What is Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy Really About?

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Hypnosis has long been shrouded in myths and rumors. For some, it is associated with a stage act where a person starts behaving strangely with a mere wave of a finger, while others fear they might "not wake up." However, the reality is quite different. Hypnotherapy is an evidence-based method widely used in various countries to address psychological, behavioral, and some somatic difficulties manifested through bodily sensations.

Today, psychologist Deina Uzdraitė, who applies hypnotherapy in her practice, discusses how hypnosis works, for which challenges it can be applied, and dispels common myths. 

What is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness, also known as trance, during which a person's attention focuses on internal experiences, while external distractions become less significant. It resembles a state when we are deeply engrossed in a movie or a thought, where the surrounding world seems to fade away.

It is not sleep or a passive state—in fact, 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 new information assimilation processes.

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 inner 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 misconceptions still prevail in society. Some originate from movies or stage hypnosis, others from a lack of information or fear of the unknown.

Myth 1: During hypnosis, a person loses control

This is one of the most common beliefs. The truth is that hypnosis cannot force a person to do anything against their will. During hypnotherapy, the client remains conscious, 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 a certain 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 provided with a safe and trust-based environment.

What Challenges Do People Most Often Seek Help For?

People usually seek hypnotherapy when they feel internal tension, experience anxiety, have hard-to-control emotions, or simply struggle with their thoughts. Sometimes this manifests in the body—through 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 deeper self-understanding. A person can relax, hear what's happening inside them, and look at their experiences without tension or judgment. In this state, it's easier to release accumulated anxiety, reduce inner 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 improve sleep, others notice they react less to daily stresses or make decisions more easily. Hypnotherapy can help restore the connection with one's body, emotions, and true needs.

Summary

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

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

During sessions, what has been pushed aside often opens up—memories, emotions, thoughts that previously lacked a safe space. And together with the therapist, it 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 an answer to all problems—but it can become a key to self-knowledge, real change, and deeper life understanding if the person is ready to work with themselves.

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