Michael Hughes

Clinical Lead | Consultant Psychotherapist | Clinical Supervisor | Clinical Hypnotherapy & Integrative, Neuroscience-Informed Psychotherapy for Adults. Top-Rated Private Practice near Clifton College. 

Face-to-Face in Clifton, Bristol & Online

High-Demand Practice: Michael runs one of Bristol’s busiest specialist mental health private practices, with demand routinely exceeding his regular availability. To help streamline enquiries and ensure prospective clients can quickly determine whether the practice is the right fit, please review the information below carefully before making contact. 

A Vast Professional Network

Michael’s professional network is extensive, and he is consequently one of the most frequently recommended professional psychotherapists in Bristol. This extensive network also enables him to refer clients onward to a wide range of trusted professionals when another practitioner or specialist service would be more appropriate. As a result, Michael is also one of Bristol’s most active sources of professional referrals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you help me?
Yes. If your presenting difficulty falls within Michael’s areas of clinical expertise and you meet his treatment criteria, there is a strong likelihood he can help. Drawing upon more than 21+ years of full-time clinical practice, he works with a wide range of psychological difficulties. His approach combines extensive clinical experience with contemporary neuroscience and evidence-based psychotherapy, helping clients gain clarity, develop practical strategies and create lasting psychological change. If your needs fall outside his scope of practice, he will, where possible, suggest a more appropriate referral. Please review his specialist areas and exclusions before getting in touch. 

How many other people have you helped with problems similar to mine?

Thousands of people, actually. With more than 30,000 hours of one-to-one clinical experience and counting, Michael has worked extensively with many of the difficulties and concerns described throughout this directory.

Many prospective clients find it reassuring to read the 100 five-star Google reviews left by previous clients of Michael’s practice before deciding whether to get in touch.

What are your fees?
Current fees and treatment pathways are listed below. Simply scroll past the training, qualifications and experience sections, and continue past the photos and videos for full details.

How many sessions will I need?
This depends on the nature and complexity of the issue being addressed and the treatment pathway selected. Most people typically attend for between 10 and 14 sessions, with around 12 sessions being the average, although some may benefit from longer-term support.

Neuroscience research shows that lasting psychological and behavioural change requires time, repetition and consistent practice. Through experience-dependent neuroplasticity, repeated practice helps to strengthen and consolidate more adaptive patterns of thinking, feeling and responding, while supporting greater regulation of stress and threat responses.

With sufficient repetition, these healthier patterns can become increasingly familiar, effortless and automatic, a process known as automaticity.

We see automaticity throughout everyday life. When first learning to drive, considerable conscious attention is required for steering, changing gears, checking mirrors and judging the road. With repeated practice, many of these processes become increasingly automatic. Similarly, skilled readers recognise familiar words almost instantly rather than consciously sounding out each letter, while an experienced cyclist no longer needs to think deliberately about every adjustment required to balance, steer and pedal.

Therapeutic change can develop through a similar principle of repeated learning. A new way of responding to anxiety, intrusive thoughts, stress, uncertainty or difficult emotions may initially require deliberate conscious effort. Through repeated practice, however, more helpful responses can become increasingly familiar and accessible.

This is why meaningful therapeutic change is not simply about understanding something differently. It is about repeatedly practising and reinforcing new responses until they become more naturally established, moving from “I know what I should do” towards “this is simply what I do.”

Your recommended treatment pathway and likely number of sessions will always be tailored to your individual needs and can be discussed during your free 10-minute initial discovery call.

How long are the sessions?
Standard appointments last approximately 50–55 minutes, while initial consultations typically last around one hour.

Is there parking?
Yes. There is ample pay-and-display parking immediately outside the clinic on College Fields, and clients rarely have difficulty finding a space.

Is the location peaceful?
Yes. The clinic is situated on College Fields in a quiet, leafy part of Clifton, with pleasant views over the gardens, adjacent to Clifton College and directly opposite the Redgrave Theatre. It offers a calm, tranquil and discreet setting for therapy. Its secluded location, discreet entrance and absence of prominent external signage create an understated air of exclusivity while providing a welcoming environment where clients can feel comfortable and assured of their privacy and confidentiality.

How do I make an appointment?
You can call, send a text message during office hours, or email to enquire about availability. If you call, please ensure you leave a voicemail so as not to waste time. Calls without a voicemail may be treated as spam and are unlikely to be returned. Please note that WhatsApp is not used, monitored or responded to.

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Protected Time Outside Practice Hours
The practice phone is switched off after 5:00 pm each weekday and remains off until 9:00 am on the next business day, allowing protected time to decompress from what is often a complex and emotionally demanding clinical caseload. Calls, emails and text messages received outside normal business hours will be reviewed when Michael is able from 9:00 am on the next business day.

Please scroll down to review Michael’s fees, current availability, treatment pathways and exclusion criteria before getting in touch. Taking a few moments to do so will help you determine whether the practice is the right fit for your needs, avoid unnecessary enquiries, and ensure that both your time and Michael’s are respected.

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Over Two Decades at the Forefront of Clinical Practice.

Michael Hughes is a Consultant Psychotherapist, Clinical Lead, and Senior Clinical Psychotherapy Supervisor with particular expertise in neuroscience-informed, integrative psychotherapy, evidence-based cognitive behavioural approaches, and the treatment of complex mental health presentations. Since 2005, he has led a long-established private practice in Clifton, Bristol. 

