Mark Leahy

BSc (Hons) Psych, PgDip, MSc (Distinc) Clin Hyp, GMBPsS, DBSCH

I’m a qualified, registered clinical hypnotherapist who helps people from all walks of life, professional backgrounds and ages, quickly and successfully overcome issues including anxiety disorders, stress and low self-esteem, phobias and anger, amongst others.

I also specialise in performance psychology and help individuals and teams improve performance levels in sport, business and the performing arts.
With private practices in three historic locations, including here at the beautiful Centre of the Hills in Malvern, Worcestershire, I bring vast experience in treating the full range of anxiety disorders recognized by the NHS, whilst also specialising in performance anxiety in business, sport and the performing arts. Athletes, musicians, actors and public speakers often experience performance anxiety and I have worked with athletes at World Championship level.
I qualified in Clinical Hypnotherapy at the London College of Clinical Hypnosis with Distinction at both Post-graduate Certificate (PgCert) and Post-graduate Diploma (PgDip) levels, awarded by the University of West London.

I subsequently achieved a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Clinical Hypnotherapy, at the University of West London.

Already holding a First-class Honours degree in Psychology, I am a Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and a Diplomate of the British Society of Clinical Hypnosis (BSCH) where I am registered as a Clinical Hypnotherapist. I am also a Senior Associate of the Royal Society of Medicine, Hypnosis and Psychosomatic Medicine Section.

In addition, I’m registered with the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC). CNHC’s register is approved as an Accredited Register by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA). General Medical Council guidance to doctors confirms that they are able to refer patients to practitioners on Accredited Registers.

Qualifications and Professional Memberships:
BSc (Hons) Psychology (First-class Honours)
MSc Clinical Hypnotherapy (Distinction)
Post-graduate Certificate (PgCert., Distinction) Clinical Hypnotherapy
Post-graduate Diploma (PgDip., Distinction) Clinical Hypnotherapy
British Society of Clinical Hypnosis – Full Member with Diplomate status
British Psychological Society – Graduate Member
Royal Society of Medicine: Hypnosis and Psychosomatic Medicine Section – Senior Associate
Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council – Full Member
Anxiety UK – Approved Therapist

My approach
My approach is straightforward: whilst respecting and using traditional methods, I also tailor the very best of a variety of modern techniques to suit individual needs and help clients take full control of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours so that they can live the happy, healthy and fulfilling life they deserve.
Often, I see people for whom standard medical or other approaches haven’t produced the desired result or because sheer will power alone hasn’t quite done the trick. I’m often asked what hypnosis actually is, how safe it is, and whether it can really help people deal with what can sometimes be deeply personal or seemingly insurmountable problems.
What is hypnosis?
Hypnosis is a naturally-occurring, altered state of awareness and has no unpleasant side- effects. Hypnosis enables a mental state that can facilitate a variety of treatment strategies and the client remains in control throughout the process, willingly entering into trance and choosing to accept the beneficial, positive suggestions made.

Many theories exist as to how hypnosis works and research suggests that hypnosis is an altered state of awareness that allows positive, beneficial suggestions to be directly “placed” into the uncritical subconscious mind, by-passing the more critical faculties of the conscious mind. The very spirit of hypnosis is reflected in the belief that people are usually more resourceful than they realise, and it is through hypnosis that meaningful possibilities can be created.
This altered state is largely characterised by an increase in suggestibility, showing an enhanced ability to produce desirable changes in motivation, habits, lifestyle, health, perception and behaviour as well as modifying physical sensation – often used in pain relief.
If you’d like to find out more about hypnotherapy and how it can help you, feel free to contact me for an informal chat.

Mark holds a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Clinical Hypnotherapy, a First-class Honours degree in Psychology, and is a Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society as well as a Diplomate of the British Society of Clinical Hypnosis. He is also a Senior Associate of the Royal Society of Medicine (Hypnosis & Psychosomatic Medicine Section) and is also registered as a Full Member of the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC).