Inspiring Changes - Counselling, Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy

01/02/2026

Anxiety doesn’t always appear as panic or distress. For many people it shows up through tension, irritability, disrupted sleep or a sense of unease that’s difficult to explain. These quieter signs often reflect the brain’s threat detection system working harder than necessary.

When the brain predicts possible problems, even without evidence, it increases vigilance in small but noticeable ways. Paying attention to early physical cues such as jaw tension or shallow breathing can give you more room to respond before the emotional side builds.

31/01/2026

Throughout February I will be focusing on anxiety in everyday life, particularly the quieter forms that influence how people think, feel and make decisions.

This includes social anxiety, overthinking, physical tension, anticipatory worry and the patterns that shape daily routines.

I will be sharing explanations, evidence-based insights and practical ideas that help make sense of these experiences in a clear and accessible way.

30/01/2026

There is a common belief that meaningful change should feel demanding, yet the mind responds far better to steps that feel manageable.

When a change is appropriately small, it becomes easier to repeat, and repetition is what allows a habit to take hold.

If something feels almost too easy, it often means you have chosen the right starting point, and that is usually what then leads to long term progress. Stick with it!

29/01/2026

Hypnosis has been studied extensively in relation to smoking cessation, and a large analysis of more than 600 studies found it to be the most effective single session method for quitting.

Its strength lies in the way it works with the unconscious patterns that keep the habit feeling automatic. When those associations begin to change, the behaviour becomes far easier to manage.

Many people describe feeling more in control and more confident about stopping after just one session, which is why hypnosis continues to be a valuable option for this particular goal.

27/01/2026

27/01/2026

Hypnosis is often spoken about as if it is a modern technique, yet it has been used in various forms for more than 4,000 years.

Ancient cultures recognised the value of focused attention and suggestion long before psychology existed as a field.

What has changed over time is our understanding of how it works. We now know that hypnosis engages the part of the mind responsible for automatic habits and emotional associations, which is why it can be so effective for behaviours that feel difficult to change through logic alone.

26/01/2026

There is still a common belief that therapy is something people turn to only when things feel unmanageable, yet many of the individuals I work with come because they want to understand themselves better, improve their relationships or change long standing habits.

Therapy can be a proactive choice rather than a last resort, and it often leads to clearer thinking, more effective coping strategies and a stronger sense of direction.

You don’t need to wait for a crisis to benefit from support.

25/01/2026

EMDR is sometimes viewed as an alternative approach, but it is actually recommended by NICE as an effective treatment for PTSD in adults. This means it has met strict standards for research quality, clinical outcomes and safety.

Many people are surprised by how manageable the process feels, because it doesn't require you to revisit every detail of a difficult experience. Instead, it helps the mind process what has been stored in a way that reduces the intensity of the emotional reaction and makes day to day life easier to navigate.

24/01/2026

It’s been my busiest January yet, and I’m so grateful for it - I just love the fact I’m supporting more and more people. Despite this, I still feel the pull to keep pushing. I have to regularly remind myself to pause and take time out.

It’s a familiar pattern for so many of us. If you’re finding yourself going through something similar, enjoy it, feel proud of what you’re achieving, but remember you don’t need to earn rest and it’s important to still take things easy at times.

12/01/2026

Earlier this week, I was reminded how quickly people blame themselves for not ‘sticking to things’.

Often the issue isn’t motivation, it’s that the goal was built on pressure rather than understanding. It was simply too much.

When you understand what’s going on underneath, it becomes less about self-blame and more about finding what actually works.