Habits
Online hypnotherapy for habits
A habit runs on autopilot, which is why arguing with yourself hasn't worked. Hypnotherapy works at that automatic level, and online we can work on it in the very places the habit happens.
How hypnotherapy helps with habits
A habit is a sequence your mind has rehearsed so often that it stops asking permission. The trigger appears and your hand is already moving. Understanding why rarely stops it. In hypnosis we work with that automatic level: loosening the link between trigger and action, finding out what the habit is doing for you, and building something better in its place.
There is little formal research on everyday habits like nail-biting, so I won't pretend otherwise. What is well researched is the tension that drives so many of them. A 2019 review of 17 controlled trials found hypnosis substantially reduced anxiety (Valentine et al., 2019), and a 2020 randomised trial found five weekly hypnosis sessions reduced people's stress compared with an information booklet (Fisch et al., 2020). Clients often tell me that once the tension eases, the habit loses much of its pull.
What we can work on
- Nail-biting
- Skin picking and hair pulling
- Teeth grinding and jaw clenching
- Procrastination and putting things off
- Endless scrolling and phone checking
- Losing your temper or over-reacting to particular triggers
- Smoking and vaping: see stop smoking hypnotherapy
- Snacking and eating habits: see weight loss
Why online works especially well for habits
Habits are tied to places: the desk where you bite your nails, the sofa where you scroll, the laptop you procrastinate in front of. When we work online you are usually sitting in one of those places already. We can rehearse the new response right there, so it's wired to the setting where you'll actually need it.
Many habits also come with embarrassment, and that's often what stops people asking for help. At home, with nobody else around and my voice close in your headphones, clients tell me they find it much easier to be honest about what they do and when. On camera I can also notice small things, like a hand drifting to your face, and we can use those moments in the session.
What a course looks like
- A free consultation. 15–30 minutes by phone or video to describe the habit and what you'd like instead.
- Find the trigger and the payoff. Every persistent habit is rewarded by something. Once that's clear, change stops being a test of endurance.
- Loosen the link. Hypnosis and NLP applied to your particular sequence, situation by situation.
- Build the replacement. Something that meets the same need without the cost, because a habit simply removed tends to creep back.
- Rehearse and reinforce. In hypnosis during sessions, and with self-hypnosis between them.
Sessions are an hour, by Microsoft Teams or Zoom. Your own commitment plays a part: hypnotherapy works with you, not on you, and makes the change far more manageable. After 7 hours (usually five sessions), any further sessions for the same issue are £97.50 an hour: see my halve-fees promise. Many habits are tied up with stress or anxiety.
Questions about habits and online sessions
I'm embarrassed about my habit. Do I have to show it on camera?
No. You only need to tell me what's comfortable, and I only need to see your head and shoulders. Most people find talking about it from home much easier than they feared.
Should I have the session where the habit usually happens?
It can help, as long as the room is private and comfortable. If you procrastinate at your desk, joining from that desk lets us link the new response to the real setting.
When should I see a doctor or dentist as well?
If a habit is causing injury, such as damaged skin, worn or cracked teeth or bald patches, please talk to your GP, or your dentist about grinding, too. Habits involving alcohol, drugs or gambling need a different conversation: see is it right for me?
| 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. More about Tim.
The research
- Valentine KE, Milling LS, Clark LJ, Moriarty CL (2019). The efficacy of hypnosis as a treatment for anxiety: a meta-analysis. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis 67(3):336–363. PubMed 31251710
- Fisch S, Trivaković-Thiel S, Roll S, et al. (2020). Group hypnosis for stress reduction and improved stress coping: a multicenter randomized controlled trial. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 20:344. Full text
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.