How Hypnosis Changes the Brain and Facilitates Transformation

Hypnosis has long intrigued both practitioners and researchers for its profound impact on the brain and its potential to facilitate change. But what really does happen in the brain during hypnosis?  And why is it different to other therapies?  What (and this is my view!) makes hypnosis so special? 

Thankfully, recent scientific studies have shed light on the neural mechanisms underlying hypnosis, offering insights into how it fosters transformation. And the secret is out, there are changes that happen which can accelerate neuroplasticity in the brain. 

Neural Changes During Hypnosis

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have identified specific brain regions that exhibit altered activity during hypnosis. Notably, research from Stanford University revealed changes in areas associated with attention, such as the anterior cingulate cortex, and those linked to self-awareness, like the default mode network. These alterations suggest that hypnosis enhances focus and reduces self-consciousness, creating an optimal state for change. 

This important because self-consciousness, and the need to seek validation are two things that impact on confidence, and increase anxiety. When we find ways to reduce that in a session of hypnosis you can learn the experience of being free of that and start to use guided imagery to lay new pathways in your brain that create confidence. 

Hypnosis can help bypass overactive critical thought processes, enabling you to engage with new perspectives and solutions more effectively. This makes it a powerful tool for overcoming mental blocks and building positive changes in behaviour and thought patterns.

Hypnotisability and Suggestion

Hypnotisability refers to how responsive you are to hypnotic suggestions. This trait varies among individuals and is influenced by factors such as cognitive flexibility and the capacity for absorption—the ability to become deeply engaged in mental imagery or experiences. Highly hypnotisable individuals tend to experience more profound changes during hypnosis, as their brains exhibit greater connectivity between networks responsible for executive control and salience detection. 

In simple terms, our brains have different "teams" that work together. One team helps us focus, make decisions, and stay in control (executive control), while another team looks out for things that might need our attention, like changes or potential threats (salience detection).

When these two teams connect better, it means we can notice what's important and make decisions about it more quickly and calmly. This helps us act in a way that's clear and effective, rather than getting stuck or overwhelmed. 

However, even those with moderate hypnotisability can benefit from hypnosis. The key lies in tailoring the approach to the individual's unique mental landscape, ensuring that suggestions align with their personal goals and needs.

The Impact of Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity encompasses the range of differences in brain function and behavioural traits, including conditions like autism and ADHD. These variations can influence how individuals experience hypnosis. For instance, neurodivergent individuals may have unique patterns of brain connectivity, affecting their hypnotisability and response to suggestions.  

Tailored approaches that take neurodiversity into account can enhance the efficacy of hypnosis for diverse populations. This might include adjusting the pace of sessions, using specific types of imagery, or focusing on sensory-based techniques to create a more personalised and effective experience.

I regularly have people with ADHD or repetitive thinking say that certain techniques like the spotlight technique I use are incredibly helpful for focus. 

How Hypnosis Reduces Anxiety

Hypnosis has demonstrated significant potential in reducing anxiety by altering the brain’s stress-response mechanisms. During hypnosis, activity in the amygdala—the brain’s fear and stress centre—decreases, while the prefrontal cortex, responsible for rational thinking and emotional regulation, becomes more active. This shift allows individuals to experience a sense of calm and control, reducing the intensity of anxious thoughts and physical symptoms such as a racing heart or tight chest.  

A study published in Cerebral Cortex found that individuals who underwent hypnosis showed reduced neural responses to anxiety-inducing stimuli, highlighting its ability to change how the brain perceives and reacts to stressors. This makes hypnosis particularly effective for managing conditions like generalised anxiety, phobias, and pre-performance nerves.  

Teaching self-hypnosis to people can be a total game-changer and ideally a part of any sessions you have with your therapist. This is why you will often need more than one session, it can take a little time to learn these things.  But once you have you have them for life. It really can be a superpower. 

Embedding Habits with Hypnosis

Hypnosis is a powerful tool for embedding new habits by influencing the deeper layers of the mind, where automatic behaviours and patterns are formed. During hypnosis, the brain enters a state of heightened receptivity, making it easier to adopt new behaviours. 

This process involves reducing activity in areas of the brain associated with rigid, habitual thought patterns and enhancing connections in regions linked to goal-setting and intentional behaviour. By engaging the brain’s natural capacity to adapt and learn, hypnosis creates a foundation for long-term behavioural change in a way that feels intuitive and sustainable. 

How Hypnosis Differs from Counselling and Psychotherapy

While counselling and psychotherapy often focus on exploring past experiences, emotions, and thought patterns through conscious discussion, hypnosis takes a different approach by working with the deeper, automatic processes of the mind.

Traditional talking therapies rely on conscious awareness to process insights and apply them to behaviour.

Hypnosis, on the other hand,

• Reduces overactivity in the critical, analytical parts of the brain, creating a direct pathway to influence habitual behaviours and emotional responses.
• Enhanced Suggestibility: During hypnosis, the brain enters a state of heightened receptivity, making it easier to integrate new suggestions and mental rehearsals.
• Leverage Focused States: Unlike traditional therapy, which may require prolonged exploration to uncover insights, hypnosis uses focused mental states to bring about rapid shifts in perception and behaviour.

 Hypnosis can complement counselling and psychotherapy by addressing habitual or automatic patterns that may not fully shift through conscious effort alone. 

Experience the Change for Yourself 

If you’re ready to experience how hypnosis can help you achieve lasting transformation, book a session today. Together, we’ll work to create meaningful change tailored to your unique needs and goals.