Solution Focused Hypnotherapy for Addiction & Bad Habits
Break Free from Unhelpful Patterns and Regain Control
Struggling with habits or addictions—whether it’s smoking, over-eating, nail-biting, excessive screen use, or other patterns—can feel frustrating, exhausting, or even hopeless.
Solution focused hypnotherapy offers a practical, structured, and supportive approach to help you understand the mental and emotional triggers behind habits and addictions, calm your nervous system, and regain control without shame or self-blame.
Are Your Habits or Addictions Affecting Your Life?
You may recognise some of the following:
Feeling unable to stop a habit or behaviour
Turning to alcohol, smoking, or food to cope with stress
Worry that a habit is affecting your health, relationships, or work
Feeling trapped in repetitive cycles despite wanting to change
Guilt or self-criticism around behaviours
Difficulty staying consistent with positive change
If this resonates, you are not failing—these patterns are often the brain’s way of coping with stress and emotion, not a lack of willpower.
How Habits and Addictions Form
Habits and addictions are largely driven by automatic patterns in the brain. When behaviours reduce stress, provide comfort, or relieve boredom, the brain remembers them and strengthens these loops.
Over time, even behaviours we consciously want to change can feel automatic or irresistible.
Solution focused hypnotherapy works with these underlying patterns to support lasting change, rather than relying on willpower alone.
What Is Solution Focused Hypnotherapy?
Solution focused hypnotherapy is a forward-focused therapeutic approach that combines:
Solution focused brief therapy techniques
Neuroscience-informed psychoeducation
Clinical hypnosis
Unlike traditional therapy, it does not focus on analysing the past or dwelling on failures. Instead, it helps your brain shift unhelpful patterns, calm stress responses, and strengthen healthier behaviours.
How Can Hypnotherapy Help with Addictions and Bad Habits?
Hypnotherapy helps by working directly with the subconscious triggers that maintain habits and addictions. Benefits include:
Reducing urges and automatic responses
Calming the nervous system to manage stress and cravings
Increasing awareness of triggers and emotional patterns
Supporting healthier coping strategies
Strengthening self-control and confidence in behaviour change
Breaking cycles of guilt and self-criticism
Improving focus and motivation for positive change
Many clients notice that once their stress and emotional triggers are managed, habits and cravings naturally reduce.
A Gentle, Non-Judgemental Approach
Changing habits or addictions can feel overwhelming. Solution focused hypnotherapy provides:
A safe, confidential space
Respect for your individual journey
Practical strategies alongside hypnosis
Empowerment rather than punishment
This approach focuses on long-term, sustainable change, not quick fixes.
What Happens in a Solution Focused Hypnotherapy Session?
Each session is calm, structured, and supportive. Sessions typically include:
Gentle discussion of current behaviours and goals
Psychoeducation about how habits form and are maintained
Guided hypnosis to support change at a subconscious level
Practical strategies and tools to reinforce healthier patterns
You remain fully aware and in control at all times. Hypnosis is not sleep and does not involve loss of control.
Meet Laura
My name is Laura Bartlett and I am a Solution Focused Hypnotherapist and Psychotherapist, with a strong academic and professional background in psychology and evidence-based therapy. I hold a BSc (Hons) in Psychology from Royal Holloway, University of London, alongside a Diploma in Solution Focused Hypnotherapy and a Hypnotherapy in Practice Diploma.
I am a registered member of the Association for Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (AfSFH), fully insured, and hold an enhanced DBS certificate — so you can be confident you are working with a qualified, professional, and ethical practitioner.
Before retraining as a therapist, I spent 20 years working in the London corporate world as an insurance broker. I have an Advanced Diploma in Insurance (ACII) and a Level 3 Diploma in Management and Leadership. My approach is practical, grounded, and evidence-informed.
A Real Client Story: “I Just Didn’t Even Want It Anymore”
(Details changed for confidentiality reasons)
Hayley came to see me wanting to change her relationship with alcohol. She was drinking regularly, often more than she intended, and it was starting to affect her energy, mood, and confidence. Worst of all, she felt like she had lost control and was frustrated with herself.
