Trusted by referring clinicians at OneWelbeck · The London Clinic · Aligned with NICE guidelines · BSG 2021 · Certified IBS Hypno Diploma

The gap in IBS care

Your patient has tried everything. What comes next?

Up to 40% of IBS patients don’t achieve adequate symptom control through diet or medication alone. For many, the missing piece is the gut–brain axis — and that’s where a clinical referral to gut-directed hypnotherapy fits.

Antonios Koletsas, founder of London Hypnotics, holds the specialist IBS Hypno Diploma and works with a protocol rooted in the Whorwell method — the approach NICE and the British Society of Gastroenterology both acknowledge as effective for refractory IBS. This isn’t general relaxation therapy. It’s a targeted clinical intervention with a structured session protocol, outcome tracking, and direct communication back to referring clinicians upon request.

Sessions are available in person in Central London (364 City Rd, EC1V) and online, removing barriers for patients who struggle with attendance or travel.

What your patient experiences

The session protocol, step by step

Each referral follows a structured pathway designed to complement your existing care plan — not replace it.

Initial Assessment

A 60-minute intake session covering symptom history, psychosocial factors, dietary habits, previous treatments, and patient goals. A treatment plan is available to the referring clinician on request.

Gut–Brain Education

Structured psychoeducation explaining how stress and perception amplify gut symptoms — reducing patient dropout and improving engagement with the treatment programme.

Hypnotherapy Sessions (6–8)

Weekly 50-minute sessions using the Whorwell protocol: guided relaxation, gut-directed imagery, positive suggestion therapy, and visceral desensitisation tailored to IBS subtype (IBS-C, IBS-D, IBS-M).

Self-Practice & Recordings

Patients receive audio recordings for daily self-hypnosis between sessions — a key driver of long-term outcomes that reduces reliance on ongoing clinical contact.

Outcome Review

Symptom severity is tracked using validated tools (IBS-SSS). An end-of-treatment summary is available for the patient’s medical record.

Referral suitability

Who is — and isn’t — suitable

Please review these criteria before referring. If you’re unsure about a specific patient, contact Antonios directly for a brief clinical conversation.

✦ Suitable candidates

Moderate-to-severe IBS (IBS-D, IBS-C, IBS-M) not responding adequately to first-line medical or dietary treatment
Rome IV criteria for IBS confirmed or clinically probable
Stress, anxiety, or psychosocial factors identifiably contributing to symptom flares
Patients willing to engage in a mind–body approach
Co-existing functional dyspepsia or bloating without structural cause
Patients motivated to commit to weekly sessions for 6–8 weeks
Online access available (for remote patients)

✕ Contraindications

Uninvestigated alarm symptoms (rectal bleeding, unintentional weight loss, nocturnal symptoms)
Active or unstable psychiatric diagnosis unrelated to IBS (e.g. psychosis, acute suicidal intent, active eating disorder, severe OCD)
Undiagnosed or medically unstable conditions requiring urgent assessment
Patients unwilling to engage in behavioural or psychological treatment
Confirmed IBD, coeliac disease, or other structural/organic bowel pathology as the primary diagnosis

Evidence base

The clinical evidence behind this approach

Gut-directed hypnotherapy for IBS is one of the most studied psychological interventions in gastroenterology, with over four decades of clinical research behind it.

70%

of patients show significant symptom improvement (Whorwell 1984; Palsson 2015)

5yr

long-term benefit maintained at 5-year follow-up in Whorwell’s original cohort

↓ GP

reduced GP consultations and medication use post-treatment (Everitt et al., 2019)

NICE (CG61 & NG147)Recommends psychological therapies, including hypnotherapy, for IBS where first-line treatments have not provided adequate symptom control.
BSG Guidelines 2021Endorses psychological interventions as part of a comprehensive, multidisciplinary IBS management strategy.
AGA Clinical Practice Update 2022Recommends behavioural interventions as a core component for persistent IBS, particularly where stress is a trigger.
Rome Foundation 2021Characterises IBS as a disorder of gut–brain interaction requiring integrated medical, dietary, and behavioural management.
Ford et al. (2020) — Meta-analysisPsychological therapies show superior long-term symptom relief compared to pharmacological treatment alone.
Lackner et al. (2018)Hypnotherapy produces substantial, durable reductions in IBS symptom severity including in refractory cases with high comorbid anxiety.

Clinical FAQs

Questions from referring clinicians

Answers to the questions GPs, gastroenterologists, and dietitians ask most often before making a referral.

How many sessions will my patient need?

The standard Whorwell protocol is 6–8 weekly sessions of approximately 50 minutes each. Most patients notice meaningful improvement between sessions 3 and 5. A small number benefit from an extended programme of up to 12 sessions, particularly where anxiety or avoidance behaviours are prominent. A clear treatment plan is agreed with the patient at the initial assessment.

Can my patient continue their current medication or dietary interventions?

Yes — gut-directed hypnotherapy is designed as a complementary approach. Patients should continue any medication, low-FODMAP diet, or other treatments their clinician has prescribed. Antonios works within the existing care plan and can flag relevant observations to the referring clinician. No changes to medication are made or advised.

Will I receive any feedback after my patient’s assessment?

Referring clinicians can request an initial assessment summary and an end-of-treatment outcome letter for the patient’s medical record. Antonios is available for brief clinician-to-clinician contact where clinically appropriate. Patient confidentiality is maintained in line with GDPR and professional ethics guidelines.

What if my patient has anxiety or depression alongside their IBS?

Comorbid anxiety and depression are very common in IBS and do not automatically exclude a patient. If the condition is stable and clearly related to or maintaining the IBS, the patient is likely suitable. If the psychiatric condition is unstable or the primary presenting problem, it is best addressed first. Feel free to contact Antonios to discuss individual cases.

Is this available to patients outside London?

Yes. The full programme is available via online video sessions. Remote delivery of gut-directed hypnotherapy has been validated in the literature and produces outcomes equivalent to in-person sessions. Patients need only a quiet space and a reliable internet connection.

What are the fees, and is this available on the NHS?

London Hypnotics operates as a private practice. Full fee information is available on the fees page. This service is not currently available on the NHS, though some patients may be eligible for reimbursement through private health insurance.

What training does Antonios hold specifically for IBS?

Antonios holds the IBS Hypno Diploma, a specialist qualification in gut-directed hypnotherapy for IBS and functional gut disorders. He is accredited by the General Hypnotherapy Standards Council (GHSC) and registered with the General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR). His approach is based on the Whorwell protocol and aligned with NICE and BSG guidelines.

Make a referral

Ready to refer a patient?

Use the contact form below, mention you are a clinician referring a patient, and Antonios will be in touch within 2 working days to arrange an initial assessment.

Get in touch via the contact page

Include your name, practice, the patient’s first name and contact number, and a brief clinical reason for referral. All patient details are handled in line with GDPR.

Go to Contact Form →

📞 020 7101 3284

✉️ info@london-hypnotics.co.uk

📍 364 City Rd, London EC1V 2PY & Online

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Referral Letter Template

A pre-written letter you can personalise and give to your patient or send directly.

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