Unwanted habits

Hypnotherapy for unwanted habits in Bristol

Humans naturally develop habits to make life easier, relieve stress, or provide comfort. While many habits are harmless, others can become frustrating, embarrassing, or even harmful—affecting confidence, appearance, and overall well-being.

Some habits, like thumb-sucking or nose-picking, may start in childhood and persist into adulthood, while others - such as nail biting, skin picking, cheek or lip biting, hair pulling (trichotillomania), eyelash pulling, teeth grinding (bruxism), or tics - develop as automatic responses to stress, anxiety, or boredom. Some people also experience stammering, blushing, or repetitive movements like tapping and fidgeting, which can feel difficult to control, even when we want to stop.

When we experience stress, our bodies produce nervous energy in preparation for a perceived threat. Since modern stressors can’t simply be escaped, this energy may manifest as repetitive behaviours like hair pulling, fidgeting, or lip biting. Even after the stress subsides, these habits can remain ingrained.

Hypnotherapy can help by interrupting these patterns and introducing healthier alternatives. Using hypnosis alongside techniques from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), I support you in developing a healthier response to stress and regaining a sense of control over your behaviours.

How Hypnotherapy Can Help You Gain Control Over Unwanted Habits

Hypnotherapy provides an effective way to change unwanted habits by working with the mind to break automatic patterns and introduce healthier responses. Since every habit is unique, each session is tailored to your individual experience and needs. These are some of the ways we can work together:

🔸 Developing Mindful Awareness
Building greater awareness of your habit is key to changing it. Mindfulness techniques and habit tracking can help you recognise early warning signs—when and where the habit occurs, how often, and what thoughts or emotions trigger it. By noticing these patterns, you create the opportunity to pause, disrupt the cycle, and make a conscious choice to respond differently.

🔸Exploring the Underlying Cause
Many habits stem from underlying emotional triggers such as stress, anxiety, or the need for self-soothing. By examining these underlying factors, we can help you address the root cause of the habit, reducing the urge to engage in the behaviour and preventing future relapses. For neurodivergent individuals, some habits may be linked to stimming. If the habit serves an essential regulatory function, we won’t seek to suppress it but instead explore whether an alternative behaviour could be more beneficial for your well-being.

🔸Using ACT and CFT Approaches
While ACT- and CFT-based techniques may not be as central to habit reversal, aspects of these approaches can still be helpful. ACT encourages you to accept and manage difficult emotions without letting them control your actions. CFT can promote self-compassion, helping you break free from the cycle of self-criticism that often reinforces unwanted habits.

🔸 Reframing Thoughts and Beliefs
Many habits are maintained by underlying beliefs (e.g., "I can't stop" or "I need this to cope"). We work on shifting these thought patterns to create a more supportive mindset for change.

🔸 Strengthening Motivation and Commitment
If part of you wants to stop a habit but another part resists, we can align your conscious and unconscious motivations to support change in a way that feels right for you.

🔸Habit Reversal Techniques
Through habit reversal techniques, we’ll help you become more aware of when and where your habit occurs, and identify the underlying triggers. We’ll then work to replace the habit with healthier, more positive behaviours. This evidence-based approach empowers you to take control and manage your habit in real-life situations, outside of the therapy room.

🔸 Building Long-Term Control and Resilience
Lasting change isn’t just about stopping a habit—it’s about staying in control, even during times of stress or distraction. We’ll explore relapse prevention strategies and equip you with self-hypnosis techniques to reinforce your progress, manage urges, and build resilience, so you can continue making positive changes beyond our sessions.

While hypnotherapy is a powerful approach for changing unwanted habits, it’s not a quick fix. Breaking a habit requires commitment and effort, both during and between sessions. The techniques we use together will help you take control, but lasting change comes from actively applying what you learn.

Please note: I do not work with habits related to drugs or alcohol, as these require a different approach and specialist support. My focus is on unconscious, repetitive behaviours such as nail biting, skin picking, or hair pulling, which often feel automatic and difficult to control.

How Many Sessions Will You Need?

The number of sessions needed will vary depending on your specific situation, but typically, unwanted habits can be addressed in up to 4 sessions in addition to the initial consultation. After these sessions, we’ll assess your progress and decide whether additional sessions are needed, or if you feel confident practicing the techniques on your own. Top-up sessions can always be booked if further support is needed.

Ready to take control and break the habit?

If you're ready to make a change, I'm here to help. Get in touch to discuss how hypnotherapy can work for you.
Email: info@bristolhypnotherapy.co.uk
Call or text: 07851 307 062
Book a free 15-minute chat: Click here