What is Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy Really?

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Hypnosis has long been shrouded in myths and rumors. For some, it is associated with a scene where a person starts acting 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, the challenges it can be applied to, and dispels the most common myths. 

What is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness, also known as trance, during which a person's attention is focused on their internal experience, and external distractions become less significant. It resembles a state when we are fully immersed in a movie or a deep thought, causing the surrounding world to seemingly 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, there is an increase in theta brain wave activity, which is associated with deep relaxation and the processes of assimilating new information.

What is Hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic method where 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 their 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 an independent intervention or as an auxiliary tool in other psychotherapy approaches, guided by professional ethics and science-based practice.

Are Common Myths True?

Although hypnosis has been used in clinical practice for some time and its effectiveness is supported by scientific research, various false beliefs still prevail in society. Some originated 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 widespread beliefs. The truth is that hypnosis cannot make a person do anything against their will. The client remains conscious during hypnotherapy, can communicate, and if needed, can stop the process.

Myth 2: I might 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 focus. 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 Most Often Address?

People most often turn to hypnotherapy when they feel internal tension, experience anxiety, have difficulty controlling emotions, or simply can't manage their thoughts. Sometimes this manifests in the body—various sensations, although medically everything seems fine. In other cases, a person feels that the same behavior patterns or reactions are constantly 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 deeper self-understanding. A person can relax, hear what is happening inside them, and look at their experiences without tension or judgment. In this state, it is easier to release accumulated anxiety, reduce internal chaos, and in some cases, 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 stresses or find it easier to make decisions. Hypnotherapy can help restore the connection with one's body, emotions, and true needs.

Conclusion

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

Hypnotherapy is suitable for those who not only want to alleviate symptoms but also seek cause, understanding, and desire a change that comes from within. It helps to stop and look inside without judgment. Sometimes it becomes the first step towards change, 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 a key to self-knowledge, real change, and deeper understanding of life if the person is willing to work with themselves.

Sometimes one question is enough: "What is happening within me?" This is where the path to true, personal change begins—and hypnotherapy can be a valuable part of that path.