Anxiety hypnotherapy in Penzance and across Cornwall
Calm your mind with CBT hypnotherapy, from someone who has lived it.
That persistent hum of worry. The racing thoughts that arrive uninvited. The tension you carry in your shoulders, your chest, your jaw, often without realising it.
I know that feeling from the inside. I’m Kathy Brewerton, a cognitive behavioural hypnotherapist based near Penzance. I struggled with anxiety for most of my life, sometimes crippling, often with no clear reason, before I found the approach that changed it. Helping people out of the anxiety cycle is now the heart of my work.
Can hypnotherapy help with anxiety?
For many people, yes. I use Hypno-CBT, which combines cognitive behavioural therapy with modern clinical hypnosis, working on both sides of anxiety at once: the thought patterns that fuel worry, and the automatic stress response that fires before you have had a chance to think.
Anxiety is not a character flaw or a sign of weakness. It is a pattern your nervous system has learnt, often over many years, and it can be retrained. I am proof of that, and so are my clients.
It might show up as constant, wide ranging worry, fear of judgement in social situations, persistent health fears, driving anxiety, or sudden panic attacks that feel frighteningly physical. It can also show up in the body in ways nobody warns you about: palpitations, jitteriness, broken sleep, even hot or tingling feet. Whatever form it takes for you, it is real, and it is something we can work with.
How Hypno-CBT works for anxiety
The CBT part is a structured conversation. We identify the anxious thoughts driving your experience, the catastrophic predictions and “what ifs” that make threats feel bigger and more certain than they are, and we build more balanced, realistic ways of seeing them.
Hypnosis then reinforces that work at a deeper level. In a deeply relaxed, focused state, your mind becomes more open to new responses. Instead of defaulting to alarm when a trigger arises, we build a calmer baseline, so your stress response becomes better calibrated over time.
Why add hypnosis to CBT? Research suggests the combination outperforms CBT alone. An early meta-analysis (Kirsch et al., 1996) found better outcomes when hypnosis was integrated with CBT, and a 2021 review of 48 randomised controlled studies (Ramondo et al., University of Western Australia) broadly supported those findings.
Alongside the sessions, you will learn to regulate your nervous system directly. The aim is never to blunt anxiety or push it away. Anxiety is a normal emotion, and we need it to survive. The aim is to recognise it, understand it, and redirect it, so your nervous system can tell the difference between a real threat and an old alarm.
Types of anxiety I work with
Generalised anxiety
worry that moves from topic to topic and never feels resolved. We interrupt the worry cycle and build tolerance for uncertainty.
Panic attacks
terrifying because they feel so physical and out of your control. Hypnosis helps regulate the body’s response while CBT works on the thoughts that escalate the cycle.
Health anxiety.
when minor physical sensations feel alarming, we work on the thoughts that interpret your body as danger and rebuild a proportionate relationship with physical awareness.
Social anxiety and confidence
when interactions feel threatening or fear of judgement shapes your choices, we reframe how your mind reads social situations and build a more secure sense of self.
Driving anxiety and exam stress
anxiety tied to a specific situation often responds quickly to this approach. I overcame a fear of being a passenger in a car myself, a pattern I had carried since childhood, so I know this work from both chairs.
Phobias
fear of flying, needle phobia, emetophobia, heights, and other specific phobias. Mention yours at your consultation and we will tailor the approach.
Stress and overwhelm
work, money, relationships, or life transitions tipping into anxiety. We focus on the specific pressures you are carrying and build real resilience, not just coping.
Exam and performance stress
focused, practical work for a defined pressure point.
What to expect from your sessions
We start with a free, confidential 20 minute phone consultation. Ask as many questions as you like. Successful therapy needs trust and a strong rapport between us, so this step matters. If I do not believe I can help you, I will say so and point you towards someone who can.
Sessions are one hour, blending CBT work with guided hypnosis where it is useful. My treatment plans are organic: we agree where you want to get to, then shape each week around how the last one went. You will leave every session with something tangible, a technique, a reframe, a tool for the week ahead.
Every client also receives a personal hypnotherapy recording, made for you with your name in it, to keep and listen to between sessions. Clients tell me it makes a real difference to how quickly the work beds in.
I work online via Zoom with clients across the UK and worldwide, and I offer home visits within about 10 miles of Penzance. Many anxious clients start at home because there is less to face at the beginning, and they often progress faster for it. In the summer months, some clients choose outdoor walking sessions on private land near Penzance. I offer appointments seven days a week, from early morning to evening.
A note on seeking support
A note on seeking support
Sessions and fees
- Free 20 minute phone consultation
- £85 for a one hour session
- 8 session package: £675
- 12 session package: £999
About me
I’m Kathy Brewerton, HDipCBH, CPT, MNCIP. I hold a Level 5 Higher Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy from the UK College of Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy in London, and I am a registered member of the National Council of Integrative Psychotherapists. I work in regular clinical supervision.
I came to this work through my own life. I struggled with anxiety for years, at times crippling, without knowing how or why I felt so panicked. Working through it changed everything for me, and it is why I do what I do now.
Before hypnotherapy I spent four years running my own personal training business, and I hold a Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training and Nutrition Coaching. That background means I understand anxiety in the body as well as the mind: the tight chest, the poor sleep, the exhaustion. The physical side is part of how I work, not an afterthought.
A note on seeking support
Hypnotherapy and CBT can make a real difference with anxiety. If yours feels severe, has been present a long time, or is significantly affecting your daily life, I would also encourage you to speak with your GP. There is no conflict between working with me and accessing other care. Your wellbeing comes first.
Frequently asked questions
Can hypnotherapy get rid of my anxiety completely?
No, and be wary of anyone who promises that. Anxiety is a normal emotion we all need. What changes is your relationship with it: you learn to recognise it, regulate your nervous system, and redirect the energy, so anxiety stops running your decisions. That is what lasting change looks like.
Will I be in a trance, or made to do silly things?
No. Clinical hypnosis is nothing like stage hypnosis. It is a focused, deeply relaxed state in which you stay aware and in control throughout. You cannot be made to do or say anything against your will, and you can open your eyes at any point.
How many sessions will I need?
Most clients notice a shift within the first few weeks, and the 8 session package is the most common choice. It depends on how long the anxiety has been with you and how much you put into the exercises between sessions. We review progress together every week.
How much does it cost?
Sessions are £85 for one hour. An 8 session package is £675 and a 12 session package is £999. We always begin with a free 20 minute phone consultation, so you can ask questions and we can both be sure the fit is right before you spend anything.
Can I do anxiety hypnotherapy online?
Yes. I work online via Zoom with clients across the UK and beyond, and online sessions are just as effective as in person work. If you are within about 10 miles of Penzance, I can also come to you at home.
Is it safe if I’m on anxiety medication?
Yes. Hypno-CBT works alongside medication, and many of my clients use both. I will ask you to keep your GP aware that we are working together, and any decisions about medication stay between you and your doctor.
Take the first step
The first step is a free, confidential 20 minute phone consultation. No pressure, no obligation, just a conversation about what you are experiencing and whether this approach is right for you.
kbhypnocbt@outlook.com
Related pages: phobia hypnotherapy, insomnia hypnotherapy, prices and packages, and common questions answered.