Michael Hughes is one of Bristol’s busiest and most sought-after specialist psychotherapists and clinical hypnotherapists. Demand consistently exceeds availability, with most face-to-face appointments reserved well in advance.

Contemporary Psychotherapy & Neuroscience

Alongside his clinical practice, Michael lectures extensively on contemporary psychotherapy and is actively involved in professional education and advanced clinical training. He regularly collaborates with renowned addiction specialists, leading UK neuroscientists, and other senior mental health professionals, ensuring his clinical work remains informed by the latest advances in neuroscience and evidence-based psychological research. This ongoing collaboration enables him to integrate emerging scientific understanding with established psychotherapeutic approaches, providing clients with treatment that is both clinically grounded and informed by the latest developments in brain science.

His specialist interests include being an recognised expert in complex psychological dynamics, narcissistic abuse recovery, narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), psychopathy, sociopathy, relational dynamics and attachment theory, limerence, obsessive-compulsive disorder (including all major OCD subtypes), perfectionism, trauma, ADHD and autism, panic attacks, health anxiety, generalised anxiety, stress-related conditions, emotional overwhelm, people-pleasing, confidence and self-esteem, relationship difficulties, life transitions, and the integration of neuroscience into contemporary psychotherapeutic practice.

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Clinical Areas of Expertise

Michael has developed particular expertise in helping adults with:

Relationship Difficulties • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) • Health Anxiety • Narcissistic Abuse Recovery • Trauma • ADHD & Autism (ASD)-Related Challenges • Panic Attacks • Perfectionism • Social Anxiety • Confidence • Life Transitions • Emotional Wellbeing

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Exceptional Depth of Clinical Experience

Over more than 21+ years of full-time clinical practice, he has completed in excess of 30,000 hours of one-to-one therapy, worked with thousands of clients, and spent over 16 years supervising therapists and clinical supervisors. This breadth and depth of experience places him amongst the most experienced practising hypnotherapists in Bristol and within the highest tier of seasoned practitioners nationwide. Today, his practice is often regarded as one of Bristol’s leading and highest-rated clinical hypnotherapy and psychotherapy practices.

Trusted by clients. Respected by professionals.

It’s easy to see why.

Over 100+ Five-Star Client Reviews

Over the course of his career, Michael has also been fortunate to receive almost 100 five-star reviews from individuals who felt their experience was worth sharing, reflecting not only the length of his career, but also the quality of care and commitment Michael strives to provide to every client.

Clients note his scientific, deeply reassuring approach to treating deep-seated subconscious blocks and confidence issues.

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You may be seeking support with one or more of the following concerns, all of which Michael has worked extensively with throughout more than two decades of full-time experience in clinical practice:

• Anxiety and stress
• Anger, venting and frustrations
• Overthinking and rumination 
• Work-Related Stress 
• Panic attacks
• Sleep difficulties
• Social anxiety 
• Emotional Wellbeing 
• Personal Development 
• Health anxiety
• Trauma
• Emotional overwhelm
• Anger management
• Jealousy
• Trust 
• Insecurity 
• Self-doubt 
• Abandonment 
• Low confidence and self-esteem
• Perfectionism
• Habit Change 
• People-pleasing and difficulty setting boundaries
• Limerence - intense romantic obsession
• Relationship difficulties
• Codependency and unhealthy attachment patterns
• Toxic relationships
• Benching and breadcrumbing
• Heartbreak
• Recovery from narcissistic abuse
• ADHD and Autism (ASD)-related challenges
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), including:
• Contamination OCD
• Checking OCD
• Harm OCD
• Symmetry & Ordering (“Just Right”) OCD
• Purely Obsessional (Pure O)
• Relationship OCD (ROCD)
• Existential OCD
• Scrupulosity (Moral OCD)
• Sensorimotor (Somatic) OCD
• Real Event OCD
• Recurring emotional or behavioural patterns that continue despite your best efforts to change them
• Life Transitions – Significant changes or turning points in life that can affect your thoughts, emotions, relationships, identity, or sense of direction. Examples include bereavement, separation or divorce, becoming a parent, children leaving home, career changes, redundancy, retirement, relocation, illness, recovery from illness, or adjusting to a new stage of life
• Other psychological or emotional difficulties affecting your wellbeing, relationships, or quality of life

Perhaps you have spent years trying to understand why you think, feel or react the way you do. You may have devoted considerable time to reading books on psychology and mental health, listening to podcasts, watching educational videos, conducting your own research, speaking with trusted friends and family, or perhaps even undertaking counselling or other forms of psychotherapy. 

Whilst this may have provided greater understanding and awareness, insight alone is not always enough to create meaningful and lasting change. You may still find yourself repeating familiar patterns, despite knowing why they exist.

My role is to help you understand what is happening, why it is happening, and how meaningful, lasting change becomes possible.

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Clarity Before Contact

To help ensure I am the right practitioner for your needs, I encourage you to read the information below before making an enquiry.

1. Before You Make an Enquiry
   Please scroll down to review the referral exclusions and the available treatment options. This will help you determine whether my approach, areas of expertise, current scope of practice, and fee structure are the right fit, helping to avoid unnecessary disappointment and ensuring that neither of us invests time in an enquiry that is unlikely to be appropriate.
2. Choosing the Right Treatment Pathway
   There are three treatment pathways available. Please scroll down to review the available programmes and fees before making contact, as this will help determine whether my practice, availability and fee structure are the right fit for your circumstances. 

