In person in London
A quiet, calm space designed for deep therapeutic work, in my private practice in Camden.
- 5 Calstock, Royal College Street, London NW1 0RX
- Within walking distance of King’s Cross, St Pancras and Euston
Panic attacks · In person in London & online
Hypnotherapy for Panic Attacks
Understand what triggers your panic, reduce its intensity and regain confidence in your body's signals. Ericksonian hypnotherapy with Michele Occelli, in London or online.
- Postgraduate diploma, DistinctionEricksonian Hypnotherapy
- Diploma, DistinctionNLP, Advanced Level
- Registered and insuredGHR and GHSC
- 5.0 from 69 Google reviews
- Since 2010 15+ years' clinical practice
Michele has worked with
The short answer
Can hypnotherapy help with panic attacks?
In brief
Yes. Hypnotherapy can help reduce panic attacks by calming the body's alarm response and breaking the cycle of fear, physical sensation and anticipation that keeps them coming back.
Panic is driven by the fast, automatic part of the mind that reacts before you have time to think. Hypnotherapy works directly with that layer, which is why it can help when knowing that a panic attack "cannot hurt you" has not been enough to stop it.
I am Michele Occelli, a London hypnotherapist with over 15 years of clinical experience. Panic attacks are one of the most common reasons clients come to see me. My aim is to help you feel safe in your own body again, so the fear of the next attack no longer shapes where you go and what you do.
Recognise yourself?
How panic attacks can show up in your life
A panic attack is a sudden surge of fear that peaks within minutes. You might recognise some of these:
In your body
- A pounding or racing heart, chest tightness or breathlessness
- Dizziness, trembling, sweating or hot and cold flushes
- Tingling, nausea or a choking sensation
In your mind
- A sudden wave of intense fear or a sense of impending doom
- Fear of losing control, fainting or having a heart attack
- Feeling detached from yourself or your surroundings
In your behaviour
- Avoiding places where an attack happened before, like the Tube or supermarkets
- Needing an exit route or a safe person nearby
- Constantly scanning your body for the next warning sign
Panic attacks are frightening but very common, and very treatable. You do not need to wait until they are taking over your life to get support.
Book a first session → The method
How hypnotherapy for panic attacks works
In hypnosis, your attention becomes focused and absorbed, and the critical, analytical part of the mind steps back. In this state, the nervous system settles and the mind becomes more open to new responses. In our sessions, that allows us to work on four levels:
- 01
Calming the alarm response
Hypnosis slows the heart rate, eases the breath and releases muscle tension, directly countering the body's stress response. Experiencing that calm repeatedly teaches your nervous system that it can come down from high alert, and makes it easier to get there on your own.
- 02
Breaking the fear of fear
Panic often feeds on itself: a racing heart is read as danger, which creates more fear. In hypnosis we change how you interpret those sensations, so a flutter in your chest can pass without escalating into a full-blown attack.
- 03
Rehearsing the situations you avoid
We identify your triggers and rehearse them in hypnosis, from the Tube to crowded places or meetings, so you can approach them feeling grounded rather than bracing for the worst.
- 04
Building your own resources
You leave with practical self-hypnosis, breathing and grounding techniques you can use at the first sign of panic, so you know what to do and feel more in control between sessions.
- 1
Book a first session
In person in London or online. Each session lasts 60 minutes.
- 2
We start with a conversation
About your panic attacks, when they began, what tends to set them off, what you have started avoiding and what you would like to feel instead.
- 3
Hypnosis
I guide you into a relaxed, focused state. You stay aware and in control, can hear everything and can stop at any time.
- 4
A plan that fits you
Many clients feel calmer and more in control after the first sessions. Long-standing panic, or panic that has led to avoidance, usually benefits from a series of sessions, often between 4 and 8, reviewed together as we go.
The research
What does the research say about hypnotherapy for panic attacks?
Research into hypnosis for anxiety is encouraging. A 2019 meta-analysis published in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, which pooled results from 15 controlled studies, found that hypnosis produced a substantial reduction in anxiety compared with control conditions, with larger effects when hypnosis was combined with other psychological approaches. Studies looking specifically at panic are fewer and smaller, but hypnosis is increasingly used alongside other therapies to reduce the fear of bodily sensations that drives panic, and neuroimaging shows it changes activity in brain regions involved in attention and awareness of bodily states.
Read more about what happens in the brain during hypnosis Panic
“I started hypnotherapy with Michele a year ago after thinking I was actually going to have a heart attack. Since then I have experienced huge positive shifts in all areas of my life.”
Google review
In London or online
Hypnotherapy for panic attacks in London or online
Online, wherever you are
Online sessions follow the same structure as in-person work, and many clients find it easier to relax at home.
- Over Zoom, FaceTime or WhatsApp
- Anywhere in the UK, or abroad while you travel
Low-income clinic: a limited number of reduced-rate sessions each month. Ask about availability · All fees and gift certificates
Your hypnotherapist
About Michele Occelli
I am a registered hypnotherapist practising since 2010, with postgraduate diplomas in Ericksonian Hypnotherapy and NLP from the British Hypnosis Research and Training Institute. I trained with Dr Ernest L. Rossi and Dr Stephen Gilligan, both direct students of Milton H. Erickson.
- Practising since
- 2010
- Registration
- GHR & GHSC, fully insured
- Method
- Ericksonian & clinical hypnotherapy
- Locations
- London, NW1 & online
- GHR
- GHSC
FAQ
FAQs about hypnotherapy for panic attacks
Still have a question? Get in touch or call 07939 228 212.
Can hypnotherapy stop panic attacks?
Many clients find that their panic attacks become less frequent and less intense, and some stop having them altogether. Just as importantly, hypnotherapy helps reduce the fear of having another attack, which is often what keeps the cycle going. Results vary from person to person, and I will always be honest with you about what is realistic.
How many sessions of hypnotherapy for panic attacks will I need?
It depends on how long you have been having panic attacks and how much they affect your life. Some clients notice a real difference within a few sessions. Where panic is long-standing, or has led you to avoid places and situations, a series of sessions over several weeks usually works best. We will review your progress together as we go.
How much does hypnotherapy for panic attacks cost in London?
A 60-minute session costs £150, whether in person in London or online. If you would like to commit to a series of sessions, bundles bring the price down to £140 per session (3 sessions) or £130 per session (6 sessions). A limited number of reduced-rate sessions are available each month through my low-income clinic.
What if I have a panic attack during a session?
That is a very common worry, and it is okay. Sessions move at your pace, you stay aware and in control throughout, and we can pause or open your eyes at any time. If panic does surface, it becomes something we can work with calmly and safely together, which many clients find reassuring in itself.
Is hypnotherapy for panic attacks different from anxiety treatment?
They overlap, but panic has its own pattern: a sudden surge of fear, strong physical sensations and a fear of those sensations returning. Our work focuses on that pattern, helping your body settle faster and changing how you interpret the signals that used to set off the alarm. If you also experience more general, ongoing anxiety, we can work on both.
Should I see my GP first?
If you have never had your symptoms checked, it is a good idea to see your GP first, especially if you experience chest pain, palpitations or breathlessness, to rule out a physical cause. Hypnotherapy can usually be combined with medication; please let me know about any medication or diagnosis before we start, and do not change it without speaking to your GP. If you are in crisis or having thoughts of harming yourself, contact your GP or call NHS 111 for immediate support.
Book hypnotherapy for panic attacks
You do not need to wait until the next attack to get in touch. If fear of panic is shrinking the life you want to live, that is reason enough to start.