Habits & Unwanted Patterns
Changing habits by working with the subconscious mind
Habits and unwanted patterns can feel incredibly frustrating. You may know exactly what you want to change, yet find yourself repeating behaviours automatically, often without realising you’re doing them.
This is because habits are not driven by willpower alone. They are learned patterns held in the subconscious mind and nervous system.
I work with habits and unwanted patterns using clinical hypnotherapy and mindfulness, helping change happen at the level where habits are formed and maintained.
Common habits I work with
I regularly support people with habits such as:
smoking
nail biting
skin picking (dermatillomania)
hair pulling (trichotillomania)
thumb sucking
compulsive or repetitive behaviours
habits linked to stress or anxiety
unwanted patterns that feel automatic or hard to stop
If a behaviour feels out of your control, that’s often a sign it’s being driven subconsciously.
Why habits persist — even when you want them to stop
Habits usually develop because, at some point, they served a purpose.
Often a habit:
reduces anxiety or tension
provides comfort or relief
helps regulate overwhelming feelings
becomes associated with reward or safety
Over time, the brain learns that the behaviour is “useful” and begins to repeat it automatically — even when it’s no longer helpful.
This is why habits can continue despite strong motivation to change.
How hypnotherapy helps with habits and patterns
Hypnotherapy works directly with the subconscious mind — the part of the brain responsible for automatic behaviour.
In a calm, focused state, hypnotherapy can help to:
reduce urges and compulsions
change subconscious associations with reward or comfort
address the emotional drivers behind the habit
interrupt automatic patterns
introduce healthier alternatives
Rather than forcing change, we work with the system that created the habit, allowing change to feel more natural and sustainable.
You remain fully aware and in control throughout sessions.
Smoking cessation with hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is widely recognised as an effective approach for stopping smoking, because smoking is largely driven by subconscious associations rather than conscious choice.
Smoking often becomes linked with:
stress relief
reward
habit loops triggered by time, place, or emotion
Hypnotherapy works by changing these subconscious associations so that cigarettes no longer feel necessary or appealing.
Smoking cessation hypnotherapy is typically offered as a short course, and works best when you feel ready to stop.
Nail biting, skin picking, hair pulling & thumb sucking
These habits often begin as self-soothing responses to anxiety or stress and then become automatic over time.
Many people:
don’t realise they’re doing the behaviour
notice it increases during stress or tiredness
feel frustrated or ashamed about it
Hypnotherapy helps by working with the subconscious patterns that trigger the behaviour, reducing the urge and creating space for change without force or punishment.
A compassionate, nervous-system aware approach
My approach combines:
clinical hypnotherapy
mindfulness
an understanding of anxiety, habit loops, and regulation
This is particularly helpful if:
habits return under pressure
willpower-based approaches haven’t worked
shame or self-criticism are involved
habits feel linked to anxiety or overwhelm
Change happens at a pace that feels respectful and realistic.
Online and in-person sessions
I work with clients:
online worldwide, and
in person in Chichester and West Sussex
Online hypnotherapy is highly effective for habit work and allows flexibility and continuity.
Considering working together?
If a habit or unwanted pattern is affecting your wellbeing, you’re welcome to get in touch for an initial conversation to explore whether this approach feels right for you.