Depression | Daniel Fryer - Cognitive behaviour therapy, clinical hypnotherapy and life coaching

Hypnotherapy Helps With Almost Everything

27th June 2025/0 Comments/in Anger, Anger Management, Anxiety, Bullying, CBT, Chronic Pain, Coaching, Confidence, Depression, Fear of flying, Gay, Goals, Habits, Health, Hypnosis, Hypnotherapy, LGBTQIA, Men, Mental Health, Mind, Online therapy, Online Therapy, Pain Control, Web Therapy, Work Stress/by Daniel Fryer

Hypnotherapy is undergoing a bit of a renaissance right now. Around the world, people are remembering it as an effective method for managing many things. This includes post-surgical recovery, easing chronic conditions (including pain), reducing the symptoms of stress and burnout, dealing with mental health diagnoses such as anxiety, depression and OCD, and on to building confidence and focus, as well as working on other life coaching goals. It can even help you improve the health of your energetic body (think meridians and chakras). And, if you are on a spiritual path (Druid, Shaman, Wiccan, Buddhist and so on), it can even help you with that.

The BBC magazine Science Focus recently ran a piece called Rethinking Hypnosis (click here), as they have just cottoned on to how good it can be and have realised that the scientific community seriously needs to investigate, not only how it works, but also what it can work on.

Not only that, but American psychiatrist Dr David Spiegel has a self-hypnosis app (Reveri) that is constantly in the news to rave reviews. It has appeared in the Financial Times, The New York Times, Women’s Health and more. You might want to click here for more info on that.

And just a few weeks ago, mental health and wellbeing magazine Happiful happily extolled the virtues of it in surgery and stomach pain management following two new studies (click here).

Plus, there’s my book, How to Cope With Almost Anything with Hypnotherapy (simple ideas to enhance your wellbeing and resilience). Published by Green Tree/Bloomsbury, it contains a ton of advice, including how to hypnotise yourself, together with 23 helpful, healing recordings. And you really do want to be clicking here for that.

Also, hypnotherapy is currently a global wellness trend. Don’t just take my word for it. There’s an in-depth industry business report that’s making that claim (click here).

This means that around the world, a lot of people seeking hypnotherapy out, either from individual hypnotherapists or as part of the wellness retreat holiday excursion. The report states that a post-Covid (and ever-increasing) awareness of what hypnotherapy can do is the main factor driving this demand.

Even the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) has noticed this growing popularity, especially in places such as Indonesia, where hypnotherapy is so popular, it’s almost a way of life (you know what to do). LSE researcher Dr Nicholas Long said that it “does have something to offer in terms of thinking about the mental health and wellbeing challenges that so many people are facing in the contemporary world.”

Those challenges include anxiety, depression, anger management, stress management and more. However, you can also have it for weight control, pain control and stopping smoking. You want to build coping strategies? It can do that. Achieving gnosis? It can help with that too. Whatever it is that you want, if it is not delivered in a hypnotic state, it’s not hypnotherapy.

What is it?

At its most basic, hypnotherapy is therapy conducted in a state of hypnosis. And, as you can see, there are different therapies for different things, depending on what it is you want to achieve.

Hypnosis itself is an altered state of consciousness, very similar to daydreaming or losing yourself in a really good book. In this altered state of consciousness, your unconscious mind becomes very susceptible to positive suggestion. Especially when those suggestions are tied to a goal you already know you want to achieve.

A hypnotherapist then, is someone who helps you drift into a hypnotic state, there to deliver suggestions related to your therapeutic, coaching, healing, or life goals.

And hypnotherapy works as well online as it does face-to-face which means that, when it comes to finding the right fit hypnotherapist for you, you’re not constrained by location. If you live in London and want a Bristol hypnotherapist, you can have one. Similarly, if you live in Manchester, but want a London-based hypnotherapist, you can have them too.

Live in Canada but really like the sound of that UK-based hypnotherapist that everyone has been talking about? Not a problem.

When delivered online, you just need a crystal-clear connection. In my experience, people much prefer the sound of my voice to come at them from EarPods or headphones rather than from speakers (it’s more personal and immersive that way). Apart from that, you just need to be sitting comfortably. And the therapist needs to be able to see you clearly, so a laptop or tablet is way better than a smartphone for that.

