Ease the pressure.
Make room for rest.
Jaw clenching and teeth grinding can make mornings feel anything but restful. A calmer response to stress may be one useful part of moving forward.
I'm Gary Smith, a Swindon-based psychotherapist and clinical hypnotherapist. Let's explore the pressures around your sleep and jaw tension, with care, practical choices and the right dental support alongside.
In-person Swindon · Enquiries from around 50 miles · UK-wide online appointments where suitable
Your jaw may be carrying more tension than you realise.
Some people notice clenching while concentrating. Others discover that they're grinding their teeth during sleep.
Bruxism describes grinding, gnashing or clenching the teeth. It can happen while you're awake or asleep. Symptoms may include jaw discomfort, morning headaches, dental wear, sensitive teeth and disrupted sleep.
Stress is often involved, but it's not the whole story for everyone. Sleep difficulties, certain medications and other factors may contribute. There is no need to diagnose yourself before having a conversation about support.
Because teeth and jaw joints need protecting, a dentist is an important partner in assessing symptoms and recommending the right care. Psychological support can sit alongside that care when stress and tension are part of the picture.
What might teeth grinding look like?
Not everyone notices the same signs. These experiences are reasons to explore what is happening, not a diagnosis.
Morning jaw discomfort
Waking with sore, tired or tight jaw muscles, sometimes with discomfort around the face or temples.
Tooth wear or sensitivity
Changes noticed by you or your dentist, including worn edges, chipped teeth or increased sensitivity.
Night-time grinding
A partner may hear grinding sounds, or you may wake with discomfort without knowing what happened overnight.
Daytime clenching
Pressing your teeth together during work, driving, concentration or periods of pressure.
Headaches and tension
Aching around the temples, tired cheeks or a sense that the muscles have been working hard.
Restless sleep
Sleep disruption, tiredness or snoring that makes it worth discussing potential sleep-related causes with a GP.
Protecting your health matters. See your dentist if you have damaged or sensitive teeth, jaw or facial pain, or reported night-time grinding. Seek medical assessment for significant snoring, breathing pauses or excessive daytime sleepiness. Urgent symptoms should not wait for a therapy appointment.
A calmer response can begin with understanding.
My work draws on Solution Focused Clinical Hypnotherapy, NLP and practical CBT-informed elements, chosen in discussion with you.
Making space for calm
We explore the changes you would like in everyday life and may use agreed hypnosis, relaxation and imagery to support a calmer experience of stress and tension.
Rather than promising to switch off grinding, the focus is on realistic, meaningful progress and your individual experience.
Exploring familiar responses
Where useful, NLP-informed visualisation and reframing can help you notice situations associated with jaw tension and practise alternative ways of responding.
We'll agree what fits your preferences and review what is helpful, without treating a technique as a guaranteed outcome.
Practical changes during the day
We may explore awareness of clenching, everyday stress patterns, helpful self-talk, relaxation cues and routines that make rest easier.
These are CBT-informed elements, not a claim that this service replaces specialist dental, sleep or psychological treatment.
Protect your teeth while exploring what helps.
A protective night guard and support for stress do different jobs. They can be complementary rather than competing choices.
Your dentist may recommend a mouth guard or splint to help protect teeth from damage, or discuss management of tooth wear and jaw symptoms. Continue using any prescribed guard unless your dentist advises otherwise.
There may also be contributing factors beyond emotional tension. Sleep apnoea, medicines or temporomandibular disorder, for example, may require professional assessment and a different treatment plan.
When stress is part of the picture, hypnotherapy, NLP and relaxation-based work may be a welcome additional way to explore how you feel and respond. We'll be clear about what is within my professional role.
One conversation. Your pace.
There is no fixed programme or promise about how quickly jaw clenching or grinding may change.
Start with a free chat
Tell me what you've noticed, what your dentist has recommended, and how stress, sleep or jaw tension may affect everyday life.
Explore a suitable approach
We'll consider your goals, existing care, the options I offer and whether another assessment or treatment is preferable.
Review what is useful
If you decide to proceed, we'll review your experience together and adjust the work when appropriate. You're free to stop at any time.
Informed choices are good choices.
Clear, reliable information can help you decide which kind of support to explore.
The NHS explains that bruxism may be related to stress, sleep difficulties and other factors, and that dentists can advise on protective guards or splints. NHS guidance also explains symptoms that need assessment for temporomandibular disorder (TMD).
