When Focus and Balance Align, Meaningful change unfolds
“Hypnosis reflects the balance of optimal mental state where focused attention and cognitive flexibility coexist.”
Evidence-Based, Client-Focused, and Ethical
Hypnosis is not about losing control-it’s a skill that helps you focus, regulate emotions, and achieve meaningful therapeutic change.
Many people are curious about hypnosis but unsure what it involves or whether it’s safe. Popular media often portrays it as dramatic or mystical, leading to misconceptions. In reality, clinical hypnosis is a structured, evidence-based therapy used by trained professionals to support personal growth and wellbeing.
Dr. David Spiegel, MD, a world-renowned expert in clinical hypnosis and psychiatry at Stanford University, explains in the Huberman Lab podcast that hypnosis is a state of focused attention and awareness- not a passive trance or mind control.
What is Clinical Hypnosis?
Clinical hypnosis, also called therapeutic hypnosis or hypnosis therapy, is a skill-based, collaborative process that helps client focus their attention and engage more deeply in therapy.
Key points:
You remain fully conscious and aware.
You cannot be made to do anything against your will.
Hypnosis enhances focus, relaxation, and cognitive flexibility, which supports therapy goals.
It is evidence-based, studied for applications like stress management, emotional regulation, pain relief, and habit change.
By understanding hypnosis as a practical therapeutic tool, clients can enter therapy feeling informed and empowered, rather than anxious or uncertain.
How Hypnosis Supports Therapy
When used ethically in therapy, clinical hypnosis helps clients:
Enhance focus and attention
Reframe unhelpful thoughts or beliefs (cognitive restructuring)
Practice emotional regulation and stress management
Strengthen coping skills and self-efficacy
Integrate learning from therapy sessions into daily life
Dr. Spiegel emphasizes that hypnosis works because it supports clients in developing new mental patterns and improves brain plasticity, allowing for meaningful therapeutic change. His work bridges both neurobiological research and clinical application. The link to the full podcast is here, please click and watch: Andrew Huberman podcast. Dr. Spiegel explains how hypnosis can enhance neuroplasticity and cognitive flexibility. Recognising this scientific grounding helps dispel myths and make hypnosis more accessible and less intimidating for clients who might be unsure about trying it.
Dispelling Common Myths About Hypnosis
Many misconceptions can make clients hesitant:
Hypnosis does not involve losing control
It does not retrieve hidden or false memories
It is not a magical or quick fix
Stage Hypnosis is very different from clinical, therapeutic hypnosis
Understanding these facts helps client approach hypnosis in therapy confidently and realistically.
Client Autonomy and Ethical Practice
A cornerstone of clinical hypnosis is client autonomy:
You enter and exit hypnosis voluntarily
You remain fully aware and in control throughout
The therapist acts as a guide and facilitator, hypnosis is not mind control.
This aligns with ethical, client-centred therapy, where informed consent and collaboration are fundamental. Hypnosis provides clients with tools they can use both in sessions and in daily life, fostering independence and empowerment.
Benefits of Hypnosis in Therapy
Clinical hypnosis can help with:
Stress and anxiety reduction
Chronic pain management
Improved sleep and relaxation
Trauma processing and emotional regulation
Habit change and behaviour modification
It is most effective when integrated into a broader therapeutic framework, tailored to your individual needs and goals.
Why Expertise Matters
Dr. Spiegel’s decades of research and clinical practice demonstrate that hypnosis is safe, scientifically grounded, and effective. Working with a trained therapist ensures:
Evidence-based application
Ethical and client-focused care
Guidance in learning self-hypnosis skills
Support for integrating hypnosis into broader therapy goals
By partnering with a qualified therapist, you gain expert guidance and structure, enhancing both safety and outcomes.
Getting Started with Clinical Hypnosis
If you’re curious about hypnosis but unsure whether it’s right for you:
Understanding the science and ethics can help you make an informed decision.
Clinical hypnosis can be tailored to your goals, whether for stress relief, emotional regulation, or skill development.
Working with a trained, experienced therapist ensures that your journey is safe, client-focused, and practical.
Watch and explore the original insights from Dr. Spiegel in the Huberman Lab Essentials podcast to learn more about the science and benefits of hypnosis.
Final Thoughts
Clinical hypnosis is a structured, ethical, and evidence-based therapeutic tool. It helps you develop skills, strengthen focus, reframe thoughts, and regulate emotions-all while staying fully in control of your therapeutic journey.
As a trained therapist, I am here to guide you through this process, supporting your goals with client-centred, practical, and ethical care.
I’m looking forward to meeting you and let’s start a conversation today how we can work together and take the first step toward achieving your therapy goals.
