Mind and emotions · Adelaide and online
Hypnotherapy for Anger Management in Adelaide
You don’t want to be the angry one. You just want a second to think before the words come out. That second is what hypnosis for anger can help you build. Sessions are by video anywhere in Australia, or in person in Adelaide by arrangement.
At a glance: a 4-session program with me, by video or face to face by arrangement. $1,000 in total if you pay upfront, or $1,200 if you pay as you go.
Or call 0427 218 092
A short phone chat with me, no obligation. I ring back within 24 hours. See what it costs
- 14 years in practice
- 4.6 ★ from 30 Google reviews
- ThreeBest Rated listing, Adelaide 2018 to 2026
- Fellow, ASCH
Ernest McLeod, The Hypno CoachAdelaide’s Hypno Coach since 2012. Fourteen years in practice, and anger work has been part of it for most of them.
Before anything else: does someone at home feel afraid of you?Maybe they watch every word so you won’t blow up. Maybe you’ve hit someone, made threats, or smashed things. If so, one-to-one hypnotherapy is the wrong first step. Ring the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491. For family and domestic violence support, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732. If anyone is in danger right now, call 000.
Signs your temper is running the show
- A slow driver, a rude email or a lost key, and suddenly you’re boiling.
- Road rage. You yell at other cars, then sit at the lights feeling shaky and silly.
- You bite your tongue with your boss all week, and it all spills out at home.
- Your partner or kids go quiet when you walk in.
Ticked a few? Keep reading. If your temper has changed a lot lately, see the GP note further down.
Why anger moves faster than your thinking
Anger is a normal emotion. It tells you something matters, or that a line has been crossed.
The trouble is speed. Your heart races and your jaw sets before your thinking brain catches up. By then your body is choosing your words.
The root causes vary. Stress, poor sleep, pain, grief and loss, or low self-esteem can all shorten the fuse. So can unhelpful thought patterns, like “if I back down, I lose”. I want to help you build a pause between the spark and the reaction.
How hypnosis can help you get back in control of your anger
Hypnosis is a calm, focused state. You stay awake, you hear everything, and you can stop when you like. Hypnosis allows you to look at the feeling without getting swept up in it. Here’s what I use:
- Rehearsal in hypnosis. We picture the moments that set you off, like a traffic jam or a tense meeting. You practise staying settled through them while you’re calm.
- Rewind. Some old memories still carry a charge. You picture the memory at a distance, like a film, then run it backwards. There’s no need to share the details with me.
- Symbology. We work with images and metaphor. Many people picture their anger as a kettle, a fire or a red fog. We change that picture.
I’ve found Rewind and Symbology useful. Road rage is a common reason people call me, and so is work stress that spills out at home. We tailor each session to your real examples.
How to manage your anger before it damages your relationship
The people closest to you often feel it first, so agree on a plan while things are calm. These practical strategies help:
- Recognise your early signs. A hot face, tight fists or a raised voice are your cue to act.
- Take a time-out. Say “I need ten minutes”, then come back.
- Calm your body first. Slow breathing and relaxation techniques lower the heat.
- Talk later. Raise the real issue once you’ve both settled.
Couples therapy or relationship counselling can help too. If your partner is scared of you, start with the support lines at the top of this page.
Anger hypnotherapy sessions: by video or face to face
The program is four one-to-one sessions, after a free 15-minute phone call.
- We talk on the phone
Fifteen minutes, free. I’ll be straight with you about whether this suits you. You can also ask me anything about hypnosis, like what it feels like or whether you stay in control.
- Session one
We list your triggers and what your body does first. Then the calming work starts straight away.
- Sessions two to four
Each starts with a short chat, then hypnosis in a chair, eyes closed, as we rehearse your hard moments. You take a recording home, plus a short self-hypnosis routine for the car park or the front door.
Most of my sessions happen by video on Google Meet. You need a quiet room, a steady connection and headphones. If the call drops, I ring straight back. If you live in SA and would rather meet in person, we can arrange that.
Still on the fence?Have a free 15-minute chat with me first, at a time that suits you.
Or call 0427 218 092
What the research says about hypnosis for anger
No good trial has tested hypnosis for this. I’ve looked. A big 2024 summary in Frontiers in Psychology covered 49 meta-analyses of clinical hypnosis, and anger and aggression aren’t in it. So be wary of any website that quotes you a number.
Here’s what is backed by research. Calming down helps more than “letting it out”. In 2024, Kjærvik and Bushman combined 154 studies with 10,189 people. Things that settle the body, like slow breathing, relaxation and mindfulness, lowered anger and aggression.
Talking therapy has the strongest support. Saini’s 2009 review of 96 studies found psychological care, such as CBT, helped on the whole. So my sessions focus on settling your body, alongside your other care, not instead of it.
Is hypnotherapy for anger safe?
For most adults, yes. No medicine is involved, and you stay aware the whole time. Afterwards you might feel drowsy or emotional for a short while.
Some people should start somewhere else. If things have turned into violence or threats, call 000 when anyone is in danger, and ring the Men’s Referral Service. Hypnotherapy is not a substitute for a court-ordered or men’s behaviour change program. If you live with psychosis or heavy drinking or drug use, see your GP first. Keep seeing your GP or psychologist while we work together. If you ever feel unsafe or overwhelmed, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
What anger hypnotherapy costs in Adelaide: $1,000
One session at a time is $300. Most people take the four-session program: $1,000 paid at the start, which is $250 a session and $200 less than paying as you go ($1,200).
