Healing PTSD and Trauma Through Hypnotherapy
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Trauma leaves imprints — not just in memory, but in the nervous system. PTSD can manifest as flashbacks, emotional numbness, hypervigilance, and a persistent sense of danger. Hypnotherapy offers a compassionate, structured way to help the mind and body release those imprints and reclaim safety.
Unlike some therapies that require reliving traumatic events, hypnotherapy works gently. In a deeply relaxed state, clients can revisit difficult experiences with a sense of distance and control. We use imagery, suggestion, and reframing to help the subconscious process what happened — not to forget, but to integrate and heal.
Hypnosis is particularly well-suited to trauma because it engages the dissociative state therapeutically. Many people with PTSD are naturally hypnotisable, which means they respond well to this approach. We use that capacity to shift emotional responses, reduce hyperarousal, and rebuild a sense of self that isn’t defined by the trauma.
Clinical research shows that hypnotherapy can significantly reduce PTSD symptoms, improve emotional regulation, and enhance treatment outcomes — often in fewer sessions than traditional methods. In the Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery, a study on the biobehavioural effectiveness of spiritual-hypnosis-assisted therapy in PTSD with childhood trauma demonstrated that hypnosis was significantly better than fluoxetine at reducing PTSD symptoms.
Cited Studies:
• Hammond (2010), Journal of Traumatic Stress: Meta-analysis showed large effect sizes for PTSD symptom reduction, sustained at 12-month follow-up.
• Poli et al. (2021), Systematic Review: Hypnosis increased vagal tone and improved PTSD symptoms.
• Franch, Alarcón & Capafons (2023), Systematic Review: Hypnosis as an adjuvant in trauma treatment showed improved adherence and emotional regulation.