How does hypnotherapy work?

Just before I have a go at answering ‘How does hypnotherapy work?’, I’ll first explain, what hypnotherapy is.

What is hypnotherapy? Let’s pull word word apart.

The ‘therapy’ bit of the word comes from Greek language simply means healing.

In modern speak to say you’re "in therapy," usually means you’re probably talking about a psychological kind of healing.

‘Hypno’, short for hypnosis, is how the healing is done. Hypnosis in itself is not a therapy, but it can be a tool that facilitates the delivery of therapy in the same way as a syringe delivers drugs. Hypnosis does not make the impossible possible, but can help patients believe and experience what might be possible for them to achieve - that’s the ‘therapy’ bit.

What is hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy can be seen as ‘a waking state of awareness.’

This means you're deeply relaxed and your attention is focussed.

For example, in hypnosis you’re aware of what’s happening around you but not bothered. You’ll still hear a car passing on the street outside, a door closing in the house next door, someone mowing the lawn two houses away.

You’re aware, but not bothered.

Instead you’re listening to my words. And they’re going into you’re subconscious.

You’ve chose to focus your attention on my words.

And this state of mind is perfectly natural.

What is hypnotherapy? Five times when you’ve hypnotised yourself in your life already.

1. You day dream. You’ve focused your attention on your thoughts.
2. You drive somewhere, pull up and don’t remember the journey. You don’t say remember passing a filling station, or a shop. You’ve simply focused your attention on driving, not sight seeing.
3. It’s day time. You start reading a book. You look up and it’s now dark. Where’s the time gone? You’ve focused your attention on the book’s story over and above the change in light. Yet again self hypnosis.
4. When you play sport and you’re ‘in the zone.’ For example, playing tennis. You’re not bothered about your opponent, the next, the crowd, the umpire, even winning the point. You just want to hit the ball as sweetly and cleanly as possible. That’s focused attention - hypnosis.
5. Similar to 3. It’s day time. You start watching a box set. You look up and it’s now dark. Where’s the time gone? You’ve focused your attention on the action over and above the change in light. That’s self hypnosis.

In other words your conscious awareness of your surroundings versus an inner awareness is on a continuum, so that, when you’re in one of these states, your focus is predominantly internal, but you don’t lose all outer awareness.

So, how does hypnotherapy work?

At the very very deepest level no one is exactly 100% sure. Although there is a lot of science and big data behind its efficacy.

What we do know is that when you’re in hypnotic state of deep relaxation the hypnotherapist (me) can land a message into your subconscious that can make a deep and lasting change for the better to help you long term once you’ve left my therapy room.

A partial explanation is as follows.

The role of the subconscious mind.

The brain has two cerebral hemispheres, and while in our normal waking state, the left brain tends to be more dominant and could be likened to our ‘conscious mind’. Left = logic. This communicates verbally and is the more intellectual, conscious and rational part of ourselves.

When we relax or become deeply involved in some activity, our right brain becomes more dominant. The right brain could be seen to be the more emotional, creative part of ourselves that communicates with symbols and images, and could be seen as our ‘unconscious mind’.

There is always a difficulty in telling ourselves not to be upset or anxious because words are not the language of the right brain. But one can paint a word picture using guided imagery or metaphor for the left side.

While this description may oversimplify the neural processing of the left and right hemispheres, it is a useful way to start the understanding of how hypnotherapy can help you.

To build on this, neuroimaging research has demonstrated that suggestion (hypnotherapy) allows you to imagine something (colour, sound, physical activity and reducing pain) and that similar areas of the brain are activated in reality.

If you want to read more Google National Library of Medicine, 'What is hypnosis and how might it work?'

How does hypnotherapy work for you?

Easy. Your belief in the process. It only works with your permission. All I have is words and suggestions. If you relax and agree with me then we can change your behaviour at the very deepest level for good.

For example, stop you smoking, stop being scared of heights, your IBS ends, you’re not interested in taking cocaine any more, you feel calm in the exam hall, you’re not bothered by needles and injections.

My end line is “We Are What We Tell Ourselves.” So when you’re highly highly anxious, operating at an emotional level, you’re using your imagination to create catastrophic scenarios, generate even more anxiety, more adrenaline and spiral into state of panic.
You don’t have to.

With hypnotherapy you can let go of what’s holding you back. I’m directing your imagination to feeling calm or to re-experience some positive past experience or activity and give positive suggestions, then you can start to feel calmer and more able to cope.

So you can stop telling yourself you’re not good enough, that you have to comfort eat, that you need to be afraid, that you can’t learn new things.

