It was a trip to the cinema which was to prove a turning point for Julie Barrett.

For years the high-flying executive in event management had suffered from crippling claustrophobia.

She may have been organising conferences, gala dinners and events for up to 4,000 delegates.

But all the time Julie was avoiding lifts, trains and planes.

She wouldn’t even lock doors in public toilets or changing rooms.

And so to that cinema visit with her children.

Julie said: “It was dark and I sat there really, really scared.

“My anxiety had already begun to affect my children’s behaviour.

“I resolved there and then, that enough is enough.

“I had to do something about it.”

Julie booked to see a hypnotherapist.

The results were astonishing.

She said: “After a few sessions, I realised how powerful this therapy was.

“A few more and my claustrophobia had lifted.

“It was quite amazing.”

The sessions also opened Julie’s eyes to a new career.

She said: “I always knew that I loved people and enjoy looking after them.

“But after 25 years, I wanted to help people more at a deeper level.

“My own experience led to me retraining with the Salus Academy in London to become a Person-Centred Integrative NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) and Hypnotherapist.

“The work of a therapist is incredible.

“And, as I discovered, changes can be made in just a few sessions.

“I am very intuitive and enjoy piecing the puzzle together to understand the root of the issue at hand.

“This is done with patience, kindness and, obviously, complete confidentially.

“I believe that everyone has the right to be happy and follow their dreams with confidence and a healthy mindset.

“Hypnotherapy with NLP are two of the integrated approaches that I use to make rapid, real and lasting changes to people’s lives.

“In my sessions, I help clients resolve issues, blocks, limitations and unwanted habits.

“Blocks in people’s lives can be so damaging.

“I knew that I always wanted children and struggled each month for 18 months with no success.

“This was the most stressful time of my life, as all I wanted was a baby.

“It wasn’t until I put the responsibility of my fertility with a doctor, that I suddenly fell pregnant without any intervention.

“The fact that someone else could help relaxed me enough to actually fall pregnant.

“I now do a lot of work in this area.

“I believe that old messages that we tell ourselves when we are younger can be the reason – as long as it’s not physical – that we don’t get what we want now.

“These messages need to be updated so the unconscious understands exactly what we want now.”

Julie, 50, is married to Steve and has two children, aged 21 and 17.

The couple relocated from West London to Dorset 15 years ago.

“We felt that Poole was a better environment for the children to grow up in.

“We encouraged my sister and her family and my mum and dad to relocate also.

“We have never looked back,” said Julie.

Now the owner of True-U after qualifying two years ago, Julie is offering a free four-part programme to help with people’s emotions during the pandemic.

A video introducing the sessions, which are available for four days from Monday, January 18, can be seen here.

Julie said: “The Covid situation is bringing up many emotions for many people.

“I wanted to provide a little ray of sunshine by offering a free programme.

“In the first chapter, I discuss how to understand your thought processes and start to make the changes needed to achieve a happier, more fulfilled life.

“Chapter two explores how your thoughts affect your feelings and your behaviours.

“The third chapter understands how to set goals and firmly cement these in mind with a wonderful visualisation.

“Chapter four has a relaxing trance to clear the mind for the work ahead.”

The full programme can be unlocked by visiting true-u.org

Julie said: “We can’t change what’s happening with regards to Covid.

“But we can change the way we feel and think about it.

“That’s the object of my free programme.

“I hope people find it helpful and useful.”