, manipulation or just behaviour that doesn’t sit right — you’re not alone. But you don’t have to stay in that space.

You can take back your energy. You can refocus. You can rise above it — not just in theory, but in a way that genuinely makes your life feel better.

And when you do that, something powerful happens. People see the difference. They feel it. And your authenticity becomes your superpower