Clinical uses of hypnosis

Hypnosis developed as a clinical tool and many skillful clinicians have used hypnotic and suggestive techniques. There is a common misperception that hypnosis is a treatment in its own right, a form of treatment often labelled 'hypnotherapy'. However, hypnosis is best considered as an adjunct to other forms of therapy - a tool or catalyst which aids the delivery of a specific therapeutic treatment. The ethical guidelines of the International Society of Hypnosis determine that practitioners should be professionals in their own right, and should only use hypnosis for purposes in which they are professionally qualified.

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Many clinicians find that using hypnosis complements their normal therapeutic practice. The following is a list of disorders for which hypnosis can help treatment:

Pain management
Smoking cessation
To relieve surgery-related pain and anxiety
To relieve dental pain and anxiety
Irritable bowel syndrome
Phobias
Post-traumatic stress disorder / Survivors of abuse
Preparation for childbirth
Coping with infertility
Therapy for post-termination distress
Insomnia
Stress management
Stuttering / Anxiety

Research evaluating the clinical effectiveness of hypnosis in the treatment of conditions such as these is considered in the remainder of this section.