Does any of this sound like you?
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You can’t sleep and can’t switch off
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Even when you do get a night’s rest or a holiday, you still feel exhausted
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You constantly replay conversations or decisions
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You are waiting to be found out, even though you are successful
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You have headaches, stomach issues, and muscle tension
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You feel cynical about work that used to matter to you
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You are irritable
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Tasks that once came easily to you are overwhelming
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You make mistakes you wouldn't normally make
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You have no enthusiasm for anything, even the things you normally love or enjoy
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You dream about quitting your job but know you can’t because there are bills to pay
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You hope that if you can just make the next deadline, hit the next target, complete this project or get through the next meeting or presentation, you’ll be ok. But you aren’t.
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And you are worried that you can’t keep living like this much longer
If you want to...
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Finally understand why you're so exhausted and what to do about it
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Stop replaying every conversation for hours
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Feel calm and confident without the constant self-doubt
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Reconnect with your passion for what you do and who you are
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Take back control and get unstuck from whatever is holding you back
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Continue to be a success without it costing your health…
I can help.
I provide online therapy for professionals experiencing work related stress, anxiety, burnout and imposter syndrome. I spent over 20 years in high pressure leadership roles. Now as a cognitive behavioural hypnotherapist, I help you continue to be successful without it costing your wellbeing.
My Practice -
why work with me?
I spent over twenty years in leadership roles and understand the unique pressures you are experiencing. I have been there.
As a cognitive behavioural hypnotherapist I combine evidence based cognitive behavioural therapy with mindfulness, hypnotherapy and problem-solving techniques to help you get back on track.
I know you have a busy life and have reached the point where you want solutions. I don’t provide meandering therapy with no direction. Every session has a purpose. Every session moves you forward. You will always know what you are working on, why and the intended outcome.
One size fits all approaches don’t work and that isn’t what I do. No two clients are the same and I believe in tailoring my approach to your specific situation, using the right combination of research backed interventions to help you achieve the lasting change you want.
I have a Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy (Hypno-CBT®) from the UK College of Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy. I am on the General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR Reg) and hold the General Qualification in Hypnotherapy Practice (GQHP). I am also a certified Neuro Linguistic Programming Practitioner.
But beyond the qualifications and certificates I have the lived experience. My leadership background means I understand the pressure of stressful environments and have a genuine commitment to helping professionals reclaim their wellbeing. I spent over twenty years in corporate communications and strategic leadership roles in the police and government. I understand what it is like to be responsible for the reputation or success of organisations that are under constant scrutiny and have thousands of employees. You don’t need to explain why you can’t sleep, can’t switch off, or live in fear of sooner or later being seen as incompetent or making the wrong decision. I understand the exhaustion of always being on and needing to immediately have the right response to the latest crisis without the time to think. I know what it's like to appear capable on the outside while struggling inside. And I know how it is to become cynical about work you once loved and feel that cynicism and lack of enjoyment creep into every other element of my life.
If you work with me you have someone who is a specialist not a generalist. Some therapists work with all kinds of clients and offer help for all kinds of problems. I focus my practice solely on supporting professionals overcome work related stress, anxiety, imposter syndrome and burnout, and continually look to further develop my expertise in these areas. I understand your work, your challenges and what works.
I work online giving you maximum flexibility to schedule sessions around your other commitments in the most time efficient way. Online therapy is recognised as being just as effective, if not more so, than meeting in person. It also means you get support without an overinflated price tag to cover the cost of a rented consulting room.
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. If you are ready, why not drop me an email and we can start taking action today.
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 Paul McKenna. I 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 as I began to experience many of the challenges we all face in mid-life.
A series of close family bereavements, caring for an elderly parent, my own redundancy and life-threatening illness plus working in two failing organisations led me to burnout. The work focussed, high achieving, goal driven perfectionist I took pride in being was replaced by 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 that maybe the problem (me) couldn’t be fixed at all.
Ultimately the problem solver within me kicked in and I went on my own therapeutic journey. Firstly, I discovered I wasn’t the problem. Secondly, I learned it was possible to conquer the problems that were holding me back. You can do the same.
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.
Having learned approaches that made a massive difference to my own life, I wanted to share that knowledge with others. I went on to train with the UK College of Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy and have a Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural 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. I have carried out further study in mindfulness and the use of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for depression and perfectionism. I also hold two degrees including an MBA. A member of the General Hypnotherapy Register, I now combine the scientific evidence-based techniques of cognitive behavioural therapy, hypnotherapy and mindfulness in my practice as a Hypno-CBT® Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapist.
My approach
Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy
Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy (CBH) is an integrative and evidence-based approach which combines Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) principles with 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.
This isn’t something that is done to you. In fact, for it to be successful you need to take an active role. Combining relaxation with thinking positively and visualising your goals can transform negative feelings and behaviours.
Fundamental to Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy are psychoeducation and self-hypnosis - you gain an understanding of why you feel, behave and think the way you do and then learn how to do so in a more positive way, in essence becoming your own therapist. Research indicates that adding hypnosis to CBT can increase treatment success compared to CBT alone.
Mindfulness
For many of us with busy lives, our focus is often on the next task on our to do list, catastrophising about things that haven't happened yet or ruminating about events in the past. Our lack of focus on the present moment can often be at the heart of many anxiety, stress and performance based problems. Mindfulness is simply being fully present in the moment without judgement. The benefits of this 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.
We have all seen stage hypnotist acts and often people ask if a therapist has control over their client during hypnosis. Definitely not, 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. Put simply, you cannot be made to do something you do not want to do. The flip side is that if you are motivated to achieve your treatment goals, hypnosis can be a hugely powerful enabler.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a well established evidence-based form of psychotherapy particularly effective for wide range of 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, as well as it often being the most convenient way of accessing therapy.
How many sessions?
The length of therapy can vary depending on several factors, including your specific goals and the progress you make. Together, we will assess what you want to achieve and determine the number of sessions required. Relatively straightforward issues may require only a limited number of sessions, whereas more complex issues may require more extended treatment. Some clients also choose to attend therapy for a certain period, take a break, and return later 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.
Ready to make a change?
I offer a free 30 minute consultation to help you determine if I am the right therapist for you. My aim is to provide you with a beneficial and fulfilling therapy experience that helps you achieve your goals.
I look forward to hearing from you to discuss your needs.
Working together
Your first appointment
During your first appointment, we will discuss your current situation, the factors that have caused the problem you are seeking help for as well as your strengths and resources, and your therapy expectations. We usually timetable this for an hour.
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. Successful therapy is definitely a team effort.
During our initial session, we will determine the number of sessions needed to accomplish your goals, depending on your needs. As we move through future sessions, we’ll assess progress and make any necessary adjustments to the plan to ensure that we stay on track towards achieving your goals.
Your following appointments
Subsequent sessions last 50 to 60 minutes. Clients usually choose to have sessions every other week, but the frequency can be tailored to your specific treatment goals. We will track your progress from one session to another and implement practical techniques for change. My aim is to create a lasting impact which empowers you with practical skills to become self-reliant. It's important to be honest about what is or isn't working so we can continue to refine your treatment plan. Don't be afraid to ask questions or express any concerns.
To maximise therapy outcomes, I will assign you various activities between sessions. They have the role of helping you to learn 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 team effort
Together we will develop what in therapy is known as a therapeutic alliance. This means that we will both be active participants in the process - working on the same team for the same goals. This involves openness and an environment of trust and complete acceptance and non-judgement where you can work through your issues and make the changes you want.