Myths you can finally let go of

I can't force hypnotherapy on you: it's done with your acceptance.

You also only accept suggestions you choose to accept.

And when your in a state of hypnosis I don't control your mind. You're still aware of your surroundings. You may feel a draft across your skin, or hear a noise from outside like a passing car.

Is it time to try hypnotherapy?

The answer is ‘yes’ if you feel you’re not the best version of yourself.

For example:
. You cant’ sleep
. You’re stressed
. You need to beat a phobia - flying, needles, heights, emetophobia.
. You’re taking too many drugs
. You’re overeating
. There’s something in your past that’s stopping you move forward
. You want to stop smoking
. Ending your IBS.

Common techniques that I use in hypnotherapy.

Regression. We use hypnosis to access unresolved memories, emotions, or trauma from the past to resolve present-day issues.
Visualisation. I help you relax and create a mental image of a scene or an event. In your relaxed state you can be less bothered by what happens, or imagine success in that moment.
Suggestion therapy. You see yourself in a new light. As, say, a non-smoker, not bothered about flying, or a faster runner.

What happens in a hypnotherapy session?

Really what I’m doing is showing you how to hypnotise yourself. In fact all hypnosis is self hypnosis. It’s something you do to yourself.

I only suggest/facilitate the process.

And remember it only work with your permission. You agree to relax and let my words become your behaviours.

I show you how to hypnotise yourself. This is called the ‘deepner’. This is you entering the state of relaxation where you’re then receptive to my words.

You’re now 'under'/hypnotised. And this feels different for everyone.

Physically many people feel a profound sense of physical relaxation, as if their body is becoming heavy or sinking into the surface beneath them. 

Conversely, some people experience a feeling of weightlessness, or a sensation of floating. 



Mentally you may feel a deep focus on the hypnotherapist's voice and the suggestions being made, with thoughts becoming less scattered. 

You might feel a distortion of time. What feels like a short amount of time could have been much longer. 

There can also be a sense of detachment for some people. They describe a feeling of distance from their body, almost as if observing themselves from the outside. 

In turn, others feel their imagination can become more vivid, and visions may feel real, though not in a scary way.


What can hypnotherapy help with?

The list is endless, but here are the main areas:
. Anxiety
. Stress
. Building resilience
. Phobias (flying, needles, heights, rollercoasters, emetophobia)
. Self-esteem
. Past trauma
. Stop smoking/vaping
. Losing weight
. Drug addiction.
. Sports performance
. Driving confidence (taking your test, night driving, motorway driving, crossing high bridges)
. Exams (11+, GCSE, A level, Oxbridge entrance, medical viva exams)
. Public performance (speaking, acting, musical performances)

Is hypnotherapy safe?

Hypnotherapy is not brainwashing or mind control, you’re in control of your thoughts and actions and can choose to accept or reject suggestions at any time.


Hypnotherapy vs. Traditional Therapy: What’s the difference?

Typically hypnotherapy is ‘talking’ to your subconscious. Landing a message deep inside you to make a lasting change. You’re in a relaxed and focused, trance-like state.

Traditional therapy is where you talk issues through. You’re fully alert and conversational.

Frequently asked questions

“Does hypnotherapy work for anxiety?”
Anxiety is one of the main areas hypnotherapy covers.
In more detail hypnotherapy works on your chronic, excessive worry about everyday life — work, health, relationships, finances — even when there’s little or no reason for concern. The is sometimes known as General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) where you’re persistently tense or restless, you have difficulty concentrating and trouble sleeping.
Another form of anxiety is panic disorder. Hypnotherapy can work on your sudden surges of intense fear or discomfort that peak within minutes such as:
Your heart racing, sweating, trembling
Shortness of breath or chest pain
Feeling of choking, dizziness, or numbness
Fear of losing control or dying.
Hypnotherapy also works on what are known as Social Anxiety Disorders such as the intense fear of being judged, embarrassed, or humiliated in social or performance situations.
In this instance we would work on your fear of public speaking or meeting new people why you avoid social gatherings, stopping you blushing, trembling, or sweating in public, or overanalysing social interactions afterward.
Another for of anxiety is a phobia and, as above, hypnotherapy can remove a phobia for good.

“Can you be hypnotised against your will?”

No. Hypnotherapy only works if you want it to. That’s why it’s often referred to as self-hypnosis. It’s something you agree to.

“How long do results from hypnotherapy last?”

It can be a lifetime. For example, you can stop smoking forever.

How does hypnotherapy work for you?

Feel free to call me. It might be useful for you.
You can email me at jamesthomas@thegentlemind.co.uk or call 07787563099.
I work in Leeds, York and Harrogate.