If the thought of speaking up makes your heart race — meetings, presentations, interviews, group discussions, or being the centre of attention — public speaking anxiety can leave you feeling exposed, tense, and desperate to escape. You may know what you want to say, yet freeze, go blank, rush your words, or avoid situations altogether.
This isn’t weakness. It isn’t incompetence. It’s what happens when your nervous system interprets being seen or judged as a threat.
I help people across Reading, Didcot and online reduce public speaking anxiety, calm fear responses, and speak with greater confidence and control using hypnotherapy, NLP and calm, practical mindset coaching. Most people notice a real shift in confidence and composure within just a few sessions.
MAIL@THEEXCELPRACTICE.COM OR CALL 07807 540142
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Do Any of These Sound Like You?
- You avoid presentations, meetings, or speaking opportunities
- Your heart races, voice shakes, or mind goes blank when speaking
- You over-prepare, then still panic
- You rush your words just to “get it over with”
- You fear being judged, criticised, or embarrassed
- You replay what you said afterwards and cringe
- You feel confident one-to-one but not in groups
- You stay quiet even when you have something valuable to say
- You feel frustrated because this doesn’t reflect who you really are
If this resonates, you’re not broken — your system is simply reacting.
What’s Really Going On With Public Speaking Anxiety
Public speaking anxiety isn’t about speaking. It’s about perceived threat.
Your nervous system reacts as if:
- You’re under attack
- You’re being evaluated
- Your status or safety is at risk
This triggers:
- Fight-or-flight
- Increased heart rate
- Shallow breathing
- Muscle tension
- Mental blankness
Consciously, you might tell yourself: “I’ll be fine.” But subconsciously, your system believes: “This isn’t safe.”
That’s why logic, reassurance, or “just be confident” advice rarely works.
The Science Behind Public Speaking Fear (Brief & Grounded)
From a neuroscience perspective:
- Public speaking activates the amygdala (threat detection)
- Stress hormones reduce access to the prefrontal cortex (clear thinking, language, memory)
- The body prioritises survival over articulation
This is why:
- Words disappear
- Thoughts fragment
- Your voice or breathing changes
Research shows that reducing threat perception and calming the nervous system restores access to higher-order thinking and expressive ability. Hypnotherapy supports this process by helping the brain re-classify speaking situations as safe — allowing natural confidence to return.
How Hypnotherapy & Coaching Help With Public Speaking Anxiety
We don’t force confidence. We remove what’s blocking it.
Sessions may help you to:
- Calm the nervous system, reducing panic responses
- Reduce fear of judgement
- Break anticipatory anxiety
- Stop blanking or freezing
- Entering flow state
- Speak more clearly and steadily
- Feel grounded, authentic and present while speaking
- Rebuild trust in your ability to cope
- Express yourself without overthinking
This isn’t performance training. It’s nervous system regulation — so your ability can come through naturally.
What Working Together Looks Like
Where Sessions Take Place
- In person at my Reading or Didcot practice
- Or online via Zoom, Skype or Teams
Many clients choose a mix of in-person and online sessions.
- Reading: Monday to Friday, day and evening
- Didcot: Tuesdays, flexible times
- Online: Secure sessions from home
Why People Choose The Excel Practice for Public Speaking Anxiety
- 18+ years’ experience helping people overcome anxiety and fear
- Specialising in overthinking, overwhelm, confidence and performance
- Calm, modern, practical approach — no scripts
- Focus on regulation, not exposure-based pressure
- Trusted by hundreds of clients across Reading, Didcot & online
Clients often say: “I finally felt like myself again when speaking.”
Public Speaking, Confidence & Performance
Public speaking anxiety often overlaps with:
- Confidence issues
- Performance anxiety
- Overthinking
- Decision fatigue
- Stress and overwhelm
As fear reduces, many people notice:
- Clearer thinking
- Stronger presence
- Improved confidence in other areas of life
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
Everyone is different, but:
- Some people notice changes within 2–3 sessions
- Others prefer 4–6 sessions for lasting confidence
- We review regularly — no pressure, no lock-ins
The goal is ease and authenticity, not perfection
Is Hypnotherapy Right for Me?
