Hypnotherapy for Insomnia and Sleep
Restore Natural Sleep Rhythms, Quiet a Racing Mind, and Wake Refreshed
Learn to calm an overactive mind and nervous system, release tension and unhelpful sleep patterns, and reconnect with natural restful sleep through evidence-based, solution focused hypnotherapy.
How Hypnotherapy Helps With Sleep Problems
Solution focused hypnotherapy does not claim to cure insomnia and does not replace medical diagnosis or treatment of underlying sleep disorders. However, it can be a valuable supportive therapy alongside other forms of care and medical advice.
Hypnotherapy can help to:
Calm an overactive nervous system and racing mind that can keep you awake or prevent deep sleep
Reduce anxiety about sleep itself, which can create a cycle of worry and wakefulness
Release physical tension and restlessness that interfere with falling asleep or staying asleep
Support emotional regulation and worry patterns that often intensify at night
Ease unhelpful thoughts about sleep that can become self-fulfilling and undermine rest
Rebuild a sense of calm, safety, and natural sleepiness at a manageable pace
Support healthy sleep-wake cycles and improved daytime energy and mood
Many clients notice improvements in how quickly they fall asleep, the depth and quality of their rest, and their energy levels during the day, even as better sleep develops gradually.
Why Choose Solution Focused Hypnotherapy for Sleep Problems?
Solution focused hypnotherapy is a forward-focused therapeutic approach that supports better sleep and combines:
Solution focused brief therapy techniques
Neuroscience-based psychoeducation
Clinical hypnosis
Rather than analysing the causes of insomnia or focusing on distressing sleep histories, this approach helps quiet the mind and nervous system, reduce racing thoughts and anxiety, and gently restore the body’s natural ability to rest and recover.
Sessions are structured, practical, and carefully adapted to support nervous system settling, reduce the mental and physical tension that blocks sleep, and rebuild healthy rest at a pace that feels manageable and sustainable.
Who Solution Focused Hypnotherapy Can Help
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can support people experiencing sleep difficulties by helping to calm an overactive nervous system and racing mind, reduce anxiety about sleep, and ease the physical tension that can prevent restful, restorative sleep.
Rather than dwelling on sleepless nights or analysing what went wrong, this approach helps the mind and body settle in the present, creating the conditions needed for deep relaxation, natural sleepiness, and sustained rest.
Sessions are practical, structured, and time-limited, with an emphasis on gently resetting sleep patterns, releasing tension and worry, and supporting you toward better sleep at a pace that feels natural and achievable. Many clients find this a supportive, forward-focused alternative to traditional talking therapies, helping them rediscover the ability to sleep without fighting their own body.
How It Works
Over our sessions, we’ll work together to help you:
Understand how the brain and nervous system regulate sleep and wake cycles, and how anxiety, stress, and unhelpful thought patterns can disrupt natural rest
Learn tools to quiet the racing mind, release physical tension, and prepare the nervous system for deep, restorative sleep
Develop a more supportive, solution-focused approach to bedtime and night-time anxiety
Reinforce feelings of calm, safety, and natural sleepiness through guided relaxation and hypnosis
Each session is structured as follows:
A discussion of “what’s been good?” to help your brain notice nights of better sleep, moments of rest, or times when you felt calmer at bedtime, however small, and move into a more regulated state. These do not need to be full nights of sleep — perhaps you fell asleep more quickly, slept more deeply, or felt less anxious about sleep.
Brain revision to remind you of the neuroscience behind sleep and wakefulness, including how the nervous system regulates rest, how anxiety and racing thoughts interfere with sleep, and how calming the mind supports natural recovery.
A simple scaling exercise to explore how your sleep has been this week and what might help you feel slightly more calm or restful when approaching bedtime.
A visualisation exercise to explore what restful, restorative sleep might feel like, how you might feel waking refreshed, and what small step you can take to support better sleep naturally.
A guided relaxation to support nervous system settling and gently reinforce deep calm, peaceful sleep, and restorative rest at a subconscious level.
Many clients notice a real difference after just a few sessions.
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. With an Advanced Diploma in Insurance (ACII) and a Level 3 Diploma in Management and Leadership, my approach is practical, grounded, and evidence-informed.
You’re In Safe Hands
Membership Number: 2625
The Association for Solution Focused Hypnotherapists (AfSFH) maintains the only dedicated register for Solution Focused Hypnotherapists. All members are fully qualified, insured, and required to follow a strict Code of Conduct and professional standards. AfSFH also sets and monitors best-practice standards, with members completing at least 21 hours of ongoing professional development each year, including regular supervision and further training.
