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Do you find yourself feeling anxious in certain situations, even though you cope well in other areas of life?
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Do worries about what others might think hold you back from speaking up, performing, or trying new things?
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Does overthinking affect your sleep, confidence, or ability to concentrate?
Overcome situational anxiety with cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy.
Based in East Cork, I work online with clients across Cork and throughout Ireland. I support people who experience situational anxiety, anxiety that appears in particular moments like speaking, driving, performing or being observed, even though you are generally coping well. The approach I take combines hypnosis, mindfulness and CBT techniques, to help clients feel calmer, more confident, and more in control.
What is situational anxiety?
Situational anxiety is context specific anxiety that arises in particular moments rather than being present all the time. Many people feel calm and capable day to day, yet experience a surge of worry or physical tension when faced with certain situations. Common examples include:
- Public speaking (e.g. presentations, meetings or speaking up in groups)
- Performance anxiety (e.g. music, sports, exams or being observed)
- Work related situations (e.g. presentations, difficult conversations or speaking to senior colleagues)
- Driving anxiety (e.g. learning to drive, or developing confidence)
- Situations involving evaluation (e.g. job interviews, performance reviews and auditions)
Situational anxiety often involves anticipatory worry, imagining what might go wrong even when the situation is not dangerous. The body reacts as if there is a real threat: racing heart, tight chest, shaky hands, difficulty concentrating. This can feel confusing because outside of these moments, you may function perfectly well. Avoiding the situation can bring short term relief, but over time it reinforces the anxiety and makes the moment feel even harder to face.
Hypnotherapy for anxiety can help
Living with anxiety in specific situations is exhausting, even when it does not affect every part of your life. Cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy is particularly effective for mild to moderate, situational forms of anxiety. Research shows that combining hypnosis with CBT techniques can help you:
- understand what triggers the anxiety
- interrupt unhelpful thinking patterns
- reduce physical symptoms
- build confidence and emotional resilience
- respond more calmly in the moments that matter
How we would work together
We begin by developing a shared understanding of what is happening. Together, we identify the thoughts, beliefs, and behavioural patterns that are maintaining the anxiety in that particular situation. Once we know what is keeping the cycle going, we can work to change it. Hypnosis plays an important role here. It allows you to practise new ways of thinking, feeling, and responding, so that when the situation arises in real life, your mind and body already know what to do.
You will learn practical coping skills, confidence building strategies, and relaxation techniques you can use immediately. I also teach self hypnosis, which has been shown to support ongoing stress and anxiety management. Most people notice meaningful change within three to six sessions, depending on the situation and your goals.
A gentle note about suitability
Cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy is designed for situational, mild to moderate anxiety. If your anxiety feels constant, overwhelming, or is significantly affecting daily functioning, a longer term therapeutic approach, such as working with a psychologist or psychotherapist, may be more suitable. If this is the case, I am always happy to offer guidance and point you toward appropriate support.