Fun Facts:
Hypnotherapy is 93% successful and its effectiveness is long lasting.
Over 90% of people can successfully be placed into hypnosis!
Psychoanalysis: 35% recovery after 600 sessions
Behavior Therapy: 72% recovery after 22 sessions
Hypnotherapy: 93% recovery after 6 sessions
*Alfred Barrios, PhD
What Is Hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is an adjunctive technique that utilizes hypnosis to aid in the treatment of specific symptoms or health conditions. Hypnotherapy works by inducing a hypnotic state marked by waking awareness that allows people to experience detached external attention and to focus on inner experiences.1
It is sometimes used as part of a treatment plan for phobias and other anxiety disorders.2 It is also sometimes used for pain management, weight loss, smoking cessation, and a variety of other applications.
Formal explorations in the therapeutic uses for hypnosis began in the late 1700s but did not gain scientific credibility until much more recently. Modern researchers have further explored how hypnosis can be used, which conditions it can treat, and how effective it may be compared to other treatments.
Techniques
During a hypnotherapy session, people are guided through a process to induce a trance-like state that helps them focus their minds, respond more readily to suggestions, and become deeply relaxed. Hypnotherapy utilizes the heightened awareness of the hypnotic state to help you focus on a problem more deeply.3 Hypnotherapy utilizes techniques including:
What Hypnotherapy Can Help With
There are many different reasons why a person might want to try hypnotherapy. Research suggests that some possible applications include:4
Hypnotherapy may also be used by licensed physicians and psychologists in the treatment of conditions like anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).5
Hypnotherapy may also be helpful for changing or reducing problematic behaviors. Because of this, it is sometimes used to help people quit smoking, lose weight, and sleep better.
Benefits of Hypnotherapy
Some people may experience dramatic results with hypnotherapy. In other cases, people may simply feel very relaxed. Some of the benefits of hypnotherapy may include:
Most hypnotherapists utilize a series of calming messages, such as "you are safe" and "no one can harm you" to reassure their clients that during hypnosis they can objectively face their problems without having a panicked reaction.
Effectiveness
The effectiveness and impact of hypnotherapy can vary based on the individual and how the treatment is used. Hypnotherapy has been shown to have some degree of efficacy for certain applications, particularly:
While it may help people cope with problems related to stress and anxiety, it may be best applied when used in conjunction with first-line treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and medications.
The results of a study published in the May 2021 issue of the Journal of Affective Disorders found that hypnotherapy was not less effective than CBT for treating mild to moderate depression. The results indicated that where CBT led to a 38.5% reduction in symptom severity, hypnotherapy resulted in a 44.6% reduction.7
As researchers continue to explore the potential uses for hypnotherapy, this technique may gain greater acceptance in the treatment of various conditions.
Things to Consider
While hypnotherapy is generally safe and well-tolerated, that does not mean that it doesn't pose some potential risks, such as:
For these reasons, it is important to always first consult your doctor before you decide to try hypnotherapy. Also, be sure to only try hypnotherapy under the supervision and guidance of a qualified professional.
Common Misconceptions
Hypnotherapy is still considered controversial, as many mental health professionals dispute its effectiveness. There are a number of myths and misconceptions about hypnotherapy that can affect how people view this therapeutic tool.