The Physical, Mental, and Emotional Benefits of Hypnotherapy

Open this page in an assistant and it will summarise it for you.

An academic perspective of what the evidence says about a very misunderstood therapy. This is a broad outline and there are too many variables within hypnosis, such as the skill and the experience of the hypnotherapist and the type of training and who they were trained by to consider it absolute. It also does not take into account that about 20% of people are highly hypnotisable and can be coerced by an experienced hypnotist to do and say or believe things are not true and outside of their regular moral boundaries.

Hypnotherapy has a reputation problem. Stage shows and movie portrayals leave many people picturing swinging watches and mind control. The clinical reality is far more modest, and in some areas surprisingly well supported. In a therapeutic setting, hypnosis is a state of focused attention and heightened responsiveness to suggestion, guided by a trained practitioner. You remain aware and in control throughout. Used alongside conventional care, it can help with a range of physical and psychological problems.

What Hypnotherapy Actually Is

During a session, a practitioner guides you into a deeply relaxed, absorbed state, often described as similar to being lost in a good book. Within that state, they offer suggestions tailored to your goal, such as easing pain, reducing anxiety, or changing an unwanted habit. Brain imaging studies suggest hypnosis changes how regions involved in attention, self-monitoring, and the processing of bodily sensations interact, which may help explain why it can alter how people experience pain and distress.

Responsiveness varies. Some people are highly hypnotisable and benefit strongly, while others respond very little. This variability is one reason results across studies differ.

How a Session Usually Works

A course of treatment usually starts with an intake conversation about your history, your goals, and anything that might make hypnosis unsuitable. A typical session of 45 to 60 minutes then moves through five stages:

Induction. The practitioner guides you into a relaxed, absorbed state using slow breathing, imagery, or a gentle focus of attention.

Deepening. Further suggestions help you settle into deeper concentration, often by imagining a descent, a staircase, or a calm place.

Therapeutic work. The practitioner offers suggestions or imagery aimed at your goal. These might be direct ("your gut can feel calm and comfortable") or metaphorical (turning down a "dial" on pain).

Emergence. You are guided back to ordinary alertness, usually with a simple count.

Practice. Many practitioners teach self-hypnosis and supply recordings so you can reinforce the work between sessions.

The number of sessions depends on the problem. Gut-directed protocols for IBS typically run about twelve weekly sessions, while a single session may be enough to ease anxiety before a dental or medical procedure.

What May Be Happening in the Brain

Imaging studies suggest that hypnosis changes how brain regions work together rather than switching the brain "off." One frequently cited line of research reports shifts in the connection between prefrontal areas that direct attention and the insula, a region that monitors bodily states, along with reduced activity in areas that judge how much a sensation matters. That pattern fits what hypnotised people describe: sensations may still be present but feel less urgent or less bothersome.

These findings are preliminary. Researchers still debate whether hypnosis is a distinct state of consciousness or a combination of focused attention, expectation, and the social context of the session. For patients, the practical point is the same either way: the technique produces measurable changes in experience for many people.

Common Misconceptions

You do not lose control. In most cases you can hear, remember, and respond throughout, and you can end the session whenever you choose.

You cannot be made to act against your values. Suggestions work only to the extent you are willing to accept them.

It is not sleep or unconsciousness. Most people describe it as deep relaxation with narrowed focus.

You do not get "stuck." If a practitioner stopped speaking, you would simply return to normal awareness or drift into natural sleep.

It is not magic. It works through attention, imagery, and expectation, and it works better with practice and motivation.

Physical Benefits

Irritable bowel syndrome

Gut-directed hypnotherapy is among the best-studied uses. Multiple clinical trials show meaningful reductions in abdominal pain, bloating, and bowel disturbance, with benefits that often last for years after treatment ends. Some clinical guidelines now recognise it as an option for IBS that has not responded to standard measures.

