Hypnotherapy for Grief and Trauma
Navigate Loss With Compassion, Process Difficult Memories, and Find Moments of Peace
Learn to soothe an overwhelmed nervous system, process painful experiences at a manageable pace, and reconnect with moments of calm through evidence-based, solution focused hypnotherapy.
How Hypnotherapy Helps With Grief and Trauma
Solution focused hypnotherapy does not claim to erase trauma or cure grief and does not replace psychological or specialist trauma treatment. However, it can be a valuable supportive therapy alongside other forms of care and professional support.
Hypnotherapy can help to:
Calm an overactive nervous system that can become trapped in survival responses following loss or trauma
Reduce intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and anxiety patterns connected to difficult experiences
Support emotional regulation when grief feels overwhelming or triggered by reminders
Improve sleep and rest, which are often disrupted by trauma-related stress and rumination
Ease self-blame or unhelpful thought patterns that can emerge after loss or trauma
Rebuild a sense of safety, stability, and gentle self-compassion at a manageable pace
Support re-engagement with daily life and meaningful activity during the grieving process
Many clients notice improvements in their ability to hold difficult feelings, experience moments of peace, and move forward with their grief, even as they continue to honour what they have lost.
Why Choose Solution Focused Hypnotherapy to Navigate Grief and Trauma?
Solution focused hypnotherapy is a forward-focused therapeutic approach that supports recovery from grief and trauma and combines:
Solution focused brief therapy techniques
Neuroscience-based psychoeducation
Clinical hypnosis
Rather than analysing the trauma in detail or focusing on distressing narratives, this approach helps calm the mind and nervous system, reduce intrusive thoughts and flashbacks, and strengthen your ability to feel safe and present in the here and now.
Sessions are structured, gentle, and carefully adapted to support nervous system regulation, honouring your grief while gradually building resilience, and moving forward at a pace that feels safe and compassionate.
Who Solution Focused Hypnotherapy Can Help
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can support people experiencing grief and trauma-related difficulties by helping to calm an overactive nervous system, reduce intrusive thoughts and distressing memories, and ease the pain that can follow loss or difficult experiences.
Rather than dwelling on trauma narratives or focusing on what went wrong, this approach helps the mind and body find stability in the present, creating the conditions needed for emotional safety, clearer thinking, and gentle healing.
Sessions are practical, structured, and time-limited, with an emphasis on restoring a sense of safety and calm, gently processing what has happened, and supporting you forward at a pace that feels manageable and compassionate. Many clients find this a supportive, forward-focused alternative to traditional talking therapies, helping them move through grief without becoming stuck in pain.
How It Works
Over our sessions, we’ll work together to help you:
Understand how the brain and nervous system respond to loss and trauma, and how this drives anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and survival responses
Learn tools to calm the nervous system, reduce the intensity of difficult memories, and create more space between triggers and emotional reactions
Develop a more compassionate, solution-focused approach to moving through grief and processing what has happened
Reinforce feelings of safety, calm, and gentle resilience through guided relaxation and hypnosis
Each session is structured as follows:
A discussion of “what’s been good?” to help your brain notice positives and moments of peace or stability, however small, and move into a calmer, more regulated state. These do not need to be big things — perhaps you had a moment of feeling safe, noticed something beautiful, or managed an emotional trigger with more ease.
Brain revision to remind you of the neuroscience behind grief and trauma, including how the nervous system responds to loss, how intrusive thoughts and flashbacks occur, and how calming the system supports healing and recovery.
A simple scaling exercise to explore how you are managing difficult feelings or memories this week and what might help you feel slightly more grounded or supported.
A visualisation exercise to explore what healing and moving forward might look like for you, what moments of peace could feel like, and what small step you can take to support your own recovery.
A guided relaxation to support nervous system regulation and gently reinforce feelings of safety, stability, and compassionate self-care 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: Finding Stability and Hope After Trauma
Details changed for confidentiality reasons)
When Emily first came to see me, she was recovering from an extremely difficult period in her life. Following a severe trauma she was feeling fragile, exhausted, and uncertain about the future.
