In the latest episode of the Hypnogeeks Podcast, I’m joined by Paula Crowhurst (Polly Bloom), an accredited Clinical Hypnotherapist and Divorce & Separation Coach recognised on the Spear’s 500 Top Recommended Divorce Consultancy & Support Services list. We explore the neuroscience of separation: • Why dopamine can make an ex feel addictive • How cortisol disrupts sleep and decision-making • How hypnotherapy strengthens the prefrontal cortex, our internal “wise decision-maker” Paula brings both professional expertise and lived experience. Having rebuilt her own life after betrayal, she now helps clients move from emotional overwhelm to clarity, boundaries, and strength, particularly in high-conflict and co-parenting situations. This episode blends brain science, emotional resilience, and practical therapeutic insight, relevant for clinicians, coaches, and anyone interested in how the mind heals after relational trauma. 🎧 Listen to the episode here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/705534/episodes/18692368-hypnogeeks-with-paula-crowhurst-divorce-and-separation-coach-clinical-hypnotherapist I’d love to hear your reflections, how do you see neuroscience informing emotional recovery in your work?

Slowing down is not failure. It is wisdom. Too many options create overwhelm. One clear step creates calm. I honour my body. I trust its signals. I move at the speed of regulation. I do not need to hold everything. Systems can hold structure. I hold presence. From the first click to the first conversation, I create safety. I create clarity. I create space to breathe. What feels like a pause is actually alignment. I am building from calm. I am leading from congruence. I am expanding through softness. And that… is the joyful mind way. 🌿✨

If you’re feeling that little pull towards hypnotherapy whether it’s a new career calling, a deeper life chapter, or that sense of “I know I’m meant to help people” I just want to say this: trust that nudge. And… choose your training wisely. Because the hypnotherapy world is a bit like the Wild West. A quick Google search throws up everything from weekend “become a master” certificates to long diplomas that actually build real clinical confidence. The difference matters. Pick the wrong school and you risk paying good money for a certificate that doesn’t hold weight when you try to get insured, join a professional register, or work ethically with real people. Pick the right one and you’re not just learning techniques… you’re building a foundation for a practice you can be proud of. Here’s what I’d look for. 1) Don’t Get Dazzled by Certificates, Check the Accreditation Hypnotherapy is self-regulated, which basically means anyone can create a “course” and put a badge on it. So accreditation is your safety net. Look for training that’s recognised by respected professional bodies, because that’s what helps you with professional registration, credibility, and insurance. If a school is properly accredited, they’re being held to standards outside of their own marketing. A big green flag: a school that isn’t just linked to one body, but has multiple recognised accreditations. That’s usually a sign they’re serious about quality, ethics, and professional outcomes. 2) Make Sure You Get Real Clinical Practice (Not Just Theory) I’m going to say this with love: you cannot learn to be a confident hypnotherapist purely from watching videos. You can learn information online. But confidence comes from practice. And competence comes from being supervised while you practise. So look for training that includes practical work, ideally in an immersive setting where you get to drop in, focus, and actually do the work not just “talk about” the work. The gold standard is when a school offers something like a clinical residency style experience, retreats where you practise properly, with supervision, feedback, and real people.