Alain Lemaire is the first entrepreneur to receive a £250 marketing bursary awarded by the Brighton, Hove and Lewes Enterprise Agency's business class scheme.
Mr Lemair trained as a therapist in England, France and the United States. He decided to concentrate on hypnotherapy in 2000 and qualified last year.
He runs workshops teaching self-hypnosis courses at the Shoreham and Southwick Adult Education Centre and also holds one-to-one sessions.
He said: "Phobias are easy to cure.
One session does the trick but smoking can take two.
"The support of business class has been crucial to the development of my business.
"This bursary will fund new business cards and leaflets necessary to let people know I am here to help."
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