Pallia
End of life and palliative hypnotherapy
I offer hypnotherapy to people living with a life-limiting condition, those approaching the end of their lives, their carers and the bereaved.
I’d love to hear from individuals and families who feel this support could help, as well as hospices and care homes interested in offering hypnotherapy to their patients, residents or staff.
The end of life deserves as much beauty, care and respect as the beginning.
My experience in palliative care
Since May 2025, I have worked pro bono with end of life patients on the In-Patient Unit ward at St Raphael's Hospice, and with people living with life-limiting illnesses, carers, and the bereaved at the hospice's Wellbeing Centre.
This work has offered a deeply moving insight into the challenges faced by those living with life-limiting illness and those approaching the end of life, as well as the acute pressure on their carers. It has also been enormously satisfying to help people who would not otherwise have had access to hypnotherapy, as part of a tremendously talented and caring medical and complementary team.
The results are powerful, with patients experiencing meaningful improvements in their comfort and quality of life. I have written about this in more depth for eHospice: Hypnotherapy in Palliative Care – Comfort, Calm and Support When It Matters Most.
WHAT COLLEAGUES SAY
"Laura's voluntary contribution to our palliative care service at St Raphael's Hospice has been nothing short of extraordinary. Through her bespoke and compassionate hypnotherapy sessions, she has helped many of our patients find relief from distressing symptoms such as anxiety, fear, sleep problems, pain and nausea, and regain a sense of calm during some of their most challenging moments. Her gentle presence, deep empathy, and unwavering commitment have made such a meaningful difference to the comfort and wellbeing of those in our care. We are profoundly grateful for the kindness and expertise she brings to our team every single week, and are proud to call her a colleague."
Dr Gabrielle Tamura-Rose
Palliative Care Consultant, St Raphael's Hospice
Hypnotherapy for life-limiting illness
Palliative care is not solely about physical symptoms; it encompasses the total human experience — physical, emotional and psychological.
Hypnotherapy is generally considered safe and low in side effects, making it an excellent complementary therapy for complex patients. Sessions are gentle and personalised to each individual, taking into account their symptoms, emotional state and preferences.
Most people feel some immediate relief after a session — more relaxed, more positive, often sleeping better. While one session can help, successive sessions tend to build on the benefit.
HYPNOTHERAPY CAN HELP TO:
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Reduce pain perception
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Ease muscular tension
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Calm the nervous system
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Improve sleep quality
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Support anxiety and promote calm
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Improve confidence and self-esteem
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Reduce anxiety-driven symptom escalation
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Increase a sense of control
“You matter because you are you, and you matter to the last moment of your life.”
DAME CICELY SAUNDERS
MY OWN EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN THAT HYPNOTHERAPY CAN HELP TO:
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Support feelings of calm
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Help reduce the experience of symptoms such as pain, nausea and discomfort
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Provide comfort and emotional support
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Ease the natural anxieties that come at this stage of life and improve state of mind
Hypnotherapy in end of life care
While hypnosis is not yet a routine component of end of life and palliative care, clinical hypnosis has been widely studied in various types of symptom management and research continues to highlight its promise as a complementary intervention.
At its heart, palliative care seeks to reduce suffering and preserve dignity. Hypnotherapy cannot change a diagnosis, but it can help soften distress, fear and discomfort. With continued research, its place within compassionate end of life care may become increasingly clear.
Hypnotherapy for hospices and care homes
I deliver hypnotherapy directly to patients within organisations, as well as provide training for nursing and specialist staff on how hypnotherapy works and how it can be incorporated into wider patient care — supporting your team to recognise where it may help, and how to refer in appropriately.
If you are a hospice, palliative home or care home, please contact me to discuss individual and group patient bookings as well as details of training packages.
Support for families and carers
Support for families and carers
• Stress
• Sleep disruption
• Anxiety
• Emotional exhaustion
• Grief
WHAT COLLEAGUES SAY
“I am a wellbeing facilitator at St Raphael’s Hospice in Sutton. Laura volunteers here supporting patients, carers and the bereaved. All of the people supported by Laura in the Hospice have benefited greatly from her caring and professional treatment during some of the hardest times of their lives. Laura’s input is a real help to those that she supports reducing anxiety, alleviating stress and helping with pain management. We are very grateful for Laura.”
Simon Oliver,
Wellbeing Services Facilitator
GET IN TOUCH
If you are ready to make positive changes to your life, you can schedule an appointment now, by clicking on the button. Perhaps you have some questions first, in which case you can contact me by using the form and I am happy to arrange a no obligation conversation so you can see whether this is right for you. As they saying goes, goals are dreams with deadlines, so I look forward to starting on this journey with you as soon as you are ready.