The  ASCEND™ Bridge

from Anxiety to Confidence

A 6 step programme to Rewire Fear, Build Calm and Perform under Pressure

From Anxious to Confident — 6 Steps to Rewire Fear, Build Calm, and Perform Under Pressure

Do you ever feel like your anxiety has more control over your day than you do?

You plan to stay calm and focused — but the moment pressure hits, your mind races, your heart pounds, and your confidence disappears.

You freeze when you need to speak up.

You replay mistakes hours later.

You try to “think positive,” but your body hasn’t got the memo.

You’re not broken.

Your brain is just doing its job — protecting you based on old evidence.

The good news? You can retrain it.

It’s time to learn the science-backed system that turns anxiety into calm, sustainable confidence — not by deleting fear, but by reprogramming your response to it.

Suspension bridge into the clouds

Where calm and performance meet

The ASCEND™ Programme is for those who want to perform at their best without the exhaustion, overthinking, or fear that often comes with it. It’s for professionals, athletes, and high achievers who know they’re capable — but feel held back by anxiety, self-doubt, or the pressure to be perfect.

You’ve worked hard, you’re committed, and on paper you have it all together — yet inside, the nerves tell a different story. Your heart races before the big moments, your voice wavers when you most want to sound steady, and you wonder why confidence feels so fragile.

ASCEND™ helps you change that. Through a blend of psychology, hypnotherapy, and neuroscience-based training, you’ll learn to calm your body, retrain your mind, and perform from a place of grounded confidence. Calm isn’t the opposite of performance — it’s the foundation of it.

What is ASCEND™?

ASCEND™ is a six-step, science-based framework from Anxiety & Performance Coach to help you move from anxious avoidance to confident action. Each step stacks simple, powerful skills that you can rely on when it matters to transform anxiety into calm, confident performance — wherever it matters most.


Whether it’s public speaking, sport, leadership, or daily life, ASCEND™ teaches you how to work with your nervous system, not against it.

Rooted in neuroscience, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, hypnotherapy, and performance psychology, ASCEND™ retrains your body to interpret adrenaline as energy, not danger.
You’ll learn to steady your breath, anchor your posture, and reframe self-criticism into calm focus — turning what once felt like panic into presence.

Confidence isn’t a personality trait; it’s a trained state. Through the six-step ASCEND™ process — Awareness, Self-Compassion, Courage, Empowerment, Nurture, and Determination — you’ll build lasting confidence from the inside out. Each stage guides you though noticing, reframing, and rehearsing safely until calm becomes your default under pressure.

By combining guided hypnosis, visualisation, practical psychology, and daily recovery rituals, ASCEND™ empowers you to perform with authenticity, balance, and flow. It’s not about “faking it till you make it.” It’s about training your brain and body to feel safe while you shine.

The Six Steps of ASCEND™

A — Awareness
Learn to notice your triggers, thoughts, and body signals without judgement. You’ll understand what’s really happening when anxiety shows up — and how to spot the early signs before they take over.

S — Self-Compassion
Replace the inner critic with a calmer, kinder voice. You’ll discover how self-support, not self-pressure, activates your body’s natural soothing system and helps you recover faster under stress.

C — Courage
Confidence grows through action. You’ll take small, manageable steps towards the situations you once avoided, proving to yourself that you can handle more than you think.

E — Empowerment
Turn calm into a skill you can use anywhere. Through breathwork, posture, and mindset tools, you’ll learn how to steady your body and focus your attention when it matters most.

N — Nurture
True confidence needs recovery. You’ll build supportive habits — sleep, movement, nutrition, time outdoors, and micro-moments of rest — that keep your nervous system balanced day to day.

D — Determination
This is where confidence becomes part of who you are. You’ll review your progress, celebrate growth, and keep showing up — even when it feels uncomfortable — until calm confidence feels natural.

Who it helps

WHO IS ASCEND™ FOR?

