Bill Sheate
Bill Sheate
Dip CBH, GQHP, GHR Reg, Dip SMRB
Specialist in anxiety and stress
Bill Sheate
Bill Sheate
Dip CBH, GQHP, GHR Reg, Dip SMRB
Specialist in anxiety and stress
About me
Originally I trained as a biologist (in ecology) but have spent some 40 years working in environmental policy and decision-making, as a consultant, an environmental campaigner and for 28 years as an academic at Imperial College London. For some 12 years or so I split my time between academia and environmental consultancy (as Technical Director at Collingwood Environmental Planning Ltd.), which required excellent time and project management skills - and a ready ability to say 'No'! Over recent years I maintained my academic work at Imperial College while creating more time for private practice as a therapist. I took early retirement from Imperial College at the end of September 2023, and now remain connected to the Centre for Environmental Policy as an Emeritus Reader.
“While I specialise in anxiety and stress in higher education, I treat clients from all walks of life; anxiety and stress know no boundaries.”
My academic qualifications - BSc (Hons) Biology (Ecology), MSc Environmental Technology, Diploma of Imperial College, PhD in environmental policy and decision-making - and experience are not irrelevant to me becoming a cognitive behavioural hypnotherapist. They share a number of the same problem solving and risk assessment models and I have spent many years supporting students often with severe personal difficulties through to completion of their course. And I 'know' higher education, having worked in both 'new' and 'old' universities and been an external examiner for environmental courses and PhDs at numerous universities in the UK and Ireland, as well as having been a personal tutor, an undergraduate and postgraduate lecturer, and course director and Departmental Careers Advisor, and supervised countless research projects and PhDs. I am also an Honorary Professor at the University of Manchester.
My own career path has not been a typical academic one - I have followed my interests and the opportunities, and my passion has always been in the teaching and pastoral support of students. CBH is a natural extension of this, providing a very well equipped tool-kit for dealing with the common personal issues that arise in higher education (and beyond), solidly underpinned by scientific research. Both students and staff face increasing pressures from an education system that benchmarks individuals (and their institutions) throughout their careers and, from student tuition fees to management pressures on staff all cause rising levels of stress and anxiety. Understanding the relationship between your feelings, thoughts and behaviour, and the power of your imagination, can be wonderfully liberating. Although I specialise in anxiety and stress in higher education, I treat clients from all walks of life; anxiety and stress know no boundaries.
I am experienced in treating a wide range of stress and anxiety related issues, including low self-worth/self-esteem, phobias, perfectionism, insomnia and (because of my environmental background) eco-anxiety (fear about the state of the planet). I also have a research interest in mindfulness and sustainability. My approach to cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy (CBH) fully integrates CBT with evidence-based hypnosis, incorporating mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), metacognitive therapy, and relaxation, with a strong focus on practical techniques and skills training for building long-term resilience and self-efficacy. I am able to tailor treatment individually to work with you on specific issues.
As part of private practice - and in addition to one-to-one therapy - I run tailor-made workshops (e.g. on self-hypnosis; mindfulness and relaxation; eco-anxiety) and a practical programme on Relaxation and Resilience (covering mindfulness, relaxation, stress management, assertiveness and personal problem solving skills) specifically for the MSc Environmental Technology at Imperial College London, where I was (part-time) Reader in Environmental Assessment and Departmental Careers Advisor in the Centre for Environmental Policy. until September 2023 (now Emeritus Reader). In my therapist capacity I continue to deliver similar Mindful Learning and Resilience Skills workshops elsewhere across Faculties and departments throughout Imperial College and for other universities and organisations: for undergraduates, postgraduates, PhD research students, and staff. I teach on the Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy at the UK College of Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy in London and facilitate a Hypno-CBT® Peer Support Group on behalf of the UK College, for practitioners who have completed the Diploma. I am a GHR Acknowledged Supervisor.
