"When I got up to speak in public for the first time, I felt as if I was going to fall off the podium.

Great waves of fear were overwhelming me, I shook like a leaf in the wind, and my mouth was so dry that I could scarcely move my tongue to speak. It was the most scared I have ever been."

Public speaking can cover anything from speaking at a wedding through to a large seminar as part of your job. The account above, from a female executive who went on to conquer her initial reaction of addressing a meeting of 80 people, is not so rare. Unfortunately for many people the thought of being centre of attention and speaking to a group causes acute anxiety and dread.

Fear of becoming tongue tied, or saying the wrong thing can cause spiralling negativity as they visualise the shame and embarrassment this might cause. Hypnotherapy offers a natural solution to overcoming fear of public speaking and requires no form of prescribed medication and is non invasive in any form. In most cases just a few sessions with a skilled hypnotherapist will help you overcome your anxiety and improve your confidence so that you remain cool, calm and collected when speaking to a group.

The hypnotherapist will help you harness the power of your unconscious mind to mentally rehearse delivering a great speech and old negative programming will be replaced by more positive thought patterns. As a result of the process you will begin to feel excited and enthusiastic rather than nervous and jittery about the challenge. Additional benefits will include greater self-assurance and confidence with a belief that your opinions are just as valid as everyone else's.

Hypnotherapy will help you deliver your speech in a calm and friendly, but assertive manner and the effects of the treatment are long lasting. It may not make you be the first one to leap to the microphone, but it will make public speaking something you can handle, rather than fear.