Membership Number: 12094
The National Council for Hypnotherapy holds one of the largest registers of independent Hypnotherapists in the United Kingdom and strives to maintain the highest standards among its members.
There is an agreed Code of Conduct, an established Complaints & Disciplinary Procedure and all members are obliged to maintain comprehensive Public Liability & Professional Indemnity Insurance, maintain regular CPD (continuing professional development) hours, and attend Supervision when needed.
CASE STUDY: Stacey Improved Her Sleep By Letting Go of Guilt
Details changed for confidentiality reasons)
Stacey was in a happy and stable relationship and yet she constantly battled insomnia. It would take ages for her to get to sleep and then she would wake up frequently throughout the night. In the mornings she felt sluggish and was distracted during the day.
The insomnia had started around a year after her first marriage had failed. Stacey confessed that she experienced feelings of guilt and regret over how the marriage had ended. She felt she could have behaved differently and parted ways in a more positive manner.
Over the course of 6 sessions Stacey began to sleep better and let go of her feelings of guilt. She achieved this by:
Learning to accept the past and what she could not change
Reframing her negative thoughts by focusing on the positive aspects of her personality
Emptying her stress bucket
Relaxing during trance
Visualising a future without guilt
Client Testimonials
“My husband and I saw Laura with the aim of improved sleep. We achieved much better sleep, with a better bedtime routine. This has truly improved our relationship with each other. What I didn't expect and have been so pleased by is the clarity I have gained in all aspects of my life, the positivity, motivation and energy. It's amazing. Thank you so much.” — KH, Female, 49
“I had the best sleep I’ve had in a long time, thank you Laura.” — Beth, Female, 45
Next Steps…
Ready to start sleeping better?
Book an initial consultation or learn how solution focused hypnotherapy can help you overcome insomnia and sleep difficulties and restore restful, refreshing sleep.
I service 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. Or anywhere in the World via Zoom.
An initial consultation is £35 and takes up to 45 minutes. It can take place online via Zoom or in-person in my relaxing therapy room at 96 Westwood Gardens, Hadleigh, Essex, SS7 2SJ.
During the initial consultation I will take some basic information from you - including what you are looking to achieve from sessions. I will then explain how the brain works including why it is negatively biased and what causes our intrusive thoughts. We will discuss the format of further sessions and you will leave with a sleep audio to listen to at home.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hypnotherapy for Insomnia and Sleep
Can hypnotherapy help with insomnia and sleep problems?
Yes. Solution focused hypnotherapy can be very effective in helping people overcome insomnia and sleep difficulties by calming the nervous system and reducing the mental overactivity that keeps you awake.
It works by addressing the subconscious patterns and thought processes that disrupt sleep, such as racing thoughts, anxiety, hypervigilance, and an inability to switch off. Hypnotherapy helps retrain the brain to associate bedtime with calm and relaxation, making it easier to fall asleep naturally and stay asleep through the night.
Will hypnotherapy cure my insomnia straight away?
Hypnotherapy is not a quick fix and does not guarantee instant results for insomnia or sleep difficulties. Sleep patterns develop over time, and improving them requires a gradual, supported approach.
Instead, solution focused hypnotherapy focuses on calming the nervous system, reducing the mental overactivity that disrupts sleep, and helping your brain re-establish healthy sleep patterns. Many clients notice positive changes after just a few sessions, but lasting improvement comes from consistent practice and allowing your mind and body to adjust naturally.
Is solution focused hypnotherapy safe alongside other treatments or sleep medication?
Yes. Solution focused hypnotherapy is safe and non-invasive and can be used alongside other treatments, counselling, or medical support for insomnia and sleep difficulties.
It does not replace medical advice, medication, or therapy when needed. Instead, it complements other approaches, focusing on calming the nervous system and addressing the mental and emotional factors that contribute to poor sleep.
Is solution focused hypnotherapy suitable for all types of sleep problems?
Solution focused hypnotherapy can support people experiencing a wide range of sleep-related difficulties, including:
Difficulty falling asleep or lying awake for long periods
Waking frequently during the night or early morning waking
Racing thoughts, anxiety, or an overactive mind at bedtime
Poor sleep patterns caused by stress, lifestyle changes, or shift work
Sleep disruption linked to other conditions such as anxiety, depression, or chronic pain
Each session is tailored to the individual's needs and circumstances, ensuring the approach is supportive, practical, and relevant to your specific sleep challenges.