Hypnotherapy is a type of complementary therapy that uses heightened awareness in the brain and relaxation of the body to produce emotional and behavioural change. During a session, a trained hypnotherapist guides you into a calm, focused state—called a trance—where the “critical faculty” of the brain is taken offline, during which the brain is highly open to what the hypnotherapist tells it is true.

The critical faculty is like your brain’s internal bouncer — it filters information and decides what to accept or reject based on your existing beliefs, experiences, and knowledge.

It’s the part of your mind that says:
“Wait a minute… that doesn’t sound right.”
or
“That’s not how I’ve always done things.”

This is useful in everyday life (it keeps us from believing nonsense), but it can also block positive change, especially if you've formed unhelpful beliefs like “I’m not good enough” or “I’ll never sleep properly.”

A trained Hypnotherapist can safely and easily bypass the “bouncer” of the mind which allows new suggestions to be adopted by the brain - this is how behaviour change results.

Why is This Important in Hypnosis?

During hypnosis, the critical faculty relaxes, allowing helpful suggestions to bypass the filter and reach the deeper subconscious mind — where real change happens. That’s how we can start to rewire automatic thoughts, emotions, and behaviours that might otherwise be stuck on repeat.

In this relaxed state, similar to being absorbed in a book or daydream, your brain enters slower wave patterns (such as alpha or theta waves), which may help you access deeper beliefs, habits, and emotional patterns stored in the subconscious. By engaging this deeper part of the mind, hypnotherapy can support changes in behaviour, emotional responses, and ways of thinking.

A hypnotherapist uses specific techniques to guide you into trance and introduce suggestions that align with your therapeutic goals. This may help you move past limiting patterns, reduce anxiety, improve sleep, or shift unhelpful habits. It's important to understand that you remain aware, in control, and able to respond at all times. Your mind will not accept suggestions that conflict with your values or safety.

Hypnotherapy has been studied in clinical settings and shown to help some individuals with issues like anxiety, stress, sleep disturbance, emotional regulation, and breaking unwanted habits. It is not a magic fix and does not work the same way for everyone—but for many people, it can be a powerful support tool in their personal growth journey.

Common areas where hypnotherapy may offer support include:

·         - Anxiety and stress management

·         - Sleep improvement and insomnia

·         - Phobia and fear desensitisation

·         - Emotional eating and weight-related habits

·         - Confidence, focus, and motivation

·         - Smoking and habit change

·         - Pain and discomfort (in consultation with a healthcare provider)

Hypnotherapy is safe when practised by a qualified professional. There has never been a negative side effect in the history of hypnosis and no one has ever been stuck in hypnosis. That would be like saying someone became stuck in a conversation; it simply isn’t possible. While research into its effectiveness continues, many clients report positive outcomes when using it alongside other wellbeing strategies.

Disclaimer: Hypnotherapy is a complementary therapy and is not a substitute for medical or psychological treatment. Individual results vary. It is not used to diagnose, treat, or cure any medical condition.