Mental Health Therapy Is Hypnosis Therapy Real? Here's How It Works By Michelle C. Brooten-Brooks, LMFT Michelle C. Brooten-Brooks, LMFT Michelle C. Brooten-Brooks is a licensed marriage and family therapist, health reporter and medical writer with over twenty years of experience in journalism. Her feature writing and health reporting have appeared in numerous newspapers across the country. Learn about our editorial process Published on March 23, 2022 Medically reviewed by Stephanie Hartselle, MD Medically reviewed by Stephanie Hartselle, MD Facebook Twitter Stephanie Hartselle, MD, is a board-certified pediatric and adult psychiatrist and Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Definition How It Works How It Affects the Brain Applications Cost Benefits Side Effects What to Expect Frequently Asked Questions Psychotherapy helps people with mental health conditions improve their well-being, usually through methods like talk therapy. Hypnotherapy, also known as hypnosis therapy or clinical hypnosis, is the therapeutic use of hypnosis in psychotherapy with a trained mental health provider. Hypnosis is a state of trance-like consciousness that makes the mind more open to suggestion. Read on to learn more about hypnotherapy, how effective it is, and what to expect if you have a hypnosis therapy session. Fiordaliso / Getty Images What Is Hypnosis? Hypnosis is a state of altered consciousness that allows for increased concentration and focus. This can facilitate therapeutic change, helping with behaviors like: Alleviating pain Alleviating anxiety Stopping smoking Despite how hypnosis has been portrayed in the media, it is a real and effective therapeutic tool. How It Works Trance-like states can occur regularly in daily life. In a therapeutic setting, however, a trained therapist will guide you into a focused state of concentration. Once in this altered state, they will suggest visualizations related to your goal for therapy. Once the session is complete, they will guide you back to a normal state of consciousness. Not Everyone Can Be Hypnotized Around 10% to 20% of people cannot be hypnotized. One study indicates that hypnotizability is actually a genetic trait. What Happens to the Brain Research on brain imaging shows if a person is under hypnosis and visualizing an image, areas of the brain are activated as if they were in waking, conscious reality. When a person experiences physical pain or pain induced during hypnosis, the areas in the brain correlated to pain are activated. Can Hypnosis Lead to Mind Control? Entertainment media gives the impression that hypnosis is mind control. But in reality, hypnosis is a trance-like state of relaxed, deep focus. You can still hear what is going on around you and can come out of the trance at any time. Hypnotherapy cannot make you do something against your will. No hypnotherapist or hypnotist can make someone do things they don't want to do. This is why people who are hypnotized for smoking cessation may continue to smoke. What It Can Help With Here are some of the conditions that can be improved or benefit from hypnotherapy: Chronic pain Dental pain and dental phobia Irritable bowel syndrome Nausea from chemotherapy Needle-related pain and distress Depression Anxiety Weight loss/obesity Trauma Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Smoking cessation Insomnia Childbirth Palliative or end-of-life hospice care Cost The average cost of hypnotherapy ranges from $75 to $125 or more per session, but several sessions may be required to experience results. Sometimes the cost may be bundled into a broader program, such as with smoking cessation or weight loss. Insurance will sometimes cover hypnosis when treated by a licensed clinical mental health professional. Benefits In a study on pain, hypnosis produced up to a 42% reduction in pain. Hypnosis offers other benefits including the following: Reduces anxiety Improves chronic pain Reduces phobias May stop behaviors such as smoking Improves weight loss Enuresis (bedwetting) Performance anxiety (sports, test, sexual, career) Sleep disorders Side Effects Reported side effects from hypnosis can include: Anxiety Headaches Dizziness Drowsiness When to Use Caution Hypnosis is not appropriate for people with serious mental disorders and conditions, including psychosis, hallucinations, or delusions. It may even be dangerous for those with dissociative disorders and schizophrenia. What to Expect Here are some general steps to expect during your session: Induction: The therapist will induce a hypnotic state by suggesting relaxation, which can include visualizing something soothing, calming, or pleasant.Suggestions: Suggestions usually center around your goals, such as losing the desire to smoke or reducing