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What hypnotherapy is, how our sessions work, and what to expect at Canberra Hypnotherapy Clinic — one of Canberra’s longest-running hypnotherapy practices, here since 2012.
The questions we are asked most often before a first appointment.
Hypnotherapy uses hypnosis — a state of deep relaxation and focused attention — to work with the subconscious mind, where habits, beliefs and emotional patterns are held. Working at that level is what allows changes in thinking, feeling and behaviour to hold rather than needing to be maintained by willpower.
Most people describe it as deeply relaxing — similar to that pleasant state between waking and sleep, or the absorption you feel watching a film or driving a familiar road. You stay aware throughout. It is simply a focused, receptive state of mind.
Hypnosis works with your unconscious mind, which is naturally protective of your interests. Contrary to popular myth, you remain in control and can come out of the trance state at any moment. Nobody can be made to do or say anything that conflicts with their own will or values.
Most people can experience a hypnotic state to some degree. Those who get absorbed in books, films or daydreaming often respond particularly well. The depth of trance needed for effective therapeutic work is very accessible — a light, comfortable state is all that is required.
No. Clinical hypnotherapy is a structured, evidence-informed therapeutic process in a private, professional setting. Stage hypnosis selects highly responsive volunteers for entertainment. The two have little in common beyond the word “hypnosis”.
This is a non-clinical service. We do not diagnose or treat mental illness, and hypnotherapy is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric care. Conditions such as psychosis, severe dissociative disorders, drug dependence requiring medical management and clinical depression need specialist treatment, and we will say so and refer you on where that is the right path. We work happily alongside your GP, psychologist or psychiatrist.
If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or call 000.
Every session is tailored to the person in front of us — there is no standard script.
Your first session begins with a thorough conversation — your concerns, your history, your goals, and what you actually want to be different. That shapes a plan built around you. The session then moves into NLP techniques and a tailored hypnotherapy experience, and you leave with a recorded hypnotherapy audio to use between appointments.
It depends on what you are working on and how you respond. Many clients notice significant change within three to five sessions, and some concerns — simple phobias, or stopping smoking — can shift in one or two. We would rather talk this through honestly with you at your free consult than sell you a package before we have met.
A light state of trance is all that is needed — similar to the relaxed absorption of watching a film or driving a familiar route. Each session you will find it easier. The state is pleasant and becomes more natural with practice.
Yes. Our clinic is in Deakin, Canberra, and we also run sessions by secure video for clients elsewhere in the ACT, in New South Wales and across Australia. Online sessions are just as effective as in-person ones, and many people find that being in their own space helps them relax more easily.
Each session includes a recorded hypnotherapy audio made for your particular concern. Listening to it daily, especially before sleep, reinforces the work and speeds up progress. We will also suggest practical exercises relevant to your goals.
Hypnotherapy works safely alongside other therapies and medications. We always advise clients to stay on their medication and under the supervision of their doctor. Hypnotherapy complements medical care — it does not replace it.
What people most often come to us for, and how quickly things tend to shift.
The things we are asked for most are anxiety and stress, quitting smoking or vaping, weight and eating patterns, sleep, chronic pain, confidence and performance, and the full range of addictions — alcohol, drugs, food, gambling, gaming and internet use. It is also useful for everyday worries and emotional patterns that have become stuck. If you are not sure whether your situation fits, ask us on the free consult.
Many clients notice a meaningful shift after their first session, with the full benefit building across a course of work shaped around them. Because hypnotherapy works at the subconscious level, where the patterns actually sit, change often comes faster than with approaches that rely on conscious reasoning alone.
Anxiety is one of the most common reasons people come to see us. Hypnotherapy addresses the subconscious patterns driving the anxious response rather than only managing the symptoms, and combined with strategic psychotherapy and NLP the results tend to be quicker and more durable.
Yes, and it is one of the best-supported uses of hypnotherapy. Many clients stop after one to three sessions, because the emotional and habitual associations that keep the behaviour going are addressed directly rather than fought with willpower.
Yes. Hypnotherapy works on the emotional eating patterns, reward associations and self-image beliefs behind an unhelpful relationship with food. Rather than adding another set of external rules, it shifts the internal patterns that make lasting change so hard on willpower alone.
Yes. Hypnotherapy sits comfortably alongside counselling, medical treatment, psychological therapy and other support. If you are currently under medical or psychological care, do mention to your treating professional that you are starting hypnotherapy.
Yes, and with real depth of experience in both. Our practice is neuro-affirming, with an understanding of profiles such as PDA (a persistent drive for autonomy), alexithymia, interoception differences and rejection sensitivity. We also have long-standing experience working alongside gender diverse and sexuality diverse clients, and we tailor the pace and structure of a session to how your mind actually works.
Where to find us, how to book, and who you will be working with.
Our clinic is at 42 Geils Court, Deakin ACT 2600 — a few minutes from Woden and the city, with parking on site. Online sessions by secure video are available Australia-wide.
Yes. We offer a free 20-minute consultation with Stella by phone or video, so you can ask whatever you want to ask, understand the process, and decide whether hypnotherapy feels right for you — with no obligation to book. Call or text 0421 206 918, or send a message and we will come back to you.
Call or text Stella on 0421 206 918, or send us a message and we will come back to you to confirm a time and give you anything you need to know beforehand.
Because every session is tailored to the person, we talk fees through with you directly during your free 20-minute consult, once we understand what you are hoping to change and how we would work together. Call or text 0421 206 918 and we will give you clear numbers with no pressure.
Concessions are available for eligible clients, and we offer arrangements for multiple sessions. If cost is the thing stopping you, please say so — we would rather find a way than lose you over it. More on what to expect →
Hypnotherapy is not covered under Medicare. Many private health funds do offer rebates for hypnotherapy through their extras cover. We are registered with industry governing bodies and can provide health fund provider numbers — contact your fund to confirm what you are entitled to.
Yes. What you share in a session stays between you and your therapist, and we will not contact anyone else about your care without your consent, other than in the rare circumstances the law requires.
Spiro Apostolopoulos and Stella Jones are both Clinical Hypnotherapists, Strategic Psychotherapists and NLP Master Practitioners, trained to Masters level under Gordon Young, Australia’s leading trainer in these fields. They are accredited members of the Australian Hypnotherapists Association and listed on the National Hypnotherapists Register of Australia. The clinic has been running in Canberra since 2012 and has been rated in the Top 3 Hypnotherapists in Canberra every year since 2017 by Three Best Rated.
Call or text Stella on 0421 206 918, or send a message and we’ll come back to you.
Book a free 20-minute consult with Stella and ask us anything — no obligation, just a friendly conversation about whether we can help.
Monday – Friday, 10:00am – 6:00pm · 42 Geils Court, Deakin ACT 2600
We're confident you'll benefit from hypnotherapy, so we'd like to offer you a free 20-minute discovery call to see if it feels right for you.
Prefer to speak with someone? Call 0421 206 918
