Hypnosis is a natural, focused state of attention—often paired with deep physical relaxation—where your mind becomes more absorbed and more responsive to helpful, therapeutic suggestions. It’s not sleep, and it’s not “mind control.” You remain aware and in control the entire time.

Modern research using tools like functional MRI (fMRI) shows that hypnosis is a real, measurable state, with observable shifts in brain activity and connectivity during hypnotic trance.

Hypnotherapy is the professional, clinical application of hypnosis to help people change behaviors and reduce internal blocks—things like unwanted habits, stress responses, fears/phobias, self-sabotaging patterns, and confidence issues—by working with the subconscious patterns that drive them. Clinical hypnosis is widely used as an evidence-informed adjunct in areas like pain management, anxiety/stress reduction, and improving treatment outcomes in psychotherapy.

Professional recognition and responsible use

Major organizations have acknowledged hypnosis in clinical contexts and emphasize that it should be used by appropriately trained, licensed professionals and integrated into a proper treatment plan—examples include the American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association. The American Psychological Association has a dedicated division focused on scientific and applied hypnosis (Division 30).
In dentistry education and training contexts, the American Dental Association includes hypnosis among listed pain-control/analgesia modalities in its teaching guidelines.