Unlock your potential from within
Do you want to be free from anxiety and stress?
Do you want to be free to achieve your potential and goals?
Do you want more confidence, motivation, inner calm and self-belief?
Do you want to finally overcome the things that are holding you back?
If so, I can help.
I blend cognitive behaviour therapy, hypnotherapy, mindfulness, coaching and problem-solving techniques to tailor the perfect support for you.
You will learn the skills to effectively manage your thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
We will work together using scientific, evidenced based approaches to address the issues and barriers you are experiencing to achieve your goals.
What I can help you with:
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Anxiety
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Stress
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Feelings of overwhelm and burnout
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Perfectionism, procrastination and fear of failure
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Low self confidence
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Lack of assertiveness
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Fear of public speaking
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Performance improvement e.g. job interviews, exams or sports
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Specific fears or phobias
If any of these stop you from being who you want to be, doing what you want to do and you are ready to make a change, get in touch for an initial free 15 minute consultation by phone or online.
My practice
As a cognitive behavioural hypnotherapist, I draw on cognitive behavioural therapy, hypnotherapy, mindfulness, problem solving and coaching techniques to help my clients achieve long lasting change.
I specialise in helping you overcome work related issues - stress, anxiety, lack of assertiveness, fear of failure, imposter syndrome, public speaking, perfectionism that leads to procrastination, low confidence and self-doubt. I also work with people to support improvements in performance in areas such as sports, entertainment, job interviews or exams.
There’s no one size fits all approach in effective therapy. Whatever you need help with, my approach is solution-focused, tailored to you and time-efficient. My aim is to get you where you need to be as quickly as possible. I love to help clients of all backgrounds move forward with their lives, but it’s important you can make an informed decision and get answers to any questions you may have. I never ‘hard sell and if I think you might be better served through another approach, or working with another coach or therapist, I will always be honest with you.
I also know that starting a course of therapy or coaching can be daunting, It requires facing head-on the very challenges you often attempt to avoid. That’s why I offer a free, confidential, and completely without-obligation, telephone consultation.
My story
I have always had an interest in the ability we all have to train our minds to achieve our goals but also how long held beliefs and behaviours can hold us back and derail our plans.
I'm Howard Hunt and during a successful management and senior leadership career, I was passionate about supporting and coaching organisations and individuals to perform better to reach their potential. I undertook training as a Neuro-linguistic Programming practitioner with one of the creators of NLP, Richard Bandler, and continued to learn and refine the skills which got me and others the results we craved. Somehow I even found the time to also become an award-winning television scriptwriter.
Working in high pressure environments, success didn’t always come easily but I had a strong work ethic and knew I had all the tools I needed to continue to excel in my career and help others do the same.
And then I realised I didn’t.
A series of bereavements, redundancy, life-threatening illness and working in two toxic workplaces led me to burnout. The work focussed, high achieving, goal driven perfectionist I took pride in being had been replaced with someone overwhelmed with depression, anxiety, procrastination, self-doubt and low confidence. I was left feeling I couldn’t be myself at work and wasn’t even sure who that was anymore. With a lack of support, I felt I was the problem and maybe the problem couldn’t be fixed.
Ultimately the problem solver within me kicked in and I went on my own therapeutic journey of self discovery,. I discovered I wasn’t the problem. It was possible to conquer the problems that were holding me back. You can do the same. I now combine all these techniques in my practice as a Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapist using scientific evidence-based techniques.
I know when I speak to people about my experiences how it resonates with others. Like me they often believe it is only them experiencing the same difficulties. It’s just not the case.
We all face anxieties, fears and doubts. It’s normal. Unhelpful thoughts, feelings and behaviours are often caused by automatic responses we have learned over time. The good news is we can change and navigate past these, return to balance and spend our energy doing what we want to do, becoming who you want to be, and achieving what you want to achieve.
I have a Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy from the UK College of Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy , accredited by the National Council for Hypnotherapy, the General Hypnotherapy Register, the Register for Evidence-Based Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy and approved by the British Psychological Society and have carried out further study in mindfulness and the use of CBT for depression and perfectionism . I also hold two degrees including an MBA.
My approach
Cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy
Cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy is an integrative and evidence-based approach which combines cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) principles with clinical hypnotherapy and mindfulness to produce lasting positive changes for individuals wanting to address emotional and psychological challenges. It places emphasis on relaxation, mental focus, imagination, and expectation.
