From Curiosity to Compassion: Danielle Leikvold’s Journey Helping People Break Free from Addiction
By Trish Pellen, Director of CHA
When I sat down with Danielle Leikvold from The Quit and Empower Place, I knew her story would be both inspiring and eye-opening.
A Family Introduction to Hypnosis
Danielle’s first experience with hypnosis came long before she ever trained in the profession. Her mother-in-law was a heavy smoker in the late 1970s, going through more than a pack a day. After one hypnosis session, she quit completely. Suddenly, Danielle noticed that the smell of cigarettes was gone, the constant puffing at breakfast was no longer there, and her mother-in-law carried herself with a newfound freedom.
That moment left a lasting impression. At just 20 years old, Danielle decided to experience hypnosis herself. She joined a stage hypnosis show with Martin St James, where she learned her first and perhaps most important lesson: the power of the pre-talk. “When clients believe in the process before it begins, the results are even stronger,” she explained.
A Calling Beyond Smoking
While Danielle thought her path would be in helping people quit smoking, the universe had other plans. Over time, she found herself specialising in alcohol reduction, alcohol cessation, gambling addiction, and trauma therapy.
She quickly noticed a pattern: addictions and destructive habits often have their roots in trauma, whether large or small. “Half the time, it’s not even their own stuff,” she said. “It’s baggage that has been dumped on them, and they’ve reacted to it. Once you shift that, you can rebuild a healthier foundation for self-worth.”
Gambling: An Escapism with a High Price
Danielle has worked with countless clients struggling with gambling. She explained that the cycle is deliberately engineered: small wins trigger a dopamine rush, which keeps people coming back even after large losses. This reward system mirrors the mechanics of online games and children’s machines that spit out toys as prizes.
But beyond the science lies the human toll. Danielle shared heartbreaking stories of clients who couldn’t afford birthday or Christmas presents for their children, who lost homes, families, and relationships. One young man she worked with had spent $380,000 in a year, funded by casinos that flew him around Australia, putting him in luxury hotels and cruise ships, only for him to return home tens of thousands of dollars in debt.
“The gambling industry spends an enormous amount of money to make an even greater amount of money,” she said. “The scale of it in Australia is staggering.”
Working Online and In Person
While Danielle runs a thriving clinic that is about to celebrate its fifth anniversary, she also sees many clients online. From Alice Springs to Broome to Darwin, she helps people across Australia reduce or quit destructive habits.
She is careful, however, to ensure every client is the right fit. “I never charge anyone until they are sitting in front of me and I’ve qualified them,” Danielle said. “They need to feel safe being vulnerable, because that’s the only way real change happens. If I’m not the right person for them, I’ll happily refer them to someone else.”
Advice for Anyone Struggling
Danielle’s core message is simple yet powerful: you have the power within you to let go of destructive habits. With the right guidance, old behaviours can fade into distant memories, like stories you once told yourself but no longer live by.
She also reminds people to do their research. Not all hypnosis training is equal, so it is essential to work with practitioners who are properly qualified and recognised by professional bodies.
Danielle’s work is not about her own success, but about helping her clients succeed for themselves. “You deserve to be free,” she says with conviction. “I want to see you succeed for you.”
For anyone seeking to overcome gambling, alcohol, or trauma-related habits, Danielle’s story offers both hope and proof that transformation is possible.
If you’d like to learn more, you can connect with Danielle through The Quit and Empower Place. Her passion, compassion, and expertise are helping people all across Australia reclaim their lives.
