About me
Helping people with life making changes for 2026
Matthew Exell is a hypnotherapist based in Reading, Berkshire, with over 18 years’ experience helping people make meaningful and lasting changes in their lives.
He works with a wide range of issues including anxiety, overthinking, habits and addictions, phobias, confidence, stress, insomnia and weight-related concerns, using a calm, practical and tailored approach.
Matthew’s work draws on cognitive hypnotherapy, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) and life coaching, alongside principles from positive psychology. Sessions are personalised rather than scripted, with a focus on addressing underlying patterns and helping clients feel more in control and confident moving forward.
He is fully qualified, insured and regulated, and offers hypnotherapy sessions in Reading and Didcot, as well as online support. Clients are welcome to ask questions and discuss their situation before deciding how they would like to proceed.
Training, qualifications & experience
Matthew Exell is a fully qualified and insured hypnotherapist, trained through the internationally recognised Quest Institute, whose programmes exceed the National Occupational Standards for hypnotherapy in the UK.
His qualifications include:
Diploma of Cognitive Hypnotherapy (DipCHyp)
- Hypnotherapy Practitioner Diploma (HPD) — a nationally accredited qualification awarded by the NCFE
- Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (MPrac NLP)
- Matthew is a Licentiate Member of the National Council for Hypnotherapy (MNCH) and is committed to ongoing professional development, ensuring his work remains ethical, evidence-informed and up to date.
- He holds full Public Liability insurance through Towergate Specialist Insurance.
Member organisations
The National Council for Hypnotherapy holds one of the largest registers of independent Hypnotherapists in the United Kingdom and strives to maintain the highest standards among its members. There is an agreed Code of Conduct, an established Complaints & Disciplinary Procedure and all members are obliged to maintain comprehensive Public Liability & Professional Indemnity Insurance, maintain regular CPD (continuing professional development) hours, and attend Supervision when needed.
Areas of hypnotherapy I deal with
info Information about health conditions (*)
Hypnotherapy can enhance the well-being of individuals diagnosed with serious medical conditions, but should not take the place of medical treatment and advice. If you have been diagnosed with - or suspect you may have - any of these conditions, please speak to your doctor before starting hypnotherapy.
Other areas of hypnotherapy I deal with
Life Coaching for personal development, career and work, achieving balance and peace within the self and life, for helping to make decisions and changes and for more various combinations of all of these - it really would be best to explain your personal situation and please do ask any questions
Performance and Sporting Coaching for performance arts such as singing and acting as well as for sports and activities such as golf, distance and endurance and sprint running, gymnastics and tumbling, endurance sports, swimming and cross channel swimming, cycling, for martial arts training and grading, MMA - mixed martial arts and boxing, rugby, football, cricket, tennis, volley ball, hockey and other sports.
I've also worked with individuals who were/are on the fringes of being the top 32 within darts and snooker hierarchy. With young people about to break into professional rugby and football teams (Bath and London Irish for rugby: Portsmouth, Chelsea, Wycombe and Reading FC for football) into the UK gymnastic and tumbling team. Also with some mixed martial artists including some who have competed in events such as 'Shock n Awe' and 'Kayo MMA' (although no names will ever be mentioned, obviously)
Confidence Coaching for specific things or for general confidence, self-esteem and worthiness - this does tend to be part of many people's issues so I would always expect to help with confidence and esteem.
Male Social Issues and Confidence for social situations and addressing attraction and sexual attraction issues - this is a field I have much experience in so if you're interested it would be best to ask so please do ask any questions!
Learning Coaching for particular exams, exams in general and for any ages - because we all learn differently there are so many ideas with NLP and within the area of positive psychology that it would be difficult to explain everything here - so please contact me as to how I can help
Photos & videos
Fees
£75.00 per session
Free initial telephone session
Additional information
£75 per session — 60 minutes (First session lasts 90 minutes to allow extra time for assessment and discussion)
Stop smoking programme — £150 90-minute session, including a follow-up session if required (rarely needed)
Reduced fees are available for students, those on low incomes, and other individual circumstances. Please feel free to ask — I aim to make support accessible wherever possible.
While I am not the cheapest hypnotherapist in Berkshire or Oxfordshire, I offer a comprehensive, personalised approach and have over 18 years’ full-time experience helping people make meaningful changes.
Other arrangements, including extended sessions, corporate bookings or home visits, can be discussed if appropriate.
When I work
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Further information
What Some People are Saying:
"Hi Matthew, thanks very much for helping me and all are wonderful with me at the present. I was going through particular stressful time when I saw you but now I’m feeling great and very healthy, with everything being in place. But should the need arise in the future I will certainly be back in touch. Regards Rachel"
Rachel in September 2016
"Hi Matthew, I do actually feel a lot better and this is the healthiest I’ve ever felt. I definitely feel I have a much clearer head. I’m back in my home town and back at work. To be honest I don’t think I need another one (session) yet but if I do I will be in contact. Thanks. Dan"
Dan – drugs, alcohol, relationship difficulties - August 2016
"It's David and many, many thanks for all your help and I made it around. Sadly my cold turned into a chest infection but I did do it. And sadly not as quickly as I would have liked but I did make it around. Have I mentioned that I made it yet??? ha ha ha -" David - for helping running the London Marathon 2015
"Hi Matthew, Just wanted to let you know that I've had a blood test done today! I did have a bit of a cry and got a bit nervous but am a million percent better than I would have been before seeing you. I think I can definitely say that I can tolerate it now as I've seen things on tv and heard people speaking about them and am absolutely fine with it. Just wanted to say thanks again, I really appreciate your help here! Thanks, Lisa"
Lisa - for a needle phobia - December 2015
"Really good thanks, 6 months now and still not drinking. Still doing AA as well but thanks for your help as well"
Karen - for stopping alcohol - October 2015
"I had suffered from ongoing personal issues for some time that, combined with a lot of work related stress, led to me suffering from anxiety attacks - basically feeling that I might die on the street.
As a divorcee I was faced difficult decisions about my family. At that time I needed help to deal with feelings of loss and loneliness. The Excel practice provided me with support in the short term, but, and more importantly for me, a solid basis to focus on my own needs, and take the care to get my life back on track. The decisions I made at the time now seem to have been in the best interests of everybody.
Matt was able to help me understand and manage the source of my work related stress. I found that I could positively assert what i could and could not do, thereby managing the expectations of my clients and getting my stress an anxiety under control. Excellent help"
Peter Vaughn - 2014
"Treatment at The Excel Practice was second to none for me. Matthew took the time to sit and understand everything that was needed and always left me feeling at ease. I found that the treatment I received helped me overcome the issues I went in with after just one session. Matthew has a kind, non invasive personality and he is highly experienced in what he does. I have recommend him to friends and family time and time again. Thank you, Matthew !"
Sophie Jones - 2014
"Since I saw you last summer I have moved to Manchester with my girlfriend. We stayed with her family while I found work but we have our own house now. I am working in Selfridges in the Trafford Centre. I visited Manchester last Christmas and couldn't even visit the centre because of my panic attacks, now I am working there every day, no hint of a panic attack. I also drove the moving van with our stuff in from Didcot to Manchester, something I never thought I would be able to do. I'm going from strength to strength here, doing more all the time that I couldn't do before.I couldn't have got here without your help, I am grateful. Thank you so, so much. Thank you again a million times"
Jonathon - Agoraphobia, December 2011
"Hi Matthew here is a picture of my most recent dive" Claire, April 2012
From a client from orginally seen in March 2010 for helping with a fear of water and the fish and creatures within
Claire - Phobia of water based creatures and being on water/boat - March 2010