The ASCEND™ performer is someone who cares deeply about doing well. Yet lately, you might feel that your mind and body don’t always cooperate when the pressure is on. You know you’re prepared, but your confidence wavers; your heart races, your voice trembles, or your mind goes blank right when you need to perform.

Perhaps you’re often told you’re “so confident” or “so composed,” yet inside you worry you’ll be found out — that the next big moment will expose the nerves you’re working so hard to hide. You want to feel calm, in control, and ready — not fighting your body every time something important is at stake.

The ASCEND™ performer might identify with some of these statements:

  • I perform well in practice but freeze when it really matters.

  • My heart races or my voice shakes when I’m under pressure.

  • I overthink every detail and still feel unprepared.

  • I hold it all together — but only just.

  • I avoid opportunities because I’m afraid of making a mistake.

  • I wake up replaying what went wrong yesterday.

  • I want to feel composed and confident, not tense and reactive.

  • My stress shows up in my body — tight chest, headaches, fatigue.

  • I compare myself to others who seem naturally confident.

  • I’m tired of forcing confidence — I want it to feel real.

  • I want practical tools that actually work, not just motivation.

  • I know I’m capable of more — if I could just get out of my own way.

  • I want to feel calm, steady and ready — whatever the situation.

  • I want to stop performing from fear and start performing from flow.

  • I know mastering my mindset will unlock the next level in my performance, career, or sport.

The ASCEND™ performer will learn to recognise that they’re not broken —they’re wired for growth.

If you’re ready to train your mind the same way you train your craft : with structure, science, and self-belief then join up now.

The Results


WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM ASCEND™?

By the end of the ASCEND™ journey, you’ll notice a quiet but powerful shift — not just in how you think, but in how you feel and show up under pressure. You’ll begin to trust your preparation, recover faster from setbacks, and step into moments that once felt overwhelming with calm confidence.

You’ll no longer be ruled by adrenaline or self-doubt. Instead, you’ll have the tools and mindset to bring your best self forward — consistently, calmly, and with purpose.

By the end you’ll experience:

  • Feeling calm and grounded before situations that used to trigger anxiety.

  • A steadier voice, stronger posture, and greater sense of control during performance moments.

  • Sharper focus and the ability to stay present instead of overthinking.

  • Improved recovery after stressful events — bouncing back quickly rather than spiralling.

  • Greater self-compassion and less self-criticism when things don’t go perfectly.

  • Confidence that feels earned, not forced — built through repeated practice and success.

  • Reduced physical symptoms of stress such as tension, racing heart, or shallow breathing.

  • Better sleep, concentration and energy, as the nervous system learns to reset.

  • A noticeable improvement in communication and emotional regulation under pressure.

  • A renewed sense of motivation, enjoyment and flow in their work, sport, or creative field.

Ultimately, ASCEND™ helps you replace the old cycle of anxiety and avoidance with a new one — awareness, action, and authentic confidence.
You’ll leave with a clear toolkit, a confident mindset, and the ability to perform from calm, not chaos.

Imagine what you could do with this new confidence….what opportunities await you? Like a muscle, confidence starts to grow from small actions taken today. Contact me to work together and those opportunities will stop passing you by, you’ll have the courage and the confidence to start living your best life.

Contact me

How it Works

ASCEND™ is built around six progressive steps — Awareness, Self-Compassion, Courage, Empowerment, Nurture, and Determination — each one helping you move from anxious overthinking to calm, confident action.

Each stage of ASCEND™ builds on the one before, creating a steady path from self-awareness to self-belief. Together, they form a practical system for lasting change — helping you calm your body, train your mind, and perform with confidence you can trust.

ASCEND™ isn’t about quick fixes or pretending to be fearless. It’s about learning how your mind and body work, practising calm under pressure, and building real confidence from the inside out. You’ll start by understanding your body’s stress response and learning how to regulate it, before building the habits and mindset that make confidence repeatable. Each stage combines evidence-based tools — cognitive techniques, guided self-hypnosis, breathwork, posture training, and daily resets — so calm becomes your natural baseline, not a lucky moment.

