Resolve Anxiety and Regain Calm, Confidence and Control with Clinical Hypnotherapy
Complimentary 20-minute phone consultation
Resolve anxiety and regain calm, confidence and control with advanced clinical hypnotherapy in Dublin.
Anxiety can affect every part of daily life, from sleep and concentration to relationships, career, health and confidence.
With over 20 years’ clinical experience, anxiety and anxiety-based disorders are one of my principal areas of specialisation. I have worked with thousands of clients experiencing anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, stress and anxiety associated with difficult or traumatic experiences.
I specialise in hypnotherapy for anxiety, helping people identify and address the emotional experiences, triggers and patterns that may be causing and contributing to their symptoms.
Anxiety can take many different forms. You may experience persistent worry, racing thoughts, fear, physical tension, panic attacks, difficulty sleeping or simply feel anxious without understanding why.
My approach is not simply about helping you cope with or manage the symptoms of anxiety. The aim is to identify and resolve the underlying factors causing and contributing to the problem, helping you create rapid and lasting positive change.
If stress and anxiety are affecting your life, relationships, work or confidence, hypnotherapy can provide a focused therapeutic approach tailored to you and your individual circumstances.
Anxiety is a normal human response to perceived threat or uncertainty. However, when anxiety becomes persistent or begins interfering with daily life, it can become extremely uncomfortable and limiting.
Anxiety disorders are also extremely common. According to the World Health Organization, 359 million people worldwide were living with an anxiety disorder in 2021, making anxiety disorders the most common of all mental disorders.
But statistics don’t describe what anxiety feels like for the individual experiencing it. Anxiety can affect your ability to work, sleep, socialise, maintain relationships or simply enjoy everyday life.
Common anxiety symptoms can include:
People experience anxiety differently, which is why understanding your individual symptoms, experiences and triggers is an important part of the therapeutic process.
There are many different anxiety disorders and other forms of anxiety-related difficulties.
Generalised anxiety can involve persistent worry across several areas of life. You may find yourself repeatedly anticipating what could go wrong, feeling tense or struggling to relax even when there is no immediate problem.
Social anxiety can involve significant fear or discomfort in social situations, including worrying about how other people perceive you, feeling self-conscious or avoiding situations altogether.
Health anxiety can involve excessive worry about your health, illness or physical sensations, sometimes despite medical reassurance.
Panic attacks involve sudden episodes of intense fear accompanied by uncomfortable physical and emotional symptoms.
For some people, the fear of experiencing another panic attack can itself become a source of ongoing anxiety and avoidance.
Prolonged stress can contribute to anxiety. When the mind and body remain under pressure for extended periods, it can become increasingly difficult to switch off, relax and regain a sense of control.
For some people, anxiety may be associated with stressful, frightening or traumatic experiences from the past – including experiences they may not consciously recognise as contributing to how they feel today.
Even when you consciously know that you are safe, particular situations or triggers can continue to produce automatic feelings of fear or discomfort.
Choosing the right therapist is important, particularly when anxiety has been affecting your life for some time.
My work combines:
My aim isn’t simply to help you manage anxiety. It is to understand what is causing and contributing to the problem and help you create rapid and lasting positive change.
Complimentary 20-minute phone consultation
Watch clients describe their own experiences of anxiety, working with me and the positive changes they achieved.
Clinical hypnotherapy uses focused attention, relaxation and therapeutic techniques to work with thoughts, emotions, associations and automatic responses that may be causing and contributing to anxiety.
Hypnosis is not mind control, and you do not lose control or become unconscious during the hypnotic process.
You remain aware and can communicate normally throughout the session.
During clinical hypnosis, focused attention and a relaxed state can provide an opportunity to work therapeutically with emotional experiences, learned associations and patterns of thinking or feeling.
Rather than simply helping you manage anxiety whenever it appears, my approach focuses on identifying and resolving the underlying factors causing and contributing to the problem.
My approach to treating anxiety aims to significantly reduce anxiety and, where possible, resolve the problem, helping you feel calmer, more confident and more in control in everyday life.
Hypnosis has been studied in clinical trials for anxiety and other psychological and medical applications.
A published meta-analysis examining hypnosis for anxiety identified 15 studies incorporating 17 controlled trials. It found that participants receiving hypnosis experienced greater reductions in anxiety than control participants, with stronger effects when hypnosis was combined with other psychological interventions.
Research findings should not be interpreted as a guarantee that hypnosis will work in the same way for every individual. Anxiety can be complex, and the effectiveness of any therapeutic method can vary according to the person, the nature of the problem and how treatment is delivered.
This is also why I don’t use exactly the same approach with every client. Treatment is tailored to you, your experiences and the factors causing and contributing to your anxiety.
Anxiety isn’t experienced only in your thoughts. The body can also become involved.
You may experience muscle tension, changes in breathing, stomach discomfort, sweating, a racing heart or a strong feeling that something is wrong.
