The Gut-Brain Connection Program
Does this sound familiar?
You’ve been living with the daily challenges of IBS, managing symptoms like abdominal discomfort, bloating, and unpredictable patterns, and you’re looking for a more consistent way to support your wellbeing. By the end of many days, the impact of these symptoms can leave you feeling physically sensitive and looking for better ways to regulate your body’s responses. You may have already explored:
Standard medical protocols and supplements.
Dietary tracking and changes, like the Low FODMAP approach.
Various resources to understand your digestive health.
While these are important steps, you might feel like there is still a missing piece in your management plan. If you’re looking for an evidence-based way to support the gut-brain connection, you’re in the right place.
A 30-minute Zoom call to meet me, ask any questions you have about the program, and explore whether this approach feels like the right fit for you. No pressure. Just clarity, insight, and a supportive conversation. There is a NZ$49 fee for the call (this is deducted from the full program price if you decide to invest in the program).
Meet and Ask Call
Support for the Gut-Brain Axis: Designed to help your gut respond with more stability rather than constant sensitivity.
Nervous System Regulation: Tools to help move your body out of a state of heightened alertness and into a calmer state.
Improved Dietary Confidence: Support to help you approach meals with more ease and resilience.
Better Daily Management: A focus on reducing the frequency of interruptions, helping you navigate your day with more predictability.
Restored Confidence: Helping you trust your body's signals and manage sensitivity so it no longer dominates your focus.
Increased Quality of Life: Improving your mental clarity and energy by reducing the time spent focused on symptom management.
Greater Social Freedom: Supporting your ability to plan work events or travel with a renewed sense of confidence.
The program is about moving away from working against your body and learning evidence-based ways to work with it.
The Goals of the Brain-Gut Connection Program
An Evidence-Based Approach to Sustained Support
If you have been told to "just manage your stress" while living with IBS, you may be looking for a more comprehensive way to support your wellbeing.
IBS is a physical condition deeply connected to how your gut and brain communicate through the gut-brain axis. This complex network involving your nervous system and enteric brain can become highly sensitive, leading to the challenges you experience daily.
Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy (GDH) is an evidence-based, non-invasive modality that focuses on calming this sensitive connection. Using targeted suggestions in a focused state, it helps support the regulation of how your body processes sensations and responds to triggers.
Over 40 years of clinical research—including work by Professor Peter Whorwell—shows that 70–80% of trial participants experience sustained symptom management. This includes meaningful improvements in comfort regarding bloating, urgency, and bowel patterns.
This program is about more than just monitoring symptoms; it is about improving your quality of life so your gut no longer dominates your daily focus. GDH is a structured, research-grounded approach. If the nervous system can become stuck in a state of heightened sensitivity, it can also be supported to move into a state of balance.
There is a clear, science-backed path forward for your digestive wellbeing.
INTRODUCING THE GUT-BRAIN CONNECTION PROGRAM
Is the IBS Mind-Body Program Right for You?
The Gut-Brain Connection Program is designed for you if you:
Have followed dietary changes and tracked symptoms, but are seeking an additional layer of support for your digestive wellbeing.
Have utilised supplements and stress management tools and are now looking for a specialised, long-term approach to the gut-brain axis.
Are ready for a structured, evidence-based modality that focuses on supporting the regulation of your body's internal responses.
Are curious about a science-backed approach that addresses the interaction between the brain and the gut.
Want to work toward sustained symptom management through a program that integrates with your existing lifestyle.
Are looking for a process that is safe, respectful, and grounded in clinical research.
Are ready to focus on improving your quality of life and gaining more confidence in your daily activities.
Ready to take the next step toward better digestive wellbeing?
Schedule your 30-minute Zoom ‘Meet and Ask’ Call and discover how the IBS Mind-Body Program can support you in achieving sustained symptom management and an improved quality of life.
This call is a chance to discuss your goals and see if this evidence-based approach is the right fit for your needs.
Booking Fee: There is a NZ$49 fee for the consultation (this is fully deducted from the program price should you choose to move forward with the sessions).
