Does the word “hypnotherapy” conjure a swinging watch, a commanding voice, and an audience member clucking like a chicken? This misconception has done considerable damage to how this clinically credible therapeutic tool is understood because stage hypnosis and clinical hypnotherapy are not the same – let me explain how.
Clinical hypnotherapy is neither mystical nor experimental; it’s actually an incredibly well-researched, clinically applied tool with a meaningful evidence base. If you’re considering hypnotherapy as part of a treatment plan for anxiety, stress, or burnout, start with understanding what the therapy is designed to achieve and what the evidence supports.
What hypnotherapy actually is
Clinical hypnotherapy is a psychotherapeutic technique that uses a state of focused attention and deep relaxation to access and influence mental processes (in our subconscious). This is not a state of unconsciousness, sleep, or a loss of control; quite the opposite. Defined by the British Society of Clinical Hypnosis as a “state of mind in which suggestions are acted upon much more powerfully than is possible under normal conditions”, this means that an individual will be highly focused and aware while the critical, analytical function of the conscious mind becomes temporarily quieter. This allows a therapist to work more directly with patterns that drive emotion, behaviour, and belief. Crucially, a person in a hypnotic state cannot be made to do anything against their will or values because, at no point, is control surrendered; if anything, it’s more precisely directed.
Don’t believe what you see on TV
Whether you’ve been to a show or seen performances on television, how hypnosis is still represented in the media is very misleading (and often incorrect). Because it’s designed to entertain, not to treat, stage hypnosis works through a combination of social compliance, choosing highly suggestible volunteers, and the pressure of performance. But clinical hypnotherapy is the opposite because it’s a protocol-led process with a trained practitioner. It’s collaborative and works toward clearly defined therapeutic goals while placing the client in full control, with full awareness and autonomy. The setting, the purpose, and the ethics are completely different, so comparing stage hypnosis to hypnotherapy is a bit like comparing surgery with a circus knife-throwing act.
Not a phenomenon: the neuroscience of hypnosis
Research using functional MRI has demonstrated that hypnotic induction produces distinct changes in brain activity, particularly in areas associated with attention regulation, the default mode network (responsible for rest, daydreaming, and self-reflection), and the salience network (your brain’s alert system).
A major study conducted by Jiang et al. (2017) identified a specific pattern of brain connectivity characteristic of the hypnotic state, including reduced activity in the area associated with self-monitoring and distraction and increased connectivity between the executive control network and the brain region linked to mind-body integration.
The use of hypnotherapy in treating anxiety disorders, sleep disturbance, and habit change is well documented, and for pain management, the evidence is particularly strong. A review by Montgomery et al. (2000) concluded that pain relief through hypnotherapy is a robust, replicable phenomenon with clinical utility across a range of conditions. The evidence shows that, when applied therapeutically, hypnotherapy is supported by a growing body of peer-reviewed research and has been for more than the last few decades. A meta-analysis found that adding hypnosis to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) improved treatment outcomes by an average of 70% compared to CBT alone – a finding that was true across people suffering from anxiety, depression, and somatic complaints (Kirsch et al., 1995).
References
- Jiang, H., White, M. P., Greicius, M. D., Waelde, L. C., & Spiegel, D. (2017). Brain activity and functional connectivity associated with hypnosis. Cerebral Cortex, 27(8), 4083–4093.
- Kirsch, I., Montgomery, G., & Sapirstein, G. (1995). Hypnosis as an adjunct to cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 63(2), 214–220.
- Montgomery, G. H., DuHamel, K. N., & Redd, W. H. (2000). A meta-analysis of hypnotically induced analgesia. Psychological Bulletin, 126(2), 204–214.