Understanding the stories that shape us.
I’m Sophie, an integrative hypnotherapist with additional psychotherapeutic training, offering therapy in East London and online.
Sometimes we find ourselves caught in familiar patterns of thinking, feeling or relating to others, even when we understand that they aren’t working for us.
I offer therapy in East London and online, for people who want to make sense of what they're experiencing and consider what they might need.
Making sense of familiar patterns
Our responses to life often have a history. The ways we protect ourselves, relate to others or make sense of difficult experiences may have developed for reasons that made sense at the time, even if they no longer feel helpful.
Exploring these patterns can help us recognise what lies beneath them, understand ourselves with greater clarity and find more choice in how we respond.
Meet Sophie
A little about me:
My training in integrative hypnotherapy and psychotherapy has shaped an approach that is attentive to each person's individual experiences, needs and circumstances. I aim to offer a thoughtful, collaborative space where we can explore what matters to you, at a pace that feels right for you.
What brings you here?
There are many reasons someone might consider therapy. Perhaps anxiety or stress has become difficult to manage, a change in life has left you feeling uncertain, or you find yourself returning to familiar patterns in relationships or in the way you see yourself. You may have a clear sense of what's troubling you, or simply feel that something isn't quite right.
Here are some of the areas we might explore together:
Anxiety and stress
For times when life feels uncertain, demanding or difficult to navigate.
Low mood and self-worth
For times when you feel disconnected from yourself, weighed down by life or unsure of your own worth.
Relationships and connection
For navigating recurring patterns, feeling misunderstood or finding new ways to connect with others.
Creativity and identity
For people exploring creative blocks, work and the expectations they carry.
Sleep and relaxation
For when it feels difficult to switch off, find rest or allow yourself time to slow down.
Phobias and fears
For when particular fears or situations begin to feel limiting, overwhelming or difficult to approach.
Living outside expectations
For those exploring identity, choices and ways of living that may sit outside the expectations of family, culture or society.
Body image and life transitions
For exploring your relationship with your body, food and self-image, and making sense of changes that can accompany ageing and different stages of life, including menopause and age-related hormonal changes.
Living with pain
For exploring the emotional impact of pain and finding ways to relate to its challenges with greater understanding and support.
Working together:
Therapy is collaborative and individual, moving at a pace agreed together, using and building on your resources to find a way forward that is uniquely tailored to you.
ABOUT
Understanding the stories that shape us:
Throughout my earlier career as a creative producer in television, advertising and film trailers, I have worked with stories: how they are constructed, what they bring into focus, what they leave unsaid, and how a shift in perspective can change the meaning of the whole.
Over time, I have become increasingly interested in the stories we carry about ourselves. The beliefs we develop, the experiences that shape our understanding of the world, and the ways these narratives can influence how we feel, the choices we make and the possibilities we see for ourselves.
From stories to therapy
My training in integrative hypnotherapy and psychotherapy informs an approach that brings together psychotherapeutic exploration and hypnosis. I work collaboratively, tailoring our sessions to your experiences and needs rather than following a predetermined formula.
The ways we respond to life can become so familiar that it’s difficult to imagine things being different. We may find ourselves repeating certain patterns in our relationships, holding ourselves to expectations that feel hard to meet, or reacting in ways we don't fully understand. Noticing these patterns can be a starting point for understanding ourselves more deeply and recognising what we might want to do differently.
I value trust, openness and mutual respect, and aim to build a therapeutic relationship where you feel heard, accepted and able to explore your experiences at your own pace. Together, we can work towards a deeper understanding of yourself and what matters to you, leaving room for whatever you may discover along the way.
My approach and interests
People come to therapy for many different reasons. You might be navigating anxiety, stress or a period of change, feeling stuck in your relationships or creative life, or finding yourself questioning familiar ways of thinking, feeling or living. Perhaps something feels different, difficult or unsettled, but you're not quite sure why. You don't need to arrive with a clear question or a particular goal; we can begin with whatever feels present for you.
Memberships and accreditations
I hold a Certificate in Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy from the National College of Hypnosis and Psychotherapy (NCHP), where I continue my professional development. I work under supervision and follow the UKCP Code of Ethics and Professional Practice.
I am a member of the National Society for Talking Therapies (NSTT), a trainee member of the UKCP (working towards accreditation), as well as registered and accredited with the Complementary and Natural Health Care Council (CNHC).
MY APPROACH
An approach shaped around you.
Our work will be shaped by your experiences, needs and preferences. We can review what feels helpful as we go, adapting our approach where needed.
Curiosity, not judgement
Sometimes the ways we think, feel and cope have developed in response to earlier experiences. We can explore these patterns with curiosity, making space to understand them rather than criticise ourselves for having them.
Working collaboratively
Therapy is something we approach together. Your questions, preferences and feedback matter, and we can talk openly about how the work is unfolding.
At your own pace
There is no need to rush into difficult experiences or explore anything before you feel ready. We can take time to establish what feels manageable.
Working with hypno-psychotherapy
Hypno-psychotherapy brings together hypnotherapy and psychotherapeutic exploration. Hypnosis involves focused attention and can include relaxation or guided imagery, depending on the approach used.
In our work together, it can provide another way to explore familiar patterns of thinking and feeling, alongside conversation and reflection. You remain involved in the process, and we can discuss what feels comfortable, useful or not right for you.
There is no need to arrive knowing exactly what you want to explore. We can begin with what is happening in your life now and decide together how to approach the work, at a pace that feels manageable.
The aim is not to change what has happened to you, or to suggest that difficult experiences can simply be thought about differently. It is to develop a deeper understanding of your experiences and explore whether new ways of relating to them might become possible.
