Steph McGee Hypnotherapy

26/06/2025

🚨‼️Anxiety is our brain’s smoke alarm.
And sometimes, it goes off even when there’s no real fire, just some overcooked toast..again (just me then?)

Our brain has a special region called the amygdala, an almond-shaped part that’s constantly scanning for danger. It’s fast, emotional, and very, very cautious.

When it senses a threat, real or imagined, it triggers our body’s ‘fight or flight’ response, you know the feeling, that feeling of dread and racing heart, tense muscles, short breaths, and that familiar surge of adrenaline. And we feel…well, yuck!

🚨 That’s anxiety. It’s our survival system trying to protect us.

The problem?
Our amygdala is our smoke alarm and it doesn’t know the difference between the burnt toast and our house being on fire.
It can even set off the fire alarm if we are having a tough conversation or a we are stuck in a traffic jam,
Anything might feel an emergency.

🧠 Meanwhile, our prefrontal cortex, the calm, logical part of our brain, is the clever bit, it is slower to respond and it it is able to think clearly even though the amygdala appears to be producing that high-pitched scream of our smoke alarm . Luckily, it is able to assess the situation rationally.

✨ But here’s the hopeful part, we can strengthen our prefrontal cortex through things like mindfulness, hypnotherapy, and deep breathing techniques. Would you like to know more about Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy (SFH)

SFH isn’t about ‘getting rid of’ anxiety. It’s about teaching our alarm system when to take a breath.

Because we don’t need to fight our brain, we just need to help it feel safe.

And we’re here for that. Contact your local
for a chat.

06/01/2023

I am amazed they only received 3 opinions on this, I don't know any Hypnotherapist who haven't fallen in love with online working - we are all at it!...to the point that now? You have to look quite hard to find anyone who's working in person! BUT on the upside, you can work with ANYONE, ANYWHERE in the world. So casting your net out for the right therapist has now gone from fishing in a little pond to the wide open the sea 🧜‍♀️ And sorry about the fishing metaphor - no idea where that came from 😆 The sportiest I get is

Looking for a way to market your hypnotherapy services online? Read on to learn about the platforms you can use to get a client.

25/11/2022

You've got bring a WHAAAAT to Hypnobirthing class?

No no NO BABE ‼️

It gets my goat every single time...

You do NOT need to bring a partner to Hypnobirthing Class!

Yes:
Bring them if you've got one
Bring them if you want to
Bring them if you can

They WILL benefit and that will BENEFIT you 🥰

But we can't sit here pretending that everyone has partner, a willing partner, or an available partner (and no I'm not implying they should be the baby sitter either 🤦‍♀️)

Just do what YOU WANT.

I've had 3 babies, done 3 hypnobirthing courses, never took my fella to class but he still won the title for 'daddy doula' 🦸🏻‍♂️

As many of half the preggies on my courses don't bring a partner.

The rest bring their hubby, wife, partner, mother, brother, lover or doula....if bringing more than one for gawd sake check there's space first! 😉

And whilst I can't guarantee you won't be the only one 'on your own'?

I can GUARANTEE my fella won't be there 🤣

Next course starts 7pm Monday 28th November in Chandlings School, Oxford.
🧘🏼‍♀️ It's a Pilates & Hypnobirthing combo course 🧘🏼‍♀️

Booking Essential. See link in the comments!

05/11/2022

Join me and for a couples 3 week pilates and hypnobirthing course.

This is a delicious combination of mind-body pilates and hypnobirthing to prepare you and your partner for a beautiful birth.
Each week will include 45 minutes of pilates followed by 1 hour 15 minutes of hypnobirthing practice.
Don’t worry there will be a break in between! Hypnobirthing books and material provided along with tea and biscuits!

All abilities welcome, couples encouraged but feel free to come alone for some ‘me time’ too!

Location: Chandlings School, Bagley wood road, Boars hill, Kennington Oxford,Ox1 5nd

Booking now live on my site, link in bio.

Spaces are limited so book now to avoid disappointment.

10/05/2022

Have you got all your bases covered❓
And have you made a PLAN❓

Studies have shown that the mind isn't truly calm until we feel prepared and can see our way through...with a plan made 🤦‍♀️

(And this applies to anything not just Hypnobirthing)

A study by Masicamp and Baumeister found that having an unfinished goal (that annoying thing lingering on your to-do-list!!!) causes intrusive thoughts that then causes problems with tasks associated with logical thinking.

Sounds like a self perpetuating nightmare right ?!? 😱

But here's the thing 👇

The people who acted on their plans found the intrusive thoughts stopped!

And even the simple act of making a plan - led to reduced stress levels!

So if you want to do hypnobirthing?
And you want to reduce your stress levels and all those annoying intrusive thoughts?

MAKE A PLAN

Read my blog: 𝟭𝟵 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝘆𝗽𝗻𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴

Then make a plan to get it done (my blog on how to get it done will help 🤗 )

And if you want reduce those stress levels fast knowing you have all your bases covered with minimal effort?

My next Hypnobirthing course starts June 21st.

Perfect for August & September due dates!

