What is Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy Really?

For a long time, hypnosis was surrounded by myths and rumors. For some, it is associated with a scene where a person starts behaving strangely with just a wave of a finger, while others fear 'not waking up'. However, the reality is quite different. Hypnotherapy is an evidence-based method widely used in various countries to address psychological, behavioral, and some bodily sensations-related difficulties.

Today, psychologist Deina Uzdraitė, who applies hypnotherapy in her practice, discusses how hypnosis works, what difficulties it can be applied to, and dispels the most common myths. 

What is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness, also known as a trance, during which a person's attention is focused on internal experience, and external distractions become less important. It resembles the state when we are completely absorbed in a movie or deep thought, where the surrounding world seems to disappear.

It is not sleep or a passive state – on the contrary, during hypnosis, the brain remains active, especially areas responsible for imagination, attention regulation, and emotional processing. Studies show that during hypnosis, theta brain wave activity increases, which is associated with deep relaxation and the process of assimilating new information.

What is Hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic method in which hypnosis is used as a tool to address emotional, behavioral, or psychosomatic difficulties. Upon reaching a hypnotic state, the therapist helps the person safely and purposefully explore internal experiences, change harmful beliefs, reduce anxiety, or strengthen internal resources.

Hypnotherapy is based on collaboration, respect for the client's boundaries, and a clear therapeutic goal. It can be applied as a standalone intervention or as an auxiliary tool in other psychotherapy approaches, following professional ethics and science-based practice.

Are the Common Myths True?

Although hypnosis has been used in clinical practice for some time and its effectiveness is supported by scientific research, various misconceptions still persist in society. Some of them arise from movies or stage hypnosis, others from a lack of information or fear of the unknown.

Myth 1: A person loses control during hypnosis

This is one of the most common beliefs. The truth is that hypnosis cannot make a person do something against their will. The client remains conscious during hypnotherapy, can communicate, and if needed – terminate the process.

Myth 2: I may not wake up from hypnosis

This fear is understandable but unfounded. Hypnosis is not sleep or loss of consciousness but a natural, temporary state of focused attention. Even if a person relaxes so much during a session that they briefly fall asleep, they wake up completely normally.

Myth 3: Hypnosis is only suitable for easily suggestible people

All people are suggestible to some extent. Hypnosis is a natural ability to concentrate. According to the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, about 70–80% of people can achieve an effective hypnotic state if they are provided with a safe and trust-based environment.

What Difficulties Do People Usually Face?

People most often turn to hypnotherapy when they feel internal tension, experience anxiety, have difficulty controlling emotions, or simply cannot manage their thoughts. Sometimes this manifests in the body – with various sensations, even though medically everything seems fine. In other cases, a person feels that the same behavior patterns or reactions keep repeating, which they cannot explain.

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), hypnosis can be applied for:

■ Anxiety and panic attacks;

■ Depressive episodes;

■ Chronic pain;

■ Sleep disorders;

■ Phobias;

■ Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

What Benefits Can Hypnotherapy Provide?

Hypnotherapy often becomes that safe 'bridge' to a deeper understanding of oneself. A person can relax, hear what is happening inside, and look at their experiences without tension or judgment. In this state, it is easier to let go of accumulated anxiety, reduce internal chaos, and in some cases – for the first time openly accept what has long been pushed aside. Most people feel calmer and more focused after sessions. Some experience improved sleep, while others notice they react less to daily stressors or make decisions more easily. Hypnotherapy can help restore connection with one's body, emotions, and true needs.

Summary

Hypnotherapy is a scientifically based and safe therapeutic tool that helps a person get to know themselves better. It can help not only reduce tension or alleviate unpleasant sensations but also look deeper – into what is truly happening within us.

Hypnotherapy is suitable for those who want not only to relieve symptoms but also seek the cause, understanding, and desire for change that arises from within. It helps to stop and look inside without judgment. Sometimes it becomes the first step towards change that arises not because of others, but because the person is ready to live differently.

During sessions, what was previously pushed aside often opens up – memories, emotions, thoughts that previously lacked a safe space. Together with the therapist, this becomes not a burden but an opportunity to understand anew what we feel and why.

Like any other psychotherapy, hypnotherapy must be applied ethically and responsibly. It is not the answer to all problems – but it can become the key to self-awareness, true change, and deeper understanding of life if a person is ready to work with themselves.

Sometimes one question is enough: 'What is going on inside me?' This is where the path to real, personal change begins – and hypnotherapy can be a valuable part of that path.