Meet Sonia Lloyd
Certified Hypnotherapist | BA - Psychology (UOA) | Psychotherapy and Sports Hypnosis
Sometimes, the experiences that challenge us most become the experiences that change us forever.
My experience that changed everything
Seven days after my first son was born, he was admitted to hospital in critical care, where he remained for three weeks. An infection had led to neurological complications, and my husband and I faced frightening uncertainties about his future.
As a new mother, I struggled with depression and sought psychological support, but the early years of motherhood remained incredibly challenging.
Then, one day, while sitting in a cemetery with my baby in his pram, something shifted.
I realised that although I couldn't control everything happening around me, I could choose how I moved forward. I wanted to do everything I could to support my son's wellbeing — and find a healthier path for myself.
That moment marked the beginning of a journey that would change my life.
Discovering the power of the mind and body
I began practising yoga daily because it helped me feel better, both physically and mentally. What started as a personal practice grew into a deeper exploration of the connection between mind, body and wellbeing.
As my son's health challenges continued, I searched for additional ways to support him. I became fascinated by how psychological, emotional and physical factors interact and how different approaches might contribute to wellbeing.
My son became a powerful motivation to keep learning.
I became a certified yoga teacher, studying meditation, breathing techniques, somatic counselling, nutrition, anatomy and physiology. I went on to study life coaching, Reiki, bioenergetic approaches and clinical hypnotherapy.
My training includes the New Zealand School of Clinical Hypnotherapy and certification through Hypnofit with Helen Mitas. More recently, I completed specialist training with psychotherapist and hypnotherapist Mark Tyrrell in trauma-related work, approaches to depression and developing a successful mindset.
Together with my psychology degree, these experiences have shaped the knowledge and range of approaches I bring to my clients.
Why this work matters to me
I understand how exhausting it can be to feel stuck, overwhelmed or uncertain about the future. I also know how important it is to feel supported and empowered to explore a different way forward.
My experiences have deepened my commitment to helping people navigate challenges, understand unhelpful patterns and work towards meaningful change.
Today, I draw on psychotherapy, hypnosis and psychological approaches to tailor my work to each individual's needs.
Whether you're struggling with depression or anxiety, working through difficult experiences, or an athlete rebuilding confidence after injury, my aim is to help you explore what's holding you back and develop practical strategies to move forward.
I believe meaningful change begins with understanding and the right support can help you discover new possibilities.
And what happened to my son?
I'm incredibly proud to say that my son has grown into a healthy, happy and accomplished young adult both in his sport and academically and continues to amaze me.
While I would never wish those early experiences on my family, they helped shape my curiosity, resilience and determination to keep learning about the mind and body.
They also led me to work that I feel deeply passionate about.
Today, I bring that same commitment, curiosity and desire to help into my work with every client.
A special word from my clients
I am so grateful to have worked with Sonia. I came to her with my struggles, and she not only helped me through those but also helped me uncover and heal things I didn’t even realise were affecting me.
— Lucia G.
I felt I’d lost a bit of my mental edge in my marathon runs of recent and Sonia’s process was exactly what I needed to get back on track. Very next race, I nailed my goal perfectly, but also felt very comfortable, calm and in control throughout.
— Sean K.
I’ve tried many different types of therapy over the years, but working with Sonia at High Performance Hypnotherapy has by far had the biggest impact in the shortest amount of time. By our final session, we had far exceeded what we originally set out to achieve. Sonia helped me change how I felt about significant life events and work through things I hadn’t even realised needed attention.
— Jimmy A.
My daughter recently worked with Sonia, to help overcome some personal and sporting barriers. The sessions were powerful, deeply focused, and tailored specifically to my daughter and her goals. Focus on pre-competition nerves, recovery from setbacks, and breaking through mental blocks, Sonia has helped Poppy turn those challenges into strengths.
— Andrea.
Your journey starts here
You don't need to have all the answers before seeking support.
If you're ready to explore what's holding you back, rebuild your confidence or work towards positive change, I'd love to hear your story.
Let's talk about where you are now, where you want to be, and how I may be able to help.