You know where I am ♥️

https://stephmcgeehypnotherapy.com/what-do-i-need-to-practice-for-hypnobirthing/

12/04/2022

As my client told me what she been through, all the ways it had effected her and what had finally brought her to therapy she looked up.
And I said:
POWERHOUSE. You are! You're an absolute P.O.W.E.R.H.O.U.S.E.
Where did you find the strength to do that?

And she looked surprised.
But then she started to tell me how she made it happen.
So even before we lifted this with Rewind Therapy she could already start to see she was more than a survivor. She was a power house. She was strong!
If you could meet her she rocks. 🤩

Therapy isn't just about the technique - the Rewind or the Hypnotic tool. It's about the person in front of me. It's not just what you need, or what you want. It's what you already have.

And you have more than you know.

12/04/2022

🥰 Another one to melt your heart 🥰

Full gorgeousness of this story is going will be on my website soon!

Hi Steph,
I just wanted to update you: We had the most GLORIOUS home birth.

It was the most calm, loving and empowering experience of my life.

It all went smoothly with zero complications, zero ‘pain’ relief and zero tears!

Not once did I wish it was over, I loved every second.

Thank you so much for the support and guidance. I used hypnobirthing techniques all the way through and truly trusted my body.

I’d do tomorrow in a heartbeat ❤️

My next Hypnobirthing course starts Wednesday 4th May 7pm on Zoom.
Hypnobirthing & real Hypnosis for Birth.
£239 all in ‼️ (price going up in June😱)
dm or call me with any questions - I love a chat! 😍

Giving Birth really can be the best moment of your life 😉

07/04/2022

Introducing Connie. Born in the birthing pool at home weighing 7lbs3.

My first contractions started at 0:40am and I just used my up breathing and the mp3s you sent to keep me relaxed. Our midwife joined us and I was 4cm. At 5:20 the down stage started and I accepted the gas and air. Got into the pool at 6:20 and controlled my pushing with down breathing and more relaxing music. The final push saw her out in one - born in the sack which popped as I pulled her to the surface!

The whole experience was so magical and I didn’t tear or need any stitches , which my midwife said it was down to how calmly we got her out. Also a bonus of me being so relaxed throughout - baby came out looking for the b**b and had a feed within the first 10/15 minutes!

I can not thank you enough for giving me the tools I needed to safely and calmly bring our precious little girl into the world! I am so grateful for the knowledge of what was happening and what I needed to do at each stage. And for not only teaching me but Shaun as well, who was the best birth partner I could have asked for!

Thank you again Steph! We will be forever grateful.

Love from Hannah, Shaun, Connie and fur sister - Indi!

05/04/2022

Nina (not her real name) wanted a calm & natural birth. And who doesn't? Right?!
But when she first found me? She was juggling a bunch of personal stuff, full of self doubt & there was yet another wave of covid flooding in.
She was feeling a level of anxiety that just wan't HER.
After signing up for my group hypnobirthing course she dived in for her 30 min 1:1.
It's ASTONISHING how much we can cover in 30mins.
Her anxiety dropped. She had a plan. And she started moving forward.
Feeling amazing through her pregnancy. Even the choice towards an induction wasn't enough to throw her off course. She had more support. More hypnosis. More positive induction preparation.
Her anxiety dropped. She made a plan. She started moving forward.

Autonomous Hypnobirthing is different. Hypnosis for birth is the real deal.

27/11/2021

Homework is a pain in the arse. I try to help. But when I say I can't draw either? I MEAN IT.
You can't draw faces. I can't draw faces. But the difference between you and me is I know DONE is enough. MORE than enough.
So let's not stress. Let's not worry. Let's not shout or huff or puff.
Instead let's just do enough to keep them happy and let's SCREAM with laughter at the monstrosity I've just made of your face.
And I told ya babe. You're the artist, not me.

23/11/2021

Micha Withoft is in training! I know. If you've seen her TEDx talk, you'll be thinking WHAAAT?

Because she's an experienced Kundalini Yoga and Meditation teacher of years!

But here's the thing...Now pregnant?

She's training in pre & postnatal YOGA.

And this Saturday at 9am GMT Micha is bringing you a free online pre & postnatal Yoga class all the way from Monaco....

The invite went out to all my email subscribers about 30mins ago. So if you're not signed up to my free Hypnobirthing classes (and extra surprises like this one!) sign up now to get the details when I re-send them later this week.

https://stephmcgeehypnotherapy.com/free-hypnobirthing/

05/11/2021

I had a gorgeous chat with one of my hypnobirthing clients yesterday and it reminded me how privileged I am to have so many amazing souls drifting through my life.

I told her about a midwife I met a few years back. She said she could place her hand on a labouring woman's leg and get a good idea of how dilated her cervix is. She explained that due the amount of blood needed by the uterus, blood is drawn in from other parts of the body - the most notable being the legs. The further up the leg the coldness goes and the warmth starts? The more the dilation. Her advice? WEAR WARM SOCKS.

It reminded me of a piece of advice I was given long before that when I was struggling with fertility.

My CHM doctor gently suggested I wear long tops in favour of crop tops. Drink warm drinks & eat warm food, in favour of icy or fridge temp stuff (even salad should be room temp he said) and WEAR WARM SOCKS.

Why? To keep my uterus warm!