For a taste of hypnotherapy delivered by myself, please take a look my newish YouTube channel (you’ll find it here). And feel free to check in on a regular basis, as more content is being added all the time

While I don’t know what it is you want hypnotherapy for, I do know you will be jolly glad you tried it.

Online Hypnotherapy: Will it Work for You?

19th October 2023/0 Comments/in Anger, Anger Management, Anxiety, CBT, Confidence, Depression, Hypnosis, Hypnotherapy, Mental Health, Online Therapy, REBT, Self-esteem, Skype Therapy, Web Therapy/by Daniel Fryer

A few weeks ago now, I wrote an article for Psychology Today on the benefits of online therapy and how studies show that it is as equally effective as psychotherapy delivered face-to-face (click here). Since that article went live, I’ve had a fair few emails asking if that also applied to hypnotherapy. And the short answer to that question is, “yes.’”

During the pandemic, hypnotherapists had to switch their clinics to an entirely online affair whether people liked it or not. Since then, as with other forms of therapy, some therapists have remained entirely online whilst others have offered both face-to-face and web therapy.

And whilst official studies into hypnotherapy delivered over digital platforms are few and far between (at least, as far as I know, so feel free to correct me if I am wrong), one study showed that it was effective in treating migraines (click here), whilst another suggested it was effective on children presenting with nocturnal enuresis, or bed wetting (click here).

On the anecdotal front, one magazine editor happily wrote about her experience with digitally delivered hypnotherapy (click here) whilst another espoused the joys of her FaceTime Hypnotherapy session (click here). Plus, there are a plethora of successful hypnotherapy apps available that simply require you to sit back and enjoy some beneficial suggestions delivered via your smartphone or tablet.

I know from experience that the one form of hypnotherapy is is just as effective as the other as I’ve been delivering it online for years now, since way before Coronavirus forced the first UK lockdown back in March 2020.

Quite early on in my therapy career (some 19 years or so at the time of writing), someone asked if they could continue seeing me whilst work sent them away across Europe to a variety of locations. I mainly saw them in various hotels rooms, but also once by a large and empty pool and another time on a patio with a glorious mountain in the background. Back then it was Skype rather than Zoom but, the wide variety of backdrops, both panoramic and otherwise, did nothing to hamper our work together.

At the end of the day (or beginning, or middle, or whenever you see fit to see your hypnotherapist) it all comes down to a matter of choice and/or preference. Some people prefer digital (or are constrained by other factors) whilst some prefer to see their therapist for real.

Reasons for wanting to see a hypnotherapist online include factors such as convenience, schedules, work/life balance management, the ability to choose a therapist from further afield (not just nationwide but other countries), enjoying the comfort of your own home, mobility issues, and more.

Web delivered hypnotherapy is just as effective as live hypnotherapy in treating a wide range of issues including stress (life stress, work stress, burnout syndrome, and so on), as well as anxiety disorders, reactive depression, anger-management, self-esteem and confidence issues, weight control, pain control and the like.

If you are thinking of digital hypnotherapy, there are a few things to consider in advance:

A good connection (this is vital for any form of online psychotherapy) enables every hypnotic suggestion to be delivered clearly and precisely
A good screen size (so laptops and tablets are preferable to smartphones)
A comfy chair (the comfier the better)
A blanket (if you like to be all warm and snuggly)
Good quality speakers (good quality headphones are even better)
Somewhere safe, private, and secure (it’s a therapy session, after all, and you will want to keep things confidential)

Another thing to consider is the severity of the problem. If you are at high-risk of suicide or self-harm, one-to-one live therapy with a nearby therapist plus a clear care plan discussed and agreed by you both is a better fit for you, no matter what modality of therapy is on offer. But, for anything at the mild-to-moderate end of the spectrum, you should be good to go.

If you would like to see me for online hypnotherapy, or even online rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT), for that matter, my contact details are at the bottom of this page.

Finally, if you’re wondering, REBT is a rather nifty and elegant form of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) that works well on everything mentioned above (stress management, anxiety issues, confidence issues and so on), either on its own or in conjunction with hypnotherapy.

