Can Hypnosis Help with Anxiety, Phobias, or Habits That Won’t Budge?
If you’re curious about how clinical hypnosis might support your mental health—without the stage tricks or mystery—here’s what you need to know.
What You’ve Heard About Hypnosis Is Probably Misleading
Maybe you’ve seen someone cluck like a chicken onstage. Or watched a movie where hypnosis was used for mind control. Or pictured a pocket watch swinging in front of someone’s face while a voice says, “You’re getting very sleepy…”
Here’s the truth: clinical hypnosis is nothing like that.
Clinical hypnosis is a legitimate, evidence-based therapeutic approach used by licensed professionals—including psychologists, counselors, and doctors. It’s been recognized as a valid clinical intervention by the American Psychological Association and the American Medical Association since 1958.
At Hello Mental Health, Dr. Bailey Bryant offers clinical hypnosis as a way to help clients in Cincinnati shift patterns that feel stuck—whether it’s persistent anxiety, phobias that interfere with daily life, repetitive behaviors like hair pulling or skin picking, or a deeper desire to build confidence, motivation, and hope.
If you’ve been curious about hypnosis but weren’t sure if it was “real” or right for your needs, this guide is for you.
What Clinical Hypnosis Actually Is
Clinical hypnosis is a guided therapeutic process that helps you access a trance-like state of focused attention. It’s not magic—it’s a natural shift in awareness, similar to how you might feel when completely absorbed in a book, a song, or a familiar drive.
In this focused state, your brain becomes more open to helpful suggestions that align with your values and goals. It allows you to bypass some of the mental noise or resistance that can show up in traditional talk therapy.
In this state, you are:
Deeply relaxed and alert
More receptive to new perspectives
Tapping into your own inner resources
Always in control of your experience
What you are NOT:
Unconscious or asleep
Under anyone’s “control”
Forced to say or do anything you don’t want to
You’re not being “put under”—you’re being guided inward.
How Clinical Hypnosis Works: The Science Behind the Practice
The American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH) was founded by Milton H. Erickson, MD in 1957. Erickson believed therapy should work with your existing strengths—not against them—and that each person’s healing process is unique. His work laid the foundation for modern clinical hypnosis.
What Happens in Your Brain During Hypnosis
Hypnosis is a neurologically distinct state where:
Your attention sharpens
Your nervous system settles
Your mind becomes more open to positive change
Functional brain scans show that hypnosis changes activity in areas related to emotional regulation, self-awareness, and sensory processing. It’s not imaginary—it’s measurable.
How It’s Different from Regular Therapy
In traditional therapy, we talk through challenges, develop insight, and practice new skills. That’s important. But sometimes, our conscious mind gets in the way.
Clinical hypnosis helps you:
Reframe limiting beliefs and inner narratives
Practice new emotional and behavioral responses
Access a sense of calm and clarity
Build confidence, motivation, and hope
It’s like opening a different door into the same house—you’re still doing the work, just from a new entry point.
What Clinical Hypnosis Can Help With
Evidence + Limits: What the Research Really Says
Clinical hypnosis has decades of research behind it, especially for anxiety, phobias, stress-related behaviors, and certain habit changes. It's recognized by major medical and psychological associations as a valid clinical tool. That said, it's not a one-size-fits-all solution. Not everyone responds the same way, and it's most effective when integrated into a broader, collaborative therapeutic plan.
At Hello Mental Health, we use hypnosis ethically, intentionally, and only when it's appropriate for your goals and needs—not as a quick fix, but as a meaningful support for real change.
While not a one-size-fits-all solution, clinical hypnosis can be especially helpful for:
1. Anxiety and Stress Management
Releasing chronic worry or overthinking
Learning how to settle your nervous system
Replacing catastrophic thoughts with grounded beliefs
Feeling more confident and centered in everyday situations
2. Specific Phobias and Fears
Fear of flying, driving, public speaking, needles, or enclosed spaces
Gently reprocessing and rewiring the fear response
Building new, calmer reactions to old triggers
3. Habit Change and Repetitive Behaviors
Hair pulling (trichotillomania) or skin picking (dermatillomania)
Nail biting or teeth grinding
Avoidance behaviors or procrastination
Creating internal motivation to shift stuck patterns
4. Self-Esteem, Confidence, and Motivation
Strengthening your sense of self-worth
Overcoming inner criticism
Cultivating clarity, hope, and emotional resilience
Feeling more empowered to take aligned action
5. Medical and Procedural Anxiety
Fear of dental work, medical scans, or upcoming procedures
Learning to approach these experiences with calm instead of panic
Hypnosis works best when you’re open to the process and willing to engage with it—not just because you’re “suggestible,” but because you’re actively partnering in your own healing.
Want to Know If Hypnosis Is a Fit for You?
If you’re in Cincinnati and you’re:
Curious about mind-body approaches
Feeling stuck in patterns you’ve tried to change
Looking for something deeper than just talk therapy
Open to a grounded, evidence-based tool for personal growth
...clinical hypnosis might be a powerful addition to your care.
Clinical hypnosis isn’t about giving up control—it’s about reclaiming it. It’s a quiet, focused way to work with the parts of yourself that feel stuck, discouraged, or overwhelmed. For many people, it becomes a turning point—not because it’s magic, but because it helps you access the strengths you already carry. Let’s see if clinical hypnosis could be a meaningful part of your therapy journey.
Dr. Bailey Bryant is a licensed clinical psychologist with advanced training in clinical hypnosis. She offers it as part of a personalized treatment plan that honors your values, autonomy, and strengths.
Learn more about Dr. Bailey Bryant
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