What Is Hypnotherapy & Does It Actually Work?
Author: Andreas Balasis, LCSW
Reviewer: Dr. Mary Perleoni, LMHC ✓
Published April 21, 2026
Both are legitimate questions with respect to hypnotherapy. Before I answer them, let me make it clear what hypnotherapy is not. People usually ask these questions because their first exposure to hypnosis comes from what’s known as stage hypnosis, and no, hypnotherapy will not have anything to do with waving a pocket watch in front of your face and having you cluck like a chicken. There’s no “going under,” like you would with anesthesia. You won’t be unconscious and made to do something humiliating. Real clinical hypnotherapy is quite the opposite. Hypnotherapy is a structured, evidence-informed approach used by licensed mental health professionals to help people shift patterns in thought, emotion, and behavior. In this article, we’ll take an honest look at what hypnotherapy is, how it works, and whether it actually holds up beyond the myths.
What is hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic approach that uses focused attention and a state of heightened awareness to support psychological or behavioral change. It’s not unconsciousness, and it’s not mind control. In a hypnotic state, people are fully aware of what’s taking place, and are able to enter into a “trance” state because of their desire to do so, not because of any sort of “mind control” on the practitioner’s part. The hypnotic state is a natural state of consciousness that most people move in and out of every day, like when you’re absorbed in a book or driving on autopilot.
In clinical hypnotherapy, this state is used intentionally. A trained clinician guides attention inward, helping reduce external distractions so the mind can engage more directly with internal experiences. It’s used to shine a spotlight on thoughts, imagery, emotions, and beliefs.
I can’t stress enough how contrary this is to stage hypnosis. Stage hypnosis is designed for performance and suggestion in a public setting. Hypnotherapy, especially when delivered by a licensed mental health professional, is a collaborative, goal-oriented process grounded in therapeutic principles. Many professional organizations recognize it as a complementary approach, meaning it’s most effective when integrated into broader care. There are areas where hypnotherapy can be the front line treatment, and the evidence is strong.
How does hypnotherapy work?
Simply put, hypnotherapy works by helping a person enter a state of focused attention and reduced distraction. It allows the mind to quiet outside noise and internalized judgments, and makes it easier to hear suggestions related to desired change.
The process starts by learning about the client, past experiences, desires, and ultimately what they’d like to change. All questions about the process are fair game, and any therapist worth working with will be happy to answer those questions as they arise. One’s ability to enter a hypnotic state also occurs on a continuum, so the therapist will also be working to get an understanding of your individual capacity to enter a hypnotic state, and any hesitancies or uncertainties about the process that may make it more difficult to utilize the process.
A typical session begins with guided relaxation. This isn’t just about “feeling calm." It’s about helping the nervous system settle enough that attention can narrow and stabilize. From there, the clinician helps you focus inward, often using imagery, breath, or sensory awareness. You’ll work with your clinician to better understand how you come to relate to your own thought patterns, be it through words, images, or sensations.
As the mind becomes more focused and less distracted, it tends to become more receptive to new perspectives. This is where suggestion comes in, not as control, but as a way of introducing alternative ways of thinking, feeling, or responding. For example, someone working on anxiety might explore new associations with previously triggering situations, or someone focused on performance might reinforce a more automatic, confident response under pressure.
What’s often described as the “subconscious” in hypnotherapy refers to patterns that operate outside of immediate awareness. We all have habits, emotional responses, and learned associations that build up over time. In a relaxed, focused state, these patterns can be engaged more directly.
When working with a licensed mental health practitioner, as one should be if they’re going to utilize hypnosis in their practice, you’ll get hypnotherapy integrated with other evidence-based approaches, like cognitive-behavioral frameworks and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. This ensure that what emerges in session is both meaningful and applicable in real life.
What does hypnotherapy feel like?
Most people describe it as deeply relaxed but mentally present. You might feel similar to how you do right before falling asleep. Your body is calm, your mind is focused, and time may feel slightly different. Others compare it to being fully absorbed in a daydream or a movie.
Importantly, you are not “gone.” You can hear everything. You can think, evaluate, and even choose not to engage with something if it doesn’t feel right. The mind won’t allow you to engage with something it truly doesn’t want you engaging with. Some people experience vivid imagery, others just notice a quieter, more focused mental space.
There’s no single “correct” way it should feel. There’s nothing dramatic about the experience, other than the improvements that can come from it. It’s meant to create enough mental space and focus to do meaningful therapeutic work.
Will I lose control during hypnosis?
No. You will not lose control during hypnosis. You cannot be made to say or do anything against your will. You remain aware of what’s happening throughout the process.
This is one of the biggest misconceptions carried over from stage hypnosis. In a clinical setting, hypnotherapy is collaborative. You are actively participating the entire time. If something doesn’t feel right, you can stop, speak, or shift your attention at any point.
A useful way to think about it: hypnotherapy increases focus, it doesn’t remove agency.
