Best Startup
Jo Fisher Hypnotherapy helps individuals to create positive changes in their life using solution focused hypnotherapy and NLP techniques. Clients may be suffering from anxiety, depression, low mood, insomnia or phobias. They may need help with weight or stopping smoking. Whatever the client needs, the sessions will help them to achieve what they need as well as helping to calm the mind whilst restoring confidence and self-esteem. It is a totally positive therapy that can change your mind-set and enable you to take control and move forward with your life confidently and positively
Tell us about yourself?
I had been running ConnectChina Ltd, an international business consultancy specialising in trade and investment in China, since 2004. When Covid-19 hit in January 2020 and China was plunged into lockdown, China work disappeared overnight. European and UK work also stopped two months later as lockdown spread
For some reason – or serendipity, in the summer of 2019, I came across a gold standard hypnotherapy training course which sounded interesting. I decided to apply to join the course, it was a part-time 10 month course and would take place one weekend each month which I knew I could fit into my overseas travels. I had always been interested in alternative medicine having worked on TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) projects in China. It was a fascinating area and I wanted to learn more. I was accepted on the course which started in September 2019.
I had been working 24/7 and travelling to China and other countries almost every month. Lockdown meant that I had time to review my life and my career.
My hypnotherapy training course moved on-line during lockdown and I focused my attention on qualifying as a clinical and solution focused hypnotherapist. At the same time, I did other courses including NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) and qualified as an NLP practitioner which dovetails into hypnotherapy treatment.
During this time, I came to a decision that once I had qualified, I was going to set up and launch a new business – Jo Fisher Hypnotherapy.
If you could go back in time a year or two, what piece of advice would you give yourself?
To understand and learn more about social media – what works and what doesn’t. I spent too much on the wrong type of ad for the business.
What problem does your business solve?
Mental health problems – anxiety, depression, low moods, phobias, insomnia. Help for weight management and stopping smoking. Also helps with low self-esteem and builds confidence.
What is the inspiration behind your business?
I was always interested in holistic therapy. My eldest daughter had used hypnobirthing for both her sons and gave birth to both of them at home and without any chemicals or interventions. And then I began to train as a clinical and solution focused hypnotherapist and with the decline in mental health during Covid, I knew I could help people.
In my previous career, I worked with companies finding solutions for their new international markets. Now I am able to work on a personal level with individuals and help them to find solutions, which is so rewarding.
What is your magic sauce?
I offer a free initial consultation to every client as the starting point. This is so that they understand the whole process and what to expect in terms of their treatment before paying anything. And more importantly, they decide that they would like to work with me. It helps to make sure that we have the necessary rapport which is so important when working with clients on their mental health issues.
I also offer 6 sessions for the price of 5 if paid in advance and I work evenings and Saturdays as required.
I work from my therapy room in a local business centre which has free parking for clients which is a plus.
What is the plan for the next 5 years? What do you want to achieve?
I am already offering corporate workshops to help their staff with anxiety and stress. I would like to develop this part of the business to run regular 6 week programmes with corporates on different areas of wellbeing.
I would also like to open a Wellness Centre offering a whole range of therapies and treatments – probably a longer term plan though!!
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far?
Finding new clients during lockdown wasn’t an easy task. In the first few months, I spent too much on advertising, using methods that didn’t reap any rewards. But it was trial and error. Google Ads has been the best source of new clients for me as well as Hypnotherapy Directory and of course, referrals.
I also learnt that you have to carefully word google ads – and if you put the wrong ‘words’ such as promoting help for ‘addiction’, google ads remove your ad and don’t actually tell you. My google ad was taken down for a few weeks which meant I lost this time promoting the business and finding new clients.
Lockdown also gave me the time to do my web-site Home – Jo Fisher Hypnotherapy, get social media pages in place, business cards and marketing materials printed. However, it didn’t occur to me that I wouldn’t need my business cards immediately because there were no networking events to give them out!
And just as the clients started coming, there was another lockdown and some clients don’t want online sessions which is challenging.
How do people get involved/buy into your vision?
If you are feeling anxious and down, why not book the free initial consultation? This can be done either online (if you are not local) or face-to-face.
If you would just like some easy and effective techniques to help to calm your anxiety, send an email to info@jofisherhypnotherapy requesting the ‘Help for Anxiety’ techniques.
If you are a corporate, contact us to learn how we can help to make your staff and teams more productive and motivated.
Contact Jo on 07904 500307 or email info@jofisherhypnotherapy.org or send your enquiry from our web-site https://jofisherhypnotherapy.org/initial-consultation/
