IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME (IBS)

What’s Included:

 

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a complex gut–brain condition influenced by physiology, stress, emotion and learned patterns of response. This CPD Masterclass gives practitioners a clear, structured understanding of IBS and teaches you how to work safely and effectively with clients using hypnotherapeutic approaches. You’ll learn how to identify triggers, reduce symptom‑related anxiety, interrupt the gut–brain feedback loop and support long‑term regulation and comfort.

​​​

​​

You’ll explore:

​​​​​​​​

• Background and terminology
  Key definitions, diagnostic criteria and how IBS is understood within medical and psychological frameworks.

​

• The gut–brain connection
  How the nervous system, stress response and digestive system interact to create and maintain IBS symptoms.

​

• Symptomology and subtypes
  IBS‑C, IBS‑D, mixed type, pain‑dominant presentations and how symptoms fluctuate.

​

• Triggers and maintaining factors
  Stress, food sensitivities, hormonal changes, anticipatory anxiety, hypervigilance and behavioural patterns.

​

• Psychological and emotional factors
  Anxiety, fear of symptoms, embarrassment, avoidance behaviours, catastrophising and the impact on daily life.

​

• Physiological considerations
  Motility, visceral hypersensitivity, microbiome influences and the role of the autonomic nervous system.

​

• Medical assessment and red flags
  Understanding what must be ruled out, when to refer back to a GP and how to work alongside medical care.

​

• Working with toilet anxiety and safety behaviours
  Supporting clients who fear leaving home, travelling, eating out or being far from a toilet.

​

• The gut–brain feedback loop
  How symptoms create anxiety, and anxiety amplifies symptoms — and how to break this cycle.

​

• Hypnotherapeutic interventions
  Techniques for calming the gut, reducing sensitivity, regulating the nervous system and building confidence.

​

• Somatic and sensory regulation
  Approaches for grounding, warmth, breathwork and reducing physiological reactivity.

​

• Cognitive and behavioural strategies
  Reframing symptom expectations, reducing avoidance, building tolerance and restoring normal routines.

​

• Lifestyle and supportive approaches
  Sleep, pacing, gentle movement, stress reduction and supportive habits that complement hypnotherapy.

​

• Working with flare‑ups and setbacks
  How to help clients manage relapses without fear or loss of progress.

​

• Case studies
  Realistic examples illustrating symptom patterns, anxiety loops, therapeutic pacing and hypnotherapeutic outcomes.

​

​

​Additional Info:

​

CPD Hours: 15

​​​

Cost: £125 (discount available to returning students)