Hypnotherapy is a versatile and evidence-based therapy that can help with a wide range of issues rooted in the subconscious mind, including chronic pain, habits, and functional disorders. By using the focused state of hypnosis, a trained therapist can help a client access and re-pattern the deep-seated thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that drive their symptoms.
Hypnotherapy for Anxiety
Anxiety is one of the most common conditions treated, often yielding rapid results for generalized anxiety, panic attacks, and specific phobias.
How It Works for Anxiety
Hypnotherapy works for anxiety on two primary levels. First, the hypnotic state itself is one of deep relaxation, which directly calms the autonomic nervous system and shifts it from a “fight-or-flight” state to a “rest-and-digest” state. Second, while in this relaxed state, the therapist can give targeted suggestions to the subconscious mind to reframe the triggers and thought patterns that cause anxiety, effectively teaching the mind a new, calmer response to previously stressful situations.
Hypnotherapy for Trauma
Hypnotherapy can be a powerful tool for processing and integrating traumatic memories, especially in cases of PTSD. This work should only be undertaken with a hypnotherapist who is specifically trained and experienced in trauma.
How It Works for Trauma
The hypnotic state allows a client to revisit a traumatic memory from a safe, dissociated perspective—as if watching a movie rather than re-living the event. This safe distance allows the stored emotional charge to be processed and released without re-traumatizing the nervous system. The therapist can then help the client re-contextualize the memory, integrating it into their life story in a way that is no longer debilitating.
Hypnotherapy for Depression
As a supportive therapy, hypnotherapy can be very effective in helping to manage the symptoms of mild to moderate depression.
How It Works for Depression
Hypnotherapy for depression often focuses on the future rather than the past. It works by interrupting the cycle of negative self-talk and hopelessness that characterizes depressive thinking. The therapist can use suggestions to build self-esteem, instill a sense of hope, and help the client visualize a more positive future. Post-hypnotic suggestions can also be used to help motivate the client to engage in positive behaviors (like exercise or socializing) in their daily life.
Hypnotherapy for Chronic Pain
Hypnotherapy is a potent adjunct for managing chronic pain conditions, including fibromyalgia, migraines, and arthritis.
How It Helps With Chronic Pain
Techniques like hypnotic analgesia utilize the gate control theory of pain. By inducing deep relaxation and using specific visualizations (e.g., turning down a dial, cooling inflammation), the brain’s perception of pain signals is dampened. This does not merely “mask” pain but alters the neural processing of nociceptive signals, often reducing reliance on opioid medication.
Hypnotherapy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy (GDH) is explicitly recommended by clinical guidelines (e.g., NICE) for refractory IBS.
How It Helps With IBS
IBS is often a disorder of the gut-brain axis, where miscommunication leads to visceral hypersensitivity and motility issues. GDH targets this axis, reducing the brain’s sensitivity to gut signals. Studies show that a course of GDH can reduce symptoms (pain, bloating, bowel variability) in up to ~70% of patients1, with effects lasting years.
Hypnotherapy for Habit Control
Breaking ingrained habits like smoking, vaping, or compulsive eating is a cornerstone of hypnotherapy.
How It Helps Manage Your Habits
Unlike willpower, which fatigues and is finite, hypnosis addresses the subconscious “secondary gain” of the habit (e.g., smoking for stress relief). Therapists use aversion therapy (associating the habit with negativity) alongside ego-strengthening to reinforce the client’s identity as a non-smoker or healthy eater. This cognitive shift disrupts the automaticity of the urge-action cycle.
Hypnotherapy for Sleep Disorders
Insomnia and sleep-onset anxiety respond well to hypnotherapeutic intervention.
How It Helps With Sleep
Sleep issues are often perpetuated by “tryharding” to sleep. Hypnosis trains the brain to enter alpha and theta wave states on command (and further achieve delta brainwaves associated with deep sleep), bypassing the “wired and tired” beta state. Post-hypnotic suggestions can condition the bed as a trigger for immediate relaxation, effectively resetting the circadian rhythm and reducing nocturnal arousal.
Who Should Not Have Hypnotherapy?
While hypnotherapy is safe for most people, there are specific contraindications. It is generally not recommended for individuals experiencing active psychosis, such as schizophrenia or severe delusional disorders. This is because the hypnotic state can sometimes blur the lines between reality and imagination, which can exacerbate their symptoms.
Caution is also advised for individuals with epilepsy, as the relaxation state can alter brain wave patterns, potentially triggering seizures in unstable cases. Similarly, those with dissociative identity disorders or severe personality disorders should only work with advanced clinical specialists.
Practical Considerations for Seeking Treatment
Assuming the therapist is skilled and experienced, online hypnotherapy can be just as effective as in-person therapy.
Online vs. In-Person Hypnotherapy
Online hypnotherapy conducted via video call has become a widely accepted and effective modality. As long as the client has a stable internet connection and a private, quiet space where they will not be disturbed, the results are comparable to in-person sessions. This has made the therapy much more accessible to people around the world and can also be more convenient for the patients.
How to Find a Good Hypnotherapist
Look for a certified hypnotherapist who completed their training a while ago (not graduated yesterday), can clearly explain the process to you, and has several positive client testimonials. It is also important to find someone who has experience with your specific issue (e.g., anxiety, trauma). Most importantly, schedule a discovery call before engaging in a lengthy therapy to ensure you have a good rapport and feel safe and comfortable with them. That said, if you are looking for an experienced hypnotherapist to guide you, you can book an online hypnotherapy session with me.
How to Prepare for Your Session
To get the most out of your session, it helps to prepare.
- Have a Clear Goal: Know what you want to achieve. The more specific your goal, the more targeted the session can be.
- Be Open-Minded: Let go of any preconceived notions from stage shows. Trust the process and your therapist.
- Do Not “Try” to Be Hypnotized: Hypnosis is a state of allowing, not striving. The harder you “try” to make it happen, the more your conscious mind will interfere. Simply relax and follow your therapist’s guidance.
- Long term benefits of hypnotherapy for irritable bowel syndrome / W M Gonsalkorale, V Miller, A Afzal, P J Whorwell ↩︎
