A calm, practical approach to helping you feel more like yourself again
I am Richard Hughes, a qualified Clinical Hypnotherapist and Psychotherapist, offering sessions in Chippenham, at Wadswick Green Wellness Spa near Corsham, and online.
I support teens and adults who feel overwhelmed, anxious, tense, unable to switch off, low in confidence, or disconnected from the person they used to feel like.
My approach is calm, down-to-earth and focused on helping you understand what is happening in your brain and body, so you can begin building calmer, more helpful patterns.
You do not need to have everything figured out before you start. We begin with where you are now and work from there.
My journey into hypnotherapy
I first discovered Solution Focused Hypnotherapy as a client after my wife booked me in.
At the time, I admit I was sceptical. I was dealing with a very worrying family situation and felt stuck in the fight-flight-freeze part of my brain. I could not see a clear way forward, and I could not really understand how hypnotherapy was going to help.
What changed things for me was the first session.
For the first time, I began to understand how and why my brain was responding the way it was. I was 45 years old and realised I had never really been taught how my brain worked.
That explanation made a huge difference.
It helped me see that I was not broken. My brain was trying to protect me, but it had become stuck in an unhelpful pattern.
That experience is one of the reasons I work in the way I do now.
I know how important it is for therapy to feel safe, practical and grounded - and how powerful it can be when things finally start to make sense.
I have been on the client side
I know how important it is for therapy to feel safe, practical and grounded.
Professional, friendly and supportive
You will be met with warmth, respect and understanding.
Focused on you
Your goals, your pace, your future.
Why this matters in my work
Many people come to therapy after trying to push through, keep busy, cope alone, or think their way out of stress.
But when stress has become a pattern, trying harder is not always enough.
One of the things I care about most is helping people understand how their mind works, so they can begin responding to their thoughts, feelings and everyday challenges in a calmer, more helpful way.
My role is not to tell you who you should be. It is to help you make sense of what has been happening, recognise what can change, and begin moving towards the life you want to be living.
Our work together is gentle, practical and forward-focused, and you do not need to have everything figured out before you start.
What you can expect from me
Clients often describe my approach as calm, reassuring and easy to talk to.
In our sessions you can expect:
A safe and supportive space
A clear explanation of how our brain responds to stress
A focus on progress rather than judgement
No pressure to revisit painful experiences in detail
Practical, structured sessions
Guided relaxation to support calm and focus
My aim is to offer a professional, friendly and reassuring environment where you can feel understood, respected and able to move forward.
Training & professional standards
I trained with Clifton Practice Hypnotherapy Training, where I gained my Diploma in Solution Focused Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy (DSFH).
I am fully insured and hold an enhanced DBS certificate.
I am also registered with the Association for Solution Focused Hypnotherapy, the National Council for Hypnotherapy, and the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council.
These professional standards matter because I want every client to feel safe, supported and in experienced hands.
Qualifications & registrations
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BA (Hons)
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Diploma in Solution Focused Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy (DSFH)
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Fully insured
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Enhanced DBS
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AfSFH Registered
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NCH Registered
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CNHC Registered
Outside the therapy room
Outside of therapy, family is a big part of my life. I am married, have twin daughters at university and a Labradoodle who keeps us entertained.
I have also trained in martial arts since 1997 and teach aikido, a traditional Japanese martial art.
For me, aikido is not about aggression. It is about awareness, steadiness, discipline, calm under pressure, and learning how our body and mind work together.
That naturally connects with the way I think about therapy: helping people move out of threat mode and into calmer, more balanced patterns.
Before becoming a hypnotherapist, I worked as a translator and English teacher, living and working in France, Chile and Gran Canaria.
Those experiences have shaped my calm, practical and down-to-earth approach, along with a real appreciation for clear communication and understanding people.
Family life
Married, with twin daughters at university and a labradoodle at home
Aikido and martial arts since 1997
Calm, focus and discipline
French and Spanish
Trilingual, language, communication and understanding
Life and work abroad
France, Chile and Gran Canaria
Translator, teacher and business owner
Clear communication, independence and practical experience
Calm, focus and the mind-body connection
Stress is not just something that happens in your head.
It can affect your sleep, confidence, body, reactions, relationships and ability to think clearly.
That is one of the reasons I am interested in the connection between our mind and body, both in hypnotherapy and in my own life.
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy gives us a practical way to work with that link.
Through solution-focused conversation and guided relaxation, we support your mind and body in practising calmer, more helpful responses.
The aim is not to become a different person.
It is to help you feel calmer, clearer, more confident and more like yourself again.
Thinking about getting support?
If you are feeling anxious, overwhelmed, tense, exhausted or not quite yourself, you are welcome to get in touch.
You do not need to know exactly what to say.
A free intro call is a calm, no-pressure place to start if you would like to ask questions or see whether working together feels right.
I look forward to hearing from you.