All about Clinical Hypnotherapy
by Diana Joy - Hypnotherapy Balmain, Sydney
Most people know what their problem is but they just can't seem to change it. Hypnotherapy goes deep and works with your unconscious mind, the part of you that stores phobias, old patterns and beliefs and triggers. Hypnosis gets right to the core of anxiety, phobias, habits and emotional responses.
Your logical brain knows there is no need to be anxious but you can't help it.
You know you shouldn't pour that drink at 6pm, but you do.
You know it's pointless feeling shame, but you feel it anyway.
You know you don't want to be with your ex, but you feel terrifyingly rejected.
We believe we make choices with our conscious mind but evidence shows the unconscious is responsible for 95% of your choices.
Hypnosis is a relaxed and focussed state (sometimes called a trance). In this state your unconscious is more open to change. It is deeply calming, helping to regulate your nervous system.
Most people hear the word hypnotherapy and immediately picture swinging watches, stage performers, and someone clucking like a chicken on command.
Clinical hypnotherapy couldn’t be further from that. I have found it to be a deeply effective change tool particularly in combination with somatic work or EMDR. It's a deeply calming modality and allows you to experience 'changed states' such as confidence, which you can bring more easily into the everyday. Read below to understand whether hypnotherapy is the right therapy for you.
Can Hypnotherapy help me?
Hypnosis can help with the following:
Please note that while hypnotherapy is my key tool, I also use EMDR to address trauma, old fears or stuck negative feelings. Parts therapy and Inner child work are also powerful in combination with hypnotherapy to work with conflicted or wounded parts. Click on the links to find out more.
Hypnosis for Nervous System Change
Hypnotherapy is great for helping with anything that is fear related and buried in your unconscious such as:
-
General Anxiety
-
Social Anxiety
-
Hyper vigilance
-
Public Speaking & Performance Anxiety
-
Insomnia
-
Phobias such as Fear of Flying or Needles or Driving
-
AFRID (food phobia)
Hypnosis for Changing Habits
Hypnotherapy is great for changing habits such as:
-
Alcohol Habit
-
Stop Vaping
-
Quit Smoking
-
Unhealthy Food Habits
-
Picking Skin
-
Biting Nails
Change How You Feel
Hypnotherapy is great for changing states and feelings, such as growing confidence or letting go of resentment.
-
Growing self esteem and confidence
-
Growing calm
-
Letting go of emotions such as shame or anger
What to expect in a session?
In the first session we discuss what you want to work on and the change you want. I ask you questions that help me structure your hypnotherapy session to get best results. We would discuss the available therapies and what I recommend moving forward to address the issues you want help with.
Hypnotherapy takes place on a comfortable massage table and I will guide you toward a relaxed state. If you have anxiety or a dysregulated nervous system we will be doing somatic work prior to hypnosis, if you agree.
Once you are calmer I take you into a trance - using focussed imagery. Generally this is going down steps to take you deeper. You are still 'awake' and 'aware' of what's happening but your unconscious is in a more open state so we can do therapy.
I then take you on a guided journey that is custom-built to your needs. You listen to my voice and follow any guidance. This may be working with conflicted parts (particularly useful for breaking habits) or working to reduce the power of parts that have got too strong - such as an inner critic or it may be about building a calm confident self. It might involve letting go of the past or beliefs that no longer serve you. Whatever it is we do, you are safe and comfortable. I will bring you gently out of the trance and you are likely to feel relaxed and calmer. Sometimes people do go quite deep and if you are 'spacey' I recommend a walk or something to eat before driving.
Sometimes I combine sound therapy or somatic therapy with hypnosis. I use EMDR for neutralising overwhelming feelings or trauma. I use parts work where appropriate and somatic work to help the body let go. All of this is discussed in advance.
If you have anxiety or a phobia it is likely I will send you home with hypnosis recordings to work on your nervous system.
Every person changes at a different speed - some people change quickly, others take longer. After the first session I can give you an estimate of how many sessions you are likely to need to get the change you are after.
Generally for stuck habits it's 2-3 sessions. For anxiety it can take anywhere from 4 - 10 as there are so many aspects to work with. For phobias it generally takes 4 sessions to make a noticeable difference.
Is Hypnotherapy Safe?
Hypnotherapy is a very safe style of therapy. While you are in a relaxed state with your eyes closed - you are very much in control. I can't make you think, feel or do anything you don't want to do.
You can go at exactly the pace you feel comfortable with. It's not talk therapy so you are not triggering old emotions or re-living trauma through the constant re-telling of the story.
The unconscious responds well to metaphor and the creation of new positive states. You can teach your body to feel safer in situations it feels unsafe such as driving or public speaking and you can retrain the nervous system to respond differently through the imagination. You can let go of fears, grow confidence, let go of habits and create inner peace.
Evidence for Hypnosis - Does it really work?
Want to read evidence supporting the efficacy of hypnotherapy? I've chosen two science papers to share with you. This anxiety study, show's good results with hypnosis for anxiety:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31251710/
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.
And this one is for confidence :
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20479480/
Barker, J., Jones, M. & Greenlees, I. (2010)
“Assessing the immediate and maintained effects of hypnosis on self-efficacy and soccer wall-volley performance”
Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 32(2), 243–252.
Of course hypnosis can't do everything for everyone and you'll find for something like quitting smoking, while hypnosis works for some, wearing a nicotine patch has similar efficacy.
As a therapist I find the journey of hypnotherapy can bring about a lot of change, clarity and insights for my clients. In essence it's a powerful tool, and just one of the five main change tools in my kit. I like to remain open about what a client needs and bring in the tools that are most effective as required.
Diana Joy
Clinical Hypnotherapist, Balmain, Sydney
Advanced Diploma of Clinical Hypnotherapy, Psychotherapy, & NLP 10501NAT
IICT Membership #6858852099
Last Reviewed 7th October 2026