Hypnotherapy is often misunderstood and labelled as “woo woo,” implying it’s some mystical or unscientific practice, or just plain weird.  But hypnotherapy is firmly rooted in scientific principles and it is becoming more and more mainstream, with business people and athletes making widespread use of hypnosis to enhance their performance.  And hypnotherapy is achieving powerful results in areas including overcoming anxiety and phobias and in pain management. 

Some of the misconceptions around hypnosis arise from its early history, for example with Franz Mesmer’s idea in the 18th century that he had literal powers of animal magnetism, or with the somewhat comical image of a hypnotist waving a watch in the subject’s face.  Stage hypnosis also creates some unhelpful preconceptions – that a clinical hypnotherapist is going to be “in control” of their client and might possibly have them clucking like a chicken around their office.  

In reality, the hypnotherapist is not in control of their client at all.  If anything, hypnosis creates a heightened sense of control in the client by inducing a state where they are “in the zone” – a bit like a flow state where you have absolutely focussed attention.  Trance is a naturally occurring state that we all slip in and out of during the day, for example when we’re driving on autopilot or are absorbed in watching a film.  

This natural trance state is the same kind of state hypnotherapists induce in their clients, so the client has access to their subconscious mind.  And it’s in the subconscious mind that we may hold various unhelpful beliefs and patterns that might be holding us back, and where we also hold useful resources like confidence and creativity which we can tap into and bring to the forefront during a hypnotherapy session.  When you uncover these “hidden” blockers and positive resources, clients can make rapid and powerful changes in overcoming difficulties they may have been “stuck” with for years, or in enhancing performance. 

Hypnosis is very similar to meditation.  It is scientifically proven that our brain waves change when we enter a relaxing meditative state. In fact, when people meditate regularly, their brain physically changes in positive ways. Many of the benefits of meditation accompany the hypnotic state.

And as for the science?  Studies using brain imaging techniques have shown measurable changes in brain activity during hypnosis.  As we slip into this relaxed state, our brainwaves move into alpha and, in deeper trance states, theta brainwave states, characterised by a deep sense of calm and an openness to new suggestions and ways of perceiving the world, allowing clients access to potential new solutions to old problems. Theta brainwaves are most commonly associated with REM sleep, which as we know, helps facilitate the processing of emotions, memories and problems.

Hypnotherapy is also grounded in neuroscience in its ability to positive make use of “neuroplasticity” – the brain’s ability to change and to reorganise the neural pathways we commonly use. Hypnotherapy often involves suggestions and imagery designed to promote behavioural changes (e.g. to stop a fear response or to enhance confidence). The repetition of these suggestions during hypnosis (when we are highly receptive to suggestions) is aimed at building up the neural pathways related to the desired behaviours (e.g. associating confidence with public speaking) and letting go of the neural pathways associated with the unwanted behaviours (e.g. associating fear with public speaking). The mind learns by repetition, and by feeding in helpful suggestions and beliefs when you’re in this receptive state, our mind starts strengthening the positive neural pathways we want to encourage. 

Hypnotherapy has been shown to be highly effective in fields including pain management, anxiety, weight loss and phobias.  I personally have seen fantastic results in my clients for ending emotional eating and overcoming anxiety and low confidence and other issues.  The science behind these therapeutic applications lies in the modulation of neural pathways and the mind’s receptivity to positive suggestions.  

There is still much to discover about this intriguing phenomenon and the intricacies of the human mind.  I confess I used to think hypnotherapy was a bit woo woo, but since I’ve been studying and practising it I continue to be amazed at the power of the mind / body connection and the power of the mind to rid ourselves – surprisingly quickly – of issues that are holding us back.  And it’s a really enjoyable, empowering experience.  Why not give it a go if you’re interested?