Does Hypnosis Really Work?

Why its ok to be sceptical about hypnosis?

For many people hypnosis seems far beyond the realm of logic. We are far more likely to go to a counsellor a psychotherapist for talking therapy. Hypnotherapy seems peripheral and usually people come to it through word of mouth or recommendation.  It was not something I ever saw myself using, but did on recommendation and once I did it felt like a secret that was being kept from us in how we can use our brains so much more effectively.

Perhaps you’ve worked hard to build a life where you feel in control. So why would you hand that control to something that—at first glance—sounds suspiciously like stage tricks?

The short answer: you wouldn’t. But - that’s not what hypnosis is.

Hypnosis is not mind control, nor is it about making cluck like a chicken. It’s a scientifically recognised method of creating a focused, relaxed state where the mind is more receptive to helpful suggestions. Hypnosis can access the part of your mind that runs quietly in the background – and often gets in the way of change, or stops you from achieving beyond a certain point.

Why Sceptics Are Right to Question It

Your scepticism makes sense. For years, hypnosis has been packaged as entertainment or miracle cure. Think of hypnosis and spinning eyes, swinging watches, top hats and cloaks come into mind.  But many people are surprised to discover a strong body of evidence supporting the use of hypnosis for a wide range of issues from pain to phobias!

NHS and NICE recommend hypnotherapy for certain conditions, such as IBS.

• Research shows it can reduce anxiety, improve pain management, and support habit change.
• Neuroscience demonstrates measurable changes in the brain under hypnosis—particularly in how we perceive pain, regulate emotion, and process fear.

Scepticism isn’t a barrier here—it’s an asset. People who ask tough questions often make the best hypnosis clients, because once you understand how it works, you can use it deliberately and effectively.  Understanding the theory of how it works, means that you can learn to apply it to many different areas of your life.

Online Hypnosis: Does It Really Work?

Another question I often hear is: “How can hypnosis possibly work online?”

Although it might seem a bit unusual, online hypnosis can be just as effective as face to face—sometimes even more effective. Why?

• Comfort of your own space: Your brain relaxes more quickly in familiar surroundings.
• Fewer logistics: No rushing to an appointment, which means you arrive calm and focused.
• Access to top practitioners: Geography no longer limits you—you can work with the person who feels like the right fit.
• Recorded reinforcement: Online sessions may sometimes come with tailored audio tracks, which means you can revisit and deepen the work.

The real trick here is creating the right environment for hypnosis to work. Those things are environment and therapist.

Why Hypnosis Feels So Different

Embarking on a journey of hypnosis can feel exciting, but also it’s normal to feel apprehension. I know that hypnosis is very likely to work, simply in the fact that someone has messaged or called me. They have thought about it long and hard, and decided that it’s the right approach for them, or that they are going to give this a go. It’s not the easy choice and because if that I know that the decision to see me is rooted in a deep motivation to change something.

There’s a vulnerability in admitting you want something to change—whether that’s letting go of anxiety, breaking a cycle of overthinking, or creating a healthier relationship with work and stress. Changing a lifetime of habit can also feel destabilising, not knowing what comes after can prove unsettling for some people.

But this isn’t about losing control. It’s about regaining it. Hypnosis gives you access to the part of yourself that already knows how to do what you want it to do. It’s not about being done to, it’s about being guided into a state where change becomes easier and the parts of you that have got in the way of success or change are able to use their abilities to work towards success instead of against it.

So, Does Hypnosis Really Work?

The short answer is yes. But for it to work you have to learn to believe in it, and that’s why understand it is the key that unlocks everything. If you want to understand what’s happening in the brain I can answer those questions for you and show you just how your thinking is the way it is and what you need to do to change it.

Curious to find out for yourself?

I offer private online hypnosis sessions designed specifically for people who want change, but who don’t want gimmicks or swinging watches. Intelligent, practical, and evidence-based hypnosis can be the difference that you need.

Book a free consultation here