You’re open to therapy. You’re less sure about the hypnosis bit.

Fair enough. If your reference point is someone on a stage forgetting their own name, you probably have questions.

What does it feel like? Will you know what’s happening? And can someone actually make you do something you don’t want to?

Let’s clear a few things up.

First, you’re still in charge

Hypnosis isn’t the same as being asleep or under anaesthetic. You remain in control, and you don’t have to accept suggestions you’re uncomfortable with. You can also bring yourself out of hypnosis. NHS guidance is clear on this.

The therapist guides the process. They don’t take over the controls.

So what is hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy uses hypnosis within a therapeutic process, working towards goals you’ve discussed and agreed with your therapist.

Hypnosis involves focused attention and an increased capacity to respond to suggestions. Relaxation is often part of the experience, but the purpose goes beyond having a pleasant lie-down.

Those suggestions relate to what you’re working on. They might involve imagining a situation differently or rehearsing a response you’d like to practise.

Think of preparing for a difficult conversation. You may already know what you want to say. The tricky part is what happens when your heart starts racing and every useful sentence leaves the building.

In my work, hypnosis can provide a way to practise approaching that situation, alongside exploring the thoughts and behaviours making it difficult.

What happens in a session?

We start with a conversation. What’s bringing you to therapy? What would you like to change? What happens in the moments when things get difficult?

Before using hypnosis, we discuss what it involves and agree on the approach. NHS guidance describes this discussion and agreement as part of the usual process.

If we decide to use it, I guide you through exercises to help settle and focus your attention. We then work with suggestions or imagery relevant to your goals, before bringing your attention back to the room.

Experiences vary. You might feel deeply relaxed or absorbed in what you’re imagining. You may remain aware of sounds around you. It doesn’t need to feel dramatic to be hypnosis, and there isn’t one particular sensation you have to achieve.

There’s no prize for being the most relaxed person in the room.

How does it fit with CBT?

I use hypnotherapy alongside cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness and coaching.

CBT helps us explore how your thoughts, feelings and behaviours interact. We might look at what you predict will happen, how you respond, and whether that response keeps the difficulty going.

Hypnosis can form part of practising an alternative. We can then explore how to apply that outside the session.

The important question is what helps you approach everyday situations differently. Being beautifully relaxed during an appointment is lovely. Having something useful to take into Tuesday afternoon matters too.

Does hypnotherapy work?

There is research supporting hypnosis for some problems, but the evidence isn’t equally strong for everything.

A 2024 review of meta-analyses found the most robust evidence in medical procedures and pain. It also highlighted differences between study results and limitations in the research. Findings in one area don’t automatically establish effectiveness for every other difficulty.

For example, the US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health describes promising but inconclusive evidence for anxiety around medical or dental procedures, and conflicting findings for stopping smoking.

A useful discussion is therefore specific: what are you seeking help with, what evidence is relevant, and how will we review whether the approach is helping you?

“Works for absolutely everything” would make a convenient headline. It wouldn’t make a particularly responsible one.

And the “rewiring your brain” bit?

It’s a catchy phrase. It can also make therapy sound like a software update.

I prefer to describe what we’re actually working towards: recognising familiar responses, testing unhelpful assumptions, and practising alternatives.

That gives us something concrete to work on and review, without promising to erase a belief or install a new personality.

Is it suitable for everyone?

No. Your history, current difficulties and the therapist’s training matter.

NHS guidance advises against hypnotherapy for people experiencing psychosis and recommends checking with a GP if you have a personality disorder. Suitability should be discussed before treatment begins.

You’re also allowed to ask questions, express doubts, or decide the approach isn’t for you.

Curious, but still a little sceptical?

You don’t need to arrive convinced. We can talk about what you’re looking for, what working together might involve, and whether it feels like a good fit.