Who I am

I’m Ernest McLeod. I’ve practised as a clinical hypnotherapist for fourteen years. My practice is in Adelaide, and these days I see clients right across Australia by video.

Before hypnotherapy I spent twenty years as a software engineer and designer. That work taught me to test things, keep what works and drop what doesn’t. I still think that way. I’d rather give you one tool you’ll actually use than ten that sound clever.

A large part of my work has been with people quitting smoking, vaping and gambling. I also see a lot of anxiety, anger, public speaking nerves and recovery after trauma. And I train other hypnotherapists, mostly in a strategy-based approach to cessation work.

How I work

Hypnosis is a state of focused, relaxed attention. You’re aware the whole time, you remember what happens, and you can stop whenever you choose. I use that state to work with the automatic reactions under a problem. The craving that arrives before you’ve decided anything. The jolt of fear before a flight. The racing mind at 2am.

Nothing I do is a script read at you. Each session is built around what you’ve told me, and we adjust as we go. You’ll also learn simple self-hypnosis, because the aim is for you to need me less, not more.

I’m honest about limits. Hypnotherapy can help with a lot, but it isn’t medical treatment and it doesn’t replace your GP or a psychologist. Where I think you’d be better served elsewhere, I’ll tell you, even if that means you don’t book with me.

Qualifications and memberships

• 2011: Australian Hypnosis Certification at Hypnotherapist level (Krasner method), Australian Success Academy
• 2012: hypnotherapy and psychotherapy training at the Institute of Clinical Hypnotherapy & Psychotherapy (ICHP)
• 2015: Certified Practitioner of NLP (ABNLP-approved training) and of Time Line Therapy®, both with Evolve Mind & Body Coaching
• 2017 to 2020: five further courses, among them Modified Rewind (Clive Girdham), the Awareness & Resolution Process (Mark Lakowske) and Hypnofit’s therapist programs
• Fellow of the Australian Society of Clinical Hypnotherapists (ASCH)

I also train other hypnotherapists: my courses on quitting smoking, vaping and gambling count as professional development (CPD), approved by the Australian Hypnotherapists’ Association.

How sessions work

1. A free 15-minute call

   You request a time window (morning, afternoon, evening or anytime) and I ring you within 24 hours. We talk about what’s going on and whether I’m the right person to help. Ask me anything you like about hypnosis too, such as how it feels or whether you stay in charge.

2. A clear plan and price

   Most issues suit a 4-session program. Some need a longer treatment plan, which we build together in your first session. Quitting smoking or vaping is its own program. You know the total before you start.

3. Sessions by video and an audio to take home

   You join from home with a reliable connection and headphones. You work with me every time. After your sessions you receive an audio recording to use between appointments, so the work keeps going during the week.

You can read more about how online sessions work, see full pricing and terms, or look through the common questions.

• Prefer to start on your own?I’ve chosen self-hypnosis recordings for common problems, at hypnotherapyaustralia.store.

Hypnotherapy is a complementary therapy, not medical treatment, a diagnosis, or a substitute for care from your doctor or a psychologist. If your symptoms are severe or persistent, please speak to your GP. Last updated 9 October 2026.