Overcome the Stress & Hurdles of Small Business Ownership: How Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy Can Help You Thrive
Hi - My name is Andy Selway-Woolley (he/him) and I’m a Clinical Solution Focused Hypnotherapist and Psychotherapist. I run HeadFirst Hypnotherapy, based in Upper Heyford (near Bicester), Oxfordshire.
Running your own business as a small business owner, start-up founder, or solopreneur can be exciting — but it can also feel overwhelming.
The pressure, the constant decisions, the responsibility… it can all build up. Many people find themselves feeling stressed, disorganised, or stuck in unhelpful patterns. Sound familiar?
Advice from coaches and mentors can be incredibly helpful, but sometimes the internal habits and thought patterns still feel hard to shift. When life gets busy, it’s easy to slip back into old ways of thinking, even with the best intentions.
This is where Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy (SFH) can offer meaningful support.
Much like how you might work with a personal trainer to stay physically strong, SFH offers many people a space to build mental clarity, develop helpful habits, and reconnect with a more resourceful mindset. Some people find that the approach complements the tools they receive from coaches or mentors, helping them stay focused and grounded in the long term.
The Role of Neuroplasticity in Business Success
SFH draws on principles from neuroscience, including what we know about neuroplasticity — the brain’s natural ability to form new connections throughout life.
The process isn’t about changing your brain for you. Instead, many people find that the relaxed, solution-focused approach offers the mental space to reflect differently, explore new perspectives, and engage their mind in more helpful ways.
When combined with the practical strategies you already use in your business, this can support a more consistent mindset as you work towards your goals.
Common Challenges for Small Business Owners
If you’re running a business, it’s likely you’ve faced at least a few of these:
Procrastination
For many people, procrastination appears when stress or overwhelm builds. Clients often share that sessions give them space to settle their mind, reconnect with intentions, and approach tasks with a clearer perspective.
Lack of Confidence or Imposter Feelings
It’s common for business owners to doubt themselves — especially when stepping into visibility or doing something new.
Some people find that SFH sessions help them focus on strengths, notice what’s already working, and reconnect with their own resourcefulness.
Feeling Like You’ve Built Yourself a “Business Prison”
Many founders set out seeking freedom, only to realise they’ve created a role that consumes their time and energy.
SFH offers a reflective, forward-looking space to reconnect with your original vision, consider what’s within your control, and identify steps that support balance and organisation.
Managing Personal Pressures Alongside Business Demands
Financial pressure, family responsibilities, and health challenges can all impact clarity and decision-making.
People often describe SFH as a supportive place to reflect, create calm, and feel more grounded.
Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy: A Space for Clarity and Forward Movement
SFH isn’t about analysing the past or focusing on problems. It centres around solutions — the small steps, resources, and strengths that help you move forward.
In a relaxed state, many people find they can access clearer thinking and explore ideas or possibilities that felt out of reach when stressed.
This approach often encourages:
imagining how you’d like things to be
noticing recent progress
focusing on practical steps within your control
building confidence through mental rehearsal
It’s gentle, future-focused, and empowering.
Setting Clear Goals
A clear direction can make an enormous difference in your day-to-day business life.
In SFH, people are encouraged to define what they want to achieve and break this into meaningful, manageable steps.
Clients often say they leave sessions with a stronger sense of focus and motivation as they work toward their business or personal goals.
Confidence, Resilience, and Mindset
Setbacks are part of the entrepreneurial journey. What often matters is how you respond to them.
Many people find that SFH helps them reconnect with a more resilient, confident mindset — one that supports taking action, staying grounded, and seeing challenges with greater perspective.
The Impact of Business Ownership on Mental Wellbeing
Running a business can have a noticeable impact on your wellbeing.
Research shows:
56% of small business owners in the UK have experienced poor mental health over the past year (Simply Business).
96% admit to bottling up stress related to running their business (BACP).
These findings reflect the pressures that often sit behind the scenes of entrepreneurship.
SFH isn’t a medical or psychological treatment, but many people use it as a supportive tool to navigate stress, build coping resources, and create a sense of balance.
Is Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy Right for You?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or struggling to maintain balance while running your business, SFH can offer a supportive, forward-looking space to reflect and reset.
Clients often describe sessions as grounding, motivating, and empowering — helping them focus on what’s working, what they want, and what’s within their control as they move forward.
If you’re looking for support that strengthens clarity, resourcefulness, and resilience, SFH may be a helpful addition to your business journey.
Want to find out more about how Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy can support you as a small business owner to reconnect with your energy, spark, and sense of success?
The next step is booking a FREE 45 Minute Initial Consultation / Hypnotherapy Discovery Session (no half-measures here).
In-person at my Oxfordshire Therapy Room (Upper Heyford, near Bicester) or Online via Zoom).
The first step to setting yourself free and living the life you want.
My name is Andy Selway-Woolley (he/him) and I am a fully qualified Clinical Solution Focused Hypnotherapist and Psychotherapist. I run HeadFirst Hypnotherapy®, based in Upper Heyford (near Bicester), Oxfordshire.
I assist people in regaining control of their lives by retraining their brains to overcome limiting thought patterns, master their emotions, and cultivate resilient behaviours for a brighter and more positive future.. I know… It’s awesome!
a nutshell, I ‘get you out of your own way’. Because, let’s face it, a lot of us are.
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy taps into the power of your subconscious mind so you can move forward towards the life you’ve always wanted to live. It’s a quick, practical way to address thought patterns, emotions and behaviours that are holding you back in life.
I’m a registered and accredited member of the Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), Association for Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (AfSFH) and National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH).
Hypnotherapy sessions can be done either in my garden therapy room in Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire (Near Bicester). Ideally situated, it also serves individuals in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, and Warwickshire and I also work online nationwide via Zoom.