Hypnotherapy for Trauma and PTSD in Adelaide
Can hypnotherapy help with grief? Yes. Grief is natural and not something to get over, but when the pain stays overwhelming or stuck, hypnotherapy can gently ease its weight so you can carry your loss and re-engage with life, without forgetting or letting go of the bond. In Adelaide and online, Matthew Tweedie uses gentle hypnotherapy, NLP, Timeline Therapy and Resource Therapy, at your own pace.
Why does grief sometimes get stuck?
Grief is love with nowhere to go, and there is no right way or timeline for it. For most people the sharpest pain slowly softens, even as the loss stays with them. But sometimes grief gets stuck. Months or years on, the pain is still as raw, daily life feels impossible, and you may feel frozen, numb, or unable to move forward. This is now a recognised condition, prolonged grief, and it affects around one in ten bereaved people. It is not weakness, and it does not mean you loved too much. It means your heart and nervous system are carrying more than they can process alone, and that is something you can be gently helped with.
How does hypnotherapy help with grief?
It works with the part of you where grief actually lives, beneath conscious thought, rather than only talking about it. In a calm, focused state, Matthew gently eases the emotional charge that keeps grief overwhelming or stuck, supports your nervous system to feel steadier, and helps you hold the love and the memories without being flooded by pain. This is never about forgetting, moving on, or letting go of your bond with the person. It is about learning to carry the loss differently, so that life becomes livable again.
Is hypnotherapy for grief evidence-based?
Prolonged grief is now formally recognised in both the ICD-11 and the DSM-5-TR, and around one in ten bereaved adults experience it. Hypnotherapy has been described in the clinical literature as a useful and effective intervention for prolonged grief, working by calming the nervous system and gently releasing the emotional charge that keeps people stuck. Matthew draws on gentle approaches like Timeline Therapy and Resource Therapy, designed to ease grief without forcing you to relive it.
Will I have to relive the loss?
No. You do not have to relive the death or describe painful details for this to help. Matthew works gently and at your pace, and you stay in control the whole time. Many people find the sessions themselves a rare moment of calm and rest.
What kinds of loss does this help with?
All of them. The loss of a loved one, of course, but also the losses that often go unacknowledged: miscarriage and pregnancy loss, the death of a pet, the end of a marriage, the loss of your health, a job, or a future you had expected. If a loss is weighing on you, it deserves support.
How many sessions will I need?
This varies, because grief is deeply personal. Some people feel real relief in a few sessions, while deeper or layered loss takes longer and a gentler pace. Matthew will talk through a realistic picture with you, and never rush you.
What happens in a session?
It is calm, gentle and led at your pace. We start by talking through your loss and how it is affecting you, sharing only what you are comfortable sharing. Then Matthew guides you into a relaxed, focused state to ease the weight of grief and help you feel steadier. You stay aware and in control throughout.
Is it right for me?
If a loss still feels overwhelming, if you feel stuck, numb, or unable to move forward, and you want gentle support that honours the person rather than rushing you past them, this is worth exploring. Hypnotherapy can also work alongside a grief counsellor, GP or psychologist.
“If grief has you feeling unable to cope, or having thoughts that life is not worth living, please reach out now to your GP or call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Griefline also offers dedicated grief support. Hypnotherapy is not a crisis service.”
Ready for gentle support?
Book a free, no-pressure discovery call to talk through your loss and what might help, at your pace. Adelaide rooms at 166 Payneham Rd, Evandale, or online Australia-wide.
Frequently asked questions
Can hypnotherapy really help with grief? Yes. When grief stays overwhelming or stuck, hypnotherapy gently eases the emotional charge it carries and helps your nervous system steady, so you can hold the loss without being flooded by it. It is described in the clinical literature as effective for prolonged grief.
Will it make me forget or get over the person? No, and it is not meant to. This work never erases your love, your memories or your bond. It helps you carry the loss differently, so life becomes livable again while the person stays with you.
Will I have to relive the loss or describe the details? No. You do not need to relive the death or recount painful details. Matthew works gently and at your pace, and you stay in control the whole time.
What kinds of loss does it help with? Any loss that weighs on you: the death of a loved one, miscarriage or pregnancy loss, pet loss, divorce or relationship breakdown, and the loss of health, work or an expected future.
How is it different from grief counselling? Grief counselling works mainly through talking and the conscious mind. Hypnotherapy works at the deeper, subconscious level where grief is felt in the body. It complements counselling rather than replacing it, and the two can work well together.
How quickly does it help? Some people feel real relief within a few sessions, while deeper or layered loss takes longer and a gentler pace. Matthew will give you a realistic picture early on.
Can we do sessions online? Yes, in person at the Evandale rooms or online across Australia. Many people prefer the comfort of doing this work from their own space.
Is it safe, and will it work with my medication or counsellor? Yes. It is gentle, drug-free and works alongside medication, counselling or psychology, not instead of them. Matthew will never ask you to change medication, which is a conversation for your doctor.
Do I lose control under hypnosis? No. You are aware the whole time and cannot be made to do or say anything against your will. With grief especially, gentleness and staying in control are central to the work.
Related: Hypnotherapy for Anxiety | Sleep and Insomnia | PTSD
Written by Matthew Tweedie, Clinical Hypnotherapist and NLP Master Practitioner, Masters in Hypno-Psychotherapy. About Matthew.