Ella Matthews- West London Hypnotherapist specialising in Anxiety, Chronic Pain, and Trauma
Who I am
I’m Ella. I am a Cognitive Hypnotherapist based in West London and founder of Breath Body Mind.
My work focuses on chronic pain, anxiety and trauma through a nervous system lens. I support women who want to understand their symptoms in a deeper way and build greater capacity, flexibility and trust in their bodies.
Originally trained as a Sports and Myofascial Release Massage Therapist, I became increasingly interested in the relationship between physical pain, stress and the nervous system. This led me to retrain as a Cognitive Hypnotherapist and deepen my training in trauma-informed somatic work, breath re-education and pain science.
Over more than 20 years in therapeutic practice, I have worked with women navigating chronic pain, anxiety, trauma, hormonal change and complex life transitions.
I have supported busy professionals, carers, creatives, parents, menopausal women and those navigating life changing diagnoses. Many arrive having tried multiple approaches. What they often seek is a framework that connects the dots.
“Ella genuinely enjoys helping people get their lives back and with her help I now feel much more confident & happier- and I am symptom free.
She is a professional and skilled therapist and a friendly, kind person. ”
My Perspective
My approach is informed by both clinical training and lived experience. I understand how persistent symptoms can shape identity, confidence and daily life.
Rather than focusing solely on symptom reduction, I work at the level of nervous system patterns- supporting meaningful, sustainable change, and co- creating a new sense of agency.
My passion from this work comes from not only my own lived experience of overcoming adversity and suffering, but also witnessing how the right support can transform people’s lives for the better.
Training and professional background
Master Practitioner in Neurolinguistic Programming and Cognitive Hypnotherapy, in West London with The Quest Institute, where I was taught by its founder, Trevor Silvester.
TRE (Trauma Release Exercise) Facilitator with the Founder of TRE College, Steve Haines.
Buteyko Breathing with The Buteyko Clinic’s founder, Patrick McKeown
Chronic Pain Neuroscience Education with The Neuro- Orthopaedic Institute’s Principal Instructor, Tim Beames.
200 hour Yoga Alliance Approved Ashtanga and Hatha Yoga, and Yoga Nidra Teacher.
I continue to prioritise evidence-informed, trauma-aware practice and ongoing professional development.
Outside of my work, I value time in nature, singing, reading, drawing, swimming and growing food. These practices keep me grounded and connected — qualities I bring into my therapeutic work.
For more about me including my qualifications, training, memberships, and influences click here.
“I was delighted to find the sessions incredibly helpful and I’ve been greatly surprised at how effective the treatments were in such a short space of time. The effects seem permanent which is another huge benefit.”
If you’d like to explore how we might work together, you can read more about 1:1 support here.
My Story
5 years ago I suffered a traumatic spinal injury and thought I’d never recover.
I was in agony for months. It was almost impossible to walk. I couldn’t move without debilitating pain. I couldn’t sleep. I walked with a limp. For a while I couldn’t even put my socks on by myself.
Despite my training at that time, and experience with the body, I just couldn’t seem to get out of pain. The doctors couldn’t help- in fact they made it worse.
They told me I had a long term problem and tried to put me on painkillers indefinitely. The condition I had sometimes ends up needing spinal surgery.
This drastically effected my mood- I became anxious, irritable and depressed. Then the worry about the pain made the pain worse. It quickly became a vicious, self perpetuating cycle.
I know the fear of thinking you will never be out of pain again.
It was terrifying.
My recovery
I thought I was doing everything to get better. But because it kept getting worse and worse, my mind went to all sorts of dark places. I had no idea that all the overthinking and catastrophising was making it more painful!
But with the right support, updating my understanding of the mechanisms behind pain, lots of work letting go of old, stuck emotional trauma, having hypnotherapy for anxiety, examining my limiting beliefs, replacing those unhelpful beliefs with more healthy, accurate thoughts, replacing my harsh inner critic with a kind and supportive inner voice, and correcting my posture and movement patterns, I’m happy to say I’m 100% better.
No drugs or surgery needed.
This experience led me to explore even more thoroughly what pain is, how it manifests, how physical, mental and emotional pain are so connected, and most importantly, how to put pain firmly in the past- for myself, and now also for you.
If you’d like to know more about my journey and how I got to where I am, you can read my first blog here.
“Ella has a vast knowledge of many great techniques and practices, and is a great person who instilled trust and understanding throughout the time spent together.
I can wholeheartedly say Ella has helped me massively”