3. Independent Private Practice
   This is an independent private practice, and appointments are offered at established professional fees that reflect the specialist nature of the service. Please ensure that private therapy is the right option for your circumstances before making an enquiry.

   If, after reading the information provided, you feel that I may be the right practitioner for you, you are welcome to make contact by telephone during office hours, by text message, or by email. Please do not contact me via WhatsApp, as it is not monitored and messages sent via WhatsApp will not receive a response.

4. Response Times - Whilst your enquiry may understandably feel important to you, my ability to respond will necessarily be determined by my existing clinical commitments. Owing to the demands of a busy full-time practice, I am unable to prioritise enquiries according to perceived urgency and will respond as my professional schedule permits during normal business hours (Monday to Friday, 9:00 am–5:00 pm).

   Please note that my phone is switched off after 5:00 pm each weekday and remains off until 9:00 am on the next business day. This protected period enables me to decompress from what is often a complex and emotionally demanding clinical caseload, ensuring that I remain fully present, focused and effective for each client. Accordingly, enquiries received outside normal business hours will not be seen or responded to until my practice reopens at 9:00 am on the next business day.

   Thank you for your patience, understanding and courtesy. They are greatly appreciated.

5. Clinical Suitability & Availability
   Following an initial 10-15 minute discovery call, I may determine that I am not the right practitioner for your needs, that your presentation falls outside my current scope of practice, that I am unable to offer the treatment pathway you require, or that I do not currently have availability or an active waiting list. Where appropriate, I will always recommend a more suitable referral.
6. Initial Consultation Process 
   If you are considered clinically suitable during the discovery call, and subject to availability, you may be offered an Initial Consultation. Depending on your chosen treatment pathway, a prepayment and security deposit will be required to secure your initial consultation. Full booking details will be provided if an appointment is offered.

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Professional Credentials 

Michael Hughes 
BA (HONS), HPD, DHP, MNCH (ACC SUP HYP), CNHC, GQHP, GHR Reg, CBT HYP, SFBT HYP, SFBT SUP HYP, SQHP, (Senior Qualification in Hypnotherapy Practice). Clinical Lead | Relationship, Narcissistic Abuse Recovery, OCD & Health Anxiety Expert | Senior Lecturer I Consultant Psychotherapist | Senior Clinical Hypnotherapist | Senior Accredited Clinical Supervisor 

Established in 2005 | 21 Years Full-Time | Extensive Clinical Experience

I am the Clinical Lead at College Fields Clinic, Clifton, Bristol (BS8), where I have been based since the clinic’s founding. As the clinic’s Senior Hypnotherapist, Psychotherapist and Clinical Supervisor, I am the clinic’s leading specialist and I have over two decades experience in: 

• Relationship dynamics
• Relationship expert 
• Narcissistic abuse recovery leading specialist expert | Senior Lecturer and Consultant Psychotherapist 
• Attachment styles
• Limerence - intense romantic obsession
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD, ROCD and PureO) leading OCD specialist and OCD | Perfectionism lecturing expert 
• Health anxiety expert
• ADHD, AuDHD and Neurodiversity 
• alongside a broad range of anxiety-related and often complex psychological difficulties.

My approach is grounded in contemporary neuroscience, neurobiology, psychotherapy and evidence-based hypnotherapy. Rather than focusing solely on symptoms, I help clients understand the patterns, processes and underlying mechanisms that keep difficulties going. Clients often describe my style as direct, compassionate, insightful and refreshingly honest. Therapy is collaborative, practical and focused on helping you move forwards rather than endlessly analysing the past.

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A Personal Perspective

Although my work is grounded in professional training, clinical experience, neuroscience and evidence-based practice, it is perhaps worth mentioning that my interest in psychology did not begin solely in a classroom or consulting room.

During my teens and twenties, I experienced a number of difficulties that would later shape my professional interests. These included anxiety, panic attacks, health anxiety, perfectionism, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (including Order and Symmetry OCD and the Pure O subtype), and the psychological impact of narcissistic abuse within a significant relationship.

Like many people seeking therapy, I spent a great deal of time searching for answers and trying to understand why my mind and body were reacting the way they were. Through psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, research, learning and personal growth, I was able to overcome these difficulties and develop a far healthier relationship with myself, my thoughts and my emotions.

My experience of recovering from a narcissistically abusive relationship led to a particular interest in understanding the dynamics of unhealthy relationships, trauma bonds, self-worth, boundaries, people-pleasing, and the long-term impact these experiences can have upon psychological wellbeing. What began as a personal journey of understanding eventually developed into one of my principal specialist areas, leading me to teach and lecture on Narcissistic Abuse Recovery and related relationship dynamics. 

Perhaps the greatest lesson I learned is that difficult experiences need not define us. With insight and purposeful psychological work, it is possible not only to recover, but to grow beyond them.

Whilst every person’s experience is unique, this personal understanding can often be helpful. It means I have not only studied anxiety, OCD, health anxiety and relationship trauma professionally for more than two decades, but have also experienced first-hand how distressing, confusing and exhausting these difficulties can feel.

Perhaps more importantly, I know that meaningful and lasting change is possible.