The strongest data come from the gut-directed protocols developed in Manchester in the 1980s, typically twelve weekly sessions of about an hour combined with home practice using recordings. Specialist centres have reported that roughly 70 percent of patients improve, and follow-up studies have found that many keep their gains for years. Results in everyday community settings tend to be more modest, and trial quality varies, so the realistic benefit is likely somewhat below the best published figures.

The gains extend beyond bowel symptoms. Studies report reductions in anxiety, fatigue, and the tendency to worry about symptoms, along with better overall quality of life. Researchers think hypnosis may reduce the gut's heightened sensitivity to normal sensations and calm the two-way signalling between the brain and the digestive system. Hypnotherapy has also been studied for functional dyspepsia and for children with functional abdominal pain, where some trials found better results than standard medical care alone. Gastroenterology guidelines in several countries mention gut-directed hypnotherapy as an option, typically after first-line dietary and medical measures.

Pain management

Hypnosis can reduce both the intensity of pain and the distress surrounding it. It has been used for chronic pain conditions, burn care, dental procedures, and labour. It does not erase pain, but it can change how much it bothers a person, and it may reduce the need for pain medication in some settings.

Pain has a sensory side (how intense it is) and an emotional side (how unpleasant and threatening it feels). Hypnosis appears to act on both, and some research suggests suggestions aimed at the unpleasantness of pain can be especially effective. Evidence varies by setting:

Chronic pain (back pain, fibromyalgia, headaches, cancer-related pain): several reviews find moderate short-term reductions in pain, while long-term data are thinner.

Burn care and wound dressing changes: hypnosis can lower distress and perceived pain during painful routine procedures.

Dental work: it can ease fear, help with gagging, and make treatment more tolerable for anxious patients.

Labour and childbirth: many women find hypnosis reduces fear and tension, but a Cochrane review found only limited, mixed evidence that it reduces the need for pain relief.

Self-hypnosis is a major part of why it can help with long-lasting pain. Once learned, the skills are free, portable, and can be used daily, which suits conditions that flare unpredictably.

Easier medical procedures

People who use hypnosis before and during surgery or other procedures often report less anxiety, less pain, and sometimes quicker recovery. For anxious patients, it can make otherwise stressful experiences more manageable.

Reviews of studies that used hypnosis around surgery generally find lower pain and anxiety, and often a reduced need for sedatives and pain medication. Some trials also report shorter procedure times or fewer complications, though results differ and many studies are small. Several hospitals now offer brief hypnosis during minor procedures such as biopsies or radiology interventions, where it can reduce sedative use. It tends to work best when the patient has had time to practise beforehand, and when the clinical team is comfortable using calming language throughout the procedure.

Nausea and side effects of treatment

Hypnotherapy may help with nausea and vomiting, including anticipatory nausea that some people develop ahead of chemotherapy sessions. It is typically used as a complement to anti-nausea medication, not a substitute.

The clearest benefit is for anticipatory nausea, the queasiness some patients feel before a treatment session because of past experiences. Hypnosis appears to reduce that conditioned response in both children and adults. Its effect on nausea that occurs after the treatment itself is less consistent, which is why it is used alongside, not in place of, anti-nausea medication.

Sleep

Because hypnosis promotes deep relaxation, it is often used for sleep difficulties. Early studies suggest it may improve sleep quality, particularly deep sleep, though the research base is smaller and more mixed than for pain or IBS.

A small laboratory study found that listening to a short hypnotic recording before a nap increased deep, slow-wave sleep in people who respond well to hypnosis. For insomnia, hypnosis is most sensibly viewed as a relaxation tool that can complement cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), which remains the first-line treatment.

Other Physical Applications

Hypnosis has been tested in several other physical conditions, with encouraging but less established results:

Menopausal hot flashes: a randomised trial in breast cancer survivors found that hypnosis reduced hot flash frequency by roughly three-quarters, a far larger drop than in the comparison group.

Tension-type headache and migraine: small trials suggest fewer or less intense headaches, particularly when self-hypnosis is practised regularly.

