Farnham hypnotherapist Garry Coles is realising his dreams after winning a prestigious award in his field.

Last month, he was honoured as Medical Hypnotherapist of the Year at the Mid-America Hypnosis Conference in Chicago.

His journey into the work of therapy began 20 years ago when he lost his job as a consultant for an oil company. Mr Coles began selling items from his garage to make ends meet, including hypnotherapy CDs. He was intrigued after the CDs became best-sellers, so he decided to study hypnotherapy in-depth.

His award at the Chicago conference recognised his groundbreaking work in hypnotherapy, which he delivers to clients around the world.

Recently, he conducted research on the effects of hypnotherapy on cancer patients. While his full findings will be published soon, initial results indicate that hypnotherapy can positively impact the emotional well-being of cancer patients.

“While obviously, the treatment is not a cure for cancer nor does it fight the condition it does help people to overcome their outlooks on life and help manage side effects such as pain, nausea and sleep issues,” he said.

Mr Coles said he aims to promote the genuine benefits of hypnotherapy, which now has backing from research papers and the NHS.

Hypnotherapy is a psychological treatment that uses hypnosis to manage various mental and physical health conditions. The therapist will guide patients into a deep state of relaxation and heightened awareness, allowing them to be open to suggestions to change their perceptions, emotions, thoughts or behaviours.