A former social worker who walked away from a decade in child protection to follow her instincts is now helping people tackle trauma, anxiety and emotional struggles through hypnotherapy, and an increasingly sought-after approach known as Past Life Regression.
Silvia Sutherland Hypnotherapy founder Silvia Sutherland says her journey into alternative therapy was driven by a lifelong interest in mental health and a growing feeling that traditional systems no longer aligned with her values.
Based in Throckley, Silvia originally worked on telephone helplines before completing a social work degree and spending ten years with Newcastle City Council in children’s services.
But after years in what she describes as a demanding and emotionally difficult environment, she made the decision to leave and retrain as a hypnotherapist.
Silvia said: “I realised I was in a situation that didn’t feel right for me anymore. I’d always believed in following your gut instinct and listening to that inner voice. Leaving was scary because I didn’t really have a big plan, but I knew I needed to do something different.”
She launched her hypnotherapy business to help people struggling with anxiety, trauma, depression, stress and habits linked to food or smoking. Silvia says hypnotherapy works by accessing the subconscious mind rather than simply talking through problems.
“People often think hypnotherapy means you’re completely out of control, but it’s nothing like stage hypnosis,” she explained. “You remain aware throughout the process. It’s about guiding people into a deeply relaxed state where they can explore the root causes of what they’re experiencing.”
After several years in practice, Silvia began exploring a deeper form of therapy following what she describes as a life-changing encounter with a spiritual mentor.
That experience led her to train in Past Life Regression, a therapy that combines hypnosis with guided soul exploration, helping clients uncover memories, emotions or experiences they believe may influence their current lives.
Silvia said: “The idea is to go beyond surface-level symptoms and explore where emotional patterns may truly come from. Some people revisit what they feel are past lives, while others experience symbolic journeys or emotional memories. Every session is different.”
She says clients remain fully conscious during the sessions and can remember most of what happens afterwards.
Over the years Sylvia has worked with people experiencing burnout, chronic stress and emotional trauma, and says some sessions have produced remarkable breakthroughs.
One client, overwhelmed by work pressures and an intense fear of financial insecurity, was guided during a regression session to what appeared to be a peaceful rural life.
“He spent the entire session standing in a single field,” Silvia recalled. “At first, he thought nothing was happening because it wasn’t dramatic, but what he discovered was a feeling of calm and contentment he’d never experienced in this lifetime. It reminded him that happiness didn’t have to come through constant pressure and busyness.”
Silvia says while some clients approach regression therapy from a spiritual perspective, others simply see it as a tool for reflection, emotional healing and self-understanding.
“I’m not here to persuade anybody what to believe,” she said. “People take from it what feels right to them. For many clients, it’s about understanding themselves better and finding peace.”
Despite initially struggling with the realities of running a business, Silvia says she now feels she has found the career she was meant to pursue.
“When I first started, I genuinely thought you opened a business and people just arrived,” she laughed. “It took years of learning and a lot of trial and error, but I love what I do now.”
Indeed, Silvia’s passion has now led to her developing a fully accredited training programme to teach other experienced practitioners how to deliver Past Life Regression.
“Helping people feels meaningful whether it’s online or in person throughout the UK. Looking back, I’m so pleased I followed my intuition,” said Silvia.
Ends
Photo: Silvia on the Roman Wall (Steve Brock Photography)
PR and media keith@highlightspr.co.uk 07814 397951