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Professional Leadership & Clinical Education

In addition to maintaining a busy clinical practice, I regularly teach and lecture on Narcissistic Abuse Recovery, relationship dynamics, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (including OCD-spectrum presentations), Health Anxiety and neuroscience-informed psychotherapy.

Over the course of my career, I have developed a particular reputation for neuroscience-informed psychotherapy and for translating complex concepts from neuroscience and neurobiology into practical, clinically relevant approaches that support meaningful and lasting psychological change. My work has led to consultation with therapists, clinical supervisors, senior practitioners and neuroscientists interested in the application of neuroscience to psychotherapy and emotional wellbeing.

Alongside my clinical work, I provide clinical supervision and professional consultation to experienced therapists, clinical supervisors, Fellows of professional organisations and senior practitioners working at the highest levels of the profession, including those in established private practices and Harley Street settings. This work provides a unique perspective on complex clinical presentations, therapeutic effectiveness and the evolving standards of contemporary psychological practice.

A Harley Street Perspective

The following feedback was provided by Mandy Saligari, Harley Street practitioner, Public Speaker
MBACP(accred) MSc, Author, Lecturer and founder of Charter Harley Street:

“As my Clinical Supervisor Michael supports my practice of complex clients in terms of perspective but also my wellbeing. Michael listens carefully without imposing either urgency or judgement, which I have found to be a rare quality in this field. Offering feedback drawn from multiple sessions, he invites my awareness of themes relating to the client experience with opportunity for professional and personal growth.

I have found Michael to be immensely supportive and insightful, generously sharing his expertise and knowledge to complement my clinical practice, whilst remaining proactive in his promotion of self-care. I cannot recommend him highly enough.”

— Mandy Saligari, Harley Street practitioner, Author, Lecturer and founder of Charter Harley Street - London’s first private outpatient clinic specialising in addiction treatment, and has been a leading voice in the field of addiction. 

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What Clients Often Say

Common themes within the practice’s almost 100 five-star Google reviews include feeling understood, gaining clarity, overcoming long-standing difficulties, developing greater confidence, and experiencing meaningful, lasting change.

"Seeing Michael Hughes was truly transformative. And if you are reading this right now, I could not encourage you more to have a consultation and explore this potential treatment option as it really could change your life. After over a year of personal struggle, seeing multiple doctors/specialists/therapists without any resolution, I was reaching the end of what I thought all of my options were.

And then I met Michael.

Over a series of sessions, in nothing short of what I now consider a small miracle, even if I started as a mild skeptic to this world, I became my old self again. Without his help and guidance I am genuinely not sure what would have happened. I will forever be grateful.

The man is magic."

Dr Rhodri Thomas

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"Michael is a wonderful therapist and simply brilliant. When I first met Michael (almost 18 years' ago), I was very unwell with a rare throat condition following a difficult time in my life after my father's passing. I had seen many different medical professionals but without success. Seeing Michael was almost a final attempt to feel better and go back to living a normal life, but admittedly, I didn't really believe it would work. How wrong could I be? Michael not only made me feel better but helped to transform my life! He's now my absolute 'go to' person when I need help and support.

I have referred family members, friends, and work colleagues to Michael, and they all rave about him too. He's a total legend, the kindest person, and some may argue (myself included!) a complete genius.

I really wouldn't hesitate recommending him."

Anna Richardson, Bristol

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"I feel most fortunate to have had Michael's invaluable assistance in helping me to work through a number of challenging personal issues. Michael's approach is highly effective and combines a deep knowledge of contemporary neuroscience research alongside a caring, compassionate and professional manner. I found his insights into the workings of the human mind illuminating and hugely helpful in understanding the difficulties I was experiencing. His practical advice has also proved invaluable in helping me to find perspective and to make peace with the world. I rate Michael highly and recommend him wholeheartedly."

Daniel Janke, Bristol

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Stop Delaying. Start Deciding.

One of the most overlooked findings from neuroscience is that prolonged indecision often fuels stress and anxiety. The longer we remain caught between options, the longer the brain perceives uncertainty, and uncertainty is something the nervous system finds inherently uncomfortable.

Making a clear decision to address a problem is often the first step towards regaining a sense of control. Once that decision has been made, psychotherapy and clinical hypnotherapy can help you develop practical solutions, strengthen resilience, and move forwards with greater clarity and confidence.

For many people, chronic stress can trigger a range of automatic survival responses, including:

* Fight – irritability, anger, frustration or aggression

* Flight – anxiety, avoidance, excessive worry or difficulty facing problems

* Freeze – procrastination, indecision, emotional numbness, feeling stuck or detachment

* Fawn – people-pleasing, excessive focus on others, difficulty setting boundaries and avoidance of conflict

A decision to seek help often represents the moment these patterns begin to change.

Interestingly, many people report feeling better before their first appointment. In psychotherapy, this is sometimes referred to as pre-session change - improvements that occur simply because a person has made a firm commitment to change. Hope, expectation and a renewed sense of agency can begin influencing the brain long before therapy formally starts.

