Best Mind Therapy · Habit change · Swindon & online UK
Small changes. A different tomorrow.
When an old habit has become your way of coping, change can begin with understanding — not judgement.
I'm Gary Smith. I offer a thoughtful, practical space to explore patterns around stress, drinking, substance use and everyday coping, and to develop alternatives that feel more aligned with the life you want.
In person in Swindon · Enquiries from around 50 miles · Suitable online sessions throughout the UK
01 / A gentler place to begin
There is often a reason a habit stays.
A familiar routine can become a way of finding relief, taking a break, filling a quiet moment or managing difficult feelings.
Perhaps it is a drink after a demanding day, another hour of scrolling, something to eat when you're not hungry, or a pattern of avoidance that leaves you frustrated with yourself. The behaviour may serve a purpose, even when the consequences are no longer welcome.
My approach begins with curiosity: what happens beforehand, what does the habit offer in the moment, and what would you prefer to do instead? From there, we can consider practical changes that suit your circumstances and values.
02 / Different habits, familiar feelings
The patterns may differ. The wish for change is shared.
We look at your experience as an individual, rather than trying to fit everybody into the same programme.
Alcohol and unwinding
When having a drink has become closely associated with switching off, coping with stress or marking the end of the working day.
Substance-related concerns
When using a substance raises concerns about wellbeing, control or relationships. We discuss suitability and the role of specialist support first.
Eating in response to feelings
Exploring the links between mood, routine and everyday choices, while seeking specialist help where eating problems need clinical assessment.
Phones and endless scrolling
When checking, notifications and screen time leave less space for rest, relationships or activities that matter to you.
Nail biting and familiar rituals
Noticing automatic moments and experimenting with kinder, more deliberate alternatives where appropriate.
Procrastination and escape
When putting something off briefly reduces discomfort but creates more pressure later, we can explore manageable next steps.
For significant physical symptoms or patterns that may require specialist treatment, an appropriate healthcare assessment comes first.
03 / How I work
Hypnotherapy and NLP, with practical steps you can use.
Our work is forward-looking, collaborative and built around the changes you want to make.
Solution Focused Clinical Hypnotherapy offers space to explore goals and, when appropriate, use guided hypnosis and relaxation to support reflection and rehearsal of more helpful responses.
NLP techniques may be used to explore how you represent situations, notice familiar triggers and practise alternative responses. These techniques are tailored to your preferences and evaluated together.
CBT-informed elements can help us look at the link between thoughts, feelings, situations and actions. We may consider simple habit tracking, problem-solving, planning for difficult moments and changes to the environment around a habit.
None of this requires you to pretend a difficult habit is easy to change. You are involved in the decisions, and we can discuss other interventions whenever they are more suitable.
04 / Your wellbeing matters
Knowing when another kind of support comes first.
A caring conversation includes honest information about safety and the right level of help.
Alcohol and withdrawal symptoms
If you drink heavily or experience morning shaking, sweating, nausea, or other withdrawal symptoms when cutting down, contact your GP or an alcohol support service before changing your drinking. Suddenly stopping can be dangerous. For severe confusion, seizures or hallucinations, call 999.
Substances and specialist care
If your concern involves substances, a GP or specialist drug service can advise on health risks, withdrawal, medication and appropriate treatment. My work is not a replacement for those services, and I do not offer medically supervised withdrawal.
For people in the Swindon area, the NHS also lists a local drug and alcohol support service. We can talk about the most appropriate next step at an initial consultation.
05 / What happens next
No fixed programme. A considered starting point.
Change is personal. We'll agree the right pace and review whether our work is useful.
A free initial consultation
Tell me about your goals, ask questions and discuss whether my approach seems suitable for what you need.
Make a plan together
Explore relevant patterns, ways of coping, and possible approaches, including hypnotherapy, NLP and CBT-informed tools.
Review and adjust
We check what is useful and revisit your goals. You can pause, stop or seek different support at any stage.
06 / Meet your therapist
Hello, I'm Gary.
Psychotherapist, Solution Focused Clinical Hypnotherapist, lecturer and clinical supervisor in Swindon.
I believe the first useful step is a conversation in which you feel heard, respected and free to consider your options. My approach is calm, practical and forward-looking, without making promises about how quickly an individual habit will change.
We can discuss what has brought you here, the life you'd like to move towards and the kind of support that might be appropriate. I also teach and supervise hypnotherapists, and I recognise when other healthcare or specialist services should be involved.
07 / Local and online appointments
Swindon in person. The UK online.
Convenient, individual support — with location and suitability considered from the beginning.
In-person appointments are available at my North Swindon practice. I welcome enquiries from approximately 50 miles around Swindon, including Wiltshire, Cirencester, the Cotswolds and nearby areas of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire.
Suitable online appointments are available across the United Kingdom, allowing you to speak from a quiet, private setting. There is just one physical Swindon clinic; the surrounding towns are areas from which clients may travel.
View the Swindon clinic on Google MapsAppointment options
Swindon clinic
Northbourne Road, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN25 4YE
Local catchment
Approximately 50 miles around Swindon for in-person enquiries
Online sessions
Throughout the UK where clinically appropriate
The approximate radius describes an enquiry area; it is not a guarantee of travelling time or a claim of additional branches.
08 / Common questions
Questions about habit change
A clearer understanding makes it easier to decide what feels right for you.
What kinds of habits can we talk about?
We can explore everyday coping patterns such as automatic evening drinking, repeated scrolling, comfort eating, avoidance, nail biting, spending habits and other routines that no longer feel helpful. We can also talk about worries involving substances, while making sure specialist medical support is considered whenever it is needed.
How do hypnotherapy and NLP fit into habit change?
I use Solution Focused Clinical Hypnotherapy to support relaxation, reflection and future-focused planning. Depending on your goals and preferences, we may also explore NLP techniques and CBT-informed ideas for noticing triggers and choosing alternative responses. We review together what is useful for you.
Can you help if alcohol has become part of my evening routine?
We can discuss the situations and feelings surrounding drinking, your goals and whether my support is appropriate. If you drink heavily, need alcohol to function or experience shaking, sweating or other symptoms when cutting down, contact your GP or a specialist alcohol service before making changes. Stopping suddenly can be dangerous.
What if my concern involves substances?
You can describe what is happening without fear of judgement. The first step is deciding whether talking support is suitable, or whether a GP or specialist drug service should lead your care. I do not provide medical withdrawal treatment or replace specialist substance-use services.
Will I have to explain every detail of the past?
No. Solution Focused sessions are primarily concerned with what you want to be different and the steps that could help. We can discuss the background when it is relevant, at a pace that works for you.
How many sessions will I need?
There is no fixed number that suits everyone. We can discuss your goals at a free initial consultation and review our work as we go. You are not required to commit to a package.
Can I attend online?
Yes. Suitable appointments are offered online throughout the United Kingdom, alongside in-person sessions at the Swindon practice. We will check whether online work is appropriate for your circumstances.
How much does it cost?
The initial consultation is free. The published standard individual session fee is £75 for approximately 50–55 minutes. Eligible concessionary sessions are £65. Please see the fees page for current arrangements and any available packages.
Will what I say remain private?
Sessions are confidential within professional, legal and safeguarding limits, which I explain before we begin. You can ask about privacy, records and suitability during your free initial consultation.
A calmer next chapter
You can begin with one conversation.
No obligation, no fixed programme, and no need to have every answer before you get in touch.
We can talk about the habit you want to understand, the difference you hope to make and whether Solution Focused Clinical Hypnotherapy, NLP and CBT-informed support might suit your circumstances.