Skin conditions: hypnosis has been used for itching in eczema and for stubborn warts, mostly in small studies.

Fibromyalgia: it may ease pain and fatigue, usually as part of a broader plan.

Asthma and blood pressure: evidence is limited, and hypnosis should not replace prescribed treatment.

In all of these, the best-supported role is supportive: easing symptoms and helping people cope while medical care continues.

Mental Benefits

Anxiety and stress

Hypnotherapy teaches the body to enter a calm state on cue, and many people find those skills useful in daily life. Research shows promising effects for anxiety, including anxiety tied to specific situations like medical procedures or public speaking. Evidence for generalized anxiety is encouraging but not yet as strong as for established treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy.

Hypnosis helps people learn to evoke a calm state on cue. Many practitioners teach an anchor, such as a slow breath or a gentle pressure of the fingers, that is paired with deep relaxation until it can trigger that state in stressful moments. Trials in people facing stressful procedures consistently find reduced anxiety, often by a moderate amount.

How it compares with established therapy matters. A frequently cited 1995 meta-analysis found that adding hypnosis to cognitive behavioural therapy improved outcomes, although later critiques argued the added benefit was smaller than first reported. A fair reading is that hypnosis can enhance good psychological treatment but should not be assumed to outperform it.

Phobias and fear responses

Hypnosis is sometimes combined with gradual exposure techniques, helping people stay relaxed while confronting a feared object or situation. Using this way, it can be a helpful addition to psychotherapy.

Typical targets include fear of flying, needles, dental treatment, and medical procedures. In hypnosis, a person can rehearse a feared situation in imagination while staying relaxed, then gradually work toward real-world exposure. Most of the evidence comes from case series and small trials, so hypnosis is best seen as a way to make exposure-based therapy easier to start and tolerate.

Habit change

Many people turn to hypnotherapy to quit smoking or change eating habits. Results here are inconsistent. Some studies show benefit, but it is not clearly better than other proven approaches, and success seems to depend heavily on the individual's motivation and responsiveness. Weight-loss effects, where seen, tend to be modest.

Smoking. A Cochrane review concluded that there is not enough evidence to say hypnotherapy works better than other interventions or no intervention for quitting. Some trials, particularly intensive multi-session programs and studies of hospitalised smokers, show promising quit rates, so it may be worth trying for someone who has not succeeded with other methods. It is sensible to combine it with proven aids such as nicotine replacement or counselling.

Weight. Older meta-analyses found that adding hypnosis to a diet program produced modest extra weight loss, with benefits that seemed to grow over time, but the studies were limited and of mixed quality. It may help with emotional eating and motivation, not as a stand-alone weight-loss tool.

In both cases, success depends heavily on the person's motivation and on how strongly they respond to suggestions.

Support alongside psychotherapy

Clinicians sometimes integrate hypnosis into broader treatment for conditions such as depression, post-traumatic stress, and other stress-related difficulties. In these cases, it is a tool within a larger plan, not a stand-alone cure.

Depression and Low Mood

Research is limited. A few trials found that adding hypnosis to cognitive therapy improved outcomes compared with therapy alone, but hypnosis is not a first-line treatment for depression. Anyone with persistent low mood should be assessed by a clinician rather than relying on hypnosis.

Trauma and PTSD

Hypnosis has been used to teach grounding and relaxation skills and to help people approach distressing memories from a safe distance. Research is small and mixed. Because hypnosis can make imagery vivid and emotional, trauma work should be done only by a clinician with specific trauma training who prioritises stabilisation and safety first.

Confidence, Focus, and Performance

Athletes, musicians, and speakers sometimes use hypnosis for mental rehearsal, concentration, and managing performance nerves. The likely mechanisms are relaxation, vivid imagery, and positive expectation. Evidence is modest, but the skills overlap with well-established sports psychology methods.

