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Hypnotherapy for Public Speaking, by Video Anywhere in Australia
The fear tends to arrive right when you want to be at your best. It might be a presentation, a job interview or a wedding toast. Hypnotherapy for public speaking works on that surge of adrenaline, so it stops running the show. We do it in four sessions by video.
At a glance: a 4-session program by video. $1,000 in total paid upfront, or $1,200 paid session by session.
Or call 0427 218 092
15-minute phone call, no obligation. I’ll call you within 24 hours. See what it costs
- 14 yearsin clinical practice
- FellowAustralian Society of Clinical Hypnotherapists
- AHA approvedCPD courses I teach other hypnotherapists
- 1 to 1with Ernest, by video from home
Ernest McLeod, clinical hypnotherapistAn Adelaide practice, seeing clients across Australia by video. Fourteen years in practice.
Does any of this sound familiar?
- Your heart races and your mouth goes dry the moment you stand up to speak.
- You rehearse a two-minute update for days, and still dread it.
- Your hands shake, your voice wobbles, and you’re sure everyone can tell.
- You’ve played or sung something perfectly at home, then fallen apart on stage.
- You’ve turned down a promotion, a role or an opportunity because it meant being on show.
- Afterwards you remember only the stumbles.
If a few of those fit, read on. Does the fear show up in lots of everyday situations, not just on show? Then the social anxiety page may suit you better.
Why speaking in public sets off your alarm
Standing in front of a group sets off your fight-or-flight response. Your brain reads being watched as a risk. You’re in good company. Stein and colleagues surveyed 499 adults. About one in three felt excessive anxiety speaking to a large audience. About one in ten said it had seriously affected their work, study or social life. The formal name for a strong fear of public speaking is glossophobia.
The root cause is often a loop of self-monitoring. Under pressure, you start checking how you sound and look. Skills that run smoothly when nobody’s watching get interrupted when you monitor them. You also tend to believe your fear of being judged shows far more than it does. Tips like “picture them in their underwear” work on the thinking mind, while the alarm runs faster than that.
How hypnosis helps with performance anxiety
It helps by letting you rehearse the moments you dread while your body stays calm. Hypnosis is a trance-like state of focused, relaxed attention, like being absorbed in a film. You stay aware and in control the whole time, and it’s nothing like stage shows.
In my practice, I ask you to describe the first ten seconds of a talk you’re dreading. That opening moment is usually where we start rehearsing.
In that settled state, we walk through the whole event. There’s the wait, the walk to the front, the first line. You practise staying steady, with your attention on your material and your audience. We use visualisation too, so you can picture the talk going steadily. We work on the negative self-talk that kicks in beforehand. You also learn a short self-hypnosis routine to use backstage or in the corridor on the day.
How hypnotherapy for public speaking works online
You have four video sessions from home, ideally timed before a talk or performance you’re working towards.
- A free 15-minute call
Tell me what’s coming up and when. I’ll say honestly whether the timing works, and whether I think I can help. Ask me anything you like about hypnosis too, such as how it feels or whether you stay in charge.
- Your first session, up to 90 minutes
We look at when the fear shows up and what happens in your body and head. Then we start the work.
- Sessions two to four and an audio for the build-up
Up to 60 minutes each. Between them you practise speaking in front of others, starting small and building up. You also get an audio recording to use in the days before your event. You don’t have to wait for a session to settle yourself.
All you need is a quiet room, a reliable connection and headphones. If the video drops, I ring you back. Video also means you can fit sessions around work.
Got a big day coming up?Tell me the date on a free 15-minute call.
What the research actually says
The research is small, so I’ll give you the one study worth knowing. In 1997, Schoenberger and colleagues treated people with a fear of speaking to groups. One group had cognitive behavioural therapy. Another had the same therapy delivered in hypnosis. Both did better than a waiting list, and the combined version came out ahead.
That suggests this work belongs on top of real practice, not instead of it. You’ll still need to prepare and to speak in front of people. I see my job as making that practice feel possible, and less draining.
Is hypnosis for public speaking safe?
For most adults, yes. No medicine is involved, and any after-effects are usually mild, like feeling a bit drowsy. It isn’t the right starting point if you live with psychosis or a severe, untreated mental illness. Talk to your GP or treating clinician first. If you already see a psychologist, keep going, and this can run alongside.
What hypnotherapy for public speaking costs: $1,000
The program is four sessions for $1,000 in total, paid upfront.
The 4-session program: $1,000
Four sessions, designed to help you walk to the front, or onto the stage, feeling steadier.
