Trigger warning: this podcast contains discussions relating to PTSD, trauma, mental health, suicide and other potentially distressing experiences. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, you can call Lifeline on 131114.

Whether you're recovering from trauma, navigating anxiety or simply looking for practical ways to strengthen your mindset, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on the power of the mind.

I was lucky to sit down with Sydney-based clinical sports hypnotherapist Ian Priest, whose work has helped everyone from everyday Australians to elite athletes overcome mental barriers, build resilience and perform at their best. Drawing on his own journey into hypnotherapy and years of international training, Ian shares why lasting change isn't about erasing the past, it's about changing the patterns that keep us stuck.

In this episode he shares:

- Why clinical hypnosis has nothing to do with stage shows - and how it helps people create lasting change.

- How trauma, anxiety and PTSD keep us stuck in survival mode, and practical ways to break that cycle.

- The simple techniques that can help you calm your nervous system when you're feeling overwhelmed.

- What elite athletes can teach us about confidence, focus and performing under pressure.

- Why changing your thought patterns without erasing the past is the key to moving forward.

- The role sleep, breathing and relaxation play in healing and building resilience.

- How small daily habits like gratitude and grounding can strengthen your mental wellbeing.

- Why finding the right person to support you can make all the difference in your recovery journey.

Key Quotes

"If you're having the worst day of your life, you're well and truly inside your head."

"Find someone that you can open up to and you can trust to talk to."

"We don't need to remove it, but we need to take its power away, its energy away."

More about Ian

Find out more via the Clinical Sports Hypnosis website, Facebook and LinkedIn.

You can get involved with the podcast online

You can follow us on Instagram.

Find out more via my website.

You can reach out to me via email.

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