pain.Emerging to the present moment: When the hypnosis process is complete, the healthcare provider will bring you out of the trance-like state and back into the present moment. Make sure to dress comfortably for your appointment, as you may need to recline during the session. Is Self-Hypnosis Effective? In one study of self-hypnosis for people living with cancer, results indicated that they improved their emotional distress by using self-hypnosis. In another study, participants used self-hypnosis as part of a program to lose weight. The results indicated that those who used hypnosis did see a weight decline and their sense of fullness while eating improved. Summary Hypnosis is a trance-like state of consciousness that makes the mind more open to suggestion. It involves inducing a person into an altered state and making suggestions influenced by their goals. Hypnosis is helpful for many issues, including smoking cessation, weight loss, chronic pain, depression, anxiety, and more. It has been shown to be an effective addition to traditional psychotherapy. A Word From Verywell If you are considering hypnotherapy, it's important to find a mental health professional who is trained in hypnosis. This will help you feel at ease during your session. Remember that if hypnotherapy is not the right choice for you, there are plenty of other therapy methods available to help. Frequently Asked Questions Is hypnotism real? Evidence-based scientific research suggests that hypnotism is real and effective. Research shows hypnosis impacts multiple brain regions. In one study, participants experienced a 42% reduction in pain. Is hypnosis safe? When practiced correctly, hypnosis is generally safe. However, hypnosis is not safe if you have a serious mental illness. For most people, it's possible to get out of a hypnotic state any time by counting down. What’s the difference between hypnosis and hypnotherapy? They are often used interchangeably, but the meanings are distinct. Hypnosis is a trance-like state in which the mind becomes more open to suggestion, and hypnotherapy is the clinical practice of hypnosis. Can you learn to hypnotize someone? Yes. One study indicated that people without experience could be effective in hypnotizing others. How long does hypnosis last? In one study, people who combined cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with hypnosis reported greater improvement than those who had CBT without hypnosis. 10 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Wolf TG, Faerber KA, Rummel C, Halsband U, Campus G. Functional changes in brain activity using hypnosis: a systematic review. Brain Sciences. 2022;12(1):108. doi:10.3390/brainsci12010108 Williamson A. What is hypnosis and how might it work?. Palliative Care. 2019;12:117822421982658. doi:10.1177/1178224219826581 Szekely A, Kovacs-Nagy R, Bányai ÉI, et al. Association between hypnotizability and the catechol-o-methyltransferase (Comt) polymorphism. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. 2010;58(3):301-315. doi:10.1080/00207141003760827 Lynn SJ, Kirsch I, Terhune DB, Green JP. Myths and misconceptions about hypnosis and suggestion: separating fact and fiction. Appl Cognit Psychol. 2020;34(6):1253-1264. doi:10.1002/acp.3730 American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. About hypnosis. Thompson T, Terhune DB, Oram C, et al. The effectiveness of hypnosis for pain relief: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled experimental trials. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 2019;99:298-310. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.02.013 Smith FA, Mischoulon D. Complementary medicine and natural medications: hypnosis. Massachusetts General Hospital Handbook of General Hospital Psychiatry. Elsevier; 2010:505-510. British Society of Clinical and Academic Hypnosis. Hypnosis and FAQ. Grégoire C, Faymonville M, Vanhaudenhuyse A, et al. Effects of an intervention combining self-care and self-hypnosis on fatigue and associated symptoms in post-treatment cancer patients: a randomized-controlled trial. Psycho-Oncology. 2020;29(7):1165-1173. doi:10.1002/pon.5395 Bo S, Rahimi F, Goitre I, et al. Effects of self-conditioning techniques (self-hypnosis) in promoting weight loss in patients with severe obesity: a randomized controlled trial. Obesity. 2018;26(9):1422-1429. doi:10.1002/oby.22262 By Michelle C. Brooten-Brooks, LMFT Michelle C. Brooten-Brooks is a licensed marriage and family therapist, health reporter and medical writer with over twenty years of experience in journalism. She has a degree in journalism from The University of Florida and a Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy from Valdosta State University. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit