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
Stress · In person in London & online
Hypnotherapy for Stress
Reduce the physical and mental load of chronic stress and restore a sense of balance and recovery. 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 stress?
In brief
Yes. Hypnotherapy can help reduce chronic stress by switching the body out of constant high alert, giving it a real chance to recover, and changing the automatic habits of mind that keep the pressure on.
Stress is not always bad: a short burst of it helps you focus and rise to a challenge. The problem starts when the stress response never switches off. It is driven by the fast, automatic part of the mind, which is why knowing that you should slow down, rest or set limits has often not been enough to actually do it. Hypnotherapy works directly with that layer.
I am Michele Occelli, a London hypnotherapist with over 15 years of clinical experience. Over the years I have worked with hundreds of clients living with work pressure, long hours and the sense of never quite getting on top of things. My aim is not to remove stress from your life, but to help you recover from it, so you can feel steadier, rest properly and reconnect with your work and the people you care about.
Recognise yourself?
How stress can show up in your life
Stress becomes a problem when it stops being temporary. You might recognise some of these signs:
In your body
- Tension in your neck, shoulders or jaw, and frequent headaches
- Feeling tired all the time, yet struggling to sleep
- Stomach problems, a racing heart or changes in appetite
In your mind
- Racing thoughts and finding it hard to switch off, even at the weekend
- Irritability, overwhelm or feeling that everything is urgent
- Difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness or mental fatigue
In your behaviour
- Working late, checking emails constantly or skipping breaks
- Relying more on caffeine, alcohol or sugar to keep going
- Withdrawing from friends, family or things you used to enjoy
Chronic stress is very common, and your body and mind can recover from it. You do not need to wait until you are close to burnout to get support.
Book a first session → The method
How hypnotherapy for stress 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
Switching off the stress response
Hypnosis moves the body out of fight or flight and into a state of rest, slowing the heart rate, easing the breath and releasing muscle tension. Experiencing that shift repeatedly reminds your nervous system how to come down from high alert, rather than running on it all day.
- 02
Changing your relationship with pressure
Chronic stress is kept going by automatic thoughts: everything is urgent, rest must be earned, it all depends on you. In hypnosis we loosen those patterns, so pressure feels more manageable and you can respond with perspective rather than react.
- 03
Rehearsing boundaries and recovery
We look at where your time and energy go, and rehearse in hypnosis the moments that matter, from saying no to an extra request to closing the laptop at the end of the day, so holding a boundary starts to feel natural.
- 04
Building your own resources
You leave with short self-hypnosis, breathing and grounding techniques you can use between meetings or before sleep, so recovery becomes part of your day and not something you wait for until the weekend.
- 1
Book a first session
In person in London or online. Each session lasts 60 minutes.
- 2
We start with a conversation
About where your stress comes from, how long it has been building, how it shows up in your body, sleep and relationships, and what a more balanced life 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 feel noticeably calmer after the first sessions. Long-standing stress, or stress that is edging towards burnout, 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 stress?
Research into hypnosis for anxiety, which overlaps closely with stress, 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. Research focused specifically on chronic work stress and burnout is more limited and uses a wide range of methods, so it is fair to say the evidence there is still developing. What is well established is that deep, focused relaxation calms the body's stress response, and self-hypnosis gives you a practical way to bring that about regularly on your own.
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 stress 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
Can hypnotherapy get rid of stress completely?
No, and it should not try to. Some stress is a normal part of a full life, and in short bursts it can help you perform. The goal is to stop stress from becoming your constant background state, so your body and mind can recover between demands. Many clients find that hypnotherapy helps them feel calmer, sleep better and respond to pressure with more perspective. Results vary from person to person, and I will always be honest with you about what is realistic.
How many sessions of hypnotherapy for stress will I need?
It depends on how long you have been under pressure and how much it has affected your health, sleep and relationships. Stress around a specific period, such as a demanding project, may ease within a few sessions. Long-standing stress, or stress that is edging towards burnout, usually benefits from a series of sessions over several weeks. We will review your progress together as we go.
How much does hypnotherapy for stress 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.
Can hypnotherapy help with burnout?
Hypnotherapy is not a replacement for medical care or for changes that may be needed at work, but it can be a valuable support. Burnout often builds when rest stops working and switching off feels impossible. Our work focuses on helping your nervous system recover, noticing your early warning signs and finding it easier to hold boundaries around your time and energy. If you are already too exhausted to function, please speak to your GP as well.
I barely have time as it is. Can sessions fit around work?
Yes. Many clients with busy working lives prefer online sessions, which save travel time and work just as well as sessions in person. Others find that coming to the practice in London gives them a welcome hour away from their usual surroundings. You also leave with self-hypnosis techniques that take only a few minutes, so you can use them during a working day.
Should I see my GP first?
Stress can cause very real physical symptoms, but symptoms such as chest pain, palpitations, persistent headaches or ongoing exhaustion should be checked by your GP first, 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 stress
You do not need to reach breaking point before you get support. If stress has become your normal and rest no longer restores you, that is reason enough to start.