Children and Adolescents

Children are often highly responsive to hypnosis because of their strong imagination, and the technique is frequently delivered as storytelling or imagery. It has been used for needle fear, procedural anxiety, headaches, and functional abdominal pain, with some of the more encouraging results in paediatric studies. A trained practitioner should work with the family, and a doctor should first rule out medical causes of symptoms.

Emotional Benefits

Emotional benefits overlap with the mental ones above but concern how people feel and how they relate to their feelings: calmer, more in control, and more resilient. The evidence here is generally lighter, drawing on self-reports and smaller studies, and it largely reflects what relaxation and coping skills can do.

Calmer Emotional Responses

Hypnosis trains the body's relaxation response, and regular practice can make it easier to settle after a stressful moment. People often describe feeling less reactive to everyday irritations and slower to spiral into worry. Relaxation-based techniques are known to lower physiological arousal, such as muscle tension and a racing heart, which is one reason the calm can feel physical as well as emotional.

A Greater Sense of Control

Long-term symptoms such as pain or digestive problems can leave people feeling helpless. Self-hypnosis gives them something active to do, and that sense of agency is itself valuable. In studies of pain and IBS, people often report not just fewer symptoms but less catastrophising and less fear of flare-ups, which can break the cycle in which worry makes symptoms worse.

Coping With Serious Illness

Hypnosis is used in cancer care and other serious illnesses to ease anxiety, support comfort during treatment, and help people feel more at ease in their bodies. Studies suggest reductions in distress and improvements in wellbeing, though it supports medical care and does not change the course of disease.

Self-Esteem and Confidence

Practitioners often pair relaxation with imagery of handling challenges well, such as a job interview, a hospital visit, or a difficult conversation, and with suggestions that reinforce self-worth. Evidence is modest and usually comes from hypnosis used within broader counselling, but many people report feeling more capable and self-assured afterward.

Working Through Difficult Feelings

In the hands of a trained counsellor or psychologist, hypnosis can be one way to explore feelings of grief, anger, or guilt, and to practise responding to them differently. Research is limited, and the work should be therapist-led, particularly around painful memories. Hypnosis is not a substitute for care if you are in significant distress. If you are overwhelmed or have thoughts of harming yourself, please reach out to a mental health professional or a local crisis service.

Evidence at a Glance

This list summarises how strong research is for each use. "Stronger" means multiple controlled trials with consistent benefit, and "limited" means small or early studies.

IBS and functional gut disorders: Stronger. Less pain, bloating, and bowel symptoms; benefits often last for years.

Procedural and surgical pain and anxiety: Moderate to stronger. Less distress and sometimes less medication.

Chronic pain: Moderate. Short-term relief; long-term data are thinner.

Chemotherapy-related nausea: Moderate. Helps anticipatory nausea; used with medication.

Menopausal hot flashes: Promising. Fewer and milder hot flashes in trials.

Anxiety and stress: Moderate, mixed. Useful add-on; not shown to beat CBT.

Phobias: Limited. Helps with relaxation during exposure therapy.

Sleep problems: Limited. Relaxation benefit; CBT-I remains first-line.

Smoking cessation: Mixed. No clear edge over other methods.

Weight loss: Weak. Modest extra loss at best.

Depression and PTSD: Limited. Only as part of a broader treatment plan.

Safety and Limitations

When delivered by a trained professional, hypnotherapy is generally considered low-risk. Side effects are usually mild and short-lived, such as drowsiness, headache, or temporary dizziness. There are important cautions:

It is not suitable for everyone. People with certain psychotic disorders, or severe mental illness, should only use it under specialist supervision.

It should never replace medical evaluation. Persistent pain, digestive symptoms, or mood changes need a proper diagnosis first.

Claims of rapid cures, recovering "lost" memories, or treating serious disease are red flags. Hypnosis can make recollection feel vivid without making it accurate.

Quality of evidence varies widely by condition, and many studies are small.

Rarely do people feel distressed, anxious, or emotionally overwhelmed during a session, especially when hypnosis is used to explore painful memories. The most serious concern is the creation of false or distorted memories. Hypnosis can make recollections feel vivid and certain without making them accurate, so professional bodies advise against using it to recover memories, and hypnotically refreshed testimony is restricted or excluded in many legal systems.