Qualifications and professional registrations
Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy (Dip CBH) from the UK College of Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy, London - the leading UK training centre for evidence-based hypnotherapy integrated with CBT (Hypno-CBT®) and accredited by the British Psychological Society. Also accredited by NCFE, BPS, GHR, NCH and REBHP
General Qualification in Hypnotherapy Practice (GQHP) awarded by the General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR)/General Hypnotherapy Standards Council (GHSC)
Diploma in Stress Management and Resilience Building (Dip SMRB) from the UK College of Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy, London and accredited by the International Stress Management Association (ISMA)
Certificate in Clinical Supervision: Essential Supervision Skills (BPS Approved) (2018), from SDS Seminars Ltd.
Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy for Insomnia, CPD Workshop (2016), UK College of Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy
Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder CPD Workshop, with Daniel Mirea (2017), UK College of Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy
PTSD & Resilience Workshop with Donald Meichenbaum PhD - Online Workshop - One-day workshop with Donald Meichenbaum PhD., UK College of Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy
Registered Hypnotherapist (GHR Reg) General Hypnotherapy Register
Accredited Practitioner General Hypnotherapy Standards Council (GHSC)
CNHC registered Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council Registered Practitioner
GHR Acknowledged Supervisor General Hypnotherapy Register
Therapist at Bloomsbury Therapy Centre
Listed with Talking Health
Testimonials
Testimonials
Testimonials
Testimonials
Testimonials
“I reached out to Bill after struggling to cope with the pressure and the uncertainty I felt while starting my PhD, I was feeling very hopeless and isolated. The sessions we had together provided me with the safe space I needed to unravel my darkest thoughts about myself and the future, with his guidance I was able to take a look at myself from the outside looking in. The tools I learnt during our sessions helped me lift the fog of anxiety that was clouding all of my emotions and was not letting me be present and live my life. He also helped me to address my climate anxiety and I left each session feeling like I understood myself and my relationship with the environment a bit better. I am now better able to show compassion to myself and analyse my thoughts and feelings thanks to his counsel.”
“I truly thought I was a self aware person but during the course of CBT with Bill I realised that my anxious mind was in overdrive, unchecked. Bill provided a calm and supportive space to learn about anxiety from a distance. He also gave me simple tools which, when I put them into practice, substantially reduced my anxiety and made me a much happier person in work, relationships and life. I really can’t recommend Bill enough.”
“I came to Bill feeling extremely anxious about climate change. I had tried to deal with it myself but found it kept getting worse and was consuming my mind. When we started I immediately felt that he deeply understood the climate change issue, as well as how I was feeling.
As the sessions progressed I started to notice a gradual shift in my mind, and knowing I could share my thoughts and experiences gave me a sense of relief when thoughts came up during each week.
It was a surprise to me how much progress I could make with therapy - I still get anxious thoughts about climate change, but they no longer consume my mind or dictate every tiny decision I make, and when thoughts do arise I feel able to cope with them. I hadn’t imagined these changes would be possible! I feel like I’m in a completely different place than when we first met, and I’m so glad I started talking to Bill. ”
“I never believed in myself until I had a chat with Bill. After sessions, I felt I could process real-time information and psychological drama without sugar-coating my reality with positive thinking. Throughout his sessions, I learned that the most horrific things in life could be the source of nourishment if I accept. Bill’s techniques helped me clear off illusionary walls and doors I had created myself. He helped me to train myself to let go of control and just let things be. It was only through his guided meditation techniques that I understood that things happen in life, and we don’t always need to understand how or why they happen; they just do. I feel I am now well equipped with all techniques I could use in the face of any issue. My friends could feel a different aura around me and only then did I see how important these sessions were.”
“Bill helped me stay focussed on and in control of my Engineering Doctorate during the pandemic while things looked very uncertain. I continue to benefit from his counsel and the techniques he taught me to this day.”
“It has been a very empowering experience to work with Bill. He is a very empathetic and skilled professional that creates a non-judgmental environment in which you feel comfortable to express yourself. He has helped me to release stress, negative thoughts, to deal with triggers and reduce anxiety, as well as to manage my emotions. I was struggling for years with all of those issues since my past experience with my PhD studies. Today I feel much calmer, in peace, accepting and loving myself more than ever. He gave me tools for life and helped me more than I can express in words. I see him more than a therapist, but a mentor for a healthy and happy life. The impact of his work is visible not just in my own sense of well-being, but also with the well-being of my loved ones since our relationships have improved considerably. Thank you very much for all your help Bill! I am eternally grateful.”
