A CLINICAL hypnotherapist wants to start a free service to help people in her community with mental health issues, due to the lack of NHS treatments available.

Ashley O’Brien, from Great Harwood, works independently with women but wants to extend her help towards men and teenagers who are suffering with anxiety.

The group would work on finding methods to think positively and change negative thought processes by working through personal struggles.

Miss O’Brien said: “I got a lot of enquiries from men and parents of teenagers who are struggling, and I wanted to make something accessible for them.

“Men especially are much more likely to take their own lives and I wanted to do something that everyone can come to. I will be teaching them exercises to help relieve anxiety and give them as much 1-2-1 help as I can to change the way people think.”

The clinical hypnotherapist trained after completing courses in clinical hypnotherapy and Neuro Linguistic Programming approved by the British Psychological Society.

Miss O’Brien overcame personal mental health issues, and this was when she decided she wanted to help other people who may be waiting on NHS lists or those not wanting to go to a GP to discuss their mental health.

The 33-year-old added: “I did struggle with depression when I was younger, and I did not think the NHS helped me, so it was all about self-help.

“I then trained in clinical hypnotherapy, which is why I want to pass on the skills and methods to help yourself.

“When I started out I met mums who were struggling with motherhood and then I started working with them, and now I want to take it further.

“There are men, whose partners approached me on their behalf as for men there is a stigma and I want to give something back to the community.”

Normally Miss O’Brien charges £40 to £60 but to provide a free service she is in need of sponsors as it will help the community with a local service that is easy to go to and access, without having to pay a lot of money for.

Miss O’Brien said: “It will bring people back into the community, so I really need sponsors and people to help me set up.”