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What Clients Commonly Seek Support With:

Anxiety & Emotional Wellbeing

• Anxiety, stress and overwhelm
• Panic attacks
• Health anxiety
• PTSD and trauma
• Anger management
• Relaxation and resilience

Obsessive & Compulsive Difficulties

• OCD and intrusive thoughts
• Compulsions and reassurance seeking
• Body-focused repetitive behaviours (BFRBs)
• Bruxism (teeth grinding)
• Relationships & Self

Fears & Phobias 

• Hodophobia: The fear of travel, is a common condition characterised by intense anxiety about leaving home
• Phagophobia or pseudodysphagia - an irrational fear of choking or having food get stuck
• Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia): An intense, debilitating fear of social evaluation or being judged, embarrassed, or scrutinised in social or performance situations. It goes far beyond normal shyness and can make interactions, meetings, or public speaking feel intolerable.
• Emetophobia - is an intense, overwhelming, and irrational fear of vomiting, seeing others throw up, or feeling nauseated.
• Blushing

Relationship difficulties

• Recovery from narcissistic abuse
• Heartbreak and relationship breakdown
• Trust issues
• Jealousy and insecurity 
• Limerence - intense romantic obsession 
• People-pleasing 
• Setting healthy boundaries
• Attachment difficulties
• Fear of abandonment 
• Codependency 
• Communication difficulties 
• Conflict within relationships 
• Dating and relationship patterns 
• Loss of identity within relationships
• Emotional dependency 
• Rebuilding confidence after a relationship ends
• Confidence and self-esteem
• Stuttering

Health & Lifestyle

• IBS and stress-related digestive symptoms
• Sleep difficulties and insomnia
• Weight management
• Reducing alcohol use
• Food and sugar habits
• Sports performance
• Stress-related physical symptoms

Although I have developed recognised areas of specialist interest, the majority of my work continues to involve helping people navigate the wide range of challenges that can affect psychological wellbeing at different stages of life. Many clients come to therapy not because they fit a particular label, but because they want to feel calmer, think more clearly, improve their relationships, strengthen their confidence, and regain a greater sense of control over their lives.

Additional Areas of Expertise

In addition to the above, I also have extensive experience in:

• Trauma-Informed Psychotherapy
  Complex Clinical Presentations
• Applied Neuroscience & Neurobiology
• Relationship Dynamics
• Men’s Mental Health
• Women’s Mental Health
• Professional Clinical Supervision

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What to Expect

One of the most common questions prospective clients ask is:

“How many sessions will I need?”

Whilst every individual and situation is different, meaningful and lasting therapeutic change rarely occurs in just a few sessions.

Many clients find that around 12 sessions provides sufficient time to establish a solid foundation for change, develop new patterns of thinking and responding, and begin consolidating progress. Some achieve their goals in fewer sessions, whilst others choose to continue beyond this depending on the nature, complexity and duration of the difficulties they wish to address.

My focus has always been on helping clients achieve sustainable change rather than offering quick fixes or short-term symptom relief.

Many of the people I work with have reached a point where they no longer wish to simply manage symptoms but instead want a deeper understanding of themselves and the patterns that continue to shape their lives. Together, we work to build insight, resilience, confidence and psychological flexibility so that change becomes sustainable rather than temporary. 

• Develop a calmer, more balanced mindset
• Build greater emotional resilience
• Strengthen confidence and self-belief
• Respond differently to unhelpful thoughts and patterns
• Create lasting psychological change
• Feel more in control of your life and decisions
• Learn practical, evidence-informed therapeutic strategies
• Develop healthier coping skills for everyday challenges
• Improve emotional wellbeing and mental clarity
• Break free from unhelpful cycles and patterns
• Build a stronger sense of self and personal direction
• Move forward with greater confidence and purpose

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Highly Regarded Clinical Supervision from One of the UK’s Most Experienced Supervisors

I am also one of the UK’s most experienced Clinical Supervisors and have had the privilege of supervising senior therapists, clinical supervisors, Fellows, and practitioners working with Harley Street Associates and internationally.

Most clients come to me through recommendation or referral. Due to longstanding demand and a highly selective caseload, availability is often limited.

Where appropriate, I am equally happy to recommend alternative practitioners if I believe another approach, service or clinician would better meet your needs.

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Commitment & Participation

Whilst many clients achieve significant and lasting improvements, no ethical therapist can guarantee a particular outcome. The effectiveness of therapy depends upon a range of factors, including the nature of the difficulty, individual circumstances, and, importantly, the client’s willingness to engage fully with the therapeutic process.

Successful outcomes are often associated with consistent attendance, openness to new perspectives, and the completion of any agreed therapeutic exercises between sessions, such as listening to audio recordings, practising therapeutic techniques, or applying strategies discussed during appointments.

Therapy is ultimately a collaborative process. Full participation and commitment are therefore important and will be discussed in greater detail during the Initial Consultation.

Fees & Appointments

Initial Consultation
£95 to £160

Your Initial Consultation fee is determined by the treatment pathway you select, whether a Structured Six-Session Programme, Structured Twelve-Session Programme, or Pay-As-You-Go Therapy.

Standard Twelve-Week Programme
£95 per 50-minute weekly session - is the most popular option. 

A continuous twelve-week programme with the same weekly appointment reserved exclusively for you. The discounted fee reflects this ongoing commitment; appointments cannot be cancelled, rescheduled, transferred or carried forward. As with any continuous course, sessions missed due to holidays, illness or other personal commitments remain part of the programme and are not replaced or extended.

Six-Session Programme
£140 per session per 50-55 minute session

A structured six-session treatment pathway for clients requiring a shorter programme of weekly therapy.