“I sought out Bill at a time when I felt on top of things. I decided to invest my spare energy in myself and it has been one of the most rewarding experiences. His approach felt reassuringly academic and I felt safe and secure in the frameworks he shared with me. None of the techniques felt intrusive or mystical; they felt grounded in theory with predictable outcomes - something that previously I felt my mind was anything but. Best of all, they were applicable to a range of scenarios. Since seeing Bill, quotes from our conversations stick with me. One in particular, along the lines of ‘one day you will notice the things you once felt anxious about are no longer there’. And my experience has been just that. I feel as if certain lines of thinking have willingly atrophied, while others around self-compassion have become more second nature. Thank you.”
“I bumped into Bill at a time when I was struggling with anxiety and insomnia and he’s really helped me get through that and see things from a different perspective. Before meeting Bill I never thought of hypnotherapy as an option but in just a few sessions I’ve learnt a lot of skills that I’m applying every day so I really can’t recommend him enough.”
“I reached out to Bill as I had just started postgraduate study and was feeling low and anxious. Hypnotherapy gave me the tools to manage my stress and worries. The sessions with Bill helped me challenge my thoughts, feel more confident and focused. I find myself applying the skills I learnt most days.”
“Thank you for your help and support. I reached out because I was suffering from anxiety, which was profoundly affecting me and making day-to-day life a real struggle. Your therapy has instilled me with a greater sense of mindfulness and calm. It has also equipped me with tools to manage my anxiety and I feel a lot more positive about the future.”
“I found Bill very approachable and organised since the first therapy session. Bill focused each one of the sessions on a different aspect. As a whole, these equipped me with the tools to understand myself and my thoughts better. I have found the recordings and summaries of the sessions provided by Bill very helpful to remember the main exercises, topics and takeaways. Besides supporting me during my studies, I feel that what I have learned with Bill can be applied in different aspects of my life.”
“I reached out to Bill for many reasons (lack of confidence about my potential, unresolved childhood issues or perfectionism) and this is, without a doubt, one of the most important decisions I have taken in my life. In the space of eight months, Bill helped me to address efficiently and painlessly difficult issues that affected my day-to-day life. He provided me, in each tailored session, with a clear conceptual understanding of my problems but also with innovative techniques that I keep on using. These sessions were much more than “pills” that momentarily boosted my mood. They allowed me to better understand myself and what makes me resilient. In a way, I feel that Bill not only helped me to deal with my problems, he empowered me to unlock my true potential!”
“Bill helped me tremendously during a very challenging and stressful period in my life. I learned a number of practical techniques that I can use on a daily basis to help soothe and ground me. Combined with relaxing hypnosis and Bill’s kindness and patience, I learned and grew a lot as a result of my sessions.”
“In my postgraduate studies I became stressed and anxious to the extent that I very nearly didn’t finish them. I carried self-doubt and other unhelpful thoughts into life after completing my studies. Working with Bill using CBH and mindfulness brought about a steady and lasting improvement in this situation, enabling me to approach stressful situations objectively and calmly. He was patient and non-judgmental throughout and it felt like we worked together through the issues in front of us, rather than me being told what to do. If you experience feelings of self doubt and anxiety, you should definitely consider working with Bill also.”
“My experience with Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy: Living with constant anxiety attacks and phobias can be embarrassing and terrifying. It got so bad at one point that I stopped using the Underground with the frequency that I used to and began sheltering myself at home. This is when I decided that if my quality of life was to improve, I needed to do something about it, so I contacted Bill. He was friendly and understanding from the moment I called to book our first appointment. Bill helped me realise that I could take back control over my thoughts and body, and gave me the necessary tools to achieve it. Within a few sessions, and after practising simple day-to-day techniques, I regained the confidence I had lost months earlier. I would highly recommend taking this kind of therapy in order to understand your thinking process and gain confidence in yourself!”
“........thank you for all your help and support. You’re helping me massively to look at some of my issues/limitations from a whole new different perspective (something I’ve never been able to do) and that’s definitely started to have an impact on how I address anxiety and problems. Thank you.”
