Hypnotherapy Can Help

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Hypnotherapy is a well-established complementary approach that has been shown in clinical research to support people with a variety of presentations in meaningful, measurable ways. The most compelling evidence is with:

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1. Anxiety & Depression

Hypnosis helps with regulating the nervous system, thought restructuring,  mental rehearsal of desired actions and behaviours and creating hope for the client. These techniques can be used with anxious thoughts and low mood in general but also specifically with medical procedures. Clients find they can approach specific situations in a calm and positive state, lowering anticipatory anxiety and improving tolerance. 

Managing Phobias (Needles, Scans, Hospitals)

Hypnosis combined with cognitive techniques can reduce conditioned fear responses and increase confidence, making it easier to receive injections or remain calm during procedures such as scans, surgery and chemotherapy.

Example: Hypnotherapy can support someone with MRI claustrophobia to mentally prepare for staying calm and still during the scan.

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2. Pain Management 

Hypnosis is increasingly used before and after surgery to reduce perceived pain, promote relaxation and reduce the need for medication. Studies show shorter hospital stays, improved immune response and even less surgical fatigue when hypnosis is used preoperatively.

Reducing anticipatory nausea and vomiting: Hypnotherapy has shown particular promise in helping people recondition the brain’s response to chemotherapy-related cues, like the clinic smell or the sight of a drip, reducing or eliminating anticipatory nausea.

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3. Sleep Disorders

Hypnotherapy promotes deeper rest and helps manage ruminative thinking or distress, often common when coping with diagnosis and treatment. It encourages emotional processing and improves quality of life.

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4. IBS 

Gut-directed hypnotherapy has been shown to produce significant symptomatic improvements, even when other treatments have failed:

• Modulating central pain processing, reducing visceral hypersensitivity and altering the gut-brain pain response

• Improving autonomic regulation and gastrointestinal motility, which can help normalise bowel habits and ease diarrhoea, constipation and bloating

• Reducing stress and anxiety, both of which significantly influence symptom severity and frequency through the gut–brain axis

• Supporting sustained clinical improvement, with studies showing therapeutic benefits that extend well beyond the active treatment phase

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5. Other Applications

Hypnotherapy can be used effectively with a number of other presentations such as to support weight management, stopping fears and phobias, supporting with fertility management, changing habits e.g. nail-biting, smoking cessation as well as its use with performance coaching. 

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If you have any questions regarding the above or would like to discuss a potential referral, please contact me by phone on: 07349 884105 or e-mail me on claire@clairewells.co.uk