Radiotherapy Anxiety Support
Helping you find Calm, Confidence, and Control during treatment.
If you've felt frightened, overwhelmed, or unable to tolerate the radiotherapy mask, you are not alone.
Even people who are calm in every other part of their lives can panic when the mask is fitted.
Here's the most important thing to know:
Your reaction is normal.
Your brain is protecting you.
And you can learn to feel calmer and more in control — quickly and safely.
Why Radiotherapy Can Trigger Panic
Radiotherapy for head and neck cancer involves a tight immobilisation mask. It is essential for accuracy, but it can feel restrictive and unfamiliar. That can trigger:
This has nothing to do with "strength" and everything to do with how the primitive brain keeps you safe.
Once you understand what is happening in the brain, you can change how your body responds — often much quicker than people expect.
Why Solution Focused Hypnotherapy Works So Well
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (SFH) is uniquely suited to radiotherapy anxiety because it is:
Rapid
Most people feel a significant shift after just one session.
Non-intrusive
You do not need to retell your story or revisit difficult memories.
Based on neuroscience
You learn why your brain reacted that way — and how to switch on the part of the brain that restores Calm, Confidence, and Control.
Practical
You leave with tools you can use instantly inside the mask, during treatment, in waiting rooms, and at home.
Complementary to medical care
You learn techniques your radiotherapy team can gently prompt you to use during treatment.
What We Do in Sessions
Across one, two, or three sessions, you learn a proven set of tools that work together to regulate your nervous system:
Personalised Self-Hypnosis (Safe Place)
A location or memory where you feel calm, confident, and in control — kayaking on still water, a coastal walk, a favourite family place…
This becomes a powerful internal refuge during treatment.
The Anchor
A discreet physical cue that can stop panic rising.
Patients often describe it as "emptying the stress bucket instantly."
Breath Regulation
Simple techniques to lower adrenaline and bring the body back into safety.
Positive Visualisation
Training the brain to rehearse calm instead of fear.
The Rewind Technique (when needed)
Gently resolves older fear memories so they no longer intrude during treatment.
Together, these tools give you something essential:
a way to influence your experience — even when treatment itself cannot change.
My Experience
Trusted by Radiotherapy Teams — Available to Everyone
In addition to my private practice, I volunteer with the Macmillan Information & Support Centre and the Radiotherapy Department at Belfast City Hospital, supporting patients who struggle with radiotherapy anxiety or mask intolerance.
This pilot programme is designed to support people who might otherwise:
- delay treatment
- refuse treatment
- opt for more invasive alternatives
- rely solely on diazepam because no rapid emotional support is available
Although early, outcomes have been extremely positive — and this experience now informs the support I offer to anyone undergoing radiotherapy, whether referred through the NHS or seeking private help.
Who This Support Helps
This approach is ideal if you:
In-Person Sessions
Appointments available at:
Three-Session Programme
£295
Complete preparation for treatment
Urgent One-Off Session
£110
For immediate support
Digital Radiotherapy Anxiety Programme
Learn the same tools as an in-person session — from home, in your own time.
If you're not familiar with digital programmes, here's what it means:
You'll receive a series of videos where I guide you through the same tools and techniques I teach in a face-to-face session. It's just like being in the room with me — calm, step-by-step, and easy to follow.
Alongside the videos, you'll also receive:
Guided self-hypnosis and relaxation tools you can use before or during treatment.
Simple, printable sheets you can bring to appointments or read before treatment.
So you understand exactly why your reaction happened — and how to take back control.
This makes the digital programme ideal for anyone who:
- •prefers to learn privately at home
- •wants to revisit the tools before every treatment
- •wants support immediately without waiting for an appointment
You can choose exactly what you need:
Session 1 — Essential Tools
(Core Programme)
£87
Includes the full brain explanation, personalised Safe Place self-hypnosis, breathwork, and the core regulation tools.
Recommended for everyone experiencing radiotherapy anxiety.
Add-On Session 2 — The Anchor & Advanced Techniques
£57
Learn the Anchor and additional in-treatment strategies.
Add-On Session 3 — Thinking Beyond Treatment
£57
Tools for emotional steadiness after treatment and reducing future anxiety templates.
Full Programme — All 3 Sessions
Best value
£167
Mirrors the structure used in the radiotherapy pilot.
Join the waitlist to be notified the moment it becomes available:
Join WaitlistYou Don't Have to Face This Alone
Radiotherapy is one of the most important treatments you will ever receive — and you deserve to feel supported, steady, and safe throughout it.
You can feel calmer.
You can regain confidence.
You can complete your treatment with a sense of control.
I'm here to help you every step of the way.
Sharon Clare
Clinical Solution-Focused Hypnotherapist
HPD | DSFH | CNHC (Reg) | AfSFH (Reg)
Two Convenient Clinic Locations
My Belfast clinic is just 5 minutes from Belfast City Hospital, ideal for patients at the Northern Ireland Cancer Centre. I also see clients at Willow Wellbeing in Garvagh, serving the North Coast and those attending Altnagelvin Hospital.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I panicked during my mask fitting — is it too late to get help?
