In the week that I decided to write about how phobias are underpinned by a fear of death, I noticed I was developing pains in my right hand. Repetitive strain injury? Arthritis? I’m not sure. It was, of course, my writing hand, my mouse hand, my tea-drinking hand, my almost-everything-hand. Two paragraphs in, and my right hand is creaking, as it dominantly bears the burden of typing. It’s an aching, utilitarian memento mori. Higher up the body, my elbow is also making its dis

It might not surprise you that in my biased opinion, you should be able to! But the short answer is that hypnotherapy is not usually available on the NHS, as the NHS’s own website  makes clear. While some complementary therapies are integrated into NHS services, hypnotherapy is generally accessed privately. However, there are notable exceptions and examples that demonstrate its effectiveness and growing recognition. Hypnotherapy for IBS: A NICE-Recognised Treatment Hypnothera

Discover whether face-to-face or video hypnotherapy is right for you, with guidance on effectiveness, convenience and what to expect. You may be asking yourself, can I have hypnotherapy online, or wondering whether in-person sessions are somehow better? These are questions I am frequently asked. The truth is that both options can be highly effective. Choosing between in-person and video sessions is less about the medium itself, and more about finding a therapist you trust, fe

The UK’s Green Party has recently elected Zack Polanski as its new leader, securing an impressive 85% of the vote. Before politics, Polanski worked as a hypnotherapist. His election has brought a new spotlight to the Green Party, but it also reignites curiosity — and some scepticism — about the claims he made during his previous career.

So how do you actually become a hypnotherapist? Hypnotherapy is often misunderstood. I don’t hypnotise people to make them act out of character. I don’t erase memories or implant new ones. And no, I can’t make you fluent in Spanish overnight. Hypnosis is not mind control, it’s a natural and common state of focused attention.

Rewiring Fear: How hypnotherapy transformed my phobia. Published in Psychologies magazine July 2025.

Tom Aspinall sees his hypnotherapist twice a week. Image credit: Tom Aspinall Official Youtube channel. You might not expect to hear...

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