Most insurance plans will cover either all or a portion of the treatment.
Navigation:
- Overview
- What Is Hypnotherapy, Exactly?
- How Does Hypnotherapy Work?
- Efficacy and Safety of Hypnotherapy
- How Long Should I Undergo Hypnotherapy?
- How Do I Find a Rehab Center That Offers Hypnotherapy?
Overview
Hypnosis (hypno-) therapy has long been a relied-upon modality used to affect behavioral modification. While it has been used as a viable therapy for decades, its integration into entertainment culture has stigmatized hypnotherapy as a sort of “magic trick” without any real, lasting value.
The truth, however, is that when integrated into a comprehensive care program along with additional therapies, appropriate medications, and detoxification, hypnotherapy can help influence long-term abstinence and progress in recovery.
More and more treatment centers have been integrating hypnotherapy into their offerings in an effort to provide a full breadth of care options for patients struggling with alcohol and drug abuse.
What Is Hypnotherapy, Exactly?
Hypnotherapy is a guided therapeutic technique during which an experienced and, ideally, credentialed professional helps induce deep relaxation in patients to help them manage or alleviate a wide range of mental health challenges. It’s commonly used to treat conditions such as anxiety, depression, tobacco addiction, and even chronic pain. Many patients undergo hypnotherapy to manage sleep disorders, weight loss challenges, and phobias as well.
Hypnotherapy can be applied as a standalone therapy or as part of an overall treatment program. In the context of addiction, however, it should not be used as a substitute for comprehensive treatment.
How Does Hypnotherapy Work?
While there are several different variations of hypnotherapy spanning different durations, levels of intensity, and induction methods, the process generally involves patients being guided into a trance-like state by their practitioner. While in this state, patients are generally more receptive to suggestions and guidance that can facilitate behavioral change because the conscious mind’s critical filters soften, potentially reducing resistance and increasing receptiveness to positive suggestions intended to help change habits.
The process is generally broken down into four sequential steps, which include:
- Induction – The therapist uses calming verbal cues, repetitive imagery, and deep breathing to guide you into a state of deep physical relaxation and focused mental concentration. This naturally occurring state is similar to the intense focus you experience when completely absorbed in a good book or movie.
- Deepening – Once your body relaxes and your mind becomes quiet, the therapist uses further techniques to deepen your trance. You remain conscious and in control throughout the process, but you may become deeply detached from your immediate surroundings.
- Suggestion and Reframing – In this state of heightened focus and receptiveness, the therapist introduces new, positive ideas. The therapist may guide you to visualize desired behaviors, reframe unhelpful beliefs, or dissociate from negative stimuli, such as pain or anxiety.
- Awakening and Integration – The therapist gently brings you back to full, everyday waking consciousness. Over time and across sessions, the goal is for these suggestions to influence your daily life, helping you align your conscious goals with healthier patterns of thought and behavior.
Each patient’s therapy will progress differently according to their response and ongoing care needs. Therapy may start with longer sessions, and induction may gradually become shorter as time goes on. The goal is to help pinpoint and recalibrate the behavioral triggers that may contribute to ongoing substance use.
Efficacy and Safety of Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is an established therapeutic approach recognized by leading clinical entities, including the American Psychological Association. While it is generally considered a safe, noninvasive modality when practiced appropriately, some short-term side effects may include drowsiness, dizziness, headache, anxiety, or emotional sensitivity. In some cases, hypnotherapy may trigger intense emotions, and concerns have also been raised about the potential for inaccurate or false memories. If you or your loved one is experiencing severe mental health symptoms that you feel may be related to hypnotherapy, talk to your practitioner about your concerns so the approach, intensity, or duration of treatment can be reassessed.
How Long Should I Undergo Hypnotherapy?
The exact duration of a patient’s hypnotherapy will vary according to their ongoing needs, progress, treatment goals, and other factors. Some patients may notice changes within a few sessions, while others may require a longer course of treatment. Your practitioner will thoroughly review your clinical history and develop a plan that best fits your needs. It’s important to realize that, in the context of addiction treatment, hypnotherapy is generally a complementary therapy and should be used alongside other therapeutic and, if applicable, pharmacological interventions. These may include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or certain FDA-approved medications, depending on the patient’s specific substance use disorder and treatment needs.
How Do I Find a Rehab Center That Offers Hypnotherapy?
Facilities that offer hypnotherapy will generally advertise it in their menu of services and therapies. One of the quickest ways to determine whether the facility you’re considering offers hypnotherapy is to contact the admissions department directly. It’s important to realize that insurance coverage for hypnotherapy can vary considerably by provider, plan, practitioner, and the circumstances in which the service is delivered. It may be more accessible when incorporated into a larger, comprehensive addiction treatment plan. Patients should contact both the treatment facility and their insurance provider to verify coverage, including potential benefits through private insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid.
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