How Hypnotherapy Can Help with PTSD
Understanding PTSD and Its Impact
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is more common than many people realise. Whether triggered by a single event or a series of difficult experiences, PTSD can leave people feeling stuck, overwhelmed, and emotionally raw - often long after the traumatic moment has passed.
Symptoms may include:
Flashbacks or nightmares
Emotional numbness or detachment
Irritability or sudden anger
Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
Constant feelings of being unsafe or on edge
PTSD can stem from experiences like:
Accidents or injuries
Assault or abuse
Childhood trauma
Witnessing violence
Bereavement or sudden loss
What Is Hypnotherapy and How Does It Work for Trauma?
Hypnotherapy is a gentle, guided therapy that helps you access your subconscious mind - the part of the mind that stores memories, emotions, and automatic responses.
Unlike stage hypnosis, clinical hypnotherapy is used in a safe, therapeutic setting to:
Bring calm to the nervous system
Reduce reactivity to past memories
Help reframe traumatic experiences
Promote emotional regulation and inner safety
At OLIP Therapy Hampshire, our hypnotherapists help clients enter a deeply relaxed state where the subconscious becomes more open to healing suggestions, allowing emotional processing to happen in a safe, supported way.
Why Hypnotherapy Is a Powerful PTSD Treatment
While traditional talk therapy can be helpful, many people with PTSD find it difficult to discuss their trauma out loud. That’s where hypnotherapy can be especially effective.
✅ You don’t need to relive every detail
Hypnotherapy helps you work through trauma without needing to recount distressing memories in detail, reducing emotional overwhelm.
✅ It targets the root not just the symptoms
By accessing the subconscious mind, hypnotherapy helps rewire the fear-based responses associated with trauma, offering deeper relief.
✅ It calms the body and brain
PTSD keeps the nervous system in a heightened state. Hypnotherapy activates the relaxation response, helping to shift the body out of “survival mode.”
Hypnotherapy and PTSD: What the Research Says
Scientific studies continue to show that hypnotherapy can be a valuable form of trauma therapy:
A 2016 study in the Journal of Trauma & Dissociation found that hypnotherapy significantly reduced PTSD symptoms, including anxiety and dissociation.
Hypnotherapy is now often used alongside EMDR and CBT in integrated trauma treatment plans.
The American Psychological Association recognises clinical hypnosis as a valid therapeutic tool when used by qualified professionals.
What to Expect in a Hypnotherapy Session for PTSD
At OLIP Therapy, our sessions are tailored to your comfort level and pace. Here's what typically happens:
Initial Consultation
We get to know your background, symptoms, and goals for therapy in a relaxed, judgment-free space.Deep Relaxation Techniques
You’ll be guided into a calm, focused state where the mind is more receptive.Healing Suggestions & Reframing
We gently introduce suggestions to help reprocess trauma, reduce fear, and build resilience.Integration and Coping Tools
You’ll leave each session with practical strategies to manage triggers and support your daily wellbeing.
An Integrated Trauma Therapy Approach
At OLIP Therapy, we often combine hypnotherapy with other evidence-based approaches such as:
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing)
CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)
Talking therapy and counselling
This multi-modal approach helps us support your recovery from multiple angles: emotional, mental, and physiological.
Is Hypnotherapy Right for Your PTSD Recovery?
If you’ve tried to move on from past trauma but still feel trapped in the same emotional loops, hypnotherapy may offer the breakthrough you need.
You don’t have to relive it. You don’t have to carry it alone.
With the right therapeutic support, healing is possible.
Book Your Trauma Therapy Session Today
If you're ready to explore a gentle, effective approach to PTSD treatment, our hypnotherapy team is here to help.