The Program Structure
The Gut-Brain Connection Program is a comprehensive, evidence based protocol designed to support you in achieving significant, meaningful and sustained symptom management.
This is a highly personalized program based on your unique experiences and needs. It utilises advanced gut-directed hypnotherapy techniques to support the communication between your brain and gut, while encouraging more balanced digestive function.
This structured, multi-session program brings together science-backed tools, personalized strategies, and practical support—all tailored to the unique way your nervous system and digestive system interact.
The Program has three key areas of focus:
1. Supporting balanced gut-brain communication: Encouraging a calmer interaction within the gut-brain axis.
2. Regulating the nervous system: Assisting your body in moving from a state of heightened sensitivity to a more balanced, regulated state.
3. Training the mind-body response: Utilizing mental rehearsal to support the achievement of your personalized management goals.
What you can expect to achieve having completed the program
By focusing on the regulation of the gut-brain axis, the program aims to support you in achieving:
A more regulated nervous system: Helping your body move from a state of heightened sensitivity toward a more balanced internal response.
More predictable patterns: Supporting you in navigating each day with a greater sense of consistency regarding your digestive health.
Improved management of comfort: Focused techniques to help you better manage sensations of bloating, pressure, or urgency.
Renewed trust in your body: Helping you feel more at ease and in control of your physical responses.
Social confidence: Providing the tools to enjoy meetings, meals, or outings with a reduced focus on the proximity of facilities.
Greater flexibility: Supporting your ability to make daily choices based on your preferences rather than symptom-related concerns.
Sustained management: Providing evidence-based tools designed for long-term support without relying solely on restrictive measures.
Improved quality of life: Helping you work toward a more comfortable and unrestricted daily experience.
Here’s what’s included in the program
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This no-obligation call is your first step toward lasting IBS relief. It’s a chance for us to connect, understand your experience, and explore whether gut-directed hypnotherapy is the right fit for you. I’ll ask a few questions to get a sense of your symptoms, what you've tried so far, and what you’re hoping to achieve. You’ll also have the space to ask any questions — about the science, the process, or how sessions work. There's no pressure to commit. The goal is clarity: for both of us to feel confident that this approach aligns with your needs, goals, and preferences. If it feels like a good fit, we can talk next steps. If not, you'll still leave the call with insight and direction.
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All clients get access to a secure, easy-to-use online portal powered by Quenza. This is where we stay connected between sessions — via private chat, shared notes, and personalised resources. After each session, I’ll send you a brief summary and any follow-up techniques or guides we've discussed, so you can revisit them in your own time. It’s a confidential space where everything we share is kept safe, organised, and just for you.
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Before we meet for our first session, you’ll be invited to complete a short series of activities inside your private Quenza portal. This Pathway is designed to help us both get the most out of our time together. You’ll complete a New Client Questionnaire, a few simple self-assessments, and receive easy-to-follow information on how gut-directed hypnotherapy works — and why it’s so effective for IBS. You’ll also get access to a short hypnosis audio recording, guided by me, to help you get comfortable with the process. Most clients find this Pathway both calming and confidence-building — and it means we can hit the ground running in Session 1.
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Using the insights you share during our Discovery Call — along with your responses in the Quenza Pathway — I’ll craft a personalised strategy tailored to your specific symptoms, goals, and nervous system patterns. No two clients are alike, and IBS doesn’t show up the same way for everyone. That’s why this approach is never one-size-fits-all. This plan will outline the focus of our sessions, the techniques most likely to support change, and the tools you can use between sessions to build confidence and momentum. It’s a flexible, collaborative roadmap — designed around you.
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Your program includes five one-on-one hypnotherapy sessions, delivered over 10 weeks. This structure is designed to give your nervous system the space and support it needs to create real, lasting change.
Session 1 (90 minutes) lays the foundation — we review your personalised strategy, explore your symptom patterns, and begin the first targeted hypnotherapy intervention.
The next four sessions are 60 minutes each, spaced to balance consistency with integration:
Session 2 – 1 week later
Session 3 – 2 weeks later
Session 4 – 2 weeks later
Session 5 – 4 weeks later
This pacing is intentional. It allows time for you to absorb the work, notice shifts in symptoms, and begin using the tools and strategies in daily life — with support all the way through.
