Sleep ยท Online across Australia
Hypnotherapy for Sleep, by Video Anywhere in Australia
Lying awake counting the hours to the alarm, or dreading the dream that keeps coming back. Poor sleep is often something your body has learned, and what has been learned can be retrained. Hypnotherapy for sleep does that work with you, from your own home, so you can work towards better sleep.
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.
Why sleep goes wrong, and stays wrong
Sleep often stays wrong because your body learns to expect a bad night. You’re exhausted all day, then wide awake the moment your head touches the pillow. Nightmares work in a similar way. The dream repeats, and the dread of it starts keeping you up before you’ve even closed your eyes.
So the problem isn’t only the night itself. It’s the worry, the negative thoughts and the alert body you carry to bed. That’s the part hypnosis aims at.
How hypnosis helps with sleep
Hypnosis helps by teaching your body to switch off again in a calm, focused state. Hypnosis is a state of deep relaxation and focused attention. You’re aware of everything and in charge the whole time. Some people say the hypnotic state feels like the moment just before sleep. It’s a little like guided meditation, with suggestions aimed at your own sleep problems.
In a session we practise relaxation until your body knows the feeling again. We work on the worry or the images that follow you to bed. You also learn self-hypnosis for sleep, so you have something calm to do at 2am besides wait. Most of all, it gives you a way to sleep better without forcing it.
In my practice, the first thing I ask about is the shape of your nights. Is it getting to sleep, staying asleep, or the dreams? That tells us which program to start with.
Choose where to start
Sessions come in two programs, and the free call helps you pick the right one.
- Sleep and insomniaTrouble getting to sleep, staying asleep, or waking at 3am with your mind already busy.
- Nightmares and night terrorsRecurring dreams that wake you with your heart going, and the dread of going back to bed.
Free sleep hypnosis videos and apps: what they can do
A free sleep hypnosis video or app can help you relax. On a good night, it may help you drift off to sleep. There are plenty around, and some of them are lovely. Hypnosis apps and videos often use calm music, affirmations and a slow voice. Think of them as guided sleep audio, aimed at deep sleep and a restful night.
What they can’t do is ask why you’re awake. A recording can’t change to fit you. Sessions are built around your nights, your worries and your habits. If you’d like to start with audio, I’ve picked some for different parts of the night.
How sleep hypnotherapy works online
Each sleep program is four sessions by video, starting with a free 15-minute phone call.
- A free 15-minute call
You tell me what’s going on at night. I tell you honestly whether I think I can help. No obligation, and no hard sell. Ask me anything you like about hypnosis too, such as how it feels or whether you stay in charge.
- Your first session
The start of your 4-session program. We look at your sleep pattern, what keeps you awake and what has changed over time.
- Sessions by video and audio for the nights between
You join from home with a quiet room, a reliable connection and a pair of headphones. With long-running insomnia, some people need a few more sessions, and we review progress as we go. You get an audio track to use at bedtime, plus the self-hypnosis you’ve learned. You don’t have to wait for the next session to practise.
Hypnosis needs your attention, not my physical presence. That’s why video works: you’re in your own space, with no drive home afterwards.
Not sure which program fits?That’s what the free call is for. Fifteen minutes, by phone, at a time that suits you.
What the research says about hypnosis for sleep
The research on sleep hypnosis is promising but early, and I won’t oversell it. Studies so far tend to be small. They suggest hypnosis could help some people improve sleep quality, but the certainty is low. For long-running insomnia, the treatment sleep guidelines recommend first is CBT-I, a structured talking therapy. Hypnosis works as a partner to that, not a replacement.
I’ve set out the studies, with links and their limits, on the insomnia page. That way you can judge them for yourself.
Where this comes from
Edinger JD, Arnedt JT, Bertisch SM, et al. (2021). Behavioral and psychological treatments for chronic insomnia disorder in adults: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine clinical practice guideline. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine 17(2): 255-262. doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.8986. Source of the recommendation for CBT-I.
Chamine I, Atchley R, Oken BS (2018). Hypnosis intervention effects on sleep outcomes: a systematic review. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine 14(2): 271-283. doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.6952. Source of the point that studies are small and the certainty is low. I’ll always show you where a claim came from.
Is sleep hypnosis safe?
For most adults, yes. Hypnosis doesn’t involve medicine. You might feel a little drowsy or emotional afterwards, and that passes. Please start elsewhere if you live with psychosis, or a severe mental health condition that isn’t treated. It also can’t reach a medical sleep disorder or other health conditions that disturb sleep. That’s why the GP note below matters.
What hypnotherapy for sleep costs
The sleep program: $1,000 upfront
4-session program: $1,000 in total, paid upfront (that’s $250 a session). Or $300 per session as you go ($1,200 for all four).
- Insomnia: some people need 6 to 8 sessions for lasting improvement. Extra sessions are $300 each, or $250 each when prepaid.
- Nightmares and night terrors: the standard 4-session program.
- 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
Please see your GP as wellHypnosis can’t reach every cause of poor sleep. Obstructive sleep apnoea is the one to rule out. Watch for loud snoring, gasping or choking in the night, or waking unrefreshed after a full night in bed. That needs a doctor and possibly a sleep study. If you take anything to help you sleep, talk to your doctor before changing it. Nodding off at the wheel means booking in this week.
Questions people ask about hypnotherapy for sleep
Is hypnotherapy good for sleep problems?
It can help, and the evidence is still early. The studies are mostly small, and CBT-I has much stronger support for insomnia. I offer it as a partner to good sleep care, not a replacement for it.
What is the success rate of sleep hypnosis?
I don’t quote one. No study gives a reliable rate for hypnosis and sleep, and a figure would only mislead you. I’d rather you decide with the real picture in front of you.
Does hypnosis work while you’re asleep?
No. Hypnosis isn’t sleep, deep or light. You’re awake, relaxed and taking in the suggestions. If you drift off during a bedtime audio, that’s fine. Helping you fall asleep was the point.
What are the potential downsides?
Sessions cost money, and the research is limited. You might feel drowsy or emotional afterwards. Hypnosis also can’t fix a medical cause like sleep apnoea. See your GP if you snore loudly or wake gasping.
What are some effective sleep techniques?
A steady wake-up time, every day, is one of the simplest sleep habits. Sleep hygiene basics matter too, like a dark, quiet room. Sleep hypnosis is there to make habits like these easier to keep.
Can I do self-hypnosis at home?
Yes. You learn it in your first session, and you take home an audio for bedtime. Many people find it gives the busy mind something calm to do.
Does it work over video?
Yes. What matters is your attention and our work together. Both come through a video call well, and you’re already in your own bedroom.
Is it covered by Medicare or my health fund?
Hypnotherapy isn’t covered by Medicare, and you don’t need a GP referral. Health fund extras cover varies, so check with your fund before you start.
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Tell me the best time to reach you and I’ll call within 24 hours. Fifteen minutes, no obligation.
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Hypnotherapy is a complementary therapy, not 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.