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
Phone addiction · In person in London & online
Hypnotherapy for Phone Addiction
Loosen compulsive checking and scrolling habits and take back your attention. 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 phone addiction?
In brief
Yes. Hypnotherapy can help you change your relationship with your phone by loosening the automatic urge to check and scroll, and by addressing the feelings that send you reaching for it in the first place.
Most compulsive phone use happens on autopilot: you pick it up before you have decided to, and look up twenty minutes later. Hypnotherapy works directly with that automatic layer, which is why it can help when screen-time limits and good intentions have not been enough to change the habit.
I am Michele Occelli, a London hypnotherapist with over 15 years of clinical experience. More and more of my clients, of all ages, want a different relationship with their phones. My aim is not to take your phone away, but to help you use it by choice rather than by reflex, so your time and attention feel like your own again.
Recognise yourself?
How phone overuse can show up in your life
Using your phone a lot is not a problem in itself. You might recognise some of these patterns:
In your behaviour
- Checking your phone without any particular reason, many times an hour
- Scrolling for far longer than you meant to, often late into the night
- Reaching for it during meals, conversations or work you want to focus on
In your mind
- Picking up your phone to escape boredom, stress or difficult feelings
- A fear of missing out on messages, news or what others are doing
- Finding it hard to concentrate or stay with one thing for long
In your body
- Restlessness or unease when your phone is out of reach
- Poor sleep after screen time in bed
- Tired eyes, a stiff neck or tension from hours of looking down
Compulsive phone use is very common, and there is no shame in it: many apps are designed to hold your attention. You do not need to wait until it is affecting your sleep, work or relationships to get support.
Book a first session → The method
How hypnotherapy for phone addiction 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
Noticing the automatic reach
Much phone use happens before you have made a decision. In hypnosis we slow that moment down, so you start to notice the urge as it arises and find a pause between the impulse and picking up the phone.
- 02
Understanding what the phone is doing for you
Boredom, stress, loneliness, fear of missing out: the phone often soothes a feeling for a moment. We explore your triggers and work with the feelings underneath, so the urge has less to feed on.
- 03
Rehearsing new habits
In hypnosis we rehearse the moments that matter to you, such as leaving the phone in another room at night, staying with a task or being present at dinner, so the new choice starts to feel natural.
- 04
Building your own resources
You leave with practical self-hypnosis and grounding techniques, along with simple boundaries that suit your life, so progress does not depend on the therapy room.
- 1
Book a first session
In person in London or online. Each session lasts 60 minutes.
- 2
We start with a conversation
About how you use your phone, when the pull is strongest, what it is taking time away from and what a healthier balance would look like for you.
- 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 notice a change in the pull of their phone after the first sessions. Longer-standing habits usually benefit from a series of sessions, often between 4 and 6, reviewed together as we go.
The research
What does the research say about hypnotherapy for phone addiction?
Research on hypnosis specifically for phone overuse is very limited, and I would rather be honest about that. What is better established is that hypnosis can reduce anxiety and stress: a 2019 meta-analysis published in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, which pooled results from 15 controlled studies, found a substantial reduction in anxiety compared with control conditions. Since much compulsive checking is a way of managing restlessness, boredom or unease, working with those feelings, alongside practical habit change, is a sensible place to start.
Read more about what happens in the brain during hypnosis First session
“It was my first time doing hypnotherapy, and he helped me make great progress in just a couple of months.”
Google review
In London or online
Hypnotherapy for phone addiction 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 phone addiction
Still have a question? Get in touch or call 07939 228 212.
Will hypnotherapy stop me using my phone?
No, and that is not the aim. Phones are genuinely useful, for work, for staying in touch and for much more. The goal is to loosen the compulsive part, the checking without reason and the scrolling you did not choose, so that you decide when to pick your phone up and when to put it down. Many clients find the pull becomes noticeably weaker, although results vary from person to person, and I will always be honest with you about what is realistic.
How many sessions of hypnotherapy for phone addiction will I need?
It depends on how deeply the habit is woven into your day and what is driving it. Some people notice a shift within a few sessions, particularly when the pattern is mainly habit. Where phone use is closely tied to stress, anxiety or low mood, a series of sessions over several weeks usually works better. We will review your progress together as we go.
How much does hypnotherapy for phone addiction 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.
Is phone addiction a real addiction?
It is not a formal diagnosis, and many people prefer to call it overuse or a compulsive habit. The label matters less than the experience: if you keep reaching for your phone when you do not want to, feel uneasy without it, or find it taking time from sleep, work or the people around you, it is worth addressing. You do not need to meet a definition to deserve support.
Can hypnotherapy help me stop scrolling at night?
Yes, this is one of the most common things clients ask for. Late-night scrolling often starts as a way to switch off and ends up keeping the mind busy. We work on a calmer wind-down routine, rehearse leaving the phone out of reach, and use self-hypnosis to help you settle. If poor sleep is your main concern, hypnotherapy for sleep may also be helpful.
What if my phone use is linked to anxiety or low mood?
That is very common, and it is something we can work with directly, since the phone is often a way of avoiding difficult feelings. Please let me know about any diagnosis or medication before we start, and do not change or stop medication without speaking to your GP. If you are struggling badly, or having thoughts of harming yourself, please contact your GP or call NHS 111 for immediate support.
Book hypnotherapy for phone addiction
You do not need to delete every app or go offline for a month to make a change. If your phone is taking more of your time and attention than you would like, that is reason enough to start.