By the end, you won’t be pretending to feel confident; you’ll be confident — grounded, focused, and ready to perform at your best, no matter the pressure.

Contact me to learn more

Inside the Programme

The ASCEND™ Programme blends insight with action — giving you the knowledge to understand anxiety and the practical tools to retrain your body and mind. Each module builds on the last, guiding you step by step from awareness to embodied confidence.

The programme includes:

  • Six Core Modules — one high-impact 60-75 minute 1:1 lesson via Zoom for each step of the ASCEND™ process. These include education, understanding and guided exercises as well as hypnosis or guided visualisations.

  • Printable digital Workbooks & Pocket Tools — including the BRAVE Reset, Pre-Performance Routine Card, and Recovery Stack.

  • 6 Hypnosis Audios — one for each step, designed to listen to at home, whenever suits you, to rewire calm, focus, and confidence into your daily routine.

  • Audio guided visualisations - to help you with Outcome and Process Visualisations.

  • Weekly Check-Ins with Reflection Prompts — to track progress and celebrate growth. This can be by phone, online or WhatsApp. I am also available for WhatsApp or email support between sessions so that you can ask questions, ask for accountability and share your achievements.

  • Extras: ASCEND™ VIP includes personalised hypnosis audio tracks tailored to your specific situation so that you can listen to these wherever you need that added focus or confidence. Please get in touch for more information about this.

Every tool is designed to be simple, evidence-based, and ready to use in real-life situations — whether you’re stepping on stage, into a meeting, or onto the start line.

Claire Richardson of Anxiety and Performance Coach with a client

Begin your ASCEND™ Journey

The ASCEND™ 1:1 Programme is a six-week, high-impact coaching experience designed to help you transform anxiety into calm, focused confidence — in real time, with expert guidance.

Across six private sessions, you’ll move step-by-step through the ASCEND™ framework — Awareness, Self-Compassion, Courage, Empowerment, Nurture, and Determination — with each session combining education, guided exercises, and tailored hypnosis or visualisation.

You’ll leave with practical tools you can use anywhere — from high-pressure meetings and presentations to everyday challenges — and a calm, confident mindset you can rely on.

Investment

£1,375 single payment
or choose a flexible payment plan:

  • 2 payments of £715

    (first payment on booking, second after 3 sessions)

  • 3 payments of £485

    (first payment on booking, remaining after each block of 2 sessions)

All payment plans include full access to materials for the modules as and when you have the 1:1 sessions.

An investment in your confidence now will have ripple effects throughout your whole life.

How It Works

Once you enrol, you’ll receive your ASCEND™ Welcome Pack with scheduling links, reflection tools, and your first workbook.


We’ll then meet weekly (or fortnightly if preferred) to work through each stage — combining learning, practice, and hypnosis/visualisation tailored to your personal goals.

You’ll also have ongoing WhatsApp or email support between sessions for reflection, questions, or quick reset reminders.

I'm interested, Let's book a call to discuss

Coming Soon: ‘ASCEND™ On Demand’

Prefer to learn at your own pace through watching videos and listening to audios?


A self-led, recorded version of ASCEND™ will be available soon — featuring the same six core video modules, printable workbooks, guided self-hypnosis audios, and optional live Q&A sessions and membership of a private community of like-minded individuals for support and accountability.

The self-led version will launch at an early-bird price of £497 (regular £595).
Join the waitlist below to be first to know when enrolment opens — and receive exclusive early-bird bonuses.

 FAQs

  • ASCEND™ is a structured, evidence-based coaching and hypnotherapy programme that helps you transform anxiety into calm, confident performance. It blends neuroscience, psychology, and practical tools to retrain your body’s stress response so you can perform at your best under pressure.

  • ASCEND™ is a psycho-educational coaching programme blended with hypnotherapy, NLP and sports psychology, not a substitute for medical or psychological treatment. It draws on therapeutic methods such as CBT, mindfulness, and hypnotherapy, but focuses on building skills, awareness, and confidence rather than treating a clinical condition.