Most people choose: the 4-session program, $1,000 in total
- That covers a 90-minute first session and three 60-minute sessions, by video or in person in Adelaide, with a recording to keep after each one, a follow-up from me and 12 months of support.
- Prepaid sessions last 12 months. If you do not need them all, use them for another issue or give them to someone you know.
- Card or bank transfer, no surcharge. Prices in Australian dollars, no GST. Not covered by Medicare; some health fund extras pay a small benefit, so check with your fund.
You work with me, Ernest McLeod, start to finish: 14 years in practice and a Fellow of the Australian Society of Clinical Hypnotherapists.
Book my free 15-minute callOr call 0427 218 092
Check in with your GP tooA short temper can have other causes, like bad sleep, pain, a head injury, alcohol or drugs. In men, depression often shows up as anger, not sadness. If it’s new or much worse, see your GP. Your GP can refer you to a psychologist with a Medicare rebate under Better Access. In an emergency, call 000.
Who you’ll be working with
Hi, I’m Ernest McLeod. I’ve been The Hypno Coach since 2012, fourteen years in practice. For years my practice ran a program just for anger. These days I see people by video all over Australia, and face to face in Adelaide by arrangement. I believe a short fuse is something you can work on.
- Fellow, ASCH
- Certified NLP Practitioner
- Time Line Therapy® Practitioner
- Trainer: AHA-approved CPD courses
What I’m not: I’m not a psychologist or counsellor, and I’m not registered with AHPRA. Hypnotherapy isn’t a registered profession here. My memberships are voluntary. I also teach other hypnotherapists. The Australian Hypnotherapists’ Association has approved my smoking, vaping and gambling cessation courses for professional development (CPD). Read my story
What clients have said
“I was petrified of being hypnotised but I found Ernest to be easygoing and friendly … he really helped me to relax.”
Client, first session
Written by clients after sessions with Ernest in Adelaide, shared with their written permission. Individual experiences vary. Read the Google reviews.
Questions about anger management hypnotherapy in Adelaide
Does hypnotherapy work for anger management?
It can help some people stay calmer in the moments that set them off. No good trial has tested it for anger, so I can’t promise a result. Our work is built on calming the body, which research does support. Feeling calmer after a session is welcome, but it is not a success rate.
What’s the success rate for anger hypnotherapy?
I don’t quote one. There are no good studies to base an honest figure on. Instead we track your own progress, like a traffic jam without shouting. The research section above sets out what is known.
What therapy works best for anger management?
Talking therapies such as CBT have the most research behind them. Calming skills like slow breathing also help. Hypnosis is another form of therapy some people add. Your GP can refer you to a psychologist, and you can see me as well.
Where can I find anger management classes in Adelaide?
I don’t run classes. My work is one to one. Your GP can point you to local groups and counselling. If you need a men’s behaviour change program, the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 can tell you what’s near you.
How many sessions does anger hypnotherapy usually take?
We plan for four. It’s a guide, not a promise, and we review it each time.
Can hypnotherapy help with severe or explosive anger?
If it has led to violence, threats or broken things, start with the Men’s Referral Service or 1800RESPECT, not with me. Once you’re safe and supported, our sessions can sit alongside that help. If you need a letter for court, I can confirm your attendance in writing. If anyone is in danger, call 000.
Could hypnosis make me do something I don’t want?
No. You’re awake and you remember it all. You can open your eyes and end it any time.
Do I have to come in, or can we do it by video?
Either. Most of my sessions happen by video. If you’d rather meet in person, we can arrange that. Hypnosis works on your focus, and focus works fine over a screen.
What happens if it’s not working?
Tell me, and we’ll change tack. If something else would suit you better, I’ll say so.
Is it covered by Medicare?
No, and you don’t need a GP referral. Some health funds pay a little back under extras, so check with yours.
Let’s talk
Tell me when to ring, and I’ll call within 24 hours. It’s free and takes fifteen minutes.
Book your free callOr call 0427 218 092
Related
- Mind and emotions programsEvery mind and emotions program I offer, with prices.
- Stress and burnout programA short fuse is often a sign you’re worn out.
- Trauma and PTSD programFeeling on guard since something happened.
- Sleep and insomnia programTired people snap more easily.
- The Hypno Coach homeHypnotherapy by video or in person with Ernest McLeod.
Free and confidential, open now. Tap to call.
Where these numbers come from
Rosendahl J, Alldredge CT, Haddenhorst A (2024). Meta-analytic evidence on the efficacy of hypnosis for mental and somatic health issues: a 20-year perspective. Frontiers in Psychology 14: 1330238. doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1330238. I searched the full text for “anger” and “aggression” and found neither.
Kjærvik SL, Bushman BJ (2024). A meta-analytic review of anger management activities that increase or decrease arousal: what fuels or douses rage? Clinical Psychology Review 109: 102414. doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2024.102414.
Saini M (2009). A meta-analysis of the psychological treatment of anger: developing guidelines for evidence-based practice. Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law 37(4): 473-488. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20018996.
Hypnotherapy is a complementary therapy. It is not medical care or a diagnosis, and it does not replace your doctor or a psychologist. It is not a family violence program. If your symptoms are severe or don’t go away, please see your GP. Adults 18+ only. Last updated 7 October 2026.