Hypnotherapy Gold Coast
Best-Practice Clinical Hypnotherapist & Registered Psychologist
As a registered psychologist on the Gold Coast, I offer hypnotherapy that is grounded in clinical training, ethical practice, and evidence-based care. Many hypnotherapy providers in the community are unregistered or unregulated, which means anyone can technically call themselves a “hypnotherapist.” Working with a psychologist ensures your sessions are safe, structured, and guided by proven therapeutic principles. My approach integrates clinical hypnotherapy with modern psychological strategies to support calmness, confidence, and meaningful change — always at your pace, with your well-being at the centre of your therapy.
The Australian Psychological Society (APS) recognises clinical hypnosis as an adjunctive therapeutic tool when used by trained Psychologists within their scope of practice. Hypnotherapy should always be delivered by a qualified, ethically registered practitioner trained in mental health assessment, informed consent, and clinical risk management.
How can Hypnotherapy help?
Have you tried to change the behaviours before, but found yourself going back to your old habits, and you just end up feeling more frustrated and hopeless? Well this is where hypnotherapy is highly effective! The key to success to change your undesired behaviours or habits, is to work directly with your subconscious mind to reprogram your old patterns that are just not serving you. Don’t worry, you are in good hands!
Clinical Hypnotherapy enables us to talk directly with your subconscious mind, as it is your subconscious mind which controls your emotions, habits and patterns of behaviour. Too often people try to change undesired behaviours at the conscious level, only to find they fall back into their old habits.
That’s because their conscious mind and subconscious mind are not “singing from the same song sheet”, and if you don’t make changes at the subconscious level, then any change you make won’t be long-lasting. Think of the brain like a ship where the conscious mind is the captain and the subconscious mind is the crew. The captain may want to direct the boat in a certain direction, but if the crew aren’t with the captain…there’s mutiny!
What hypnosis allows us to do is reprogram your subconscious mind to work with the conscious mind to change the undesired behaviours. Long-lasting changes must occur at the subconscious level and that’s why hypnotherapy is such a valuable therapeutic technique!
Gold Coast Hypnotherapy Programs
I am a professionally qualified Psychologist and Clinical Hypnotherapist with over 30 years experience. I have designed effective Behaviour Modification Programs that reprogram and align your subconscious mind with the desires of your conscious mind using hypnotherapy.
In your personally tailored hypnotherapy program we will:
Identify the specific undesired behaviour/s or problems that you want to change to ensure it is an appropriate therapy for your presenting issues, and to ensure that you really want to consciously make these changes for hypnotherapy to be effective for you.
Schedule required hypnotherapy sessions, allowing appropriate time between each session for the changes to take effect and for us to monitor the progress. For simple habitual-type problems only three sessions are usually required. For more complex emotional problems you will require more sessions. If more extensive or complex therapy is required, the number of sessions will be estimated in advance. These sessions also sometimes incorporate other re-patterning techniques like PSYCH-K™,Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) when appropriate.
Prepare and record a personalised hypnosis recording so that you can continue training the subconscious mind to make sure the changes stick. This maintenance is a real key to long-lasting success!
Is hypnotherapy safe and does it really work?
Clinical Hypnotherapy is a safe, evidence-based therapeutic technique that uses focused attention and relaxation to access the subconscious mind. Unlike stage hypnosis, clinical hypnotherapy is a professional therapy that helps clients reframe negative patterns, reduce distress, and strengthen positive behaviours. In a calm, guided state of awareness, you remain in full control while working with your therapist to make meaningful changes at a deeper level. Hypnotherapy is about cooperation, not control.
Read below about recent research that supports the clinical use of hypnotherapy:
- Science of Hypnosis
- Discover the research that supports the reported efficacy of hypnosis
- Meta-analytic evidence on the efficacy of hypnosis for mental and somatic health issues: a 20-year perspective
When Hypnotherapy May Not Be Suitable
While hypnotherapy can be a powerful and supportive tool for many people, it isn’t the right approach for everyone. Our psychologist will take time to understand your history, current wellbeing, and treatment goals to make sure hypnotherapy is safe and appropriate for you.
Hypnotherapy may not be recommended if you are currently:
- Experiencing active psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations or delusions
- Living with a severe dissociative or personality disorder where hypnosis could increase distress or confusion
- Struggling with severe cognitive impairment or a condition that affects concentration or awareness
- Having suicidal thoughts or severe depression that requires medical or crisis-level support first
- Using substances or medications that interfere with focus, awareness, or suggestibility.
It may also be used with caution for people with complex trauma, severe anxiety, or PTSD — but only when guided by a trauma-informed clinician who will proceed gently and safely. Your well-being always comes first. If hypnotherapy isn’t suitable, your psychologist will recommend other evidence-based approaches — such as cognitive-behavioural therapy, mindfulness-based interventions, or trauma-informed counselling — that better fit your needs and goals.
Disclaimer: Clinical hypnotherapy is offered as a complementary evidence-informed approach to support psychological well-being. It is not a replacement for medical or psychological treatment, and individual results may vary. Our Hypnotherapist is a registered Psychologist and she practices in accordance with AHPRA and APS ethical standards.
Hypnosis is helpful for:
- Weight loss, fitness, binge eating and cravings
- Smoking cessation
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Phobias and fears, eg. fear of flying, spiders, needles etc.
- Increasing assertiveness
- Insomnia and sleep difficulties
- Improving self-confidence and self-esteem
- Performance enhancement
- Improving motivation and reducing procrastination
- Improving study habits and academic performance
- Public speaking
- Pain management
- Nervous habits and unwanted repeated behaviours, eg. nail biting, trichotillomania etc.
- …..and so many more personal limitations.
What to Expect in Hypnotherapy Sessions
A typical session may include:
- Gentle induction into a relaxed state of focused awareness
- Therapeutic suggestions tailored to your goals
- Visualisation and imagery techniques
- Strategies to reinforce positive changes in daily life
You’ll never lose control—hypnotherapy works by empowering you to use the natural power of your mind for healing and growth.
Benefits of Clinical Hypnotherapy
With Clinical Hypnotherapy, you may:
- Reduce stress, anxiety, and emotional distress
- Break free from unhelpful habits and patterns
- Improve sleep, focus, and relaxation
- Enhance self-confidence and motivation
- Heal emotional blocks and trauma responses
- Improve overall wellbeing and resilience
Hypnotherapy also enhances other therapeutic approaches like CBT, ACT, or mindfulness.
If you are experiencing personal limitations that are holding you back in life, please contact us to find out how our Gold Coast hypnotherapy programs can help you!
Michelle van Namen is a registered Psychologist, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Life Coach and Integrative Health Practitioner with over 30 years of experience working with human behaviour and improving mental health. Michelle has been trained in a broad range of evidence-based therapies. She has worked in a variety of roles within private practice, corporate organisations, education, research, and community crisis support. Established in 2006, Integrated Health Specialists is her psychology practice located on the Gold Coast, providing individual and couples therapy for adults. Michelle focuses on providing a warm, authentic and non-judgemental therapeutic space to support clients and facilitate healing and personal growth. Read more about Michelle.
BA (Hons) in Psychology: University of Wollongong, 1995
Registered Psychologist with the Psychology Board (AHPRA) PSY0001395059
Member of the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc (AAPI) 15525
Qualifications verified by Psychology Today
Medicare and Health Insurance Provider.