When you think of hypnotherapy, you might picture someone swinging a pocket watch or imagine losing control under hypnosis. But cognitive hypnotherapy is nothing like that. It’s a modern, evidence-based approach that blends hypnosis with psychological techniques from cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), positive psychology, neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), and so much more.
Cognitive Hypnotherapy: Take Control Of Your Emotions
What sets cognitive hypnotherapy apart is its flexibility and focus on the unique individual. It’s not a one-size-fits-all method. It’s tailored to you, your experiences, your journey and your goals. The foundation of this approach rests on a set of empowering beliefs about human behaviour, the mind, and personal growth. These guiding principles make cognitive hypnotherapy not just an effective form of therapy, but a powerful tool for lasting change.
Cognitive Hypnotherapy Basics
Cognitive hypnotherapy is built on a set of guiding principles that shape how therapy works and why it’s effective. These core ideas reflect a compassionate, empowering view of human behaviour and change. Understanding them can help you see how this approach gently guides your mind toward lasting transformation.
1. All Behaviour Has A Positive Purpose
A core belief behind cognitive hypnotherapy is that all behaviours, even harmful ones, stem from a positive intention. This might sound surprising, but the mind develops behaviours as a way to protect you or meet a need – even if the result is counterproductive.
For example, anxiety might have developed to keep you alert to danger. Procrastination could be a strategy to avoid the discomfort of potential failure. Cognitive hypnotherapy helps uncover the positive intention behind unwanted behaviours so you can address the underlying need in a healthier way.
2. You Already Have The Resources You Need
Cognitive hypnotherapy is based on the belief that you already have the internal resources to solve your problems. Your mind holds the strength to overcome anxiety, build confidence, or break bad habits – you just might need help accessing it.
Through relaxation and focused attention, your therapist helps you tap into these inner strengths. Instead of relying on the therapist to “fix” you, they lead you to discover how to unlock your own capacity for change.
3. The Goal Is To Put You In Charge
The ultimate aim of cognitive hypnotherapy is to help you develop an internal locus of control. Simply put; the belief that YOU are in charge of YOUR responses and YOUR life.
Many people feel like life is happening to them, but cognitive hypnotherapy helps shift this mindset. When you learn how to regulate your emotional responses and make conscious choices about how to react, you stop feeling powerless and start feeling capable.
4. Problems Come From The Mind, So Do The Solutions
The way we perceive experiences shapes how we feel and behave. Fear of public speaking, for example, isn’t caused by the act itself – it’s caused by the meaning your mind assigns to it (fear of judgment, failure, or embarrassment …).
If your mind created the problem, it also has the capacity to create the solution. Cognitive hypnotherapy helps you access this ability by working with the unconscious mind, where most emotional patterns are formed. By changing how you think and respond at this deeper level, you can create long-lasting change.
5. Trance Is A Natural State – And A Tool For Change
Trance isn’t anything mysterious. In fact, it’s a natural state you experience every day when you’re daydreaming, driving, or absorbed in a book or a film. Cognitive hypnotherapy uses this state of focused attention to help you make changes at a deeper level.
Unlike traditional hypnosis, where the therapist implants suggestions, cognitive hypnotherapy is an active process. You remain aware and engaged whilst your therapist helps you explore new ways of thinking and responding.
Why Cognitive Hypnotherapy Works
Cognitive hypnotherapy’s strength lies in its adaptability. It doesn’t rely on a single method or box standard symptoms. What your cognitive hypnotherapist does is draw from a variety of approaches to create a tailored process that fits your unique thinking patterns and goals. Emphasis on unique because, let’s face it, there is no one quite like you and neither will there be again. So, why affix a label or stick you in a box?
Two people with similar issues, like anxiety or low self-esteem, might go through completely different sessions because the approach adapts to each person’s unique experience. Techniques from CBT, NLP, positive psychology, parts therapy, timeline therapy and hypnotic suggestion are combined to create a pathway to change that suits you.
Become The Change You Want To Experience
Cognitive hypnotherapy isn’t just about solving problems – it’s about changing how you engage with life. It helps you to finally break free from limiting patterns, take control of your emotional responses, and unlock your full potential.
Instead of feeling stuck or controlled by your thoughts and feelings, you gain the ability to shape your experiences from within. Cognitive hypnotherapy helps you reconnect with your inner strength and recognise your value – giving you the tools to navigate life’s challenges with confidence and ease.
No one can fix you because you’re not broken. You may have simply forgotten that the resources you need to make the positive changes you desire are already within you. Your cognitive hypnotherapist can help you reconnect with your inner power, so you can become unstuck and take back control of your life.
Article written by Sal Gordon, cognitive hypnotherapist and LADZ partner. To book a session with Sal, get in touch with her through the LADZ app.
