From Stage Hypnosis to Clinical Change: A Veteran Trainer Speaks

In this special episode of NZACH Talk Time, clinical hypnotherapist Meredith McCarthy is joined by respected hypnotherapy trainer Roger Saxelby, whose journey with hypnosis spans over five decades.

Roger shares his remarkable path into hypnotherapy — from his first encounter with stage hypnosis as a teenager, through formal psychotherapy and hypnotherapy training, to founding and leading one of New Zealand’s most influential hypnotherapy training schools. Along the way, he reflects on the evolution of hypnosis, the shifting theories around depth and suggestion, and what truly creates lasting change for clients.

This thoughtful conversation explores:

• How hypnosis has evolved over the past 50 years
• Whether “depth of hypnosis” really matters
• The role of suggestion, rapport, and trust in effective therapy
• Conversational hypnosis vs direct suggestion
• Working with anxiety, phobias, and modern stress
• Regression, memory, and when “finding the cause” is — or isn’t — necessary
• Why clients often experience rapid change once things make sense
• The balance between scripts, structure, and true client-centred work
• Ericksonian influence, utilisation, and curiosity in practice
• Teaching hypnosis, common beginner mistakes, and practitioner confidence
• The importance of purpose, meaning, and self-help tools such as anchoring and self-hypnosis

This episode is especially valuable for:

• Practising hypnotherapists and students
• Therapists curious about different hypnosis styles
• Anyone interested in how change really happens in the mind
• Those considering training in clinical hypnotherapy

Roger’s insights are grounded, honest, and deeply informed by decades of real-world practice and teaching — offering both reassurance and inspiration for those walking the therapeutic path.

🔗 Interested in training as a clinical hypnotherapist?
Visit 👉 https://www.nzach.ac.nz
to download the NZACH prospectus.

Roger Saxelby https://www.alphahypnosis.co.nz/contact-us/

If you found this conversation helpful, please like, subscribe, and share — and join us again next week for another episode of Talk Time.