Not at all. Many people I work with first seek support after a difficult mask-fitting experience. Even after one session, most people feel more able to tolerate the mask and complete treatment comfortably.
Do I need all three sessions?
Not necessarily. Session 1 provides the essential tools most people need. Sessions 2 and 3 deepen your confidence and help you feel steady throughout and beyond treatment. You can choose the level of support that feels right for you.
Will I need to talk about past trauma or difficult memories?
No. Solution Focused Hypnotherapy is gentle and future-focused. You do not need to revisit painful experiences for this work to be effective.
What if I usually cope well — why did this happen to me?
Radiotherapy anxiety is extremely common, especially for people who are normally calm, strong, and capable. It is a normal protective response from the part of the brain that handles survival. Once you understand why it happened, you can regain control quickly.
Can I use these tools during treatment?
Yes. Everything you learn can be used discreetly:
- •inside the mask
- •in the waiting room
- •during scans
- •when side-effects feel overwhelming
- •or anytime anxiety rises
These tools are designed for real moments of pressure.
Is hypnotherapy safe during radiotherapy?
Yes. Clinical Solution Focused Hypnotherapy is gentle, non-invasive, and focused on calming the nervous system. It works alongside your medical treatment and does not interfere with any care you are receiving.
Do I need to attend in person?
You're welcome to. But if you prefer support from home, the digital version of this programme will be available. You'll be able to choose from one, two, or three sessions depending on the support you want.
What if I'm already taking diazepam?
Hypnotherapy can still help you. Many people receive diazepam when there are no rapid psychological services available. This programme gives you additional tools that work with your nervous system, not just medication.
Can hypnotherapy help with anxiety around other types of radiotherapy, not just head-and-neck treatment?
Yes. Although many people come to me because of the immobilisation mask used in head and neck radiotherapy, the tools I teach are effective for any radiotherapy treatment where anxiety, anticipation or a sense of vulnerability is present. The techniques we use — breathwork, self-hypnosis, the Safe Place, the Anchor, and the neuroscience explanation — help calm the autonomic nervous system in any setting.
Can this help with brachytherapy (internal radiotherapy)?
Yes, absolutely. Brachytherapy can feel invasive and unfamiliar, and the preparation or procedure can trigger:
- •anticipatory anxiety
- •fear of discomfort
- •worries about losing control
- •difficulty relaxing the body during the procedure
The self-hypnosis tools, breath regulation and Anchor technique can help you stay calmer before, during, and after the procedure. Many people also find that understanding why the body reacts as it does reduces fear significantly.
You do not need to have a mask-related treatment for the programme to help you.
What about external beam radiotherapy to other parts of the body (e.g., pelvis, breast, abdomen)?
Yes, the programme is designed to support any radiotherapy where anxiety makes treatment more difficult.
Common concerns during other radiotherapy types include:
- •fear of the machine
- •struggling to remain still
- •intrusive thoughts during treatment
- •worrying about side-effects or what the machine is doing
- •fear of feeling exposed or vulnerable
The same tools apply beautifully to these situations and help people feel safer, calmer, and more prepared.
Can hypnotherapy help with the anxiety of attending radiotherapy every day for weeks?
Yes. Many people feel anxiety not only during treatment but also around the routine itself: travelling, anticipation, changes in appetite, sleep disruption, or fatigue.
The tools you learn help with:
- •anticipatory anxiety before appointments
- •daily emotional wear-and-tear
- •managing worry spirals about side-effects
- •staying steady throughout the treatment schedule
This is why many patients continue using the techniques long after radiotherapy ends.
Is this helpful if I'm claustrophobic but my radiotherapy doesn't involve a mask?
Yes. Claustrophobia can arise in:
- •MRI or CT planning scans
- •treatment room positioning
- •being alone in the treatment suite
- •lying still for long periods
SFH gives you practical tools to manage these reactions calmly and safely.
Will the digital programme work for non-mask radiotherapy too?
Yes. The digital version is suitable for:
- •brachytherapy
- •pelvic radiotherapy
- •breast radiotherapy
- •abdominal or thoracic radiotherapy
- •MRI and CT scan anxiety
- •general anticipatory anxiety
The Safe Place, breathwork, Anchor, and visualisation techniques are universal.
Can this help with MRI anxiety too?
Yes. The same tools — Safe Place, breath regulation, visualisation and the Anchor — are extremely effective for MRI anxiety, CT scans, and other medical procedures.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can self-refer for both the in-person sessions and the digital programme.
Is the digital programme as effective as in-person?
It's different, but incredibly effective for many people. You receive the same neuroscience explanations and guided tools. Those who prefer learning privately or revisiting the techniques repeatedly often find digital especially helpful.