​​​1. Is this programme right for me?

It may not be, and being honest about that upfront matters.

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This programme is specifically designed for IBS where anxiety is a key driver. If your symptoms are being caused by something else, such as SIBO, endometriosis, or bile acid malabsorption, this approach may not be the right fit.

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It also won't be the right fit if:

a. You're looking for a cure or a guarantee.  

Around 90% of clients see at least a 50% reduction in their IBS symptoms. That's a meaningful, significant change, but it isn't the same as never having symptoms again.

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b. You want someone to fix you without doing the work yourself.

A core part of this programme is around 30 minutes of daily practice between sessions, gut-directed hypnotherapy, short exercises, and applying the insights we work on together. Clients who do this consistently see strong results. Clients who don't, see significantly less progress. If you know yourself well enough to know that daily commitment won't happen, this isn't the right fit right now, and knowing that before you invest is genuinely useful.

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c. You want to stay inside your comfort zone.

Breaking free from IBS means gradually letting go of the safety behaviours that keep you stuck.  Things like constant bathroom checking, food restriction out of fear, avoiding situations "just in case." I won't push you to do anything you aren't comfortable with, but you will need to be willing to feel some discomfort as your nervous system learns it's safe.

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d. Your main issue isn't IBS-related anxiety.

This programme is specifically designed for people whose anxiety has become closely linked to their IBS symptoms and the situations surrounding them, things like travelling, being away from toilets, eating out, meetings, work, or social situations.

If anxiety has been a major part of your life since childhood and affects many different areas beyond IBS, you may need a broader therapeutic approach than a focused 5-session IBS programme can realistically provide.

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e. You haven't received an official IBS diagnosis.

Your symptoms need to have been properly investigated and diagnosed by a GP or gastroenterologist before we can work together. This rules out other conditions that need different treatment, and it means we know what we're dealing with. If you haven't been formally diagnosed yet, start there.

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f. You have certain health or mental health conditions.

Hypnotherapy and CBT aren't appropriate for everyone. These approaches aren't suitable for individuals with unmanaged severe mental health conditions, active substance misuse, or certain personality disorders. If you're unsure, contact me before booking.

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2. What if bloating and gas are my main symptoms?

Bloating and gas can absolutely be part of IBS, and many clients notice improvements as their nervous system becomes calmer and less reactive.

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However, bloating and gas can also be influenced by factors such as food intolerances, constipation, FODMAP sensitivity, SIBO, bile acid malabsorption, endometriosis, and other digestive conditions.

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The aim of this programme is to address the anxiety, nervous system patterns, symptom monitoring, and gut-brain interaction that may be contributing to your symptoms.

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If other digestive or dietary factors are also involved, these may need to be something that you also address independently alongside the work we do together.  

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During your consultation call, we'll discuss your symptoms and whether this programme appears to be an appropriate fit.

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3. What happens if I fall behind with the daily practice?

Missing the occasional day is normal and not a problem.

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But if the daily practice is consistently not happening, continuing into the next session is unlikely to give you the results you're hoping for. The sessions are designed to build on the work you do between them. Without that in place, there's less to build on.

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In that situation, rather than pressing on regardless, I'll suggest we pause the programme and pick it up again when you feel ready to re-engage. That's not a judgement, it's about protecting your progress and making sure every session you do have actually counts.

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The programme doesn't disappear. It waits. What I won't do is continue taking your time and investment if the conditions for real change aren't there.

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4. Can you cure my IBS completely?

No therapy can guarantee a complete cure for IBS. It's a complex condition with multiple factors, not only in the gut, but in the brain and nervous system as well.

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What the programme can achieve is a significant reduction in symptoms and a very different relationship with anxiety.

 

Around 90% of clients who engage consistently with the daily practice report meaningful improvement, measured using a symptom questionnaire completed before we start and again during the programme.

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The aim isn't to eliminate every symptom forever. It's to get to a place where IBS no longer runs your life.

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5. What happens between sessions?

The between-session work is where most of the change actually happens.

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Each time we meet, a new section opens on your personal portal with a fresh hypnotherapy audio, targeted videos, and practical tasks, all building on what we've just worked on together.

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The daily gut-directed hypnotherapy, around 30 minutes, is a structured part of the programme. The sessions we have together build on it. Without it, the process is significantly less effective.

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You can also reach out via email between sessions. You're never left on your own between appointments wondering what to do next.

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6. How many sessions will I need?

The programme runs for 5 sessions.

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You'll have a clear plan from the start, and most people have a good sense of their progress well before the final session.

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7. If I don't see any improvement can I get a refund?

Most clients see meaningful progress within the 5 sessions, particularly when they engage with the daily practice consistently.

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In my experience, the small number of clients who don't see significant improvement are usually those who haven't been able to engage consistently with the between-session work. That's not a criticism, sometimes the timing just isn't right.

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It's also worth having realistic expectations. The aim is not to eliminate IBS or anxiety, that isn't possible.  Instead we are aiming to significantly reduce symptoms so they have much less impact on your daily life.

 

You will still feel anxious at times and have the occasional flare-up, but the difference is in how you respond and how much they affect you.

 

If you have concerns during the programme, talk to me. I guide and adapt the work to you throughout, and if something isn't working, we adjust.

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8. How is this different from traditional therapy?

Most IBS therapy, hypnotherapy, CBT, dietary support, works on the gut-brain connection. That's valid and it produces results. I use all of those approaches.

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What I do additionally is use Rapid Change Techniques to work on the specific anxiety patterns that have built up around IBS over months or years.  The fear of particular journeys, situations, or places; the safety behaviours that feel protective but keep the nervous system locked in threat mode; the deeply ingrained responses that have become automatic.

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These are the things that make someone plan their entire morning around a commute, or turn down a promotion, or stop eating breakfast. They're not just IBS symptoms. They're a life that's been reorganised around fear.

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Addressing those specific patterns, not just the gut symptoms, is what produces the results I see, and it's a combination that I haven't found any other IBS therapist using in the same way.

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9. What if I have other health conditions alongside IBS?

As long as you've been properly diagnosed with IBS by a medical professional and aren't currently in crisis with another condition, we can work together. My nursing background means I understand complex health presentations.  However, I am not able to give you any medical advice, for that, you will need to work with your healthcare professional.

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10. Will I have to follow a special diet?

No. While I'm not a nutritionist and won't give you a meal plan, the goal is for you to eat normally without fear. Many of my clients find that once their nervous system calms down, foods that used to trigger symptoms no longer do.​

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