Why Phoenix? The values behind our hypnotherapy practice

The name was not chosen lightly. A phoenix does not simply recover, it burns completely and rises as something entirely new. 

That complete transformation is what I believe every person who comes to Phoenix Hypnotherapy is capable of. Not patching over the old, not managing symptoms. A genuine, fundamental change in how they experience life.

I know this because I have lived it. Before I became a clinical hypnotherapist, I spent years managing chronic fatigue syndrome and severe anxiety, including panic attacks that felt completely beyond my control.

 I found my way through, and that experience is at the heart of everything I do at Phoenix Hypnotherapy. I understand what it is to feel stuck, overwhelmed, or limited by something you cannot quite explain. 

And I understand what it feels like to come out the other side.

Our mission

To help every client, whether they come to us for anxiety, trauma, PTSD, or any pattern that is holding them back, reconnect with the inner strength they already have, and step into a version of themselves they may not yet have imagined possible.

Our vision

A world where people across Gloucestershire, the UK, and beyond do not settle for a life shaped by anxiety, trauma, or old patterns that no longer serve them. Where transformation through hypnotherapy is not the exception, it is the expectation. You are here to thrive, not just survive.

What we believe at Phoenix Hypnotherapy

You already have everything you need. 

The unconscious mind is extraordinarily capable. Our work together is not about adding something new, it is about clearing what is in the way.

Change does not have to take years. 

Clinical hypnotherapy works at the level where patterns are actually held. That means meaningful shifts can happen in far fewer sessions than traditional talking therapy, whether you are based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, or accessing sessions online anywhere in the UK.

Every person deserves to feel empowered. 

Not dependent on a therapist, not defined by a diagnosis. The goal is always for you to leave with more confidence in yourself than when you arrived.

The work is personal because the story is personal. 

Lesley brings over two decades of therapeutic experience, homeopathy, life coaching, NLP, and clinical hypnotherapy, and her own lived experience of recovery. This practice was not built on theory alone.

Common questions about Phoenix Hypnotherapy

What makes Phoenix Hypnotherapy different from other hypnotherapists?

Phoenix Hypnotherapy is led by Lesley Ford, a multi-award winning clinical hypnotherapist and Master NLP Coach with over 20 years of therapeutic experience. Lesley's approach combines clinical hypnotherapy, NLP, and EFT, and is shaped by her own personal recovery from chronic fatigue syndrome and severe anxiety. Sessions are tailored to the individual and available both in person in Cheltenham and online across the UK.

What does Phoenix Hypnotherapy specialise in?

Phoenix Hypnotherapy specialises in anxiety, emotional trauma, PTSD and C-PTSD, weight management, smoking cessation, insomnia, and confidence. Lesley also works with clients experiencing anticipatory anxiety, phobias, and stress-related conditions. Sessions are delivered via Zoom for clients across the UK, with in-person availability in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

How many hypnotherapy sessions will I need?

Most clients begin to notice meaningful change within four to six sessions, though this varies depending on the presenting issue. Unlike traditional talking therapies, clinical hypnotherapy works directly with the unconscious mind, which means results can often be achieved more quickly. 

Lesley offers a free initial consultation so you can discuss your situation before committing to any programme.

"The phoenix doesn't survive the fire by holding on to what was hurting it. It rises as the truest, most magnificent version of itself. That is what I want for every single person I work with, because you are here to thrive, not just survive." Lesley Ford, founder, Phoenix Hypnotherapy