Individual Appointments £160 per session (50–55 minutes) 

For clients who prefer to book appointments on a session-by-session basis, with the standard cancellation and rescheduling policy applying.

Clinical Supervision: £200 per 60-minute session for hypnotherapists and psychotherapists. 

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A complimentary 10-minute discovery call is available to discuss whether therapy may be the right fit. This is separate from the prepaid Initial Consultation, which includes a full case history, intake questions and a neuroscience-informed explanation of your presenting issues.

I work exclusively with adults aged 18 years and over.

Appointments are scheduled face-to-face at College Fields Clinic, Clifton, Bristol, or online via Zoom.

Due to ongoing demand, availability is limited and offered subject to clinical suitability and current capacity.

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Initial Consultation, Advance Payment & Security Deposit

Your first appointment is an Initial Consultation (IC) and is charged at the fee applicable to your chosen treatment pathway. Prepayment is required in full at the time of booking, and your appointment will be confirmed in the diary only upon receipt of payment.

No hypnosis is undertaken during the Initial Consultation. Instead, this appointment is dedicated to a comprehensive clinical assessment, discussion of your presenting concerns, case formulation, treatment planning, and a detailed explanation of the neuroscience underpinning how the brain functions and how lasting therapeutic change occurs.

A Security Deposit is also payable at the time of booking. This is held on account against any missed appointment or late cancellation in accordance with the Practice Terms & Conditions. If not required, the deposit will be credited towards your final agreed session.

All appointments are payable in advance, with payment due one week before each scheduled session.

My fees are fixed and apply equally to all clients. Accordingly, I respectfully ask that discounts or concessionary rates are not requested. As with other independent healthcare professionals, my fees reflect the time, expertise, experience and professional responsibility involved in providing a high standard of clinical care. If my fees fall outside your preferred budget, I would be pleased to recommend suitably qualified practitioners whose fee structure may be better aligned with your circumstances.

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Your Commitment to Therapy
Before enquiring, please consider whether you are able to commit both the time and financial investment required for a structured weekly course of therapy. Meaningful therapeutic progress typically requires around 12 weekly sessions, and my practice is intentionally designed around this model rather than short-term or occasional appointments.

Weekly Therapy
Face-to-face appointments are reserved exclusively for clients engaged in a structured weekly course of therapy. This ensures the consistency essential for effective therapeutic progress whilst maintaining fairness to those awaiting regular weekly treatment.

Accordingly, fortnightly, monthly, maintenance and one-off face-to-face appointments are not offered. My practice is designed around consistent, evidence-based therapy rather than ad-hoc or “pit-stop” interventions. Where clinically appropriate, review sessions may be arranged remotely via Zoom at my discretion.

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Therapy is not a one-size-fits-all process. The number of sessions required varies according to the complexity of your presentation, your individual goals, and your commitment to engaging with the therapeutic process.

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Exclusive Clifton Location

Face-to-face appointments take place at College Fields Clinic, Clifton, conveniently located just a short distance from Clifton Village and the Clifton Suspension Bridge. The clinic provides a calm, peaceful and private therapeutic setting, surrounded by mature trees and green space, providing a quiet, restorative environment that supports reflection and focused therapeutic work.

Easy Parking

Convenient pay-and-display on-street parking is available on College Fields, directly adjacent to the Redgrave Theatre and just a few steps from the clinic. Payment is made at the parking meter, with charges typically around £2.50 per session. There is usually ample availability, making access to the clinic straightforward, convenient and largely stress-free.

Appointments 

Face-to-face appointments are held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, with appointments scheduled between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm, when the clinic closes. Online appointments via Zoom are scheduled on Tuesdays and Fridays at designated times. Please refer to my website for current clinic days, appointment times and availability.

Clinical Hours & Availability
As appointment availability changes regularly, please do not request a specific day or time, as your preferred appointment may already have been allocated to another client. Appointment options are offered from the availability that exists within the clinical diary at the time of booking. It is therefore not possible to reserve, hold, or accommodate requests for specific appointment days or slots.

Evening and weekend appointments are not available. My clinical hours are intentionally structured to maintain the highest standards of clinical practice, optimise therapeutic effectiveness, and allow time to decompress from an often complex and busy clinical caseload, ensuring I remain fully present and effective for every client.

To support these professional boundaries, my work phone is switched off after 5:00 pm each weekday and remains off throughout weekends. Messages received outside normal business hours will be responded to from 9:00 am on the next business day.

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Your Commitment 

Therapy requires a genuine commitment of both time and effort. Clients are therefore expected to prioritise attendance at their designated weekly appointment and to organise their personal and professional commitments accordingly. Consistency of attendance is an important contributor to meaningful therapeutic progress.

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Contact & Communication

To maintain appropriate professional boundaries and ensure the highest standard of care for clients, my work telephone is switched off at 5:00pm each working day and is not switched back on until 9:00am on the next business day. This allows sufficient time for rest, reflection and decompression from a busy and often complex clinical caseload.

Please ensure that you provide a contact telephone number when making an enquiry. If I am unable to answer your call, please leave a voicemail message with your name, contact details and the reason for your call. Calls from unknown numbers where no voicemail is left are frequently indistinguishable from unsolicited or nuisance calls and may therefore be blocked without response.

I do not use WhatsApp for clinical work and any messages sent via WhatsApp will not be monitored, managed or responded to. Email remains the preferred method of contact for all administrative enquiries.

