Hypnotherapy for sleep
Tired of lying awake and ready for proper help? Hypnotherapy for sleep uses guided, focused relaxation to help you feel calmer around bedtime, so sleep can come more easily. We work together online over Zoom, alongside the habits sleep experts recommend. It is not a replacement for your GP, but many people find it a helpful extra support.
What hypnotherapy for sleep involves
Hypnosis is a natural state of focused attention and deep relaxation. You stay aware and in control the whole time. Think of the feeling just before you drift off, when your body is heavy and your thoughts slow down.
In hypnotherapy for sleep, we use that state on purpose. You practise letting your body settle, quietening a busy mind, and responding to wakefulness in a calmer way. You also learn simple ways to bring that feeling back on your own at night.
What does the research say?
This is a fair question, so here is an honest answer. Research on hypnosis and sleep is still at an early stage, and no firm conclusions can be drawn yet.
A 2018 review of the studies found that most were small and of mixed quality, and only some involved people with a diagnosed sleep problem.
For long-term insomnia, the main recommended treatment in the UK is CBT for insomnia, known as CBT-I. NICE describes face-to-face CBT-I as the gold standard. I see hypnosis as deep relaxation that works well alongside those habits, not as a substitute for them.
Prices
All sessions are online over Zoom, so you can join from home.
| Session | 60 minutes | 90 minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Single session | £399 | £499 |
| 3 sessions | £798 | £998 |
| 5 sessions | £1,197 | £1,497 |
| 10 sessions | £2,199 | £2,699 |
Not sure yet? Start with the £49 consultation call. The fee comes off your first session.
How we work together over Zoom
If you have tried the apps and the advice and still lie awake, it makes sense to want help that fits you. You join from your own home, where many people find it easier to relax, and there is no travel at the end of the day.
You start with a £49 consultation call. It gives us time to talk through your sleep, what you have already tried, and whether hypnotherapy is a good fit for you. If it is not, I will say so.
If we go ahead, we book a short series of sessions. Sessions online follow the same structure as in person. All you need is a quiet room, a comfortable chair and a reliable connection.
I am Adam Cox, a clinical hypnotherapist with 17 years in practice and post-graduate qualifications in clinical hypnotherapy. Sleep sessions are among the most listened to on my podcast, The Hypnotist, which has been downloaded more than 20 million times.
What happens in a session
Each session starts with a chat about how your nights have been. We look at what changed, what felt easier and what still gets in the way.
Then I guide you into hypnosis with my voice. You sit back, close your eyes and follow along. Most people describe it as pleasantly relaxing, a little like a guided daydream.
During hypnosis we work on the things that keep you awake. That might be a racing mind, tension in the body, or the habit of lying in bed feeling frustrated. We finish by bringing you gently back, and you may get a recording to use at home.
- A short catch-up on your sleep since last time
- Guided relaxation into a deep, calm state
- Suggestions and imagery tailored to your sleep pattern
- Practical steps to use at night between sessions
How it fits with CBT-I and your GP
CBT-I looks at the thoughts and habits that keep insomnia going. It includes a regular wake time, getting up if you are awake for a long time, and changing worried beliefs about sleep. Hypnotherapy for sleeplessness can support all of this by making relaxation feel easier and more natural.
I am happy to work alongside any care you already have. I never give advice on medicines. If you take sleeping tablets or anything else, any changes should be talked through with your GP or pharmacist.
Who it suits, and who should see a GP first
Hypnotherapy for sleep tends to suit adults whose poor sleep is linked to stress, worry or habit. That includes people who lie awake with a busy mind, wake in the night and struggle to settle, or dread going to bed.
Please see your GP first if you have loud snoring, gasping or pauses in your breathing, as these can be signs of sleep apnoea. The same applies if your sleep problem came with new or unexplained symptoms. If you are waking early with low mood or loss of interest, speak to your GP. If you are struggling, call Samaritans on 116 123.
How I use hypnosis for this
I have worked as a clinical hypnotherapist for 17 years, and sleep is one of the areas people most often bring to me. In our sessions I use hypnosis to take you into deep physical relaxation, so your body remembers how to let go. We then work on quietening the mind and rehearsing a calm response when you wake in the night. Many people find that, alongside good sleep habits, this makes bedtime feel far less of a struggle.
Sleep hypnosis downloads for this
Recorded sessions from my store. Download once, keep them, and play them in bed with your phone on night mode.
Questions people ask
Can I do hypnotherapy for sleep online?
Yes. I work entirely over Zoom, so you can join from home. You just need a quiet room, a comfortable seat and a steady internet connection.
What does the £49 consultation include?
It is a call where we talk through your sleep, what you have tried, and what you would like to change. It helps us both decide if hypnotherapy is right for you before you book any sessions.
Will I be asleep or out of control during hypnosis?
No. You stay aware and in control throughout, and you can open your eyes at any time. Most people simply feel very relaxed and focused.
Is hypnotherapy better than CBT-I for insomnia?
CBT-I is the main recommended treatment for long-term insomnia, and the research behind it is stronger. Hypnotherapy is best seen as a relaxing extra that can sit alongside CBT-I style habits and your GP’s advice.
How many sessions will I need?
It varies from person to person. We talk about what makes sense for you during the consultation, and review how things are going as we go along.
Could hypnosis help your sleep?
Take my free sleep hypnosis suitability test. Tell me what keeps you awake, try two quick hypnosis experiments and get an honest answer, with your next step.
Ready to talk about your sleep?
If recordings are not enough on their own, we can work on what is keeping you awake together. Start with a £49 consultation call over Zoom. We talk through your nights and whether hypnotherapy is right for you, and the fee comes off your first session. If poor sleep has lasted 3 months or more, please see your GP too.
Further reading: Chamine et al: Hypnosis intervention effects on sleep outcomes, a systematic review (PMC) · NICE: Sleepio to treat insomnia, committee discussion · NHS: Insomnia · Mayo Clinic: Insomnia diagnosis and treatment