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As part of your program, you’ll receive eight personalised hypnosis recordings, each 15–20 minutes long, designed to support the changes we’re working on in sessions. These recordings are tailored to your needs and symptom patterns, and are delivered through your secure Quenza portal. You’ll be guided to listen daily for 100 days, following a simple listening schedule. Why 100 days? Because repetition creates rewiring — and consistent exposure to these therapeutic suggestions helps hardwire the shifts we’re aiming for in your gut–brain communication. Many clients find this daily practice to be both soothing and empowering — a small habit that leads to big changes.
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Alongside listening to your hypnosis recordings, you are provided with a suite of simple nervous system retraining techniques to practice between sessions — including self-hypnosis skills. These techniques help you emotionally process and release anxiety, stress, worry, fear, anger, sadness, and more. When practiced regularly, they help shift your body out of survival mode and into a more balanced rest-and-digest state, where healing and regulation can occur.
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You retain access to your Quenza account, for 6 months after completion of the program. This means you retain access to your rsources for that period. You also have access to Tony via the Quenza chat.
The Gut-Brain Connection Program
Clinical Case Studies: Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy (GDH)
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Case Study: Managing Physical Guarding and Long-term Sensitivity
Challenge: The client presented with a long history of IBS symptoms that had not been adequately supported by protracted dietary protocols (including the Low FODMAP diet) or lifestyle changes. This lack of progress had led to a cycle of self-blame and significant physical "guarding"—a state where the client was constantly braced and hunched in anticipation of digestive discomfort.
Approach: We implemented a structured Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy (GDH) program. The focus was on de-sensitizing the gut-brain axis and using targeted recordings to help the nervous system move out of a "threat response" and into a more regulated, relaxed state.
Result: Months after completing the program, the client reported a sustained improvement in their daily management. Observers noted a visible shift in their physical posture and manner, as they were no longer "braced" against potential discomfort. The client reported significantly higher energy levels, increased confidence, and a greater sense of overall wellbeing compared to their state prior to the program.
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Case Study: Achieving Long-Term Stability and Functional Independence
Challenge: A client presented with persistent IBS symptoms that had lasted over two and a half years. The condition had a significant impact on their professional and personal life, leading to a sense of apprehension about their long-term health and wellbeing.
Approach: The client engaged in a personalized, evidence-based Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy (GDH) protocol. The focus was on moving from simple symptom monitoring to a deeper regulation of the gut-brain axis, utilizing the research-backed techniques established by Professor Peter Whorwell.
Result: Following the completion of the program, the client reported a profound shift in their daily experience. Symptoms that once dominated their focus have become a "mere afterthought." They moved from a state of apprehension to one of sustained stability, noting that the program provided a personalized path to significantly improved quality of life and professional confidence.
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Case Study: Navigating Two Decades of Chronic Sensitivity
Challenge: A client diagnosed with IBS in 2005 presented after nearly 20 years of searching for a sustainable management plan. They had explored an exhaustive range of options, including the Low FODMAP protocol, gluten-free dieting, high-cost supplement programs, and significant lifestyle changes such as leaving a high-stress career. Despite these efforts, they felt their symptoms were not adequately supported and were looking for a deeper approach to the mind-body connection.
Approach: The client enrolled in the specialized Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy (GDH) program. The protocol focused on the "representation of the mind in the body," specifically targeting the gut-brain axis to help regulate the physiological response to internal and external stressors.
Result: After completing the program, the client reported a significant shift, stating that their symptoms no longer dominate their daily life. They achieved a level of functional stability that had previously been elusive despite two decades of various interventions. The client expressed a profound appreciation for the power of the gut-brain connection in supporting long-term digestive wellbeing.
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Case Study: Tailored Support for Personal Management Goals
Challenge: The client sought support for persistent IBS-related challenges that had impacted their sense of agency and daily confidence. They were looking for a structured approach that went beyond general advice and addressed their specific, unique needs and "management objectives."
