ARe you a good candidate for hypnosis?
Who can and cannot be hypnotized?
Most people who want to use hypnosis, can use hypnosis for personal change. Largely, it comes down to willingness - specifically, the willingness to follow simple instructions. It's really up to you. If you genuinely want to make the change whether it's in how you think, feel, or behave or all of the above, and you want to use this tool, for hypnosis is a tool that one can use, then chances are, it will work well for you.
If you miss sessions, book sessions when you know you have people renovating and hammering in the room you're in or next door to the room in, or there are other reasons for not being able to follow the hypnotist's voice and instructions, well, then, no, it's not going to work. You need to be in a place when you can safely close your eyes and not be disturbed, and mostly importantly, that the hypnosis session is your sole activity and your sole focus.
In short:
Quiet. No disturbance for 45-60 minutes. Willingness to listen. Willingness to follow instructions, e.g. 'close your eyes', 'follow my voice'. That's pretty much all there is to it - for you. One other thing to mention is that contrary to what fictional movies and books suggest, you are always in control. The hypnotist is just a guide that you either choose to follow or you don't.
Ericksonian hypnosis is the type I use. You'll follow me - if you choose to - in a relaxing pleasant 'story'.
It's a restful rejuvenating experience where you can make major changes in your health, your confidence, your focus, your thoughts - the list is long. If you want to know if hypnosis can help you with something specific, you are welcome to book a free ten-minute consultation.
Take the First Step Today
Book a free ten-minute consultation with Dr Goddard. Find out if hypnosis can help you.
You can explain what you wish to change about your thinking, feeling or behaviour, and you'll receive an honest answer as to whether hypnosis is a suitable route to achieve whatever it is you want to achieve.
Your consultation can be by phone or an audio call on MS Teams. You don't need to be on-camera for the consultation if you prefer not to be.
Research on the efficacy of hypnosis
Examples of academic research related to hypnosis
Broad evidence across conditions (systematic review of meta-analyses)
Rosendahl, J., et al. (2024). Meta-analytic evidence on the efficacy of hypnosis for mental and somatic health issues: A 20-year perspective. Frontiers in Psychology. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10807512/
"Our findings underline the potential of hypnosis to positively impact various mental and somatic treatment outcomes, with the largest effects found in patients experiencing pain, patients undergoing medical procedures, and in populations of children/adolescents. "
Stress & Anxiety
Valentine, K. E., Milling, L. S., Clark, L. J., & Moriarty, C. L. (2019).
The efficacy of hypnosis as a treatment for anxiety: A meta-analysis.
International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 67(3), 336–363.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00207144.2019.1613863
Boutin, G. E., & Tosi, D. J. (1983).
Effectiveness of hypnosis and systematic desensitization in the reduction of speech anxiety.
Journal of Clinical Psychology, 39(3), 450–454.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10510977209363089
Valentine, K. E., Milling, L. S., Clark, L. J., & Moriarty, C. L. (2019).
The efficacy of hypnosis as a treatment for anxiety: A meta-analysis.
International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 67(3), 336–363.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00207144.2019.1613863
Hypnosis as a complement
Kirsch, I., Montgomery, G., & Sapirstein, G. (1995).
Hypnosis as an adjunct to cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy: A meta-analysis.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 63(2), 214–220.
https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.63.2.214
Findings
" ...the average client receiving cognitive–behavioral hypnotherapy showed greater improvement than at least 70% of clients receiving nonhypnotic treatment. Effects seemed particularly pronounced for treatments of obesity, especially at long-term follow-up, indicating that unlike those in nonhypnotic treatment, clients to whom hypnotic inductions had been administered continued to lose weight after treatment ended."
Breast surgery side-effects (randomised clinical trial; pain/nausea/fatigue + anaesthetic use)
Montgomery, G. H., Bovbjerg, D. H., Schnur, J. B., David, D., Goldfarb, A., Weltz, C. R., Schechter, C., Graff-Zivin, J., Tatrow, K., Price, D. D., & Silverstein, J. H. (2007). A randomized clinical trial of a brief hypnosis intervention to control side effects in breast surgery patients. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 99(17), 1304–1312. https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/djm106
"Conclusions
Hypnosis was superior to attention control regarding propofol and lidocaine use; pain, nausea, fatigue, discomfort, and emotional upset at discharge; and institutional cost. Overall, the present data support the use of hypnosis with breast cancer surgery patients."
Emotional distress around medical procedures (meta-analysis)
Schnur, J. B., Kafer, I., Marcus, C., & Montgomery, G. H. (2008). Hypnosis to manage distress related to medical procedures: A meta-analysis. Contemporary Hypnosis, 25(3–4), 114–128. https://doi.org/10.1002/ch.364
Hot flashes in postmenopausal women (randomised controlled trial)
Elkins, G. R., Fisher, W. I., Johnson, A. K., Carpenter, J. S., & Keith, T. Z. (2013). Clinical hypnosis in the treatment of postmenopausal hot flashes: A randomized controlled trial. Menopause, 20(3), 291–298. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3556367/
"Conclusion
Compared to a structured attention control, clinical hypnosis resulted in significant reductions in self-reported and physiologically measured hot flashes as well as hot flash scores in post-menopausal women."
Note: These examples have been provided to show a few instances of research showing the efficacy of hypnosis. Naturally, they do not represent the only possible uses of hypnosis. Hypnosis has a very broad range of potential applications beyond the areas listed above.