What can hypnotherapy help with?
Hypnotherapy has a surprisingly broad range of applications, particularly when it’s used as part of a structured therapeutic approach.
In clinical settings, we often see strong use cases in areas like confidence and self-esteem. Hypnotherapy for confidence can help reinforce more adaptive self-perceptions and reduce automatic self-critical patterns. Similarly, hypnotherapy for phobias and fears can support exposure-based work by helping individuals engage with feared stimuli in a more regulated, less reactive way.
Anxiety patterns are another common focus. Not as a standalone treatment, but as a way to shift the relationship someone has with anxious thoughts and sensations. By working at the level of automatic responses, hypnotherapy can complement approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy or exposure work.
There’s also growing interest in performance settings, sometimes referred to as sports hypnosis. Athletes, professionals, and students may use hypnotherapy to improve focus, manage pressure, and access more consistent performance states.
Additionally, it’s often used for stress reduction and habit change. Things like sleep, weight loss, behavioral patterns/behavioral addictions, and emotional regulation are also areas where hypnotherapy has shown effectiveness, particularly when it’s integrated into a broader plan.
Evidence is most conclusive for hypnotherapy as a standalone treatment when it comes to pain, both acute and chronic, IBS using “Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy,” and functional/psychophysiological disorders, where there are clear physical symptoms without a current medical understanding of where they are coming from.
Does hypnotherapy actually work?
The straightforward answer is a resounding yes, while also taking context into consideration.
Research supports hypnotherapy as a useful treatment modality both as a standalone course of treatment and as a complementary intervention for certain conditions, including pain management, anxiety, and some habit-related concerns. Professional organizations, including medical and psychological bodies, have acknowledged its utility in these areas.
That said, the strength of evidence varies depending on the application. Hypnotherapy is not a cure-all, and it shouldn’t be presented as one.
Outcomes depend on several factors:
• The individual (including their openness and responsiveness to the process)
• The skill and training of the clinician
• How well hypnotherapy is integrated into a broader therapeutic framework
At our practice, we approach hypnotherapy as one tool among many. When used thoughtfully, and alongside other evidence-based methods, it can accelerate insight, reinforce new patterns, and make therapeutic work more experiential.
The skepticism people bring to hypnotherapy is understandable. But when it’s grounded in clinical training and applied appropriately, it’s far more than a novelty.
Is hypnotherapy safe?
When conducted by a licensed mental health professional, hypnotherapy is generally safe.
The key distinction is training. A licensed clinician understands how to assess for appropriateness, recognize contraindications, and respond if unexpected material emerges during a session.
At IBWHC, hypnotherapy is delivered within a clinical framework. That means it’s informed by diagnosis (when applicable), guided by treatment goals, and integrated into a broader therapeutic plan.
Why choose a licensed therapist for hypnotherapy?
Not all hypnosis is created equal, and this is where the distinction matters. Despite how clearly Florida law highlights the credentials somebody needs to practice hypnotherapy, it still remains a functional grey area. Just because somebody ends up calling themselves a hypnotherapist doesn’t mean that they are legally or ethically able to do so.
A licensed therapist who practices hypnotherapy brings more than just technique. They bring a full understanding of psychological functioning, how symptoms develop, how patterns are maintained, and how change actually occurs over time.
This allows hypnotherapy to be integrated meaningfully. For example, it can complement exposure work for anxiety, support cognitive restructuring, or deepen emotional processing when appropriate.
A general hypnotist may be skilled in inducing trance, but they typically don’t have the clinical foundation to assess risk, adapt to complex presentations, or integrate the work into a larger therapeutic framework.
Hypnotherapy in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota
IBWHC has locations in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota, offering both in-person and virtual sessions depending on your needs. Whether you’re exploring hypnotherapy in Tampa, St. Pete or looking for services across the Tampa Bay area, our approach remains consistent: clinically grounded, personalized, and integrated into a broader plan for change.
If you’re curious whether hypnotherapy might be right for you, we’re happy to talk it through. A consultation is often the best place to start. No pressure, just a chance to ask questions and see if the approach fits what you’re looking for.
Citations
Çınaroğlu, M., Yılmazer, E., & Noyan Ahlatcıoğlu, E. (2026). Ericksonian Hypnotherapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of RCTs. Psychiatry International, 7(1), 16. https://doi.org/10.3390/psychiatryint7010016
Rosendahl J, Alldredge CT and Haddenhorst A (2024) Meta-analytic evidence on the efficacy of hypnosis for mental and somatic health issues: a 20-year perspective. Front. Psychol. 14:1330238. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1330238
Thompson T, Terhune DB, Oram C, Sharangparni J, Rouf R, Solmi M, Veronese N, Stubbs B. The effectiveness of hypnosis for pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled experimental trials. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2019 Apr;99:298-310. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.02.013. Epub 2019 Feb 18. PMID: 30790634.