  • Not at all. Many participants simply want to manage stress better, build confidence, or sharpen focus. If you recognise that nerves sometimes hold you back from performing at your best, you’ll benefit from ASCEND™.

  • ASCEND™ is designed for professionals, students, and athletes who want to perform confidently — whether that’s in meetings, presentations, interviews, or competitions. It’s ideal for high achievers who are tired of battling nerves, overthinking, or self-doubt, and want calm they can rely on.

  • If you’ve ever felt anxious, self-critical, or held back by fear — yes. The ASCEND System uses evidence-based tools (CBT, NLP, hypnosis) to train your nervous system for confidence.

  • ASCEND™ is a six-module process. Each module can be completed weekly, or we can arrange appointments that fit around your own schedule.

    There will be a self-led, online programme coming soon. Let me know if you want details of this. This can be completed in your own time and you will have life-time access to the materials.

  • Not at all. Everything is guided and practical. You’ll leave each session knowing exactly what to do next.

  • Yes — if you practise. The tools in ASCEND™ are drawn from neuroscience and performance psychology, proven to retrain the body’s stress response. With repetition, you’ll notice yourself recovering faster, staying present, and performing more naturally.

  • You will have lifetime access to the materials so will be able to revisit the recordings for as long as you want.

    If you are having 1:1 coaching then I recommend that the 6 sessions are taken over the course of 3 months to really be able to build a strong foundation and give you time to practice.

  • You will have the calm confidence to go after your goals and grab the opportunities that come your way.

    You’ll leave with a personalised calm-confidence toolkit you can use anywhere — plus lifelong access to your materials.

    Some clients choose to continue with one-to-one coaching or refresher sessions for continued growth.

  • Book a discovery call with me to have a chat about where you struggle now, what you want to achieve and to ask any questions you may have. I know this is a big investment, so I want to make sure I have answered all your questions before you commit. I look forward to speaking to you!

Client Stories

  • “I stopped dreading presentations — and started enjoying them.”

    “Before ASCEND™, my heart would pound before every meeting. Now I know how to ground myself, breathe, and focus. I can finally share my ideas without my voice shaking. It’s such a relief to feel like me again and people have noticed how I’m contributing more and so are asking me for my opinion more often.

    — Emily, Marketing Director

  • “I learned that nerves aren’t weakness — they’re energy I can use.”


    “This programme completely changed how I see anxiety. I don’t try to get rid of it anymore. I know how to work with it, redirect it, and perform from a calm, focused state. My results at work have improved, but more importantly — I feel in control. It’s a game changer!”

    - James, Designer

  • “The calm anchor saved me on race day.”


    “I used to get tense and overthink before competitions. The breathing and visualisation tools from ASCEND™ helped me reset in seconds. Now I use them before every race — it’s like flipping a switch from panic to calm. My performance has improved as well. I think it’s made the biggest change in my performance out of all of the training I have done. “


    — Elliot, Youth Athlete

  • “I don’t spiral after mistakes anymore.”


    “ASCEND™ taught me how to recover quickly instead of overanalysing. I used to lose sleep after every small error. Now I can take a breath, learn from it, and I sleep so much better!”


    — Alexandra, Project Manager

  • “It’s the first programme that actually worked.”


    “I’ve tried so many ‘confidence’ workshops, but nothing stuck because they didn’t address what happens in my body. ASCEND™ gave me science-backed tools that I can use anywhere — and they genuinely work. I’ve been teaching these methods to my friends backstage and we’re all doing them together!”


    — Cassie, Performer

  • “I finally trust myself again.”


    “ASCEND™ helped me rebuild confidence step by step. I feel calmer, kinder to myself, and more capable in every area of life — not just at work. It’s like having my balance back. I think I’m kinder to my family, colleagues and children at school too because i’m not always stuck in ‘fight mode’. ”


    — Leonora, Teacher