Why do I keep eating in a way I don't want to?
If you struggle with your relationship with food, it's likely that it isn't about willpower or not knowing what to eat. It's about what eating has come to mean for you: comfort, reward, control, or simply permission to pause after a demanding day.
Problematic eating tends to show up alongside a feeling, not actual hunger.
You may have noticed that the harder you try to override it, the louder the urge tends to get. Which is exactly why another diet, or more discipline, never really works, because you can't force your way out of something that's meeting a real need in you.
We don't focus on diets or nutrition advice, that's not our role. Instead, we get curious about what food has been doing for you, so we can help you to meet that need a different way. And when that happens, your problematic eating pattern no longer has a job to do.
What happens over our four sessions?
I work within a structured programme of four sessions (usually weekly, where possible) because meaningful change rarely happens in a single appointment. Each session builds on the last, giving your mind and body time to settle, learn and change.
Your first session starts with a conversation. We'll take time to understand what's been happening, what you'd like to be different, and answer any questions you have about the process. I'll then guide you into hypnosis, a calm, inward-focused state, rather like daydreaming, but with a purpose. You remain aware and in control throughout. Many people tell me it's one of the most relaxing experiences they've had in a long time.
Each session is tailored to you and builds on your progress, combining conversation, hypnosis and practical tools where appropriate. You'll also receive personalised audio recordings to listen to between sessions, helping to reinforce the work we're doing together.
What people often notice
People often come wanting to change what and how they eat. What tends to follow is a deeper understanding and a calmer, kinder relationship with yourself.
Is this the right approach for you?
Hypnotherapy sits alongside, and never replaces, care from your GP or specialist, but for those who'd rather not use weight-loss medication, it can offer a different route into understanding and changing your relationship with food. Hypnotherapy is not generally suitable for people with anorexia nervosa or bulimia, which require specialist care.
Your free consultation is an opportunity for us to understand what might be driving your problematic eating and decide together whether this feels like the right approach for you.
Ready for a calmer relationship with food?
Start with a free, friendly chatMelissa is an HPD Level 4 Clinical Hypnotherapist, registered with the NCH, BSCH and CNHC, working with adults, children and teens in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, and online.