Everybody is Stressed, but What Can You do About it?

3rd October 2023/0 Comments/in Addictions, Alcohol, Anger, Anger Management, Anxiety, CBT, Chronic Pain, Coaching, Confidence, Depression, Goals, Hypnosis, Hypnotherapy, Insomnia, Mental Health, Mind, Online Therapy, Panic Attacks, Panic Disorder, Phobias, Psychotherapy, REBT, Self-esteem, Skype Therapy, Stress, Work Stress/by Daniel Fryer

I’ve been a therapist now since 2004 and, for most of that time, when people asked me what I specialised in, I told them that anxiety disorders and work-related stress management were my forte but, on reflection, and for several years now, I would say that both life and work have made me a stress specialist.

That term still covers anxiety disorders and work-stress but, it also covers a whole lot more. Stress affects us all and we are becoming more stressed, not less so. In fact, research from the Chartered Institute of Development has found staff absences due to stress are at their highest levels in over a decade, with the pandemic, the high cost of living and other issues all being significant contributing factors, (click here). But what is stress?

According to the World Health Organisation, “stress can be defined as a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation.”

However, there are two types of stress: good stress (eustress) and bad stress (distress).

Eustress refers to the sort of challenge and pressure that you thrive under or rise to meet with excitement. It could be a work deadline, or a wedding, or a rollercoaster ride. Meanwhile, distress is what we often mean when we are talking about ‘stress.’ It can refer to seemingly insurmountable pressures in any context (life or work), pressures that you feel you can’t cope with, or are not dealing with as well as you’d like. But stress isn’t a diagnosis in and of itself. It’s an umbrella term for a variety of things including:

Anxiety
Reactive depression
Anger-management
Guilt
Shame
Procrastination
Insomnia (often stress related)
Skin conditions such as psoriasis (also often stress related)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS, (nearly always stress related)

You can turn to unhealthy coping strategies when you are stressed, such as alcohol, drugs (both prescription and recreational) and comforting eating. Stress can wear you down, it can affect you physically as well as mentally. You can become distracted, less productive, more forgetful, and more prone to illness (stress affects your immune system). Chronic work stress even has its own diagnosis: Burnout Syndrome. This is a purely occupational phenomenon not official recognised until 2019 and characterised by exhaustion, increased negativity (or cynicism) towards your job, and reduced professional efficacy.

Stress is such as small word for something with so many distressing ramifications.

Stress affects both your mind and your body. A little bit of it is good for you, but too much stress can easily overwhelm you. And we are living in a very stressful world; one that doesn’t seem to be interested in getting any easier. Stress quickly mounts up and it soon takes its toll.

Thankfully, there are things you can do to help mitigate your stress, such as yoga, meditation, taking regular breaks, and going for long walks. And, if those things aren’t enough then therapy and coaching can help.

I practice rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT) and clinical hypnotherapy, and both can help you mitigate your stress and build effective coping strategies in the face of it. With REBT and hypnotherapy the seemingly insurmountable obstacles in your daily live become something much easier to deal with.

So, if you think your stress is getting the better of you, feel free to book a call. I work face-to-face and online and can see anyone, anywhere (time zones permitting). And online therapy is just as effective as face-to-face, studies say so (click here).

Men, Mental Health, Barbershops and Talking

9th June 2019/in Addictions, Alcohol, Anger, Anger Management, Anxiety, CBT, Confidence, Depression, Goals, Men, Mental Health, Psychotherapy, REBT, Relationships, Self-esteem, Stress/by Daniel Fryer

It’s good to talk, isn’t it? Male or female, young or old, it’s good to have someone to turn to in times of trouble, yes? And yet, despite the many inroads made in raising mental health issues, men still struggle with talking about their feelings, or reaching out if they’re in difficulty. Which is problematic to say the least. And, it needs to change, but how? Read more

Take the Stress out of Christmas

5th December 2016/in Alcohol, Anxiety, CBT, Christmas, Depression, Hypnosis, Hypnotherapy, Mental Health, Psychotherapy, REBT, Uncategorized, Work Stress/by Daniel Fryer

