Hypnosis in Therapy — Jacqueline Y. Chu

How Does Hypnosis Work in Psychotherapy?

I use hypnosis in therapy because it changed my life. Yes, it was the most therapeutic thing I’ve ever experienced. Since then, I’ve been using hypnosis to help my clients. In many cases, it led to breakthroughs that they weren’t able to achieve through traditional talk therapy.

Unfortunately, in some cases, people are afraid of hypnosis. I’ve had clients even drop out of therapy at the mention of hypnosis.

Allow me to explain how I use hypnosis in therapy and why it works. After reading this article, you’ll understand what hypnosis is and how it can benefit you in therapy.

What is hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a state of special focus and absorption. It’s an altered state of consciousness that’s different from the waking, analytical consciousness we are usually in.

We naturally experience this state in and out throughout the day. For example, when we are watching a good movie or TV show, we get sucked into the story and forget the time. Have you ever had a “driving trance” where you arrived at your destination but didn’t remember how you got there because your mind was somewhere else? Daydreaming is also an example.

When we are in hypnosis, our critical, analytical minds calm down, and we become more open to new ways of seeing things. We get psychologically stuck because we are repeating the same thoughts, feelings, and actions, thereby recreating the familiar past. Hypnosis helps us shift out of our patterns and create a different future.

Here’s an example. Mike came to therapy for chronic anxiety. Although he is highly accomplished in his career as an investment banker, he can’t help feeling he’s inferior to others somehow. As a result, he suffers from social anxiety and is afraid of making mistakes. People have told Mike over and over how successful and intelligent he is, but Mike continues to feel like he’s flawed and will be found out soon.

Trying to talk his issues out results in slow progress. Mike is a smart person with a very active critical mind. His sharp mind blocks out any attempts to convince him that he is good enough and doesn’t have to live with anxiety.

Out of exhaustion, he decides to give hypnosis a try. He closes his eyes and lets himself be guided into a calmer, relaxed state. The constant chatter in his mind quiets down, which allows him to focus and think more clearly. In this relaxed and focused state, he feels his mind becoming more flexible and creative. Without the usual barriers, he finds himself thinking and feeling differently. He’s also able to reprocess past traumatic memories and start to let go of the emotional burden he had been carrying for so long.

When he opens his eyes and returns to everyday consciousness, he’s surprised.

“What was that? That couldn’t have been hypnosis because I was awake the whole time. I was also thinking and talking!”

That’s right. Hypnosis doesn’t involve falling asleep, losing consciousness, or giving up your will. More on this below.

Is hypnosis safe?

There are many myths surrounding hypnosis which are false, especially in the context of therapeutic hypnosis.

Hypnosis does NOT involve loss of consciousness or control. In most cases when I work with clients, they hear every word I say and stay engaged. We communicate throughout the hypnosis session, and if they feel uncomfortable at any point, they can choose to open their eyes and come back to their everyday consciousness. Sometimes, clients go into a deeper trance where they feel as if they are dreaming, but even then, they have a choice to bring themselves out of that state immediately if needed.

Further to this, hypnosis is NOT mind control. Unless it’s what you want to do, hypnosis does NOT compel people to reveal secrets or tell the truth against their will.

Another question I get is whether hypnosis will make them cluck like a chicken or do other weird things. The answer is no, unless that’s what the person is looking to do through hypnosis. This myth comes from watching stage hypnosis shows where the purpose is to entertain people.

Can hypnosis cause harm? Yes, it’s possible to retraumatize someone or implant false traumatic memories using hypnosis. However, these instances are rare and sometimes comparable to a medical professional using their position and authority to abuse their patients. Responsible professionals receive extensive training in preventing such harm.

At the end of the day, hypnosis is a therapeutic tool. Although hypnosis can be harmful in the wrong hands, so are many of the other tools and techniques used in psychotherapy. Use of hypnosis shouldn’t be a cause for alarm as long as you are working with a well-trained professional with common sense and integrity.

What does hypnosis look like in a therapy session?

There are a few different ways I incorporate hypnosis into therapy sessions, and having a formal hypnosis session is only one of many.

Starting with the most informal way, the principles of hypnosis are reflected in the way I speak, listen, and ask questions. I use hypnotic language patterns to engage your unconscious mind and help you get to the change you are looking for.

Before I learned hypnosis, it was easy to fall into a pattern of “arguing” with my client where there were attempts to convince and resist.

ME: “Yes, of course you are good enough. Here are the reasons: X, Y, Z. The evidence is so clear!”
(Did I tell you I was a lawyer?)

CLIENT: “Yeah, I know that in my head, but I still feel like a failure.”

Safe to say, it didn’t work.

What I do instead is that using certain language patterns, I invite my client to experience the change in her mind using the power of imagination (fun fact, our brains don’t really distinguish well between imagined and real events). When this happens, I don’t have to do any convincing because her own mind already does all the heavy lifting.

If you are more familiar with meditation or you are comfortable working with eyes closed, we can do some hypnotic work in light trance (meaning you are relaxed yet alert). Closing our eyes reduces sensory input and increases alpha brain wave activity, which is associated with relaxation.

The types of hypnotic work we can do in this state are many, and you’ll find that it feels very “normal” in the context of a therapy session. Most people love doing this because it’s relaxing as well as interesting and out of the ordinary.

If you are interested in more formal hypnosis, we can dedicate a full session. Both in-person and online work well. We’ll first discuss your intention and objectives, take some time for you to enter a hypnotic state (this is called induction), and you’ll be guided through a process that’s designed to help you do the healing work in your own mind.

Empower Yourself with Hypnosis

There was a time in my life when everything felt out of control. My mood was all over the place, and I was anxious to the point I couldn’t live my life.

Hypnosis taught me that I have the power to change. It showed me how to use my own mind for healing, positive changes, and growth. It helped me take charge of my life and do what I love to do. And I know it can do the same for you.