Dr Eleni Eliadou

Dr Elena Eliadou is a Consultant Gastroenterologist with over 23 years of medical experience, a qualified Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapist and the founder of Gut Brain Metamorphosis, a specialist online practice providing evidence-based, personalised gut–brain therapy.

Having trained and practised medicine in the UK and New Zealand,Dr Eliadou combines extensive experience in gastroenterology with additional training in Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy and gut-directed hypnotherapy to support people living with persistent digestive symptoms.

Her specialist interest is in Disorders of Gut Brain interaction (DGBIs), including Irritable Bowel Syndrome(IBS), functional dyspepsia, functional abdominal bloating, functional abdominal distension, reflux hypersensitivity, rumination syndrome and supragastric belching. These conditions can cause persistent and sometimes debilitating symptoms, including abdominal pain, bloating, visible abdominal enlargement, constipation, diarrhoea, nausea, regurgitation and digestive discomfort, even when routine investigations do not identify structural disease.

Dr Eliadou recognises that the impact of persistent digestive symptoms frequently extends beyond physical discomfort. Unpredictable symptoms can affect confidence, work, relationships, travel, eating habits and social activities. Symptom-related anxiety, excessive monitoring and avoidance behaviours can also contribute to ongoing difficulties.

Her approach combines a detailed understanding of digestive physiology and gut–brain communication with evidence-based cognitive and behavioural interventions.

Rather than focusing exclusively on individual symptoms, she works collaboratively with clients to explore the physiological, cognitive,emotional and behavioural factors that may influence their experience.

Her aim is to help clients develop practical skills to manage persistent digestive symptoms, reduce their impact on everyday life and improve quality of life.

Dr Eliadou graduated from University College London (UCL) in 2002 and completed postgraduate medical training in the UK and New Zealand. Her qualifications include MBBS, MRCP (UK) and FRACP (New Zealand).

Alongside her medical career, she completed a Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy with the UK College of Hypnosis & Hypnotherapy, developing additional expertise in integrating cognitive behavioural principles with clinical hypnotherapy.

She has also completed specialist training in Barcelona in functional abdominal distension and abdominophrenic dyssynergia (APD), including the Barcelona biofeedback approach.

This training further developed her understanding of the physiological mechanisms contributing to visible abdominal distension, including altered coordination between the diaphragm and abdominal wall muscles, and the role of targeted biofeedback-based interventions.

Conditions and Symptoms

Dr Eliadou provides specialist gut–brain therapy for people with an established medical diagnosis of a Disorder of Gut–Brain Interaction.

Her areas of particular interest include:

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Including IBS with diarrhoea (IBS-D), constipation (IBS-C) or mixed bowel habits (IBS-M), particularly when abdominal pain, urgency, bloating and unpredictable bowel habits affect everyday life.
• Functional Dyspepsia: Persistent upper abdominal discomfort, early satiety, post-meal fullness and related symptoms.
• Functional Abdominal Bloating: Persistent or recurrent sensations of abdominal fullness, pressure or bloating that may occur without visible abdominal enlargement.
• Functional Abdominal Distension: Visible abdominal enlargement that may be associated with altered coordination of the diaphragm and abdominal wall muscles, known as abdominophrenic dyssynergia (APD). Dr Eliadou has completed specialist training in Barcelona covering the assessment and biofeedback-based management of APD.
• Reflux Hypersensitivity: Troublesome reflux symptoms associated with increased sensitivity to reflux events.
• Rumination Syndrome: Recurrent, often effortless regurgitation associated with a learned, largely automatic behavioural pattern.
• Supragastric Belching: Excessive belching involving a learned pattern of air movement into and out of the oesophagus.
• Other Disorders of Gut–Brain Interaction: Selected conditions where gut–brain therapy may be appropriate following medical assessment.

Her work also addresses associated difficulties such as visceral hypersensitivity, symptom-related anxiety, excessive symptom monitoring, fear of eating, toilet anxiety and avoidance behaviours that can develop alongside persistent digestive symptoms.

Gut–Brain Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy

Through Gut Brain Metamorphosis, Dr Eliadou provides personalised online Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy and gut–brain therapy.

Treatment may incorporate several complementary approaches:

Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy

Gut-directed hypnotherapy is an evidence-based treatment for IBS and may be helpful for selected other Disorders of Gut–Brain Interaction. It uses structured therapeutic suggestions and imagery to influence gut–brain processing and help reduce symptom burden.

Cognitive Behavioural Interventions

CBT-informed strategies help clients identify and modify patterns of thinking, attention and behaviour that may contribute to symptom-related distress or ongoing difficulties. These can include hypervigilance, catastrophic interpretations of symptoms, avoidance and unhelpful coping behaviours.

Mindfulness and Attention-Based Strategies

These techniques help clients develop a different relationship with digestive sensations, reduce excessive symptom monitoring and respond more flexibly to discomfort and uncertainty.

Education and Personalised Self-Management

Understanding the mechanisms behind digestive symptoms is an important part of treatment. Dr Eliadou provides individualised education and practical strategies that clients can apply in everyday life.

Therapy is tailored to each person's diagnosis, symptoms, previous treatment experiences, circumstances and goals.

A Personalised Approach to Treatment

Dr Eliadou recognises that people with the same diagnosis may experience very different symptoms, difficulties and treatment needs.

Treatment begins with a comprehensive assessment exploring the client's medical history, previous investigations and treatments, symptom patterns, relevant lifestyle factors and the impact of symptoms on daily life.

The assessment also considers the interaction between gut sensations, nervous system responses, thoughts, emotions and behaviours.

Together, Dr Eliadou and the client develop an individualised treatment plan focusing on the factors most relevant to their experience.

Sessions are collaborative and structured, combining education with practical therapeutic techniques and opportunities to develop skills between appointments.

Progress is considered not only in terms of symptom improvement but also in relation to confidence, reduced avoidance, daily functioning and quality of life.

The aim is to help clients manage their symptoms more effectively and participate more fully in activities that matter to them.