Why I became a Hypnotherapist

Today, I thought it prudent to share my reasoning for becoming a Hypnotherapist. I am often posed with the question "How did you get into Hypnosis?" and I wish I could tell you that this was something I dreamt about as a little girl, or that I was inspired by the greats in the Industry, because it would save me telling you a long convoluted story about my journey towards self-discovery and self-acceptance, alas, you asked for it....

Hypnosis only came into my life a mere 2.5 years ago.

Rewind back to Aug 2023 and my life was unrecognisable in every comparison to now. I was working in a little local Independent Opticians as a Dispensing Optician, and my days were spent offering face-to-face advice to prospective spectacle buyers, ordering, repairing, glazing and assembling specs, and performing meticulous quality checks (note, this is a heavily reduced explanation of what my day-to-day work actually entailed..)

I had studied for 4 years and graduated with a Ophthalmic Dispensing Diploma to do this job, and on paper, it was an ideal little gig really. When I started studying, I genuinely thought that I had find my calling and could visualise my little life doing this job and feeling secure and happy-enough I guess. The practice was close to my home, and I had formed very good relationships with my colleagues and (for the most part) the patients were friendly.

However, I couldn't fight that little niggle telling me over and over and over again, that this work was just not satiating for me, the days were not lighting up my soul in the way that I soo craved, and I had this looming sense I was wasting my time/energy/potential (HSPs: you can relate, right?). I felt drawn to figure out my purpose in life, and at that stage I had absolutely no idea what that was, I just knew in my bones, it wasn't Dispensing. Which is huge shame because I'm blimmin' good at it! (disclaimer: I would NOT have felt or said this then and it feels cocky of me to say, but evidently true!). I wish I was passionate about Optics because it's actually a very nice industry to work in - it gives such a community feel, everyone knows everyone within Optics and I loved that, however I couldn't deny myself anymore from the realisation hitting me plane in the face:

I. did. not. want. to. work. in. optics. anymore.

So where to go from here? Well I did what any cliche white woman approaching 30 in a crisis does, and went on a Vegan Yoga Retreat in the hills of Andalusia! I bet you wish I was kidding but no I actually did this and it may have redirected my whole life.

This was a big deal for me at the time because I went on my own! and I hadn't even really done yoga before this point either?! I had never travelled abroad alone and I was so nervous at navigating airports and transfers, I had only ever gone on holidays with someone who could make decisions and somehow knew where to go – I had zero experience doing this! While it was nerve-racking, it was also thrilling! Just this simple first step, opened up a new level of confidence within me and I felt unstoppable. I truly felt if I can do this, and succeed – I can do anything. Booking this trip may have been the first domino in getting me here today...

At this "Plant-based Nervous System Reset Retreat" (*Samadhi Lodge, bookyogaretreats.com*), I was immediately welcomed by the warm embrace of the hosts, Claudia and Neeltje. They were unlike anyone I had ever met before honestly, and it was quite confronting being around bold, confident women that weren't afraid to take up space, talk openly about their feelings, and express themselves in a physical sense. Their energy was so infectious and inspiring, I naturally found myself admiring them both so much. On this trip, I reconnected with my true Self. Something I hadn't really done or tried to do before. Through Yoga, Somatic Dance, Breath work, Journalling, Meditation, Reading, Nature bathing, Sound bathing and hiking, I actually felt a glimmer of hope and inspiration: what I wanted my future to look like.

It came into my awareness on that trip, that I wanted to provide that experience for people too. Yes one day in the healing-retreat sense, but mainly the simple act of supporting and allowing people to connect to their own-inner knowing, and helping them feel connected and confident enough to actually go after what they want.

I bet your wondering when I'm actually going to get to the Hypnosis bit... I'm getting there!

Fast forward and we are in November 2023 now, and I've enrolled with The Somerset School of Hypnotherapy! But, not to study Hypnotherapy, oh no no no! I actually did a Reiki Level 1 & 2 Degree course with them, and it was incredible. I learned so much about the interconnectedness of our energy centres and physical and emotional ailments. Basically when the centres are balanced, optimal well-being can be expected, while blockages and imbalances can lead to emotional distress (like grief, anxiety and depression) and physical ailments (like chronic pain, auto-immune conditions and disease). Reiki is a Japanese technique for reducing stress, improving relaxation, and supporting the rebalancing of these energy centres, which as a result can promote the body's natural ability to heal. I was hooked! Attunement is definitely a core experience in my life, an experience I can't really explain unless you've gone through it (sounds bonkers lol), but to summarise it opened me up to being more intuitive, spiritual and dare I say even a little Psychic (a strong felt sense of inner-knowing, like I just knew when a friend went into labour somehow without being told? things like this happen regularly to me now)

Ok Hypnosis time! While with SSOH learning Reiki, Steve (Reiki Master and Hypnotherapist) stuck my hand to the table, and "glued" my eyes shut! Whatttt. It absolutely blew my mind. Hypnotic phenomena is fun for sure, but it was in the discovery that Hypnosis could be used for therapeutic purposes that I felt that spark I had been searching for. I was surrounded by Hypnotherapists here, coming from respectable backgrounds (Nursing, Teaching, Veterinary, Law to name a few), and something about all these people sharing their love for Hypnosis, and how effective it's been for clients and in their own personal lives, piqued my interest. I had to experience it for myself.