WORKING TOGETHER
Taking the first step:
Reaching out to a therapist can feel like a significant step. The free 15-minute introductory call is an opportunity to share a little about what has brought you here, ask questions and get a sense of whether working together might feel right for you.
There is no obligation to book sessions after the call. If we decide to work together, we can discuss what you hope to explore and how we might approach the work at a pace that feels manageable for you.
Practical details:
Session length: 50-60 minutes
Fee: £70
Sessions can be held online or in person in East London
Cancellation policy: Please give at least 24 hours' notice if you need to cancel or reschedule a session.
FAQs
It is completely natural to feel curious, or even a little apprehensive, about hypnosis. Many people have only seen it done in stage shows, TV or films, which can give a very different picture from the way it is used in therapy.
The answers below are here to help you feel more at ease before we speak. If your question isn't covered, you can book a free 15-minute introductory call, with no obligation to book further sessions to find out more.
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Hypnosis is a natural, focused way of using attention and imagination, much like the engagement many of us feel when we get engrossed in a book, a film or a daydream.
Researchers still debate exactly how it works, but they agree on what it is not: it is not mind control and it is not sleep.
In therapy, I will guide you into that state on purpose, usually with calm, steady speech and gentle imagery.
Your attention narrows and turns inward, which can make it easier to notice thoughts, feelings and possibilities that are harder to reach when the mind is busy. You stay aware throughout.
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Hypnotherapy uses hypnosis to support change, often around a specific goal such as a habit or a fear.
Hypno-psychotherapy combines hypnosis with psychotherapy, so alongside the hypnosis, we talk, reflect and make sense of the patterns, experiences and beliefs that sit underneath what you are finding difficult.
Practitioners are trained in both, and the approach can draw on a range of methods rather than following a fixed script. It is often chosen when someone would like to understand themselves more deeply, not only change a behaviour
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Not really. Stage shows are entertainment, built around volunteers who have chosen to take part and a performer who wants a good show. Therapy is a quiet, private, collaborative conversation. There are no tricks, no swinging watches and nothing designed to embarrass you. Nobody is asked to do anything silly, and the hypnosis is only one part of the work, and always used for your own goals.
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No. Although hypnosis often feels deeply relaxing, you are not asleep. You can hear me, think, and respond if you wish.
Many people describe it as being somewhere between wide awake and drifting off, similar to the way you can lose track of time while absorbed in something or in a state of flow.
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We have a relaxed 15-minute conversation by phone or Zoom. You can tell me what brings you to therapy, ask anything you like about hypnosis, and get a sense of whether I feel like the right person to work with.
There is no obligation to book further sessions.
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Sessions last 50 to 60 minutes. We usually begin by talking, so I can understand what you would like from therapy and what feels important to you. Hypnosis is introduced gradually and only when you feel ready, and I will always explain what I am going to do first.
You are welcome to ask questions, pause or change direction at any point.
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Experiences vary from person to person, and there is no single right way to feel.
Many people describe a calm, absorbed, daydream-like state. Others notice heaviness or lightness, a sense of time passing differently, or simply a quiet focus.
Some people feel very little, and that is also perfectly normal.
You will not be asleep, and you will be able to hear me throughout.
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Relaxation is common in hypnosis, but it is not essential to it.
People who find it hard to switch off , or whose minds are busy, can still take part, and many find that the focus becomes easier with practice.
We can try different ways of working until we find what suits you.
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No. Research on hypnosis does not support the idea that people lose control of their actions, and a hypnotised person is not a robot following orders.
You can decline or ignore any suggestion, you choose what you share, and you can speak, move or stop at any time.
A useful way to think about it is that hypnosis is something you do, not something done to you. My role is more like a guide, and the direction we take is always agreed with you.
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No. You can end hypnosis whenever you like, in much the same way as you would come out of a daydream.
If you ever wanted to stop, you would let me know and I would guide you back to full awareness. If our session was online and the video call disconnected, I would contact you by phone to bring the session to a close.
Most people feel clear-headed and able to carry on with their day afterwards, including driving.
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No. You decide what to say, and you stay in charge of what you share and how quickly.
Our pace will be determined by what feels comfortable to you, and there is no need to explore anything before you feel ready.
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Usually, yes. Most people remember what happened, and forgetting during hypnosis is very rare unless it has been deliberately suggested.
You stay aware of your surroundings, and I will check in with you throughout so that you feel safe and informed.
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There is no fixed number. Some people would like a few sessions to find ways of coping with something specific, while others want to explore patterns more deeply over a longer period.
We agree the pace together at the start, and we review it as we go, so you are never committed to more than you would like.
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Hypno-psychotherapy, like psychotherapy can help anxiety and stress, low mood and self- worth, relationships and connection, sleep and relaxation, phobias and fears, body image, life transitions such as menopause, and the emotional impact of living with pain.
Some are curious about their patterns, and some simply feel stuck. We begin with whatever feels present for you.
No therapist can guarantee a particular result, but we can work carefully and collaboratively towards what matters to you.
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Hypnotherapy is generally considered very safe, and most people have a positive experience.
Hypnosis may not be suitable if you have a history of psychosis, schizophrenia or epilepsy, so please tell me about any medical conditions, medication or other treatment you are having.
If we feel hypnosis is not the right fit, there is a lot we can do through talking therapy alone.
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Yes, many people do. Hypnotherapy is a complementary therapy and is not a replacement for medical care. Please keep seeing your GP or other health professionals, and do not stop or change any medication without speaking to the person who prescribed it.