This work may suit you if:
- You avoid speaking situations due to fear
- Anxiety overrides your ability
- You want calm, grounded confidence
- You’re tired of fighting your reactions
If you’re unsure, you’re welcome to ask questions first.
Trusted by hundreds of clients over 18+ years, with 50+ five-star Google reviews.
Rachael F, 1 review • 0 photos, 21 Dec 2022
Matthew helped me overcome me fear of public speaking. I have since presented at a national conference to over 200 people, and felt comfortable and confident doing so. Thank you Matthew! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Next Steps – When Fear Stops You Being Heard
You don’t need to become someone else. You just need your system to stop panicking.
If you’re ready to:
- Speak without fear taking over
- Feel calmer and more present
- Express yourself confidently
- Stop avoiding opportunities
…then working with public speaking anxiety directly can be a powerful step.
People often search for help with public speaking anxiety, fear of presentations, presentation nerves, or performance anxiety — this page focuses on resolving the fear response itself, not just managing symptoms.
MAIL@THEEXCELPRACTICE.COM OR CALL 07807 540142
Book Your Session
Ask a Question
FAQ – Public Speaking Anxiety & Hypnotherapy
Is public speaking anxiety the same as social anxiety?
They’re related, but not the same. Public speaking anxiety is usually situational — triggered by being observed, evaluated, or the centre of attention. Social anxiety tends to affect a wider range of social situations. Hypnotherapy can help with both by calming the nervous system and reducing threat responses.
Why do I panic even when I know I’m prepared?
Because anxiety doesn’t come from logic — it comes from the nervous system. Even when you’re well prepared, your subconscious may still interpret speaking as a threat. Hypnotherapy works at this deeper level, helping your system feel safe enough to perform.
Will hypnotherapy make me lose control or say something embarrassing?
No. You remain fully aware, conscious, and in control at all times.
Hypnotherapy is a focused, relaxed state — similar to becoming absorbed in a book or music — where unhelpful patterns can be changed more easily.
How quickly will I notice a difference?
Many people notice changes within 2–3 sessions, particularly in how intense the fear feels. Others choose 4–6 sessions to build lasting confidence and ease. Progress is gradual, natural, and sustainable.
What if my fear is very specific (presentations, meetings, interviews)?
That’s very common — and very workable. Sessions are tailored to your specific triggers, whether that’s meetings, presentations, interviews, training sessions, or speaking in groups.
Do I have to practise speeches or do exposure exercises?
No.
This isn’t exposure therapy or performance training. We focus on reducing the fear response first, so confidence emerges naturally rather than being forced.
Can hypnotherapy help if I freeze or go blank when speaking?
Yes. Blanking is a stress response linked to reduced prefrontal cortex activity under pressure. Hypnotherapy helps calm the nervous system so access to memory, language, and clarity returns.
Can sessions be done online?
Yes. Online sessions via Zoom or Teams are just as effective as in-person work and are popular with clients who want support from home.
Is this suitable for professionals or senior roles?
Absolutely. Many clients are professionals who are highly capable but held back by anxiety in high-visibility situations. This work helps remove that block so ability can come through.
What if I’ve tried confidence courses or coaching already?
Hypnotherapy works at a different level.
Rather than teaching techniques on top of anxiety, it helps reduce the anxiety itself, making confidence strategies far easier to use — or unnecessary.
Call 07807 540142 or Email today and working in-person and online
Book Your Session
Ask a Question
Please do downloads any of these PDF documents which can help with overcoming making presentations, with public speaking, making speeches and anything around taking to groups of people
Heart Breathing is great for getting control of which is typically the easiest thing to get control over – the breathing itself
The Drop Through Technique from NLP helps to control and soften and fears, anxiety or outright terror to a feeling or emotion which be much more manageable.
For some information on help with interviews HERE
For some information on help with auditions HERE