How hypnotherapy helped Abigail face life’s toughest challenges

Through hypnotherapy, Abigail found practical ways to face life with resilience.

I want to share the story of a client I’ll call Abigail. Her real name has been changed, and some details adjusted to protect her confidentiality, but her experience shows how hypnotherapy can provide support when life feels overwhelming.

When Abigail first came to see me, she was juggling work and family responsibilities alongside a deeply stressful situation. Her husband Tony was unwell and in hospital undergoing tests, and she was also being assessed as a potential living organ donor for him. This meant repeated hospital visits and long periods of anxious waiting. Although her workplace was supportive, the strain of it all left her exhausted, tearful, and at times on the edge of a meltdown.

Despite this, Abigail described herself as naturally resilient. She valued control and organisation, and she was determined to prioritise her health and wellbeing. She had already joined a slimming group and was delighted with her progress, having lost ten pounds in five weeks. She was also using my relaxation MP3 at bedtime, which helped her sleep more soundly and wake refreshed without the need for a snooze button.

In our sessions, Abigail often rated her ability to cope at around six or seven out of ten. She saw this as encouraging given the challenges she faced. She was also clear about her goals: steady weight loss, uninterrupted sleep, and waking up with more energy and positivity. These became the “doing pictures” we worked towards, where she could imagine herself choosing healthier meals, leaving early for work to avoid stress, walking for exercise and mental clarity, and using simple tools such as breathing techniques and affirmations to manage anxiety.

To help Abigail understand why she was feeling overwhelmed, I explained how the brain works, particularly the difference between the intellectual and emotional mind. We looked at how fear responses form, why negative thinking fuels anxiety, and how the “stress bucket” model highlights the role of sleep. We also explored how positive actions and interactions stimulate helpful brain chemistry, and how solution-focused hypnotherapy supports these natural processes.

During trance, I guided Abigail through gentle relaxation and vivid imagery. Using a progressive induction followed by a pleasant visualisation, I encouraged her to see herself taking small but powerful steps forward, supported by her community while also recognising her own inner strength. These sessions were not about erasing her problems but about helping her brain shift from survival mode into calm, constructive thinking.

By the second session, Abigail had faced an incredibly difficult week with Tony’s hospitalisation. She admitted breaking down in tears, but she was proud of how she regained her balance afterwards. She recognised the difference between moments of despair and her overall resilience, crediting both her family’s support and her growing ability to “think with the prefrontal cortex” rather than the anxious part of the brain.

She also noticed the relief that came from small but significant things: sunshine lifting her mood, her family being well, her continued weight loss, and the sense of progress with her donor assessments. She left our session with a plan to keep using her MP3, affirmations, and breathing techniques, focusing on positive steps rather than spiralling into uncertainty.

For me, Abigail’s story is a reminder that progress is often about steady, practical changes rather than dramatic leaps. Our sessions gave her a calm space to reset, understand what was happening in her mind, and practise new ways of responding. That allowed her to face her partner’s illness, her own health journey, and the demands of daily life with more composure and strength.

Abigail’s story doesn’t end here. I’ll be sharing more about her progress in future posts, so do check back if you’d like to follow how things continue to develop.

Every client’s experience is unique, and results will vary. Hypnotherapy is not a magic cure, but it can be a powerful support when combined with a person’s own motivation and resilience. If you’d like to explore how hypnotherapy could support you, I offer a free consultation. Simply complete the enquiry form at the bottom of my website, and we can arrange a time to talk.

Note on confidentiality: The client’s name has been changed and certain details have been reframed or altered to preserve anonymity and ensure full confidentiality.