At that point, Emily described her mood as being at “zero out of ten”. She was sceptical about hypnotherapy and unsure whether it could help, but decided to attend an initial session to explore her options.
From the very first meeting, the focus was on creating safety, understanding, and calm. Emily needed reassurance, clear explanations, and an approach that felt positive rather than overwhelming. We spent time talking about how the brain responds to trauma and stress, and how solution focused hypnotherapy works to gently support the nervous system back into balance.
Rather than revisiting painful experiences, our work focused on stabilisation, hope, and small achievable steps forward.
Over the following weeks, Emily attended weekly sessions. She noticed that she began to feel calmer and more grounded after each appointment, and gradually started to look forward to returning. The structure and positivity of solution focused hypnotherapy helped her feel supported without pressure.
As her nervous system settled, changes began to show up in everyday life. Tasks that had previously felt overwhelming became more manageable. Her motivation slowly returned, and her confidence began to rebuild.
By the end of eight sessions, Emily rated her mood at eight out of ten—a significant and meaningful shift for her. She described feeling more present, more capable, and more connected to life again.
One of the most powerful changes was behavioural. Emily joined a local dance club—something that would have felt impossible just weeks earlier—and began completing items on her to-do list that had once felt insurmountable. These were not forced changes, but natural outcomes of feeling more stable and regulated.
Reflecting on her journey, she shared that while life is not “perfect”, she now wants to live, feels hope for the future, and has rediscovered enjoyment in things she never thought she would again.
Client Testimonials
“I was recommended to Laura for help with Anxiety & Grief. I gained an understanding of how the brain works and how to use this understanding to overcome these issues. I also understand that it takes time and hard work to reverse the way my brain has always dealt with these issues.” — JO, Female, 75
“I decided to try hypnotherapy with Laura after a severe mental breakdown Christmas / New year. I ended up on a mental health ward after not wanting be alive anymore. I was sceptical about hypnosis but Laura instantly made me feel at ease in her taster session. She was so informative and knowledgeable about the brain. The therapy was solution focused and very positive. The results have been unreal. Transforming verbal goals into physical outcomes. I have joined a running club and been able to complete tasks on my to do list that felt so overwhelming. I might not be perfect but I wish to live now and have found enjoyment in things i never thought I would.” — HR, Female, 24
Next Steps…
Ready to start your healing journey?
Book an initial consultation or learn how solution focused hypnotherapy can help you navigate grief and trauma with compassion and gentle support.
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 Grief and Trauma
Can hypnotherapy help with grief and trauma?
Yes. Solution focused hypnotherapy can be very effective in supporting people through grief and trauma by helping to calm the nervous system and reduce the intensity of painful emotions.
It works by addressing the way the brain processes loss and difficult experiences, helping to ease intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and overwhelming feelings. Hypnotherapy supports the mind in finding moments of calm, reducing emotional distress, and making it easier to move forward with compassion and resilience.
Will hypnotherapy take away my grief completely?
Hypnotherapy is not designed to erase grief or make you forget what has happened. Grief is a natural response to loss and an important part of healing.
Instead, it focuses on helping the nervous system settle, reducing the intensity of overwhelming emotions, and supporting your ability to process what has happened at a manageable pace. Many clients notice positive changes after just a few sessions, but lasting healing comes from consistent practice and gentle self-compassion.
Is solution focused hypnotherapy safe alongside other treatments or counselling?
Yes. Solution focused hypnotherapy is safe and non-invasive and can be used alongside other treatments, counselling, or medical support for grief and trauma.
It does not replace medical advice, medication, or therapy when needed. Instead, it complements other approaches, focusing on calming the nervous system and supporting emotional recovery in a gentle, structured way.
Is solution focused hypnotherapy suitable for all types of grief and trauma?
Solution focused hypnotherapy can support people experiencing a wide range of grief and trauma-related difficulties, including:
Bereavement and loss of a loved one
Complicated or prolonged grief
Trauma from difficult life experiences or events
Grief related to relationship breakdown, job loss, or life changes
Anticipatory grief or supporting someone through a terminal illness
Each session is tailored to the individual’s needs and circumstances, ensuring the approach is safe, compassionate, and relevant.