I am a certified hypnotherapist recognized by both the International Guild of Hypnotists and the National Guild of Hypnotists. I have helped people overcome trauma from childhood experiences and sexual assault. I’ve also helped people stop smoking. 

Hypnotherapy seems to stimulate the release of neurotransmitters, encephalin, and endorphin, which improve mood. It also had the benefit of giving the central nervous system a break from stress — this will feel like you’ve taken a 20-minute good nap.

Absolutely— hypnosis has a history of helping insomniacs fall asleep naturally. Insomnia is my focus.

I use a couple of techniques. One of the techniques I use for online work is the “Spiegel Eye-roll Test.” 

It sometimes takes a lot of work to get someone into the hypnotic state of alpha-theta corridor, the brainwave state of hypnosis. A variety of factors can slow down the hypnotic process. If someone is drunk, for instance, they will have difficulty concentrating and following directions. Or, if someone is under stress, it takes more time.  But useful mental reprogramming can still be done even in slight trance states. Hypnotic states tend to deepen as the sessions progress. Several sessions are generally required for smoking cessation, trauma, phobias, etc.

Studies supporting hypnotherapy:

• A study by University of Zurich researchers found that hypnosis increased slow-wave sleep by up to 81% & reduced wakefulness by about 67% (Cordi et al., 2014). This underscores hypnosis’s potential to improve sleep quality significantly without the dependency risks of traditional sleep medications.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24882909/

• A systematic review assessed 139 studies, with 24 included for qualitative analysis regarding hypnosis's impact on sleep outcomes. The review found that 58.3% of the included studies reported positive effects of hypnosis on sleep quality, while only a small percentage showed no benefit. PMC (2018) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5786848/ 

• A 2020 study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that hypnosis effectively reduced sleep onset latency (the time it takes to fall asleep). Hypnosis also improved sleep quality in individuals with chronic insomnia.

• A 2016 study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that hypnosis improved sleep quality. Hypnosis also reduced insomnia symptoms in women undergoing menopause.

• A meta-analysis by Dr.Valentine et al., Stanford University (2019) of 15 studies found hypnosis reduced anxiety symptoms by more than 79% against the control groups. Case studies show hypnosis effectively reduces symptoms of truama, public speaking anxiety, phobias, and performance anxiety. Increased self-reliance, control, and self-efficacy appear to be keys to its success in alleviating anxiety.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334100871_The_Efficacy_of_Hypnosis_as_a_Treatment_for_Anxiety_A_Meta-Analysis

• A 2020 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis found that hypnotherapy effectively reduced anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms in adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

• A 2017 study published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress found that hypnotherapy effectively reduced symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression in female survivors of childhood sexual abuse. 

• A 2014 study published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress found that hypnotherapy effectively reduced PTSD symptoms. This includes various types of trauma, such as sexual assault, motor vehicle accidents, and combat exposure.

• Hypnotherapy has proven highly effective in addressing anxiety and depression by uncovering root causes and promoting positive changes in the subconscious mind. In a study, women with depression who received treatment showed a 60% viable pregnancy rate within 6 months, compared to just 24% in untreated cases (Journal of American Medical Women’s Association, 1999).

• Hypnotherapy has been shown to be an effective treatment for women experiencing anorgasmia by addressing underlying psychological factors such as anxiety, low self-esteem and negative beliefs about sex. Research indicates that self-hypnosis combined with cognitive therapy outperforms cognitive therapy alone in treating sexual concerns. Additionally, practitioners report significant success in helping women reframe their thoughts about sex, leading to increased relaxation and improved sexual pleasure. (Carrese and Araoz, 1998).

• In the largest scientific comparison of smoking cessation methods, a meta-analysis of over 600 studies involving 72,000 people found hypnosis to be the most effective. On average, hypnosis was over 3x more effective than nicotine replacement & 15x more effective than quitting alone (University of Iowa, 1992).

• A 2018 study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine found that hypnotherapy was more effective than other smoking cessation methods. Hypnosis surpassed nicotine replacement therapy and standard behavioral counseling in helping smokers quit.

• A 2017 study published in the journal Anesthesia & Analgesia found that hypnosis effectively reduced pain and anxiety in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery. It was associated with a reduction in opioid use after surgery.