Hypnotherapy for anxiety, worry and panic, in person in central London or online
If you’re reading this, anxiety may already be affecting your sleep, your relationships, your work — or simply the quiet moments when your mind won’t slow down. You’re not alone. Anxiety is one of the most common reasons people seek hypnotherapy in London, and it’s one of the conditions I work with most deeply.
I’m Antonios Koletsas, a clinical hypnotherapist and psychologist based in London. I work with people who feel stuck in cycles of worry, overwhelm, or panic — and I help them find a calmer, more grounded way to live. This page explains how I work, what to expect, and whether anxiety hypnotherapy might be right for you.
Anxiety isn’t a character flaw or a sign of weakness. It’s the nervous system doing exactly what it was designed to do — scanning for danger and preparing the body to respond. The problem is that the same system built to protect you from physical threats gets triggered by modern stressors: a difficult conversation at work, financial pressure, an uncertain future, or simply an inbox that never empties.
When this happens repeatedly, your nervous system learns to stay on high alert. Your body stays tense. Your thoughts race. And over time, the anxiety itself becomes a source of anxiety — you start worrying about worrying.
Talk therapy can help you understand why you feel anxious. But hypnotherapy works at a different level — it communicates directly with the subconscious patterns that keep the alarm bells ringing, even when your rational mind knows you’re safe.
Anxiety shows up differently in different people. Some of the most common presentations I see in my London practice include:
Persistent, low-level worry that doesn’t attach to one specific thing. You feel tense most of the time, struggle to relax, and find yourself catastrophising about everyday situations. GAD can be exhausting because there’s no clear ‘off switch’.
Fear of being judged, embarrassed, or scrutinised in social situations. This can affect everything from speaking in meetings to making phone calls to attending social events. Many clients tell me they’ve structured their life around avoiding situations that trigger this feeling.
A preoccupation with physical symptoms and a persistent fear of serious illness. Health anxiety often intensifies after a Google search and can lead to a cycle of checking, reassurance-seeking, and temporary relief followed by more worry.
Anxiety that’s triggered by high-pressure situations — presentations, appraisals, deadlines, or competitive environments. This is particularly common among professionals in London who feel the pressure to perform constantly.
Sudden, intense episodes of fear accompanied by physical symptoms — racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, and a sense that something terrible is about to happen. Panic attacks are frightening, but they are highly responsive to hypnotherapy.
My approach is rooted in Ericksonian hypnotherapy — a conversational, permissive style of hypnosis that works with your natural thinking patterns rather than against them. Unlike the stage hypnosis you may have seen, this is a calm, collaborative process where you remain fully aware and in control throughout.
A typical anxiety session with me involves three stages:
Every session is different because every client is different. I don’t use scripts. I work with what you bring into the room.
The evidence for hypnosis in anxiety is encouraging. A meta-analysis of 15 controlled studies found that hypnosis produced substantial reductions in anxiety compared with control conditions (Valentine et al., 2019), and an earlier meta-analysis found that adding hypnosis to cognitive-behavioural therapy improved outcomes compared with the same therapy without it (Kirsch, Montgomery and Sapirstein, 1995). For many people, hypnotherapy is a practical, well-supported way to feel calmer. You can read more in my psychologist’s guide to hypnotherapy for anxiety.
Most clients notice a shift in their anxiety within the first one or two sessions — not because the stressors in their life have disappeared, but because their internal response to those stressors begins to change. Common things clients report include:
How many sessions you need depends on the depth and history of your anxiety. Some clients feel significantly better after just one or two sessions. Others find ongoing monthly support helps them maintain their progress and continue building resilience. We’ll discuss this together after your initial consultation.
Hypnotherapy works differently to traditional talking therapy. Rather than analysing and discussing your anxiety from the outside, it works directly with the subconscious patterns that generate the anxious response. Many clients who found cognitive approaches helpful but incomplete discover that hypnotherapy addresses a layer that talking alone couldn’t reach.
No. You remain fully aware during hypnosis — it’s a focused, relaxed state, not unconsciousness. You cannot be made to say or do anything against your will, and you can open your eyes and leave the relaxed state at any point. Most clients describe it as deeply pleasant, similar to the feeling just before sleep.
This is something I hear regularly, and I understand why it feels that way. When you’ve experienced anxiety for years, it can start to feel like your personality rather than a learned response. But the nervous system is remarkably adaptable. The patterns that created anxiety can be updated — and that’s exactly what hypnotherapy facilitates.
Yes. I offer online hypnotherapy sessions via video call that are equally effective to in-person work. Many of my clients prefer the convenience and comfort of working from home. You’ll find full details on the online hypnotherapy page.
The best way to find out is through a free initial consultation. We’ll talk about what you’re experiencing, what you’ve already tried, and what you’re hoping to change. I’ll be honest with you about whether I think hypnotherapy is a good fit for your situation. There’s no pressure and no obligation.
Anxiety can make the idea of reaching out feel like one more thing to worry about. But the consultation is easy, low-pressure, and completely free. You’ll leave with a clearer sense of what’s possible — whether or not you decide to book a full session.
Book your free consultation today and start finding your way back to calm.
I see clients in person at Islington Therapy House, 364 City Road, London EC1V 2PY, about a five-minute walk from Angel station, and online via Zoom across the UK and abroad. You can also call me on 020 7101 3284, and see session fees on my fees page.
Don't hesitate to contact me and make the next step into your life more prepared, more certain, more optimistic.
Contact me today and let's get started.
Contact me
Copyright 2026 @ Developed by DiSPLAYiDEAS. All rights reserved.