About Rachel

Hi, I’m Rachel.

I’m a cognitive behavioural hypnotherapist and the founder of The Nest Hypnotherapy. I work with adults, teenagers, and children who feel stuck in anxiety, avoidance, overthinking, or low confidence and who want practical support that helps them move forward in everyday life.

My approach is warm, grounded, and collaborative. The work is practical and focused, often helping people make meaningful changes more quickly than they expect. I support clients to understand what’s happening in their minds and bodies, develop effective tools, and build confidence in managing challenges independently.

My background

Before training as a hypnotherapist, I spent over 25 years working in education as a teacher and senior leader. Supporting children, teenagers, and families through pressure, stress, and self-doubt has been a consistent part of my work for many years.

I’m also a mother of four, and my personal experience of parenting neurodiverse children has deepened my understanding of anxiety, overwhelm, and the realities families face behind closed doors. This lived experience strongly informs the way I work — with empathy, realism, and respect for each family’s situation.

My own journey through burnout and overwhelm led me to discover hypnotherapy and cognitive behavioural approaches, which helped me develop the skills I now share with clients.

How I work

My work is based on cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy (CBH), which combines the practical tools of cognitive behavioural therapy with hypnosis as a way of reinforcing learning, reducing avoidance, and supporting emotional regulation.

In sessions, we focus on:

• understanding how anxiety patterns develop

• identifying unhelpful thoughts and behaviours

• reducing avoidance gradually and safely

• building confidence and resilience

• using hypnosis as a supportive tool, not something done to you

Whether I’m working with adults, teenagers, or children, my aim is the same: to help clients leave therapy with skills they can continue using long-term.

Professional practice

I am a Seed Wellness practitioner and am listed on the Hypnotherapy Directory and accredited by the General Hypnotherapy Register. I work within an evidence-based framework and continue to develop my practice through ongoing training, supervision, and reflective practice.

My qualifications include:

• Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy

• Postgraduate Certificate in Education

• Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Design

Sessions are offered in person at The Nest in Oxfordshire or online.

Working with children, teenagers, and families

My work with children and teenagers is adapted to their age, personality, and needs. Sessions are calm, practical, and designed to help young people understand anxiety in a way that feels safe and empowering.

Parents are supported alongside their child, with involvement guided by what feels most helpful for the family. The focus is always on building confidence, independence, and understanding — both for the child and the adults supporting them.