This is why relaxation and emotional regulation can form part of hypnotherapy for anxiety.
Guided relaxation can help you enter a calmer, more focused state while therapeutic techniques are used to work with the thoughts, feelings and associations connected to anxiety.
The objective isn’t simply to feel relaxed during a hypnosis session.
The goal is to create positive change in how you respond to situations and triggers outside the therapy room, helping you feel calmer and more in control and improving your overall sense of well-being.
In my practice, I combine clinical hypnotherapy with Havening Techniques® where appropriate.
Havening is a psychosensory approach using gentle touch alongside focused attention and therapeutic techniques.
It can be particularly useful when working with emotional responses associated with stress, fear, trauma and difficult past experiences.
Combining hypnosis with Havening allows me to tailor the therapeutic process to the individual rather than relying on one technique or one form of therapy.
Following hypnotherapy and Havening, clients often describe:
As part of my hypnotherapy programmes, I also teach clients self-hypnosis techniques they can use for themselves.
Learning and practising self-hypnosis gives you a practical method you can use outside of our sessions to help you relax, remain calm and in control, and reinforce the positive changes we are working towards.
I show you how to practise self-hypnosis effectively, including how to use focused attention, relaxation, mental imagery and positive suggestions to help you feel calmer and more confident.
Visualisation can also be incorporated into self-hypnosis, allowing you to mentally rehearse responding calmly and confidently in situations that may previously have triggered anxiety.
For example, someone who has previously felt anxious about a particular situation might use self-hypnosis and visualisation to practise imagining themselves approaching that situation feeling calmer, confident and in control.
The purpose of self-hypnosis is not to replace the therapeutic work we do together. Instead, it gives you an additional skill and an effective way of supporting and reinforcing the work we do in our sessions, which you can continue to practise both during and after your programme.
I trained at the Institute of Clinical Hypnotherapy & Psychotherapy in Ireland and have over 20 years’ clinical experience, specialising in anxiety and anxiety-based disorders, including panic attacks, phobias and anxiety associated with stressful or traumatic experiences.
Over the years, I have worked with thousands of clients using clinical hypnotherapy and advanced therapeutic techniques to help people achieve meaningful and lasting positive change.
I was Ireland’s first Certified Havening Techniques® Practitioner and am an international Havening Techniques Trainer, teaching therapists and healthcare professionals worldwide.
When seeking hypnotherapy for anxiety, professional training and qualifications are important. But I believe it is equally important to choose someone who has specialist knowledge and extensive clinical experience working specifically with anxiety and anxiety-based disorders.
Anxiety can be complex. Different people can experience very similar symptoms for very different reasons. Having specialist experience means looking beyond the symptoms themselves to understand the emotional experiences, triggers and underlying factors that may be causing and contributing to the problem.
Anxiety and anxiety-based disorders have been a major area of my clinical work for more than 20 years. During that time, I have worked with thousands of clients experiencing problems including persistent anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, stress and anxiety associated with difficult or traumatic experiences.
This specialist knowledge and experience allows me to tailor treatment to you and the factors contributing to your particular anxiety rather than relying on a standardised approach or one technique for everyone.
Professional standards are also important when choosing a hypnotherapist.
I am a member of the European Association of Professional Hypnotherapists (EAPH), a professional hypnotherapy association in Ireland. Full practising membership requires recognised hypnotherapy and psychotherapy qualifications, professional indemnity insurance, adherence to its Code of Ethics and Standards, regular supervision and continuing professional development.
Alongside my clinical experience and professional hypnotherapy training, I was Ireland’s first Certified Havening Techniques® Practitioner and have gone on to train therapists and healthcare professionals internationally in the use of Havening Techniques.
I also regularly speak and demonstrate my work at professional conferences, and my work in hypnotherapy and therapeutic change has been featured in national television and mainstream media.
After more than 20 years of working with anxiety and anxiety-based disorders, perhaps the most important evidence of my work comes from the people I have worked with.
You don’t have to take my word for it.
You can read my five-star Google reviews and watch the client video testimonials on this page, where clients describe in their own words their experience of working with me and the changes they achieved.
“I contacted Stephen at a very low point, suffering from anxiety and insomnia. From the first phone consultation I felt hopeful and with each session I continued to improve. After completing the sessions I feel worlds apart from when I first contacted him. I would absolutely recommend hypnotherapy with Stephen if you are struggling with anxiety.”
— Fiona McGowan
“Working with Stephen over the last few months has had a profound impact on my generalised anxiety and stress. I’m delighted with the outcome and would highly recommend him.”
— Stephen Shannon
“I had high level anxiety which affected many aspects of my life including driving, flying, shopping and attending concerts. After several sessions with Stephen I am delighted to say that I am back enjoying these parts of my life again.”