Approach: We utilized a highly personalized Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy (GDH) protocol. By tailoring the sessions to the client's specific symptom profile and lifestyle, we focused on calming the gut-brain axis and providing tools for better internal regulation. This bespoke approach was essential in helping the client move from a state of monitoring symptoms to a state of active wellbeing.
Result: The client reported a significant shift in their daily experience, noting that they had achieved their primary goal of regaining a sense of confidence. They observed that they now spend significantly less time focused on digestive concerns and have experienced extended periods of consistency. The client feels they now have the tools to effectively manage their digestive health and have returned to engaging fully with their personal and professional life.
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Case Study: Disrupting the Stress-Symptom Loop
Challenge: The client presented with a persistent, long-term cycle of digestive sensitivity. This repetitive pattern had led to a significant loss of agency, with the client feeling as though they were no longer in control of their physical responses or their daily schedule.
Approach: We utilized the Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy (GDH) protocol to focus on the communication between the nervous system and the digestive tract. The sessions were designed to provide the client with the tools to disrupt the physiological loop that maintains sensitivity, moving the body toward a more regulated state.
Result: Following the program, the client reported a significant shift in their daily experience. They successfully moved away from the previous cycle of unpredictable symptoms and described a newfound sense of empowerment. The client noted that they now feel back "in control" of their wellbeing and have a much clearer understanding of how to manage their body’s responses.
INVEST IN EVIDENCE-BASED GUT-BRAIN SUPPORT
Grounded in 40 years of clinical research
Price: $1,499 NZD (Payable in five equal instalments).
Delivery: Online via Zoom 1:1 sessions (*Face-to-face available for those in the greater Wellington area).
Format: Includes 8 personalised hypnosis recordings, comprehensive resources, educational modules, and dedicated practitioner support
Structure: A structured protocol typically delivered over 10 weeks (5 core sessions).
Suitable For: Individuals with a medical diagnosis of IBS or functional digestive challenges (such as functional dyspepsia or persistent bloating) who are seeking sustained, evidence-based symptom management and an enhanced quality of life.
Spaces Available: To ensure high-quality, personalised support, I accept a limited number of new enrolments each month.
The First Step
Schedule your 30-minute Zoom ‘Meet and Ask’ Call. During this consultation, we will discuss your specific management goals and ensure this program is the right fit for your needs.
Consultation Fee: NZ$49 (This is fully deducted from the program price should you choose to enrol).
THE GUT-BRAIN CONNECTION PROGRAM IS …
Meaningful Support for Your Quality of Life
The program is designed to provide sustained symptom management for those living with IBS, while also supporting your emotional and mental wellbeing. By focusing on the gut-brain connection, we work together to help increase your confidence and energy, contributing to a significant improvement in your overall quality of life.
A Comprehensive, Integrated Approach
At its core is evidence-based gut-directed hypnotherapy, but this program goes further. It integrates elements of CBT, nervous system regulation, and emotional processing techniques. This creates a multi-faceted approach tailored specifically to your digestive management goals and overall wellbeing.
Tailored to You
IBS isn’t one-size-fits-all—and neither is this program. Your symptoms, your triggers, and your story are unique, so your path to effective management is personalised from the very first session.
Addressing the Factors that Maintain Symptoms
This program offers a comprehensive approach to management by addressing the factors that often keep the stress-symptom cycle in motion. Rather than a "one-size-fits-all" approach, we focus on:
Supporting the Gut-Brain Connection: Helping to calm the communication loop between your brain and your digestive system.
Managing Emotional Stressors: Identifying and addressing the daily stressors that can heighten gut sensitivity.
Disrupting the Feedback Loop: Breaking the cycle where physical sensations lead to stress, which in turn creates more digestive sensitivity.
Flexible & Accessible Support
Choose 1:1 online sessions from the comfort of your own private space—or in-person consultations in Wellington, NZ. This program is designed to be accessible and fit seamlessly into a busy schedule, providing professional support wherever you are.
Safe, Gentle & Non-Invasive
As a non-pharmacological approach, this program is generally well-tolerated and designed to be used alongside your existing medical plan. It utilizes an evidence-based, research-led process to help calm the gut-brain connection and support your overall quality of life.
