Rosie Fitzmaurice investigates whether hypnosis might be the key to lasting change.
Words: Rosie Fitzmaurice
If the word ‘hypnosis’ stirs up visions of swinging pendulums or bizarre 1990s TV shows, you’re not alone – an image of a terrified woman being talked into holding a very large spider while in a trance still makes me shudder to this day. But while it can sound woo-woo, there’s a surprisingly robust body of research behind this centuries-old treatment – and a new wave of self-hypnosis apps are making it more accessible than ever. ‘Hypnosis is considered the oldest Western form of psychotherapy,’ says Dr David Spiegel, a clinical research psychiatrist at Stanford University and co-founder of the Reveri app, which launched in the UK earlier this year. Studies support the idea that the technique can help to relieve stress, improve sleep, manage pain, quit bad habits, encourage healthier ones, and even help women deal with menopausal symptoms like hot flushes. Yet many misconceptions surrounding hypnosis, perpetuated by popular culture, remain.
‘What is created for stage and film purposes isn’t representative of what happens during a guided session,’ continues Dr Spiegel, who has led MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) trials to demonstrate the impact of hypnotic instructions on the brain. ‘Many people fear hypnosis results in a loss of control, but the reality is – it actually helps you gain it.’
How does it work? Hypnosis coaxes you into a state of ‘deep relaxation and focused concentration, which enhances your ability to open your mind to new ideas, thoughts and physical experiences,’ he says. Hypnotic suggestions are then planted either by a hypnotherapist, if you’re having an in-person session, or via guided recordings if you’re using an app.
Techniques vary widely, and include visualisations to help people reframe emotional patterns in order to achieve a certain goal, adds Kim Palmer, founder of Clementine, a hypnotherapy app for women, which is – in her words – ‘designed to be a therapist in your pocket’.
Picture this
‘If someone wants to learn to speak more clearly and confidently in certain social situations, through hypnotherapy we get them to visualise themselves doing it. The more you practise it, the more familiar and easier it becomes to do in real life,’ Kim says.
Associations, known as ‘anchoring’ in neurolinguistic programming (NLP), are also commonly used. ‘This involves repeatedly linking an emotion that you