It isn’t something that is done to you. In fact, for it to be successful CBH requires you to take an active role in the process. Combining relaxation with thinking positively and visualising your goals can transform negative feelings and behaviours. Research indicates that adding hypnosis to CBT can increase treatment success compared to CBT alone.
Fundamental to cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy is psychoeducation and self-hypnosis, i.e. you understand why you feel, behave and think the way you do and how to do so in a more positive way, in essence becoming your own therapist.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is being fully present in the moment without judgement. The benefits of mindfulness include enhanced creativity, clarity, and concentration, improved self-control, reduced anxiety, stress and depression, better relationships, and a strengthened brain.
Mindfulness helps you to develop a greater understanding of yourself, embrace and accept thoughts and emotions, and improve your emotional regulation.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnosis is a cognitive state of focused attention, absorption, concentration, and heightened suggestibility. Hypnosis enhances the mind-body connection by promoting cognitive flexibility and enabling the shifting of perspectives with ease.
It is often quicker than conventional psychotherapy methods and enables a deep exploration of emotions. To be successful, it requires a positive mindset and a willingness to participate actively in the experience.
Hypnotherapy has a robust scientific framework, and is an effective method for managing pain as well as treating anxiety and stress-related disorders.
Often people ask does a Hypnotist have 'control' over their client? Not at all, in fact the exact opposite - hypnosis is used to enable the client to have far greater self-control over their own thoughts, feelings and actions.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
CBT is an evidence-based form of psychotherapy particularly effective for mental health problems such as stress, anxiety, depression, panic attacks, phobias including social phobia, eating disorders, OCD, insomnia, difficulties with anger and many other issues.
It is a structured, active form of therapy that focuses on the interconnection between thoughts, feelings, emotions, and behaviours, helping us recognise and challenge negative or irrational thoughts and replace them with more balanced and rational ones.
Online
I schedule online sessions to suit your commitments. The research shows that online is just as beneficial as in-person therapy, if not more so.
Through therapy, which usually takes between 6 and 20 sessions, clients can better understand their thinking patterns and learn to modify them to improve overall emotional and behavioural well-being
Is online therapy effective?
Absolutely! In fact, With its ease of access and convenience, online therapy is the future of mental health support.
Take advantage of the free 15-min consultation I offer. This will give you the opportunity to experience online therapy for yourself and make an informed decision.
How many sessions?
The length of therapy can vary depending on several factors, including your specific needs and goals for therapy and the progress you make. Together, we will assess these factors and determine the number of sessions required to address your needs.
For instance, relatively straightforward issues like specific phobias or life changes may require only a limited number of sessions, whereas more complex issues may require more extended treatment.
It’s also common for people to attend therapy for a certain period, take a break, and return later on to address other concerns.
Ultimately, it’s up to you how much you want to work as therapy is a collaborative process, and the relationship between us is key to the healing process and the success of therapy.
I offer a free 15-minute consultation to help you determine if I am the right therapist for you. My goal is to provide you with a beneficial and fulfilling therapy experience.
I look forward to hearing from you to discuss your needs.
Working together
Your first appointment
During your first appointment, we will discuss your situation and the factors that have caused the problem you are seeking help for, your history, your strengths and resources, and your expectations.
Based on this, we will work together to establish clear, attainable goals and an action plan tailored to your unique needs. I say “together” because your role will be as important as mine in our relationship. I liken our relationship to a team effort.
During our initial session, we will roughly determine the number of sessions needed to accomplish your goals, depending on your needs. Progressing through therapy, we’ll assess the effectiveness of your plan and make any necessary adjustments to ensure that we stay on track towards achieving your goals.
Your following appointments
Subsequent sessions last 50 to 60 minutes. I usually have sessions every other week.
We will track your progress from one session to another and implement practical techniques for change. My goal is to create a lasting impact in therapy and to empower you with practical skills to become self-reliant. Please ask questions or express any concerns, as this is your time for personal development in a comforting space.
To maximise therapy outcomes, I will assign you various activities between sessions. They have the role of helping you to cope at any time and to speed up the therapy process. Think of it as personal training for the mind, the more reps you do, the quicker you will see lasting results.
A therapeutic alliance
During the ongoing process of therapy we will foster a therapeutic alliance to achieve the jointly agreed goals of the Hypnotherapy. This means that we will both be active participants in the process - working on the same team for the same goals. This often involves openness and an environment of trust and complete acceptance and non-judgement. I provide a safe environment for clients to work through their issues.