So, I volunteered as tribute to be a guinea pig for a student practicing a past-life regression session. This is a little out there I know, and trust me while I'm very open-minded, I was sceptical (also incredibly nervous). I remember that feeling of not knowing whats going to happen, what the hypnotist could do to me, will they know all my secrets, turn me into a chicken etc etc. Well, I will try to by succinct in my explanation of this experience. It was WILD.

I don't wanna go into too much detail about what happened as it includes some uncomfortable themes (TW: murder), however I will tell you what I gained from it and why it was important for me to understand. In a supposed, or real past-life experience, I was a female that was killed at the hands of a man. Yikes. Why did I need to be confronted with this? Because I had a fear of men in my present life. Something I was sort-of aware of because of the discomfort, avoidance and distrust I formed around men, however I didn't really understand the impact this was having on me, why it was there, and what I needed to do to bring closure to it. After this session, I knew what I had to work on, where the uncomfortable growth would be for me, and that I could bring closure to that story that had been running in my subconscious automatically -- this is KEY!! You see, it didn't really matter if what I was seeing was "real" or metaphorically imagined and projected by my subconscious, the message came to me in a way I was able to interpret and understand. Once I had that knowledge, I could move forward.

I won't lie, it did take me time to heal after this revelation, and because I was a guinea-pig for a one off session, I felt a little alone. Initially I was met with all the ways that this had impacted my life, and this can be quite confronting. However I now understand that this was necessary for my self-development and overall happiness in my life. I don't have a bad word to say about past-life regression work, however, I do think one must be prepared for what story you may not have previously been aware of, is running the show for you. Maybe I was naive, however I found the delivery to be quite unsettling and I'm sure there are more gentle ways of learning these messages, without needing the visualisation of a (sometimes but not always traumatic) death in a past-life.

(n.b If that was heavy to read, just take a moment now to pause for a breathe, look out a window, and think of one thing you are grateful for 🤎)

Moving forward now to July 2024. I have now left my employed position at the little Opticians, and am fending for myself as a Locum Dispensing Optician. This was scary and wayyy out of my comfort zone. It required me to be adaptable, work in different surroundings, with people I didn't know, travel far and wide, and most importantly fill my own calendar with work to get paid! I am so grateful I took this step, because my confidence honestly grew tenfold. I wish again, that this was enough to satiate me because it gave me two things: Money & Freedom. I could choose when and where to work, my work/life balance was never better really, I was travelling in my time off and had the money to fund a pretty decent lifestyle. Perfect, right? Doh, I'm still getting that niggle... you see, it was the same job, just different four walls.

My intention with locuming was to always use it as a stop-gap, while I study & launch my business in, you guessed it... Hypnotherapy! After doing lots of research, I decided to study with The Jacquin Hypnosis Academy. I didn't want to do a generic online or week intensive course (I don't do half measures), I wanted to study with a proper, reputable and recognisable school. If you aren’t familiar with the world of hypnosis, you may not know that the Jacquin's are internationally respected Hypnotists and educators. The father-son duo consists of Freddy Jacquin (author of Hypnotherapy: Methods, Techniques, and Philosophies of Freddy Jacquin), developed the Arrow Technique - a powerful yet gentle method for working with subconscious patterns. And his son, Anthony Jacquin (author of Reality Is Plastic), is known for making hypnosis accessible, ethical, and practical, and for training practitioners worldwide.

Their direct and and natural approach appealed to me, and it blended hypnotic phenomena with therapeutic techniques, while respecting consent, safety and collaboration. This style was perfect for me! If anyone is considering learning Hypnosis, I wholeheartedly recommend their course. It has given me so much, a community to lean on, an endless fountain of knowledge and practical tools I use regularly in my work. I wouldn't be where I am today without them and everyone in that course.

After qualifying as a Certified Hypnotherapist (Dip. Hyp), I launched my business in March of 2025, and left my career in Optics 6 months later. I have loved this journey thus far, and sometimes I have to pinch myself that this is my life now. When I read the positive feedback from my clients I am deeply moved, I love being able to support sensitive people on their journey. I finally feel like I am doing something with meaning, and the world may be a better place for it. The ripple effects of helping just one person is truly unknown, it could improve the lives of generations to come - and this is why this work matters to me. I am so grateful for the experiences I've had, the people I worked with (retreat hosts, tutors and clients alike) - I have learned so much from you and I am truly in awe of hypnosis and the benefits of subconscious rewiring.

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