Patients are invited to experience imaginary events as if they were real, Milling says. The “suggestion” phase involves talking the hypnotized person through hypothetical events and scenarios intended to help him or her address or counteract unhelpful behaviors and emotions. This stage could last anywhere from a few seconds to 10 minutes or longer, and the goal of induction is to quiet the mind and focus its attention on the therapist or counselor’s voice and guidance. “During the induction, the subject is typically told to relax, focus his or her attention, and that he or she is going into hypnosis,” Milling says. “If you asked 10 hypnosis experts how hypnosis works, you would probably get 10 different explanations,” Milling says.Īlmost everyone in the field agrees that the practice of hypnosis involves two stages, which are usually referred to as “induction” and “suggestion.” Research has found hypnosis can even alter a person’s immune function in ways that offset stress and reduce susceptibility to viral infections.īut what exactly does hypnosis entail, and how does it provide these benefits? That’s where things get a little murky. Hypnosis can also be “very helpful” in treating stress, anxiety and PTSD, Spiegel says. The smoking cessation benefits were even more pronounced among smokers with a history of depression-hinting at an additional potential benefit of hypnosis. “Half the people I see once stop, half of them won’t touch a cigarette for two years.” A 2007 randomized trial of 286 smokers found that 20% of people who received hypnosis managed to quit, compared to 14% of those receiving standard behavioral counseling. David Spiegel, a hypnosis expert and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine.

“It is very helpful for smoking cessation,” adds Dr. Another of his review articles found that when it comes to labor and delivery-related pain, hypnosis can in some cases significantly add to the benefits of standard medical care-including epidurals and drugs. One of Milling’s review articles found that hypnosis could help reduce kids’ post-surgical pain or pain related to other medical procedures. If you don't get the confirmation within 10 minutes, please check your spam folder.Īpart from aiding weight loss, there is “substantial research evidence” that hypnosis can effectively reduce physical pain, says Len Milling, a clinical psychologist and professor of psychology at the University of Hartford. Click the link to confirm your subscription and begin receiving our newsletters. For your security, we've sent a confirmation email to the address you entered.

Hypnosis therapy