She had tried to cut down before, but her efforts were short-lived. She often felt deprived, and any progress quickly slipped away.
Through deep relaxation and solution focused hypnotherapy techniques, Hayley’s nervous system began to settle. Over time, she noticed she wasn’t thinking about drinking as much, and the urge to pour a drink in response to stress or boredom started to fade.
One evening, Hayley notice that her favourite wine had been sitting on the side, half opened, for over a week.
“I just didn’t even want it anymore,” she said, surprised at how natural it felt to let it go.
Client Testimonials
“Laura is so supportive, not judgemental, everything you should expect in therapy. Laura is also very down to earth, straight talking, and just so good to be around and be helped by. Highly recommended. My problem was alcohol and caffeine drink cycle. For about 6 weeks (just 2 weeks into sessions) and I don't even 'want' it. Which is how I wanted to feel. And Laura fixed it for me :)” — TB, Female, 58
“Through working with Laura I achieved resolution to my unhealthy eating habits. Believe in the process, understand the process and commit. For me, the results followed ..........” — CB, Male, 65
Flexible Sessions - in-person or remote
I understand that life is busy. Initial consultations and subsequent sessions can be in-person, remote or a combination of the two - whatever works best for you
In-person sessions in a relaxing private environment
Solution focused hypnotherapy in the local areas of Hadleigh, Leigh-on-Sea, Benfleet, Chalkwell, Southend-on-Sea, Canvey Island, Dunton, Laindon, Basildon, Horndon on the Hill, Corringham, Stanford-le-Hope, Pitsea, Thundersley, Hockley, Hawkwell, Rochford, Westcliff-on-Sea, Wickford and Rayleigh.
The surrounding area includes Hadleigh Country Park and Hadleigh Castle.
There is plenty of off-street parking available and the nearest train stations are Benfleet (c2c line), Leigh-on-Sea (c2c line) and Rayleigh (Great Anglia line).
Therapy sessions work equally well over Zoom
Live too far away or struggle to fit in travel time? Do you not drive or just prefer sessions in the comfort of your own home?
As well as in-person sessions, Brighter Future Therapy Practice also offers online sessions anywhere in the world. Hypnotherapy has been shown to be equally effective in person or virtually.
To date Brighter Future have helped people in Australia, Canada and America. And virtual sessions have also been carried out with clients throughout the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hypnotherapy and Addiction / Bad Habits
Can hypnotherapy help with cravings or addictive behaviours?
Yes. Solution focused hypnotherapy can be very effective in supporting people to manage cravings and compulsive behaviours.
It works by addressing the subconscious triggers and patterns that maintain habits or addictions, such as stress, emotional triggers, or boredom. Hypnotherapy helps the brain respond differently, reducing the intensity of urges and making it easier to choose healthier behaviours consistently.
Will hypnotherapy make me stop my habit immediately?
Hypnotherapy is not a “magic switch” and does not guarantee instant cessation of a habit or addiction.
Instead, it focuses on gradual, sustainable change by calming the nervous system, reducing automatic responses, and building new coping strategies. Many clients notice positive changes after just a few sessions, but lasting results come from consistent practice and reinforcement of new patterns.
Is solution focused hypnotherapy safe alongside other treatments or medical support?
Yes. Solution focused hypnotherapy is safe and non-invasive and can be used alongside other treatments, counselling, or medical support for addiction or behavioural change.
It does not replace medical advice, medication, or therapy when needed. Instead, it complements other approaches, focusing on the mental and emotional factors that contribute to habits or cravings.
Is solution focused hypnotherapy suitable for any type of habit or addiction?
Solution focused hypnotherapy can support a wide range of behaviours, including:
Smoking or vaping
Emotional or stress-related eating
Nail-biting, hair-pulling, or skin-picking
Procrastination or technology/online habits
Alcohol or other substance habits (in conjunction with medical or counselling support)
Each session is tailored to the individual’s goals and needs, ensuring the approach is safe and relevant.