To maintain appropriate professional boundaries and ensure the highest standard of care for clients, my work telephone is switched off outside of business hours. This allows sufficient time for rest, reflection and decompression from a busy and often complex clinical caseload.

If you contact the practice outside of normal working hours, your enquiry will be reviewed and responded to during business hours when time permits. Please note that response times may vary depending upon clinical commitments and workload.

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Dress Code

There isn’t one. Come exactly as you are and wear whatever you feel most comfortable in.

The same applies to me. While I wore a suit when I first started practising, over the years I’ve adopted a more relaxed style. Whether it’s Uniqlo shorts and trainers in the summer or jeans and a jumper in the winter, I believe people feel more at ease when the environment is comfortable, authentic and free from unnecessary formality.

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Communication & Professional Conduct

Respectful communication is expected at all times. Abusive, aggressive, threatening, hostile or inappropriate behaviour towards myself, clinic staff, or associated professionals will not be tolerated.

Individuals who engage in ‘ghosting’ by ceasing communication without explanation after making an enquiry. Basic courtesy and professional communication are expected at all times. I do not re-engage with enquiries where this has occurred.

Where communication or behaviour falls below an acceptable standard, I reserve the right to terminate treatment, withdraw ongoing appointments, cancel any reserved or recurring session slots, and cease further professional contact with immediate effect.

The practice is committed to maintaining a safe, respectful and professional environment for all.

If you find it difficult to follow clinic policies and agreed boundaries, the practice is unlikely to be the right fit for you. These policies are in place to provide clarity, consistency and a professional framework for our work together. Repeated difficulties in this area can affect the therapeutic relationship and make it more difficult to establish the consistency and mutual understanding needed for effective therapeutic work.

To protect the integrity of the practice, unsolicited marketing approaches, spam, nuisance calls or emails, cryptocurrency-related enquiries, and other non-genuine communications will be blocked without response. Communications that appear misleading, fraudulent, or inconsistent with their stated purpose may be reported to the relevant organisations where appropriate.

Practice Information

My practice is dedicated primarily to members of the general public. Since 2025, I no longer provide one-to-one therapy to any therapists, counsellors, psychotherapists, psychologists, hypnotherapists, coaches, therapy trainees or those connected to therapeutic training, although I continue to offer carefully selected clinical supervision.

Areas Outside My Current Scope of Practice

Throughout my career, I have gained extensive clinical experience working with many of the presentations listed below. However, as my practice has evolved, I have chosen to specialise within a clearly defined scope of expertise. This enables me to provide the highest standards of clinical care while ensuring that clients receive treatment from the practitioner best suited to their needs.

Suitability for treatment is assessed on an ongoing basis throughout our work together. If any of the presentations listed below are not disclosed during the Initial Consultation, or subsequently emerge or develop during therapy, they fall outside my current scope of practice. In such circumstances, I cannot accept responsibility for their assessment or treatment, and you will be responsible for obtaining appropriate support from your GP, NHS services, or another suitably qualified healthcare professional, either alongside or instead of my service, as clinically appropriate

Accordingly, I do not currently accept referrals for:

• Severe personality disorders, Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), previously known as multiple personality disorder, Bipolar BPD/MPD or cluster A/B, Psychopathy, Sociopathy
• Narcissistic Personality Disorder - NPD
• Children or teenagers | CAMHS
• Severe mental Illness
• Eating Disorders 
• Depression or suicidal ideation
• Complex pain conditions 
• Smoking, vaping or cannabis cessation
• Recreational drug use or substance misuse
• Alcohol addiction and dependency services
• Sexual dysfunction or sexual performance concerns
• Home visits are not offered. Appointments are either face-to-face at my Clifton clinic or online via Zoom.
• Therapy for any therapists, counsellors, psychotherapists, psychologists, hypnotherapists, therapy trainees or those connected to therapeutic training
• Regrettably, due to the structured allocation of fixed weekly appointments, I am unable to accommodate individuals with variable shift patterns or regularly changing availability
• Individuals whose expectations or approach are incompatible with collaborative therapy, including an unwillingness or inability to respect professional boundaries, adhere to the terms of the therapeutic agreement, or take responsibility for their own therapeutic process
• Individuals seeking discounted fees, reduced rates, fee negotiations or concessionary pricing, as my fees are fixed and non-negotiable. If my fees are not within your budget, I respectfully encourage you to seek treatment elsewhere, as I do not have the capacity to engage in fee negotiations or requests for discounted services
• Clinical time is a finite professional resource. If it is wasted, no further appointments or opportunities will be offered

If I believe another practitioner or service would be better placed to assist, I will always endeavour to recommend an appropriate referral.

Clinical Approach

I work exclusively within an evidence-based clinical model and do not provide:

• Stage hypnosis
• Past-life regression
• Recovered-memory therapy
• Age regression for historical memory recovery
• Spiritual, psychic or paranormal approaches

My work is grounded in contemporary neuroscience, psychotherapy, evidence-based hypnotherapy and psychological research.

Enquiries

All enquiries are reviewed personally. Genuine enquiries are welcome and will receive a response subject to current availability, clinical suitability and capacity.

Unsolicited marketing, spam, fraudulent approaches, nuisance communications, cryptocurrency-related solicitations, or any other inappropriate contact are not accepted. Such communications will not receive a response and may be reported, blocked, and/or referred to the relevant authorities or organisations where appropriate.

