Hi, I'm Laura from Bright Waves Hypnotherapy

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy is a modern, evidence-based approach that combines hypnosis with practical, positive psychotherapy techniques and neuroscience. Helping you understand how your brain works is pivotal to positive change.

Unlike some traditional forms of hypnotherapy that focus on analysing the past, uncovering root causes, or revisiting difficult memories, Solution Focused Hypnotherapy focuses on where you are now and where you want to be.

Rather than spending sessions exploring problems in detail, we'll work together to identify your goals, strengths, and the positive changes you'd like to make. This helps train your brain to focus on solutions rather than becoming stuck in unhelpful patterns.

Sessions also include hypnosis, which helps you relax deeply and access a calm, focused state where positive change can happen more naturally.

Many clients appreciate this approach because it is gentle, practical, and forward-looking. You don't need to relive difficult experiences or share every detail of your past for therapy to be effective.

The focus is always on helping you move towards a calmer, more confident, and more positive future.

Hypnotherapy can benefit anyone who is looking to improve their mental health, performance mindset or overcome certain habits or behaviours. It is especially useful for individuals who have tried traditional therapies without success. Whether you're at rock bottom, or you're already doing well and just want to keep doing better, hypnotherapy can be extremely useful in helping us to understand ourselves better.

Hypnosis refers to the state of relaxation and concentration, while hypnotherapy is the use of hypnosis for therapeutic purposes, combined with psychotherapy where we will address the issues you would like to change. Hypnotherapy involves a trained hypnotherapist guiding the client through the hypnotic state to address specific issues. Contrary to beliefs from media, everyone can go into trance, and we all do so daily without even thinking about it, from watching TV to driving - they can both be a state of trance.

The number of sessions you may need will depend on you and what you’d like to work on.  Most people choose to have a small series of sessions to reach their goals more fully, but some people can notice positive changes after just one session.

As a guide, generalised anxiety is often supported over around 8–12 sessions, simple phobias & smoking cessation can usually be resolved within 3 sessions (complex phobias will take longer)

Sessions are tailored individually though and there is no one-size fits all approach.

I also offer relaxation only sessions, so this is purely the trance work without the 30 mins of therapy beforehand, if all you want to do is chill out.           

We’ll talk this through during your free initial consultation, so you have a clear understanding of what’s likely to help before you commit to anything.        

The list is endless. 

Anxiety & Stress

• General anxiety
• Overthinking
• Panic attacks
• Work or life stress
• Burnout
• PTSD 
• OCD

Sleep & Relaxation

• Insomnia
• Trouble switching off
• Restlessness

Confidence & Self-Esteem

• Self-belief
• Public speaking
• Social confidence
• Body confidence

Habits & Behaviours

• Stopping smoking or vaping
• Reducing alcohol
• Nail biting
• Emotional eating
• Weight Management

Phobias

• Flying
• Spiders
• Heights
• Needles
• Enclosed spaces

Performance & Focus

• Sports performance
• Mindgame and competitive performance
• Motivation
• Concentration
• Goal achievement

Pain & Physical Symptoms

• Chronic pain management
• IBS
• Tension
• Headaches & Migraines

Emotional Wellbeing

• Grief
• Anger
• Low mood
• Feeling “stuck”

Life Transitions

• Menopause support
• Relationship stress
• Career change
• Life after weight loss injections
• Approaching older age

Each session at Bright Waves Hypnotherapy lasts around 50–55 minutes and is divided into two clear parts.

In the first half, we have a solution focused conversation. Rather than analysing problems or going back into the past, we focus on what has been going well, what’s already working for you, and what you would like to move towards. We also spend a little time revisiting how your brain works, and we agree on a simple, goal-oriented task to support your progress between sessions.

The second half of the session is the hypnosis, which feels very similar to a deeply relaxing guided meditation. You’ll be comfortably seated or lying down, listening to my voice as your mind and body settle into a calm, focused state. This is where the brain becomes more receptive to positive change, allowing new, healthier patterns of thinking to begin to form.

Yes. Research and clinical experience suggest that online hypnotherapy can be just as effective as face-to-face sessions for many issues, including anxiety, stress, confidence, sleep difficulties, habits, and performance.

In fact, many clients find they relax more easily in the comfort of their own home, without the stress of travelling to an appointment.

All you need is a quiet space, a stable internet connection, and a comfortable chair or sofa. You'll still receive the same solution-focused questioning, psychotherapy, and guided hypnosis as you would in an in-person session.

Many of my clients appreciate the flexibility and convenience of online sessions, allowing them to access support wherever they are in the UK or around the world.

Your free initial consultation is a relaxed, supportive conversation designed to help you feel informed and confident before starting therapy.

I’ll ask you some gentle questions to understand what you’d like to change, and then I’ll explain — in clear, simple terms — how your brain works, why you may be feeling the way you do, and how solution focused hypnotherapy helps create new neural pathways. This process supports your brain in responding differently to stress, anxiety, habits, or performance challenges.

By the end of the consultation, you’ll have a clear understanding of how hypnotherapy can help you and what the next steps would look like, with no pressure to commit.

You are always fully in control during hypnotherapy. It’s a natural state of focused attention, similar to being absorbed in a book or guided meditation, and you remain aware and able to speak or stop at any time.

At Bright Waves Hypnotherapy, the process is collaborative and focused on helping you feel calmer, clearer, and more in control.

Some people do drift into sleep, especially if they’re very tired — this is completely safe and the session remains effective. Many people wake feeling relaxed, refreshed, and clearer, even if they don’t remember everything.

You don’t need to try to “do” hypnosis — your brain knows what to do.