Clinical hypnosis also differs from stage hypnosis. Stage shows rely on highly responsive volunteers, social pressure, and entertainment, while clinical work focuses on a specific health goal and the person's own consent and control.

If you have a physical symptom that has not been diagnosed, see a doctor first. Hypnosis can reduce symptoms such as pain, and that could mask something that needs medical attention.

Choosing a Practitioner

Hypnosis itself is unregulated in many places, so credentials matter. Look for a licensed health professional, such as a psychologist, physician, or counsellor, who has additional training in clinical hypnosis. Ask about their training, their experience with your specific concern, and how hypnotherapy will fit with your other care.

Useful questions to ask a prospective practitioner:

What is your professional licence, and what hypnosis training have you completed?

Have you treated my specific problem, and what results do you typically see?

How many sessions do you expect, and what will we do if I have not improved after several?

Will you work with my doctor or therapist?

Warning signs include guaranteed cures, discouraging you from seeking medical care, pressure to prepay for large packages, claims about curing serious disease, and any promise to recover lost memories.

Getting the Most From Treatment

Set a specific goal. "Fewer IBS flare-ups" or "sleep through the night three nights a week" is easier to track than "feel better."

Practise between sessions. Self-hypnosis and recordings are central to most successful protocols.

Give it a fair trial. Many protocols need several sessions before benefits show, but if nothing has changed after a reasonable course, discuss other options.

Keep standard care in place. Treat hypnosis as an addition to medical and psychological treatment and tell your health care providers you are using it.

Be willing to engage. Responsiveness varies, but openness and motivation tend to help.

The Bottom Line

Hypnotherapy is neither a miracle nor a gimmick. For IBS, pain, and procedural anxiety, the evidence is solid enough that it deserves serious consideration. For stress, sleep, and habit change, it may help some people but should be viewed as one option among several. Approached with realistic expectations and a qualified practitioner, it can be a safe and useful complement to conventional treatment.

About Rick Collingwood

Rick Collingwood is a clinical therapeutic hypnotist, hypnosis trainer, author, counsellor, and public speaker. He is the founder of Mind Motivations, and he owned The Australian Academy of Hypnosis for 32 years. He is now the principal of the Global Hypnosis Academy.

Rick has appeared on many Australian and US radio and TV shows and UK radio shows and has been featured in print media. He has treated many high-profile entertainment figures, including Mel Gibson.

He has worked in the hypnosis profession for more than three decades and has developed his own style that combines three traditions: traditional hypnosis, Ericksonian hypnosis, and mesmerism. Ericksonian hypnosis is an indirect, conversational approach that uses metaphor and permissive language, and mesmerism is the historical forerunner of modern hypnosis. His method draws on the direct, rapid techniques used by hypnotists of the past and shapes them into a therapeutic model for modern clients. In interviews, he has described how the first hypnosis training he attended still influences the way he teaches students today.

Since 2002, Rick's hypnosis CDs and MP3s have sold more than two million copies worldwide and have won two Double Platinum and four Gold ARIA awards. His current MP3 library of Life Improvement Programs covers breaking habits, weight loss, quitting smoking, meditation, mental focus, stress management, low mood, insomnia, and motivation.

Access is by single program purchase or a one-time payment of AUD $150, which gives permanent password access to the entire library, with unlimited downloads. Because the audio is listened to at home, listeners can practise at their own pace and repeat the programs whenever they like, which fits the regular practice that the research above identifies as important.

Qualifications

Bachelor of Arts in Counselling

Advanced Diploma of Clinical Hypnotherapy

Certificate IV in Psychotherapy

Diploma of Magnetism

Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment

This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional about your individual circumstances.

Considering the training?

The information pack covers course outlines, the Melbourne, Perth and Phnom Penh, Cambodia 2027 dates, fees and registration terms.