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Michael Hughes

Clinical Lead • Consultant Psychotherapist • Clinical Supervisor

College Fields Clinic, Clifton, Bristol, BS8

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Five Star Google Reviews

ANDREW SOULE 

My first time trying hypnotherapy, he is both caring and supportive, Michael helped me deal with some tough issues both personal and professional. He allowed me to move forward after being stagnant for a long time.

KATE HUNTER
Michael is a wonderful hypnotherapist. I met him approx 10 years ago. I first went to him to overcome a fear of flying and went on to fly solo to Australia feeling calm and enjoying it (and did several internal flights out there!)!

Years after that, I suffered acute anxiety and panic through extreme pressure at work so I went back to Michael. He taught me all about the biochemical responses that were happening as a result of the stress & worked with me to calm my Amygdala’s response. His sessions were the only time I could relax and my hypnotherapy sessions ensured my recovery.

I’ve since been back at various times when I know I need some time with Michael. I love our time together. Not only do I learn so much, I also have a safe space to talk and be heard, and know that I’ll receive the best hypnotherapy to work on myself and being the best version of me.

Michael is calm, funny, caring, patient, and reassuring. He is excellent at what he does and without a shadow of doubt, I would urge you too book some time with him & experience the benefits for yourself!

DAVID CARDEN 
Life changing experience.

Michael is without a doubt one of the most important people I ever met in my life.

He not only changed my ailment, but my whole perspective on life as a whole. I highly recommend him to anyone on the fence.

Thank you so much for what you do Michael.

ALISON BALL Michael is calm, friendly and patient and he certainly knows his stuff when it comes to the brain and mental health. The combination of hypnotherapy and positive talking therapy is very powerful. We have used twice for OCD issues. Cannot recommend highly enough.

RHIANNON WOOD The best way to describe what Michael does is to give an example. When I first started seeing him I had spent my whole life with an inner monologue of negativity. My mind would never leave me alone. I'd suffered breakdowns and was starting to worry my life would only be a maelstrom of negativity. After the first two sessions (the first was talking and the second was talking and hypnotherapy) I found myself sitting at work and realising I hadn't had a single thought in an hour. I was completely in the present and engaged with my surroundings. The difference he has made in my life is incalculable. If, like I did, you suffer from anxiety, depression, low self esteem (or any of the other myriad of things he treats) he is absolutely the man to see. My life has gone from strength to strength since I started seeing him. He does not judge, he is kind and patient with everyone. I cannot recommend him enough.

HELEN JONES When I first went to Michael I can only describe myself as being broken, having tried various other therapies nothing had worked, I was desperate to find a way forward.

From my very first meeting with Michael I knew that this was my way forward, he was understanding, kind and compassionate and appeared to know me better than I knew myself. Michael changed my life in the most positive and incredible way.

Michael saved me and I am forever telling people how amazing he is.

M WILLIAMS
I have known Michael since 2011. During that time he has supported me personally and professionally and has been instrumental in developing me as a person and helping me fulfil my potential in a professional services environment. Michael is not only a fantastic hypnotherapist, but a lovely person and I always look forward to our sessions. Thank you for all your support and encouragement over the years. 

STEPH M 
I've known Michael for more than ten years and I would encourage anyone to contact him if things feel too challenging or overwhelming.

Michael has supported me through a number of stressful times in my life and has helped me to reflect on personal relationships with others and more recently to cope with major surgery and a difficult recovery. He helps me to understand how I respond emotionally in different situations and how to find positive solutions.

I appreciate being able to ask Michael for guidance and support which is always given with warmth and kindness.

LOUISE C 
I met Michael at one of the lowest points of my life when I couldn’t find a way forwards.

His calm and reassuring approach has really helped me to turn my life around.

I really can’t rate him highly enough. Thank you Michael for changing my life for the better!

SARAH EDWARDS 
I am struggling to write this review as Michael has helped me so much that it’s very hard to articulate or even start to explain the impact he has had on my life.

Michael is able to understand who you are and what it is you need to feel better, he does this with compassion, sincerity and totally without judgement. He brings a reassuring humour so you can see light at the end of the tunnel. A session with Michael feels like seeing an old friend and you can’t help but feel a little lighter.

He is a total professional and his knowledge of the brain and mental health is second to none. He goes above and beyond and I feel a huge comfort knowing he is there should life throw another curve ball.

If you have any doubts about hypnotherapy or feel nervous about the process then please don’t, give it a try, it has saved me more than once.

SUZANNE HETHERINGTON 
I first visited Michael for help with insomnia and found his support and knowledge really helpful. I have consulted him on various issues over the past few years and always find him to be calm and supportive. I find checking in with him a couple of times a year, really helps to support my emotional well-being.

SANDRANUK
Michael is the best therapist I've ever met. If I have some bad times, I go back to him and he fixes me back up quickly.
Life is unpredictable and we all face ups and downs. Normal counselling or therapy did not help me fast enough when I had the biggest "downs". I have felt helpless and so desperate at times.
When I tried hypnotherapy with Michael, I realise what an amazing change this could bring to my life. I've had rough times again since the 1st time and Michael welcomed me back despite a long waiting list. I was back facing the hardship of life shortly after.
If you feel lonely, or desperate, or lost, then contact him, he can help where no others can.

For video testimonials please visit my website http://www.michael-hughes.co.uk/about/