About me and how I help
Hi, I'm Maria Antoniou (she/her)
I’m a Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapist specialising in helping people to feel safer, calmer and more at ease in themselves, when they are alone and with others.
Who I work with
My clients are typically thoughtful, sensitive, capable people who, from the outside seem fine and often conventionally successful.
But inside, they feel drained from second-guessing themselves, or feeling like they have to perform or people-please to fit in.
They may struggle with social situations, and may feel nervous, awkward and different from everyone else in the room. They may turn down opportunities, or hold themselves back from things that would put them in the spotlight.
They may have kept quiet about these feelings for years, resigning themselves to living with the discomfort or isolation, and missing out on the life they want to live. They may use alcohol, or have developed other strategies, to cope with social situations.
Many of the people I work with have grown up feeling “different” or “wrong” because of who they are. This includes people who are Queer/ LGBTQ+, neurodivergent, highly sensitive, or from marginalised backgrounds.
We work together to release those messages so they can come back to themselves. It's not about becoming someone else, but quietening the self-criticism and releasing the pressure to be more or other than who they already are.
How I see our work together
I don’t believe people have low self-esteem or social anxiety because they're personally flawed or broken. Instead, I see these states as relational, cultural and political... natural consequences of the environments we grow up in, and in which we live.
In my view, therapy isn’t about "fixing" ourselves. It’s about unpacking the messages we absorbed and gently replacing them with more helpful messages and thoughts that affirm our worth.
Qualifications & Experience
I hold a Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy (Hypno-CBT®) from the UK College of Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy, an evidence-based approach that blends cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness and gentle (non-trance) hypnosis.
Before becoming a therapist, my career was rooted in the charity and social justice sector, in management positions, including - for almost 18 months - leading an LGBTQ+ organisation as Interim CEO.
Earlier, I completed a PhD in Social Sciences (yes, you can call me Dr.) and spent six years as an academic researcher and lecturer, pursuing a deep interest in social identity, equity, and the systems that shape our lives.
Alongside this, I've completed Life Coaching and Executive Coaching trainings, undertaken intermediate level counselling training, as well as energy healing courses. I've spent over twenty years supporting people's personal development 1-2-1 and in groups, online and offline, in the work-place and in the community. I bring an understanding of the mind–body-soul connection, and the importance of feeling safe and whole, to all of my work.
I also bring openness and respect for people's lived experiences and the challenges they bring to our work . I am continually learning and updating my practice.
And personally...
Outside the therapy room, I’m someone who values calm, depth, authenticity and meaningful connection.
I was born and raised in East London in a Greek Cypriot family and 'came out' as queer in my late 'teens. My own experiences of culture, identity, and (not) belonging inform the way I work.
Now in my early 50s and living by the sea in Brighton, I’m often found walking along the coast, spending time with friends, swimming, dancing or unrolling my yoga mat.
I’m totally committed to my own personal growth, continuing to learn, regulate my nervous system, and seek support when I need it. I do the same inner work that I invite my clients to do and believe that therapy is an ongoing personal practice.
