Hypnotherapy: A Powerful Tool in Counseling and Therapy

How does hypnotherapy work? Depending on your mental health professional, it may vary, but typically, the process involves a trained hypnotherapist who will guide you into a relaxed and focused state. While you are under hypnosis:

You are more receptive to suggestions given by the therapist.
Positive affirmations may be used to influence you toward positive change.
Guided relaxation techniques are used to promote desired behavioral changes.
You can access deeper levels of exploration in thoughts and feelings.

Hypnotherapy is often used in counseling to help you reach certain behavioral goals like changing habits or addictions. Hypnotherapy can also help with stress management and overall emotional well-being, similar to meditation and mindfulness practices.

The Benefits of Hypnotherapy in Therapy and Counseling

There are various uses and benefits of hypnotherapy in the counseling setting. Many professionals will offer it as a complement to traditional counseling techniques because it builds upon some of the basic goals of therapy including symptom management and working to change thought and behavior patterns.

Anxiety and Stress Relief

In the hypnotic state, you can learn to access a deeper understanding of your inner strengths to cope with challenges. Utilizing deep breathing techniques and guided relaxation in hypnotherapy allows your body and mind to learn new ways of coping with anxiety and stress.

Overcoming Phobias and Fears

Hypnotherapy allows you to face frightening thoughts and feelings in a relaxed state, making it easier to process thoughts and feelings without anxiety getting in the way.

You are also in a more suggestible state while under hypnosis, so a hypnotherapist can speak directly to your phobias and work to change the way your mind processes that irrational fear.

Enhancing Self-Confidence and Motivation

Hearing and reciting affirmations while in a hypnotic state can allow for the positive self-talk to impact you in a more meaningful way. Your mind is more receptive to what you are hearing and thinking during this time, so it is a great way to build your self-esteem and feel more sure about your abilities to face mental health challenges.

Hypnotherapy for Smoking Cessation and Other Behavioral Changes

Stop smoking hypnotherapy has become more and more popular for those struggling to quit smoking.

The way hypnotherapy helps with addictive and compulsive behaviors like smoking and stress eating is multi-layered. Some of the benefits you may see include:

Reducing cravings
Managing unpleasant withdrawal symptoms
Increasing your sense of empowerment and confidence
Processing psychological factors that are contributing to your addiction

Often, a hypnotherapist will suggest positive thoughts and affirmations to you while you are in a hypnotic state. The statements and suggestions are thought to have an impact on your conscious mind after the hypnotherapy session.

There are still studies looking to verify the effectiveness of hypnotherapy for quitting smoking. A recent review of several studies found that hypnotherapy increased the odds of smoking cessation by 14% to 29% when compared to no treatment.

A 2019 review of research on the subject also suggested that hypnotherapy is associated with a 6-month smoking abstinence rate of 20-35%.

A 2017 study found that people who stopped smoking for at least three days and then went through hypnotherapy were more successful in avoiding smoking after 26 weeks than those who only had behavioral therapy.

Hypnotherapy for Weight Loss: Does It Really Work?

You may have heard of some people utilizing hypnosis to lose weight, but you may be wondering, does hypnotherapy for weight loss work?

Some research suggests that combining hypnotherapy along with diet and exercise could help you lose weight, although it is still up for debate exactly how effective weight loss through hypnotherapy is.

One controlled trial looked at weight loss through hypnotherapy in people with sleep apnea. Some of the participants were utilizing simple diet advice for weight loss, while other participants underwent two specific forms of hypnotherapy.

While all participants showed a 2-3% loss in body weight within three months, the hypnotherapy group showed additional weight loss at the 18-month follow-up.

Some of the ways hypnotherapy might help with weight loss include:

Changing some habits like mindless eating
Managing emotional eating triggers
Altering negative beliefs about your weight and body image
Increasing confidence through affirmations
Uncovering emotional connections you may have with food
Increasing self-control and regulation
Improving feelings of fullness and reducing overeating

While there is evidence that hypnotherapy can assist in your journey of losing weight, it has not been proven to produce changes on its own without also involving changes to your diet and exercise routine.

Finding a Qualified Hypnotherapist Near You

There are a few different things to consider as you search for the right mental health provider. You can start by simply searching for “hypnotherapy near me” and taking a look at the options that appear, but it’s easier to start with us! Our online search tool makes it easy to find a qualified hypnotherapist near you.

Here are some things to look for when deciding on a hypnotherapist:

Look for providers who are members of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH) or the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis.
Make sure the therapist is properly trained and has a graduate degree in a related field.
Find out what fees are associated with the therapy and if your insurance covers any of it.
Ask about any specialized treatment options, such as gut-directed hypnotherapy for IBS and digestive issues or smoking cessation hypnotherapy.
Request a free consultation to make sure you can have a good therapeutic relationship with the therapist.

If you are thinking about adding hypnotherapy to your treatment plan, talk to your primary care doctor or current mental health provider about it.