Hypnotherapy for Social Anxiety
Social anxiety is a natural response to perceived social pressure and can be a normal part of life. However, in today’s interconnected world, it can become overwhelming, affecting both personal and professional relationships and preventing individuals from fully engaging in social situations.
Social Anxiety: Overcome Fear and Embrace Confidence with Hypnotherapy
Social anxiety is a natural response to social situations that can help us stay alert and navigate interactions with others. In a healthy state, it prompts us to be aware of our behavior and how we are perceived, encouraging growth and self-improvement.
However, when social anxiety becomes overwhelming, it can lead to intense feelings of fear, self-doubt, and discomfort in social settings, disrupting personal and professional connections.
The subconscious mind can amplify these feelings, creating a cycle of avoidance and isolation. A solution-focused hypnotherapy approach can help you break free from the grip of social anxiety, enabling you to feel calm, confident, and at ease in social situations.
Types of Social Anxiety & Social Confidence We Can Help You Build
What Are the Symptoms of Social Anxiety?
Fear of Judgment: Worrying about being judged in social situations.
Avoidance: Steering clear of social gatherings or events.
Physical Symptoms: Sweating, shaking, or a racing heart during interactions.
Self-Consciousness: Feeling overly aware of your actions in social settings.
Negative Self-Talk: Thoughts of inadequacy or fear of embarrassing yourself.
Overthinking: Ruminating on past or worrying about future conversations.
Eye Contact: Avoiding eye contact due to fear of being judged.
Limited Engagement: Avoiding deeper connections out of fear.
How Can Hypnotherapy Help With Social Anxiety
Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy can help you manage and overcome social anxiety by addressing the root causes of your fear. We’ll explore the emotional triggers behind your anxiety and work together to shift your perspective.
Through hypnosis, we’ll engage the subconscious mind to reframe your beliefs and create new, positive behaviors that make social situations feel more comfortable and manageable.
Using proven techniques grounded in neuroscience, we’ll work to neutralize the anxious response, enabling you to confidently engage in social interactions and embrace new opportunities without fear.
Stephen Hardy
DSFH, HPD, AfSFH, MNCH (Reg.), CNHC (Reg.)
I’m a clinical solution-focused hypnotherapist and coach.
My mission is to help people have more fulfilling, fun lives and careers.
As a clinical hypnotherapist, I work with both the conscious and subconscious minds, using a combination of Solution Focused Hypnotherapy, CBT, and Neuroscience, mixed in with my experience of working in senior corporate positions.
The goal is to enable rapid positive change, through helping clients reframe their thinking, and creating new patterns of behaviour. It’s a positive, fun approach.
Testimonials
Free Discovery Call
We'll spend 30 minutes exploring your current challenges and establishing whether Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy is a good fit for you.
The relationship between a therapist and a client is fundamental to the success of any engagement. This is an opportunity to get to know me and find out if my style of engagement would work for you.
You will gain a fresh perspective on what's been holding you back, and confidence in your ability to move forward in life.
An opportunity for you to ask me any questions or address any concerns you may have.
FAQs
What is Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy? How does it differ from more traditional therapy?
Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy is a proven, fast and effective agent for long term change, and has been successfully deployed in several organisations including Northumbria Police.
I take a holistic approach to supporting clients, addressing the cause of their problems, not just the symptoms. Unlike some other therapies, I don’t focus on a client’s issues beyond gaining an initial understanding. I also don’t perform any regression work or focus on past trauma. Sessions are conducted in a solution-focused manner, helping clients move forward with their lives. I use a combination of NLP, CBT, neuroscience, and hypnotherapy to facilitate rapid change in our clients. The goal of solution-focused hypnotherapy is to enable rapid, sustainable change.
Is Hypnotherapy safe? Will I lose control?
I use an element of trance in sessions to accelerate the therapeutic process, with solution-focused hypnotherapy being a core element of sessions. Trance is a very familiar state. All of us go into trance many times every day, for example, when we’re focusing on something we love doing, driving a regular route, or jogging. Trance is when the conscious and subconscious minds come together in focus, allowing you to access the vast resource library in your subconscious and helping you to get the very best out of yourself. It’s a myth that anyone can make you do something against your will in trance. You’re always in control, and your mind will “wake” you if it doesn’t feel safe or if there’s something you need to address. Typically, clients find this part of the process very relaxing and enjoyable.
Do you provide online sessions, and if so, are they as effective as in-person sessions?
Yes and yes!
Since Covid, many people have developed a preference for online interactions. The bulk of my sessions are now conducted over Zoom, giving clients the opportunity to relax within the comfort of their own homes.
The only request is that you ensure you have access to decent WiFi and are in a place where you can comfortably relax with minimal distractions.
Are there any conditions you can’t treat?
I specialise in working with clients who have mild to moderate anxiety or depression and related disorders. As a solution-focused hypnotherapist, I also work with individuals with high levels of anxiety or depression; however, clients need to be aware that this can be a longer process, and they may need to do this in conjunction with taking medication as diagnosed by their medical professional.
Suffering from a psychotic episode can mean that hypnosis is contraindicated, therefore hypnotherapy should not be received in that scenario. Those with a history of psychosis but who aren’t currently suffering from a psychotic episode can benefit from hypnotherapy to help address anxiety-related disorders.
Some physical ailments can be psychosomatic, but it’s important that they are properly assessed by a medical professional.
How many sessions does it take to overcome anxiety?
Everyone is different and I take a client led approach. You know how you feel and how many sessions you need to get to where you want to.
From experience, roughly 10-12 sessions is probably a good rule of thumb, however some people have significantly less, some a few more.