SALLY POTTER - DEVON HYPNOTHERAPIST
Hi, I'm Sally Potter - South Devon hypnotherapist. Here I reflect on what I do, the past 10 years in hypnotherapy, and where I am now.
I lead from beside my clients to enable them to discover their own full wellness. I am a fully qualified Solution Focused Hypnotherapist and Psychotherapist with many years of life experience and learning. This has developed to become specialist approach to helping women, through group work, retreats, and one to one coaching and therapy. My therapy and online group work is for everyone, and I have an ambition to run a retreat for men soon too.
Sally is a wonderful warm person. With her help I have managed to overcome severe trauma and anxiety. I highly recommend her for anyone who is struggling. or just needs support.
Esther, March '23
I am passionate about what I do and I find profound satisfaction in helping people to create positive change in their lives.
FROM DEVON TO AFRICA AND BACK
I trained as a radiographer in Plymouth, Devon and enjoyed a 15 year career in the NHS and private sector before having the first of our three children and moving with my husband to live in Gabon, West Africa. A few years in Surrey on our return, then in 2005 Devon beckoned once more, and the Potter family has been settled here since then. Whilst bringing up my family of three, with my husband working away for much of the time, I continued to study with the Open University - Technology, Health and Disease, and Astronomy and Planetary Science. I managed work and volunteering around the busy schedule of the children. However, as they became more independent I realised that I really wanted to return to a caring career. Hypnotherapy is a way I can truly help people.
I’m fascinated by the mystery and majesty of the night sky and all that is beyond our world. When the weather is right and the sky is clear, stargazing is a lovely activity at my retreats.
DEALING WITH FAILURE AND BOUNCING BACK
Before becoming a hypnotherapist, I had a varied career. Beginning with selling wedding dresses - how on earth I landed that job I will never know - and moving through radiography and direct selling. Upon our return to Devon, I set up and ran a music festival in Ivybridge with a business partner, which was successful for four years. My kids were so impressed to have a mum that ran a festival! It was pretty cool, and incredibly hard work. The closure of the festival when it collapsed in its final year was a huge learning curve. I learnt to manage failure and loss, as well as navigate enormously difficult conversations and decisions. This stressful time had a massive impact on my relationship with my husband, threatened our home, and deeply affected my confidence. Several years on, I'm proud now to have used this learning to help me help others, and also, with the support of my husband, to build my new, successful business as a hypnotherapist.
I trained in Hypnotherapy in 2015 at the Observatory Practice in Plymouth, Devon - part of renowned Clifton Practice Hypnotherapy Training. I am qualified in Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy, holding a Diploma in Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (DSFH), and the Hypnotherapy Practitioners Diploma (HPD), required for entry to the register of theNational Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH). Never wanting to stop adding to my skills and learning, in 2019 I added a Certificate in BRIEF Solution Focused Therapy. BRIEF is the Centre for Solution Focused Practice in the UK, and Solution Focus informs my whole practice. I have the Certificate in Applied Neuroscience from the Neuroscience Academy with Dr Sarah McKay. Since 2020, I have been a student of The Clinical Hypnotherapy School with Dorothea Read and Dr Rachel Gillibrand, holding the Diploma in Medical Hypnotherapy. I am a Lifetime member of the Mike Mandel Hypnosis Academy
Now with over 9 years of hypnotherapy experience under my belt, I'm proud to be helping people every day.
SALLY LEADING FROM BESIDE
The Solution Focused approach puts clients firmly in charge. My role is not to try and step into my clients shoes. Rather, it is to follow the lead of each answer to a question, and from beside my client, to ask the next. In this way, the solutions are always those of my clients, which creates powerful, long lasting change. I quickly knew that this way of working was right for me when I began my training. This is confirmed in the successful outcomes that my clients experience week on week.
Sally is lovely, patient and puts you completely at ease. I'd thoroughly recommend for anyone who feels they need a little brain TLC. Thanks again
Lorna (online client, 2022)
WHEN I'M NOT WORKING IN MY PRACTICE
You'll find me on Dartmoor or on a Devon beach with my dogs. We currently have 4 Springer Spaniels, all related, from Great Grandma to youngest pup. I also enjoy managing our little patch of land for wildlife and diversity. I'm just about to learn how to scythe, and I'll be helping lay a hedge this autumn.
Being outside is my rest and reset. Living on the edge of Dartmoor, between land and sea, is perfect for me.
RETREATS WITH SALLY
The beauty of where we live in Devon has inspired me to create retreats. I ran the first one in 2021, when I responded to a request on LinkedIn from the wonderful Katherine Jones, CEO of Think Wine. Since then, there have been 7 full residential retreats with some mini day retreats in between. In 2024, I changed the name of my business to Sally Potter Hypnotherapy and Retreats, to reflect the new balance in my work. More than just a holiday, women come here to mark a change in their lives from doubt and uncertainty, to confidence and new beginnings.
Feeling very at peace. Thank you all for such a great wonderful weekend xx
Lyndsay, January '23 retreat
If you'd like to share my lifestyle and deeply relax here in Devon for a few nights take a look at the upcoming retreats page. We have three retreats in the diary for 2025.
Time and space to reset
A retreat with me is a peaceful, restorative experience
SALLY POTTER - NOURISH, FLOURISH AND REPLENISH MEMBERSHIPS
In line with my goal of supporting more people with affordable options, I've created a trio of accessible memberships for people who want to connect with me and have help from me. I know it’s a big step to choose to have therapy, so these memberships give you a way to access my expertise without committing to one-to one sessions. Starting with NOURISH, which provides weekly live access to me for relaxation and reset, and up to REPLENISH, which is a way to buy your retreat with masses of added value. The memberships are described in more detail on the membership page.
Well done Sally and Sandy*. Just perfect. Made me give a very contented sigh. Can’t think of better people to nourish with.
Beryl, Flourish Member
Sandy is my retreat partner. As well as being an amazing chef, she’s also a beautiful person.
OTHER WELLBEING WORK
EVERYTHING IVYBRIDGE WELLBEING
I’m privileged to be a part of an amazing collaboration of well-being businesses and organisations in Ivybridge. Founded by Liz Scott and Lucy Richards, the enterprise has a basis of Wellbeing Listening. Our aim is to connect our community to everything available to support wellbeing. Last week it reached 1000 followers, and the impact is growing all the time.
Working for the Filo Project for the past 6 years has been incredible. The Filo Project provides small group day care for people with early dementia or memory loss. I started as an Area Coordinator, and now manage the recruitment of our wonderful hosts as well as co-facilitating the staff wellbeing program. It’s fabulous to be able to use my Solution Focused skills in a different way to support our rapidly expanding workforce across the country. If you’d like to know more, The Filo Project Website is here.
