Hypnotherapy for Fear of Public Speaking
Heart pounding before a presentation? Mind going blank the moment everyone looks at you? Dreading the wedding speech, the interview, or even speaking up in a meeting? Your mind isn't broken. At some point it learned that being looked at wasn't safe. Advanced hypnosis finds out when, and switches the fear off. Whether you're in Rugby, London or the other side of the world, we can do this together on Zoom.
Is this you?
You rehearse for days, and still feel sick on the day.
Your heart pounds, your voice shakes, your face goes red and your hands won't keep still.
Your mind goes completely blank halfway through, even though you know your stuff.
You lie awake the night before a presentation, playing out everything that could go wrong.
You dread going round the table and introducing yourself in a meeting.
You've turned down a promotion, a pitch or a speech so you wouldn't have to stand up.
You've been asked to do the best man's speech, the father of the bride speech or a eulogy, and you're already dreading it.
You stay quiet in meetings, even when you have the best idea in the room.
If any of that is you, you're not weak and you're not alone. Fear of public speaking, also called glossophobia, is one of the most common fears there is. Your mind learned to treat being looked at as dangerous, and advanced hypnosis can change that.
Why does my mind panic when I have to speak?
Your mind's number one job is to keep you safe. Standing up in front of people, being watched and judged, can feel to the oldest part of your brain like being singled out from the group. So it reacts as if you're in danger: adrenaline, racing heart, shaking, and a mind that empties so you can run.
In my experience, the fear almost always started long before the presentation. Being made to read out loud in class. Being laughed at, told off in front of everyone, or told to be quiet and not show off. Your mind made a rule back then that being seen isn't safe, and it's still following that rule today.
In an RTT session we find where that rule came from, and your mind gets to update it. When the old meaning goes, the fear has nothing left to hold on to.
Fear of public speaking symptoms
Racing heart, sweating, a shaky voice and hands, blushing, a dry mouth, feeling sick, needing the loo, your mind going blank, and lying awake for nights beforehand. These are your fight or flight response doing its job at the wrong time. They are not a sign that you're bad at speaking.
How to overcome fear of public speaking: what actually helps
Before the day
Practise out loud, not just in your head, and practise standing up. Breathe out for longer than you breathe in, for example in for 4 and out for 7. A long out-breath tells your body you're safe.
On the day
Arrive early and stand in the room so it feels familiar. Find one or two friendly faces and talk to them. Remember the audience wants you to do well. Nobody is sitting there hoping you'll fail.
Why tips only go so far
These help in the moment. But if the fear comes from an old memory, tips sit on top of it, and the fear is still there next time. That's where hypnotherapy and RTT are different: we change what your mind believes about being seen and heard.
Ways I can help you speak with confidence
RTT for fear of public speaking
One deep session finds where the fear started and changes the belief behind it. You also get a personal recording made just for you, to listen to every day for 21 days, so the change sets in.
Presentations, meetings and interviews
For speaking up in meetings, presenting to the board, pitching to clients, job interviews, training sessions and Zoom calls where everyone is looking at you.
Wedding speeches, eulogies and big occasions
Best man, bride, groom, father of the bride, or saying a few words at a funeral. So you can be present on the day and enjoy it, instead of dreading it for months.
Students, exams and auditions
Class presentations, oral exams, viva nerves, auditions, performances and university interviews.
Social anxiety and being the centre of attention
If the fear goes beyond speeches into everyday life, like walking into a room, eating in front of people or making phone calls, we work on that too.
Public speaking downloads and free confidence hypnosis (coming soon)
I'm creating ready-made hypnosis downloads for fear of public speaking, presentation nerves, interviews, wedding speeches and confidence, plus free confidence hypnosis on YouTube. If you'd like to be told when they're ready, send me a message.
Tell me what you're dreading speaking at.
Why choose me as your public speaking hypnotherapist?
I'm an Advanced Clinical Hypnotherapist, Advanced RTT Therapist and RTT Trainer, NLP Master Practitioner, and one of Marisa Peer's earliest RTT trainers.
I also speak and train on stage myself. I've trained therapists in London, New York, Amsterdam and Dubai, in front of packed halls, and I've spoken on stage at the New York Academy of Medicine. I know exactly what it feels like to walk out in front of a room, and I know the fear can change.
There's no such word as can't. If your mind learned to be afraid of speaking, it can learn to feel calm and confident instead.
Fear of public speaking, anxiety and confidence: how they feed each other
Fear of speaking rarely comes alone. It often sits alongside anxiety, low confidence, imposter syndrome or feeling not good enough. When we change the belief underneath, people usually notice their confidence grows everywhere, not just on stage.
Hypnotherapy for fear of public speaking near me? Online, wherever you are
I'm based in Rugby, Warwickshire, and I work with people across the UK and around the world on Zoom. You do the session from your own home, relaxed and comfortable.
So whether you're searching for hypnotherapy for fear of public speaking near me, in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Coventry, Leicester or anywhere else in the world, I'm as close as your laptop.
How much is hypnotherapy for fear of public speaking?
Everyone is different, so I don't do one-size-fits-all prices. Some people need one session, others need a programme of RTT and coaching, and some just need a recording. We talk first, I look at where you are, and I tell you honestly what I think you need. The choice is always yours.
Hypnotherapy for fear of public speaking: frequently asked questions
Can hypnotherapy help with fear of public speaking?
Yes. Hypnotherapy works with the part of your mind where the fear lives, which is why it can help when practice and courses haven't. We talk first, and I tell you honestly whether I think I can help.
What is glossophobia?
Glossophobia is the medical name for fear of public speaking. It can range from nerves before a presentation to real panic at the thought of being looked at.
How many sessions will I need?
Many people need one RTT session plus their personal recording. Others have more going on, like anxiety or low confidence, and need a programme. We talk first and I tell you what I think.
I have a speech or presentation coming up soon. Can you help in time?
Get in touch as soon as you can. We talk first, and I tell you honestly what we can do in the time you have.
Will I still feel nervous?
A little buzz before you speak is normal and can help you. The aim is for the dread and panic to go, so the nerves turn into energy and you can actually enjoy it.
Can hypnotherapy help with stage fright and performance anxiety?
Yes. Stage fright in actors, singers, musicians and sports people works the same way as fear of public speaking, and I work with it in the same way.
Does hypnotherapy for public speaking work on Zoom?
Yes. In my experience it works just as well, and you're relaxed in your own home. It's also good practice at being seen on screen.
How do I find the best hypnotherapist for fear of public speaking?
Look for someone with years of experience rather than a weekend certificate, who works on why you're afraid rather than just giving you tips, and who has real reviews from real clients. I'm an Advanced RTT therapist and RTT trainer, I speak on stage myself, and you can read my clients' Google reviews.
Who is hypnotherapy not suitable for?
If you have epilepsy or psychosis, or you're under a psychiatrist, message me first before booking.
Ready to stand up and feel calm?