Depending upon your point of view then, either sadly or happily, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. But, what does Christmas mean to you? For many it just means stress. What was once a celebration of the winter solstice, then an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ and is now, for all intents and purposes, simply an invitation to boost the economy as much as you can, has become a very stressful experience indeed. But, how can you mitigate that stress? Read more

Brand New Bristol Based Therapist

2nd November 2016/in Addictions, Alcohol, Anger, Anger Management, Anxiety, Bullying, CBT, Chronic Pain, Coaching, Confidence, Cyber Bullying, Depression, Fear of flying, Frontpage Article, Gay, Goals, Habits, HR, Humour, Hypnosis, Hypnotherapy, Images, Insomnia, Jealousy, LGBTQIA, Men, Mental Health, Mind, News, Online Therapy, Pain Control, Panic Attacks, Panic Disorder, Phobias, Psychosexual Dysfunction, Psychotherapy, REBT, Relationships, Self-esteem, Skype Therapy, Stigma, Stop Smoking, Uncategorized, Unconscious, Web Therapy, Weight Control, Work Stress/by Daniel Fryer

Well, fairly new; well, sort of new. New-ish; okay, I moved here from London in January 2016 but, due to other work commitments, it’s taken me this long to sort a private practice out. However, I am a psychotherapist and I’ve been working as one since 2004. Read more

Treating Depression

1st September 2015/in CBT, Confidence, Depression, Hypnosis, Hypnotherapy, Mental Health, Mind, Psychotherapy, REBT, Self-esteem, Skype Therapy, Stigma, Web Therapy, Work Stress/by Daniel Fryer

Last month I wrote about depression in the briefest of terms (click here). It’s a major contributor to mental health issues and is on the increase. More than a low mood or ‘the blues,’ depression can be severely disabling and a real struggle to get out of. However, you are not without help in that fight. Any and all of the following can and will have a positive effect. Read more

Dealing with Depression

31st July 2015/in CBT, Confidence, Depression, Hypnosis, Hypnotherapy, Mental Health, Mind, Psychotherapy, REBT, Self-esteem, Stigma, Work Stress/by Daniel Fryer

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) depression – which currently affects over 120 million people worldwide – will be one of the leading contributors of global disease, second only to heart disease, by the year 2020. Plus, based on its research, one healthcare provider believes depression will soon overtake stress at the UK’s biggest work-based mental health issue (click here). But, what is depression and why is it on the rise? Read more

Why You Need to Give up Your Demands

20th June 2015/in Addictions, Alcohol, Anger, Anger Management, Anxiety, Bullying, CBT, Chronic Pain, Confidence, Cyber Bullying, Depression, Fear of flying, Frontpage Article, Gay, Goals, Habits, HR, Humour, Hypnosis, Hypnotherapy, Images, Insomnia, Jealousy, LGBTQIA, Men, Mental Health, Mind, News, Online Therapy, Pain Control, Panic Attacks, Panic Disorder, Phobias, Psychosexual Dysfunction, Psychotherapy, REBT, Relationships, Self-esteem, Skype Therapy, Stigma, Stop Smoking, Unconscious, Web Therapy, Weight Control, Work Stress/by Daniel Fryer

In Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT), the form of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) that I advocate, we say that your demands are at the root of your psychological disturbance. But, what is a demand exactly, and how does it disturb you? Read more

Gay Affirmative Therapy

9th April 2015/in Addictions, Alcohol, Anger, Anger Management, Anxiety, Bullying, CBT, Confidence, Cyber Bullying, Depression, Gay, Goals, Hypnosis, Hypnotherapy, Jealousy, LGBTQIA, Men, Mental Health, Mind, Online Therapy, Panic Attacks, Panic Disorder, Psychosexual Dysfunction, Psychotherapy, REBT, Relationships, Self-esteem, Skype Therapy, Stigma, Web Therapy/by Daniel Fryer

The LGBTQIA community faces the same problems as everyone else. They also face problems that can be very different to those experienced by mainstream society. For various reasons, many prefer a therapist, if not of the same sexuality as them, then at least with a clear understanding of LGBTQIA issues. Many fear finding a therapist that is homophobic or one whose religious beliefs would conflict with their ability to help. Enter then, the world of gay affirmative therapy.