Depression and low mood
Online hypnotherapy for depression and low mood
When getting out of the door feels like too much, help can come to you. Hypnotherapy can help you lift low mood, quieten the inner critic and find your energy again, in private sessions by Teams or Zoom.
How hypnotherapy helps with depression
A 2019 meta-analysis brought together 13 controlled trials and found that hypnosis reduced depression by an amount comparable to established psychological treatments (Milling et al., 2019). That matches what I see with clients: the grey begins to break up, a little at first, and each brighter moment makes the next one easier to notice.
The research picture is still forming. A 2024 review that graded study quality concluded there is not yet enough high-quality evidence to recommend hypnotherapy for depression on its own (Souza et al., 2024). So I work alongside your GP, never instead of them, and the free consultation gives you room to talk it through before deciding anything.
Depression tends to pull us backwards into regret and forwards into worry, and away from the present. Hypnotherapy and mindfulness both work directly on that pull, helping you step out of the loop of negative thinking rather than argue with it.
What we can work on
- Making peace with the experiences that feed your low mood
- A kinder, steadier inner voice in place of the harsh one
- Breaking problems down so they feel manageable again
- The anxiety and stress that so often travel with depression
- Motivation, focus and making decisions
- Belief in yourself and your ability to recover (see confidence)
- Broken or restless sleep
Why online works especially well for low mood
Anyone who has been through depression knows that the things that might help are often the things that feel impossible: getting dressed, travelling, sitting in a waiting room, making conversation with a stranger. Online sessions remove most of that. You can join from your own room, as you are, and on a heavy day that can be the difference between turning up and cancelling.
In my experience people also open up more easily from home. There is less sense of being on show, and with my voice in your headphones the session feels close and personal rather than clinical. Afterwards there is no journey to face, so you can rest and let the session settle.
What a course looks like
- A free consultation. 15–30 minutes by phone or video. I'll ask what support you already have, and you can ask me anything.
- Your first session. We look at how low mood shows up for you, what you would like to feel instead, and you have a first, gentle experience of hypnosis.
- The sessions that follow. Ericksonian hypnotherapy, NLP and mindfulness, tailored to you and paced to how you are feeling that week.
- Skills to keep. Self-hypnosis and mindfulness you can use to look after your mood long after our sessions end.
Sessions are an hour, by Microsoft Teams or Zoom. I'm happy to work alongside your GP, counsellor or care team. After 7 hours (usually five sessions), any further sessions for the same issue are £97.50 an hour: see my halve-fees promise. See how online sessions work for the practical side.
Questions about depression and online sessions
Should I talk to my GP first?
Yes, please do, and keep taking any antidepressants exactly as prescribed. Any change to medication is a conversation for your doctor. Hypnotherapy works alongside medical care, not in place of it. Is it right for me? explains more.
What if I'm having a bad day when my session is booked?
Join anyway if you can, even with the camera angled away while we talk. Being able to log on from your own room is one of the big advantages of working online. If you genuinely can't, let me know and we'll find another time.
Can I have online hypnotherapy alongside counselling or CBT?
Usually, yes. Just let me know who else is involved in your care so the work fits together.
What if I'm in crisis?
Hypnotherapy is not an emergency service. If you are thinking about harming yourself or ending your life, call Samaritans free on 116 123 at any time, or NHS 111 and choose the mental health option. In an emergency, call 999. Outside the UK, contact your local emergency services.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Format | Online by Microsoft Teams or Zoom |
| First step | Free 15–30 minute consultation |
| Fee | £150 per hour; see fees |
| Typical course | Usually around five sessions (7 hours) |
| Session length | 1 hour |
Who you'll be working with
I'm Tim Dunton, an Advanced and Ericksonian Hypnotherapist with more than 20 years' experience, a Master Practitioner of NLP trained by Richard Bandler and John Grinder, and a member of the General Hypnotherapy Register. I have been through difficult times of my own and used the same techniques I now teach. More about Tim.
The research
- Milling LS et al. (2019). Meta-analysis of hypnosis for depression (13 trials). American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis 61(3):227–243. PubMed 34874235
- Souza FL et al. (2024). Systematic review of hypnosis for depression with GRADE assessment. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice 57:101913. PubMed 39388785
Individual experiences vary. See everything I can help with on what can be treated.
15–30 minutes by phone or video, no obligation. Or call 07923 495558.