How Do I Find a Good Mindfulness Therapist?

Published on 12th August 2019

On my blog wellbeinghypnotherapy.org  five years ago today (11th August 2014) and (11th April 2016) over 3 years ago I wrote about the Mindfulness Fast-track and Bandwagon how mindfulness was becoming super popular with more people becoming mindful therapists for financial gain as you can do group-work. How you can pay as little as £49 for an Online Mindfulness Diploma Course which enables you to call yourself a mindful therapist and run courses, classes and see therapy clients on a one-to-one basis fills me with dread.

Five years have gone by and mindfulness is ever more popular with mindfulness courses and therapists everywhere and many therapists adding mindfulness to their toolbox as it is commercially beneficial and attracts new clients.

So what is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness has been practiced by Buddhists for over two thousand years as part of Buddhism teaching. Being mindful means being consciously aware, deliberately concentrating and focusing on the here and now, the present moment completely. You use your body and its senses (what you can see, feel, hear, smell and taste) your thoughts and feelings to focus on the present moment. Distracting your mind from thinking about the past or your possible futures.

Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction MBSR was developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn for people with chronic pain, stress and anxiety. He designed the group programme using mindfulness meditation and yoga but removing all of the Buddhism from it.

Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy for Depression MBCT was developed from Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction by Zindel Segal, Mark Williams and John Teasdale. It uses mindfulness meditations and yoga and is a group or one-to-one programme where Buddism has been removed. Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy for Depression has been approved by NICE National Institute for Health and Care Excellence since 2004.

Mindfulness can trigger episodes of anxiety, depression and other mental-health issues if done poorly, incorrectly or in a unsupported way. I see courses and retreats advertised for hundreds, thousands of pounds that anyone can go on. Mindfulness comes from Buddhism so many people try Buddhist mindfulness for anxiety and depression which is not a therapy specifically developed for it.


How do you chose a good Mindful Therapist?

1) Ask where and how long they studied for? What qualifications and how many years of experience do they have? Do you want to see a therapist with 5 hours or days of training and 6 months of experience? 2) Are they qualified in Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction or Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy for Depression? Many therapists only train and qualify in Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction so can’t help you with your depression efficiently. Or if you have stress and anxiety a Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapist can’t help you as much as a Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Therapist. Nor will your local Buddhist centre or badly qualified Mindfulness therapist help you as much as a properly trained fulltime Mindfulness-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapist  

Stop Smoking with Hypnotherapy in Surrey and London

Why I Am Passionate About Smoking Cessation Hypnotherapy (Even
If Other Therapists Think It’s “Boring”)

When I tell fellow hypnotherapists that a large part of my practice is dedicated to helping people quit smoking, I often get a surprising reaction. Some are shocked.

They tell me it must be “boring” or “same old, same old.”

But to me, there is nothing boring about supporting and witnessing clients make life long changes in their lives .

Every time a client walks out of my clinic as a non-smoker, their health, well-being and future instantly change. Knowing that my work might give someone years of extra life with their loved ones makes this one of the most rewarding jobs in the world.

My Personal Journey: 30+ Years Smoke-Free

My passion for this work isn’t just professional—it’s deeply personal. Over 30 years ago, I sat in a hypnotherapist’s chair as a smoker. In just a single session, I stopped smoking completely.

That pivotal moment was my introduction to the incredible power of hypnotherapy, and it is the exact reason I eventually trained to become a qualified hypnotherapist myself back in September 2007. I know first-hand that it works because I lived it.

Hypnotherapy: What Actually Happens?

Many people are hesitant and scared to try hypnosis because of how it is portrayed on television. I always take the time to explain exactly how the process works to my clients so they feel completely safe and comfortable.

  • You remain in control: You are always awake, alert of your surroundings, and aware of my suggestions. You cannot be made to do anything against your will.
  • Accessing the unconscious mind: By guiding you into a light, relaxing hypnotic state, we can bypass the conscious critical mind.
  • Rewriting the habit: Once we access the sub-conscious mind, we can work to completely remove the smoking habit-behaviour.

During the session, your mind absorbs the powerful suggestions to “become a non-smoker now and forever, and to never smoke again.”

Real Results: From Heavy Smoker to Cravings-Free

If you are wondering if it can work for you, take comfort in the experiences of those who have been in your shoes. One of my recent clients shared this about their session:

“I have been smoke-free for over two months and haven’t experienced any cravings at all, despite having been a heavy smoker throughout my adult life. Adrian is highly competent and skilled… I felt completely comfortable discussing my triggers and always felt listened to, understood, and supported throughout the process.” A client that was seen 2026

Take Your First Step To Becoming a Non-Smoker

Quitting smoking is one of the greatest gifts you can give to your health, your family, and your wallet. If you are ready to break free from the habit for good, let’s work together to make it happen.

If you would like some more information about Stopping Smoking with Hypnotherapy, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Adrian Sonnex

Hypnotherapist since September 2007

Written by Adrian Sonnex

I own and run wellbeinghypnotherapy.org.uk. I am a Mindfulness-based Teacher / Therapist & Hypnotherapist covering London & Surrey.

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