My role is to offer thoughtful therapeutic support where suitable, while encouraging you to continue dental and medical advice.
Trusted resources
NHS — Teeth grinding (bruxism) NHS — Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) NHS — Sleep apnoeaNew or severe jaw symptoms, tooth damage and possible sleep-disordered breathing should be assessed by the relevant healthcare professional.
Local to Swindon. Available online across the UK.
One genuine therapy practice in Swindon, with suitable online appointments nationwide.
A welcoming local practice
Appointments take place at Best Mind Therapy on Northbourne Road, Swindon, SN25 4YE. Enquiries are welcome from an approximate 50-mile radius, including Cirencester, Royal Wootton Bassett, Marlborough, Chippenham, Devizes, Gloucester, Cheltenham, Bath, Oxford and surrounding communities.
Join from your own space
Where suitable, individual consultations and sessions can be arranged online throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. We can discuss privacy, practical arrangements and whether online work fits your needs during the initial consultation.
The 50-mile catchment refers to an approximate straight-line enquiry radius from the Swindon practice, not additional clinics or a guarantee of travel times.
Hello, I'm Gary.
A psychotherapist, clinical hypnotherapist, lecturer and clinical supervisor based in Swindon.
I know how wearing it can feel when tension seems to follow you into your sleep. My approach is practical, warm and collaborative, with time to talk about the changes you hope for and the different options available.
My work draws on Solution Focused Clinical Hypnotherapy, NLP and CBT-informed strategies. I also teach and supervise other hypnotherapists, and I recognise the importance of working alongside appropriate dental and medical care.
You're welcome to have an initial conversation without committing to further appointments.
A little clarity before we meet.
Useful answers about bruxism support, dental care and arranging sessions.
Can hypnotherapy help with teeth grinding or jaw clenching?
Solution Focused Clinical Hypnotherapy may offer a supportive way to work with stress, relaxation and patterns of tension. NLP and CBT-informed strategies can also be explored where appropriate. Bruxism has several possible causes, so we discuss realistic goals and continue to prioritise any dental or medical care you need.
Is teeth grinding always caused by stress?
No. Stress and anxiety are common contributing factors, particularly with daytime jaw clenching, but sleep-related bruxism may also be associated with snoring, sleep apnoea, medicines or other factors. A dentist or GP can help assess symptoms and possible causes.
Should I keep wearing my night guard?
Yes. If your dentist has recommended a mouth guard or splint, keep using it as advised. It can protect teeth from damage. Do not stop or change dental treatment without discussing it with your dentist, even if your jaw feels more relaxed.
Can you help with clenching during the day?
We can explore awareness of jaw tension, stressful situations, breathing and relaxation, and helpful responses during the day. Practical CBT-informed and NLP techniques may be incorporated with your agreement. You can also ask your dentist about a suitable resting jaw position.
What if I have jaw pain, headaches or earache?
These symptoms deserve assessment by an appropriate healthcare professional. See a dentist for tooth damage, jaw or facial pain, and consult your GP or NHS 111 when symptoms are severe or urgent. Therapy is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment of dental problems, temporomandibular disorder or other medical causes.
Could grinding be related to my sleep?
Yes. Bruxism can occur while asleep and may sometimes accompany snoring or obstructive sleep apnoea. Tell your GP if you have breathing pauses during sleep, choking or gasping episodes, or troublesome daytime sleepiness. We can discuss stress and sleep habits alongside appropriate professional assessment.
How many sessions will I need?
There is no reliable fixed number for everyone. Following a free initial consultation, we can discuss your goals, suitability and how we would review progress. You are free to decide whether to continue at every stage.
Do you offer online sessions across the UK?
Yes. Where suitable, I offer online sessions across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as in-person appointments at my Swindon practice. We can discuss privacy, practical arrangements and whether an online format is appropriate for you.
How much does it cost?
The initial consultation is free and without obligation. Standard individual sessions are listed at £75; current package or concessionary arrangements are on the fees page. We will confirm the applicable fee before any paid appointment.
A gentler way forward begins with a conversation.
If stress, tension or teeth grinding is affecting your day or night, we can explore what support may be helpful alongside protecting your dental health.
Book a free, no-obligation initial consultation in Swindon or online where suitable. We'll talk about your experiences, your questions and the next step that feels appropriate.
Best Mind Therapy
Northbourne Road
Swindon, Wiltshire
SN25 4YE
Available throughout the United Kingdom, where appropriate.