Don’t dismiss hypnosis as an old parlour trick – here’s how it’s being used to boost mental wellbeing in modern life

Hypnosis was the first Western form of psychotherapy, but its use in stage shows as entertainment has meant it hasn’t always been taken seriously. As we’ve grown to understand the deep connection between the mind and the body, hypnotherapy has become an increasingly common choice for people looking to manage anxiety and depression, and generally improve their mental wellbeing.

What is hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy is therapy conducted through hypnosis. It requires you to be in a deeply relaxed state while at the same time being hyper-focused. A therapist guides you into this state using breathwork, visualisation or other prompts.

It’s important to note that even though you’re in a deep, relaxed state, you’re fully aware of what’s going on and you are in control. This type of hypnosis is far removed from the stage shows where unsuspecting audience members are made to quack like a duck when a hypnotist clicks their fingers.

Once you’re in this trance-like state your therapist will use suggestions and repetition that can help you make changes to your behaviour or the way you feel. “In hypnotherapy, we’re working with the subconscious, so you’re more receptive to suggestion,” explains Dublin-based hypnotherapist, Ruth Allen.

“If you think about your mind as an iceberg. The bit you can see is your conscious mind, and the large part of the iceberg under the water is your subconscious. It’s where all your life experiences are stored. It’s responsible for your automatic thinking, your distress patterns, your belief systems. It’s a huge part of who we are.”

Using consistent repetition and suggestion trained therapists can open up neural pathways in your brain that help you change the way you react in certain situations, and give you techniques to deal with your triggers.

Ruth explains that sessions with your therapist usually include a recorded session with appropriate suggestions and techniques that you can take home with you. “You will listen to this recording every night for 21 days, cementing the suggested changes.”

And because hypnotherapy deals with the subconscious, change can happen relatively quickly. “You can typically expect to see positive changes within eight to 12 sessions,” says Ruth.

What can hypnotherapy be used to treat?

Today, hypnotherapy is generally regarded as an effective treatment for chronic pain management, anxiety and depression. It can also be used to help people with low self-esteem and feelings of low self-worth. That’s because, as well as suggestion, hypnotherapy is effective for analysis, or finding out why you feel the way you feel in certain situations.

“Using hypnotherapy, we can get to the root cause of why feelings or behaviours come to the fore,” Ruth explains. “Your subconscious is essentially a protector, and if you suffered trauma in your life it might be repressing those memories to protect you. You might feel uneasy or triggered in certain situations but don’t know why. Hypnotherapy can help you to discover that past trauma and release the emotions around it.”

Ruth says that people are more open to hypnotherapy now, “especially since we have a greater understanding of the deep connection between the mind and the body”.

Hypnotherapy works best with a trained hypnotherapist, who will make guided suggestions. Feeling relaxed and calm does help, which means it’s important to find a hypnotherapist you feel safe with. You can find a trained and accredited hypnotherapist in Ireland either through the Clinical Hypnotherapist Professionals Association or the Institute of Clinical Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy.

If you’re seeking to make changes to your life, check out our masterclasses to learn new tools and techniques, on demand.