— Andrea Doyle
“I contacted Stephen at a very low point, suffering from anxiety and insomnia. From the first phone consultation I felt hopeful and with each session I continued to improve. After completing the sessions I feel worlds apart from when I first contacted him. I would absolutely recommend hypnotherapy with Stephen if you are struggling with anxiety.”
— Fiona McGowan
“Working with Stephen over the last few months has had a profound impact on my generalised anxiety and stress. I’m delighted with the outcome and would highly recommend him.”
— Stephen Shannon
“I had high level anxiety which affected many aspects of my life including driving, flying, shopping and attending concerts. After several sessions with Stephen I am delighted to say that I am back enjoying these parts of my life again.”
— Andrea Doyle
Complimentary 20-minute phone consultation
Sessions are calm, structured and professionally guided.
You do not lose control or fall asleep during hypnosis. Instead, you remain aware while experiencing a state of focused attention and relaxation.
Every session is tailored to your individual situation and paced according to your comfort.
Some clients notice positive changes relatively early in the process, while others benefit from a programme of sessions. How many sessions are appropriate will depend on your individual circumstances, history and the factors contributing to the anxiety.
An important part of the process is also helping you develop practical skills, including relaxation and self-hypnosis techniques, that can support and reinforce the changes made during treatment.
Hypnotherapy sessions are available in person and online.
Hypnotherapy can be used as a therapeutic approach for anxiety, particularly where thoughts, emotional responses, learned associations, stress or past experiences may be causing or contributing to the problem.
My approach focuses on understanding the factors that may be driving your anxiety and tailoring the therapeutic process accordingly, rather than simply helping you manage the symptoms.
Research, including controlled clinical trials, has examined hypnosis as a therapeutic approach for anxiety. A 2019 meta-analysis of 15 studies incorporating 17 trials found that participants receiving hypnosis experienced greater reductions in anxiety than control participants, although individual outcomes vary.
For me, the important question isn’t simply whether hypnosis can be an effective method in general, but whether it is appropriate for you and the particular factors contributing to your anxiety.
That’s something we can discuss during your initial consultation.
Hypnosis can be incorporated into treatment for anxiety, stress and related emotional difficulties.
Its effectiveness varies between individuals and according to the nature of the problem, which is why I use an individualised approach rather than applying exactly the same hypnotic process to everyone.
Overthinking, racing thoughts and persistent worry are common anxiety symptoms.
Hypnotherapy can be used to work therapeutically with the thoughts, feelings and automatic responses associated with these patterns, with the aim of helping you respond in a calmer, more confident and more balanced way.
The appropriate treatment for severe anxiety depends on the individual, their symptoms and their circumstances.
Where anxiety is severe or you have an existing mental health condition, hypnotherapy should not replace necessary medical or psychiatric care.
The first step is to establish whether hypnotherapy is appropriate for your particular situation.
Anxiety can make it difficult to switch off and fall asleep, particularly when your mind becomes caught in cycles of worry or overthinking.
Relaxation and self-hypnosis may help some people settle before sleep. As part of my programmes, I can teach you how to practise these techniques effectively for yourself.
However, where anxiety is repeatedly affecting sleep, I believe it’s also important to identify and address the underlying factors causing and contributing to the anxiety rather than focusing only on the sleep symptom.
No. Although meditation and hypnosis can both involve focused attention and relaxation, they are not the same.
Meditation is commonly practised to develop awareness, attention or relaxation. Clinical hypnosis is used within a therapeutic process with specific therapeutic goals.
Some people find meditation helpful for stress and general well-being, while hypnotherapy provides a more individualised approach where the objective is to work with the specific factors contributing to the person’s anxiety.
Yes. Some people initially feel anxious about hypnosis because they are unsure what will happen or worry about losing control.
You remain aware and in control throughout hypnosis. I explain the process beforehand and you can communicate normally during the session.
There is no single number of sessions that applies to everyone.
Some people notice positive changes relatively early in the process, while others benefit from a longer programme.
The number of sessions depends on your history, symptoms, individual circumstances and the factors contributing to your anxiety.
Yes. Online hypnosis sessions follow the same structured therapeutic principles as in-person sessions and allow you to undertake hypnotherapy from your own home.
I work with clients both in person and online, and we can discuss which format is most appropriate for you during your consultation.
YHypnotherapy is generally considered safe when practised appropriately by a suitably trained professional.
You remain aware and in control during hypnosis.
Hypnotherapy is not a substitute for necessary medical or psychiatric care. If you are currently receiving medical treatment or taking prescribed medication for anxiety, depression or another mental health condition, you should continue to follow the advice of your doctor or other healthcare professional.
If anxiety, fear, worry or stress are affecting your life and you would like to find out whether hypnotherapy for anxiety could be appropriate for you, the first step is a complimentary, confidential 20-minute phone consultation.
We can discuss what you are experiencing, what may be causing or contributing to the problem and whether my approach is suitable for you.
Complimentary 20-minute phone consultation
