Hypnotherapy for Performance Anxiety (Stage Fright)
A dry mouth during an introduction. Sweating during a presentation, or even sleepless nights? Stage fright, or performance anxiety, is often linked to the fear of judgment and its consequences. We get entangled in what we think others might believe about us. And exactly at the moments that matter most, this fear undermines our confidence. Performance anxiety can show up in many situations: exams, job interviews, presentations, or performances.
What is performance anxiety?
Performance anxiety is often connected to the fear of judgment and its consequences. We get caught up in what we imagine others might think of us. And exactly in the moments that matter most, this fear undermines our self-confidence. Performance anxiety can arise in many situations: exams, interviews, presentations, or performances. My own years on stage – as an actor, director, and later as a teacher at the conservatory – support me in my work as a therapist. Whether you’re giving a presentation, doing an audition, or making music: the pressure can become so great that it gets in the way of your talent.
What happens during performance anxiety
Under pressure, your thoughts often run away with you. You imagine yourself failing, forgetting your lines, stumbling, or even blacking out. Many people try to avoid this tension: not asking questions in a meeting, clinging to PowerPoint slides, skipping an audition, or staying away from a performance. Avoidance feels like relief in the short term. But in the long run, it often makes the anxiety even stronger. By facing these situations step by step and practicing with new experiences, the anxiety can gradually diminish.
How hypnotherapy helps with performance anxiety
“I know my performance anxiety isn’t logical, that’s why I thought of hypnotherapy.” A client told me this some time ago — a professional cellist who performs dozens of concerts each year. “The audience’s reactions are so different from my own experience. For me it sometimes feels like surviving, but afterwards people tell me how moved they were and how beautiful it was.” That gap between your inner world and the outside world is exactly what performance anxiety is about.
And that same gap exists between your conscious and unconscious mind. Consciously, you know you are not really in danger. Yet unconsciously, your body reacts as if you are: tension, a racing heartbeat, survival mode.It's your brain telling you: 'Get out of here!' Hypnotherapy focuses precisely on this unconscious part. There you can build new associations and experiences, so that your reaction is no longer fear, but space, confidence, and focus.
My background on stage
I know how tense it can feel to stand in front of a full audience. As a theatre actor, I often performed on stage — for example, at the open-air theatre in the Amsterdamse Bos, where we played for more than 1,500 people each night. Later, as a teacher at the conservatories in The Hague and Amsterdam, I worked with students who struggled with stage presence and performance pressure. From this stage background, I now also give storytelling and presentation trainings in the business world — for organizations such as KPMG and Parnassia. This combination of experience in the arts, education, and business allows me to understand performance anxiety from different perspectives.
As a hypnotherapist, I use this background to help people manage tension, creating space for self-confidence, impact, and even enjoyment. Each process is tailored to you and your situation. Sometimes you notice a difference after just one session; sometimes it takes a little longer. What matters most is that step by step, you experience more freedom and joy in what you do — whether that’s on stage, in a lecture hall, or during a presentation.
If you’d like to know more, feel free to get in touch.