- 4-session program: $1,000 paid upfront, which is $250 a session. Or pay $300 per session as you go ($1,200 for all four).
- Session length: your first session runs up to 90 minutes, and follow-up sessions up to 60 minutes.
- Prepaid sessions are valid for 12 months. Any you don’t need can be used for something else, or passed on to someone you know.
- Pay by card or bank transfer. Prices in AUD. No GST applies.
Or call 0427 218 092
A word on medication and wider anxietySome performers and speakers use beta blockers for nerves. They’re prescription-only and don’t suit everyone, so a GP is the right person to ask. If the fear reaches well beyond performing, into shops, phone calls or social events, mention that too. Your GP can refer you to a psychologist with a Medicare rebate through Better Access. This work can sit alongside either.
Who you’ll be working with
I’m Ernest McLeod. I’ve practised as a clinical hypnotherapist for fourteen years. I have an Adelaide practice and see clients right across Australia by video. Before that I spent twenty years as a software engineer and designer. So I care more about what works than what sounds impressive.
- Time Line Therapy® Practitioner
- Fellow, ASCH
- Trainer: AHA-approved CPD courses
- Certified NLP Practitioner
What I’m not: hypnotherapy isn’t a registered profession in Australia, so I’m not AHPRA-registered and I’m not a psychologist. My ASCH Fellowship is voluntary. I also train other hypnotherapists. My courses on quitting smoking, vaping and gambling count as professional development (CPD), approved by the Australian Hypnotherapists’ Association. More about me
Questions people ask about hypnotherapy for public speaking
Does hypnotherapy work for public speaking?
It can help some people, but the evidence is small. The one trial worth knowing, from 1997, found therapy plus hypnosis did better than therapy alone for speaking fears. It works on top of real practice, not instead of it.
What is the success rate of hypnotherapy for public speaking?
I don’t quote one. There isn’t a reliable published figure, and advertised rates usually come from a practitioner’s own records. I’d rather give you the real picture.
How can I overcome my anxiety about public speaking?
Regular practice in small steps matters a lot. Start with a friendly audience and build up. This work can make each step feel less frightening.
What can I take to calm nerves before a speech?
Some people ask their GP about beta blockers. That’s a medical decision, so please talk to your doctor. A short calming routine you learn here can be used alongside, with nothing to swallow.
Can it help with shaking, sweating and a racing heart?
That’s what we aim at. We rehearse staying calmer in the body, so those physical signs have less to feed on. I can’t promise they’ll vanish.
Does it help with job interviews and work presentations?
We can work on those. We rehearse the specific room, people and questions you’re expecting.
I have a big presentation soon. Is there time?
Tell me the date on the free call. Even a couple of sessions can give you a routine for the day. More time helps, though.
Will I never feel nervous again?
I wouldn’t want that for you. A little adrenaline gives a performance its energy. The aim is to bring it down so you can think and speak clearly in front of an audience.
Is it covered by Medicare or my health fund?
Medicare doesn’t cover it, and you don’t need a referral from your GP. Health fund extras vary, so check your policy.
Ready when you are
Tell me the best time to reach you and I’ll call within 24 hours. Fifteen minutes, no obligation.
Request a free consultationOr call 0427 218 092
Related
- Anxiety and stressEvery worry, panic and pressure service on one page.
- Social anxietyWhen the fear of judgement goes well beyond the stage.
- Test and exam anxietyWhen the pressure is a paper instead of an audience.
- Confidence and self-esteemWhen the harsh voice is your own.
- Imposter syndromeWhen you’re sure you’re about to be found out.
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Where these numbers come from
Stein MB, Walker JR, Forde DR (1996). Public-speaking fears in a community sample: prevalence, impact on functioning, and diagnostic classification. Archives of General Psychiatry 53(2): 169-174. doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1996.01830020087010. 499 adults surveyed; one third reported excessive anxiety speaking to a large audience; 10% reported marked interference or distress.
Schoenberger NE, Kirsch I, Gearan P, Montgomery G, Pastyrnak SL (1997). Hypnotic enhancement of a cognitive behavioral treatment for public speaking anxiety. Behavior Therapy 28(1): 127-140. doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7894(97)80038-X. I’ll always show you where a number came from.
Hypnotherapy is a complementary therapy. It isn’t medical treatment, a diagnosis, or a substitute for care from your doctor or a psychologist. If your symptoms are severe or persistent, please speak to your GP. Last updated 9 October 2026.