“I let a number of issues overwhelm me at university, to the point where I was unable to deal with any of them. CBH gave me the skills to simplify things, stay calm, and feel in control of my life. It didn’t just help me sort things out at that point in time, it taught me that I will always have the ability to control my stress levels, in any future situation. Equally, the skills gained don’t just apply to stressful situations. CBH helped me with calmness, assertiveness and confidence and will help me maintain these skills for life. Bill is a fantastic therapist. He was understanding and calm, but most importantly he told me things that helped me, not just things that I wanted to hear. I felt I could easily open up to him, knowing that I wouldn’t be judged and that he would be able to apply hypnosis to my personal problems.”
“Hypnotherapy allowed me to cut out worries and irrelevant thoughts and enabled me to focus on what really needed attention during each session. For me this was a significant discovery: I never thought I’d be able to completely cut concerns and worries out. Each hypnotherapy session provided me with a blank page to start tackling worries and feelings from their sources. Furthermore, being able to ‘switch off’ the daily life noise allowed me to understand what is important and what is not. Finally, during the sessions I was explained how these techniques work and how to replicate them by myself which is very useful when I’m going through a stressful time.”
“I found the exercise really useful; it helped calm the internal storm as it were. .........the presentation went very well and we are very happy on how we delivered; me personally also.....”
“Over-thinking was a big problem to me because I would postpone making decisions and/or procrastinate based on a fake rational thinking. I used to think about all the possible outcomes out of a situation and, as we all know, there can be infinite outcomes. Without doubt, Bill helped me realise the source of my procrastination and successfully supported me to tackle it through mindfulness and problem solving exercises. This really changed my approach to decision making and it helps me every day to avoid procrastination.”
“.........it was the most effective therapy I’ve had.”
“Mindfulness has helped me to tackle restlessness thanks to switching focus to the “here and now”. Although it sounds like a cliché it really isn’t. We normally focus on what’s coming rather than enjoying the present moment. This flooded my mind with worries and anxiety about issues that might not even happen. The mindfulness sessions with Bill taught me to be appreciative and to trust myself which changed the way I look at issues and problems.”
Self-Hypnosis Half-day Workshop feedback
"Hypnosis demystified and made accessible in one afternoon! I am looking forward to practicing my own affirmations."
"A fantastic session perfectly balanced between theory and practice. I will take these skills away forever."
"Great session - good mix of theory and practical work."
"Thank you, I found this really useful, especially the 'writing your own suggestions' part."
"Really enjoyed the session. You explained everything very well and made it easy to understand and enjoy."
"Excellent session - keen to learn more!"
"Very helpful to build self-awareness. Really clear guidance and tips."
"Really great. Thank you. Will put into practice."
"Really useful and enjoyable. I can see a lot of potential applications in everyday life. Thank you!"
"Great course - I'm feeling very positive about exploring this some more!"
“The course is very effective. Feeling energised, calm and confident. Thank you.”
“Great balance of intro, theory and practical. Demystifies and makes it very accessible and achievable. Clearly outlines/highlights uses and potential results. Thank you!”
“Surprised myself as to how quickly I was able to reach that deep, relaxed state. Has given me the confidence to go and practice in my daily life.”
“Very well structured and highly practical course. Fully enjoyed it!”
practical mindfulness for everyday living Workshop (2.5hrs) feedback
“Excellent course!”
“Really excellent workshop with rich resources and snappy, useful exercises which are easy to apply.”
“A good companion course to the self-hypnosis course, and another useful tool in my resilience toolbox.”
“Just a brilliant session!”
“Great workshop - you have a great calming presence!”
“This course was very illuminating and thought-provoking and provides practical tools to deal with stress and anxiety. Thanks Bill for this very valuable lesson.”
“Perfect introduction to mindfulness for a beginner, with practical exercises to take home.”
“Excellent quick exercises. Amazing how quickly you can relax.|”
“Great combination of theory, practical tips and practice.”
“Many thanks for this well prepared session. Worth joining!!”
eco-anxiety Workshop feedback
“A helpful and insightful workshop - much needed for our time.”
“Really great - thank you.”
“Thank you so much; very helpful to other worry cycles I find myself in.”
“Very helpful. I gained some helpful insights into my own past impacting on current responses.”