--- title: "Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy for IBS | Healthflex" description: "Gut-directed hypnotherapy for IBS with a specialist dietitian in Haslemere, Surrey. One of very few dietitians in the UK trained to offer it." canonical: "https://healthflex.co.uk/services/gut-directed-hypnotherapy" --- ![](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2FGut-directed-hypnotherapy.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1792680705595&w=3840&q=75&dpl=dpl_2uoSEwJpQTLVVJSGHRXjPJr15m8o) Dietetics and IBS # Gut-directed hypnotherapy for IBS £110–£140 45–60 mins [Call to arrange an appointment](tel:01428642577) Gut-directed hypnotherapy is a psychological treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It uses deep relaxation and focused imagery to calm the way your gut and brain talk to each other, which is often where IBS symptoms such as pain, bloating and urgency come from. At Healthflex it is offered by **Liz Toft**, a Gastro Allergy Specialist Dietitian who completed the British Society of Clinical and Academic Hypnosis course in gut-directed hypnotherapy in 2026. Very few dietitians in the UK are trained in it, so you get someone who understands both the food side and the gut and brain side of IBS in the same room. **Hypnotherapy starts with a dietetic assessment.** Your first appointment is a full dietitian consultation, so Liz can understand your symptoms and agree with you whether gut-directed hypnotherapy is the right next step. Hypnotherapy sessions follow from there. Clinics run on the **first Monday of every month, from 4pm to 8pm**, at the clinic in Haslemere, starting on **Monday 7 December**. You can refer yourself. Call reception on 01428 642577 to arrange an appointment. ## Why the gut and brain matter in IBS Your digestive system and your brain are in constant contact through the nervous system. In IBS that communication becomes oversensitive, so normal amounts of gas or movement in the gut can be felt as pain, and stress can quickly turn into cramping, bloating or a dash to the toilet. This is why IBS is now described as a disorder of gut and brain interaction. It does not mean the symptoms are imagined. They are real, and so is the mechanism behind them. ## How it works at Healthflex Every course starts with a dietetic assessment. In your initial consultation Liz will take a full history of your symptoms, diet and anything you have already tried, and talk you through the options. For some people dietary changes come first, for others hypnotherapy, and for many a combination works best. If you agree that gut-directed hypnotherapy is right for you, the sessions follow on from that appointment. ## What happens in a session Liz will guide you into a deeply relaxed, focused state. You stay aware and in control throughout, and it is nothing like stage hypnosis. While you are relaxed she uses suggestions and imagery aimed at your digestion, for example picturing a calm, steady flow through the gut. Courses run over several weeks, and you will be given recordings to practise with at home between sessions, because regular practice is a large part of how it works. ## What the evidence says The British Society of Gastroenterology recommends gut-directed hypnotherapy for people with IBS whose symptoms have not settled with first line treatment, and NICE guidance includes hypnotherapy as an option for IBS that has not responded to other approaches. In a 2016 Monash University trial, gut-directed hypnotherapy improved overall gut symptoms by a similar amount to the low FODMAP diet. ## Before you book Gut-directed hypnotherapy is for people with diagnosed IBS. If you have had symptoms for more than six months and have not seen your GP, please see them first. The NHS explains [how IBS is diagnosed](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome-ibs/getting-diagnosed/). If you are looking for hypnotherapy for stress, anxiety or stopping smoking rather than IBS, see our [hypnotherapy page](/services/hypnotherapy). ## Fees Your initial dietetic assessment, of up to sixty minutes, is **£140**. Follow up sessions, including hypnotherapy sessions, of up to forty five minutes are **£110**. [Call to arrange an appointment](tel:01428642577) ## Frequently Asked Questions What is gut-directed hypnotherapy? It is a psychological treatment for IBS that uses deep relaxation and focused imagery to calm the oversensitive communication between the gut and brain that causes many IBS symptoms. Can I book gut-directed hypnotherapy straight away? Your first appointment is always a dietetic assessment with Liz. It lets her understand your symptoms and agree with you whether hypnotherapy is the right next step, before any hypnotherapy sessions begin. Does gut-directed hypnotherapy work for IBS? The British Society of Gastroenterology recommends it for IBS that has not settled with first line treatment, and a 2016 Monash University trial found it improved overall gut symptoms by a similar amount to the low FODMAP diet. It does not work for everyone, and Liz will help you decide whether it is a good fit. Will I lose control under hypnosis? No. You stay aware and in control throughout. Clinical hypnosis is a deeply relaxed, focused state and is nothing like stage hypnosis. How many sessions will I need? Courses run over several weeks, with recordings to practise with at home between sessions. Liz will agree the right number with you after your assessment. How much does gut-directed hypnotherapy cost? The initial dietetic assessment is £140 for up to sixty minutes. Follow up sessions, including hypnotherapy, are £110 for up to forty five minutes. [Call to arrange an appointment](tel:01428642577) ## Available Team Members These team members perform this service - ![Liz Toft, Gastro Allergy Specialist Dietitian at Healthflex](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2FLiz-Toft-96x100.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1792680880148&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_2uoSEwJpQTLVVJSGHRXjPJr15m8o) Liz Toft Gastro Allergy Specialist Dietitian, HCPC registered [View](/team-members/liz-toft) ## Related Services Complete your experience with these services - Dietetics £110–£140•45–60 mins [View](/services/dietetics) - Hypnotherapy £120 [View](/services/hypnotherapy)