Hypnosis (Hypnotherapy): Key Statistics & Facts

Below is a list of statistics about guided hypnosis or hypnotherapy. This is far from an exhaustive list. It is also important to remember that statistics regarding hypnosis are very difficult to collect, as it is practiced in many different ways and for many different issues. Most studies focus entirely on scripted, one-size-fits-all approaches. At Bright Tomorrows Hypnosis, we use tailored approaches using traditional therapeutic techniques for each of our clients, ensuring the best possible outcome.
 

Hypnotherapy for Anxiety

• Large Reduction in Anxiety Symptoms: A 2019 meta-analysis of 15 studies found hypnotherapy to have a highly significant effect on anxiety. By the end of treatment, the average patient receiving hypnosis showed greater anxiety reduction than about 79% of control participants, and at follow-up, this advantage increased to improved more than 84% of controls​ (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). In other words, people with hypnosis fared dramatically better than those without. Notably, the analysis found hypnosis was even more effective when combined with traditional therapy techniques than when used alone​ (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).
   

• Promising Results in Medical Anxiety: Hypnosis shows particular promise in relieving procedure-related anxiety. For example, a 2022 systematic review of 19 trials reported positive effects of hypnotherapy in reducing dental anxiety and fear during dental treatments​ (nccih.nih.gov).
   

• Likewise, a recent clinical trial in a hospital setting found that a brief 15-minute hypnosis session before surgery significantly reduced patients’ anxiety levels (and even their pain) compared to standard care​ (liebertpub.com). In 2023, a joint oncology guideline (Society for Integrative Oncology and ASCO) formally recommended that hypnosis may be offered to cancer patients to ease anxiety during medical procedures​ (nccih.nih.gov) reflecting growing mainstream acceptance.
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• Stress-Related Anxiety (Long-Term Follow-Up):
  A study of patients with anxiety found that 75% improved after self-hypnosis training. After one year, 72% remained symptom-free.🔗 Source – Elkins et al., 2007
   

• Test Anxiety Reduction (2019):
  In a randomized trial, 86.7% of students receiving hypnosis achieved clinically significant reductions in exam anxiety.
  🔗 Source – Valizadeh & Karami, 2019​
   

Hypnotherapy for PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)

• Strong Symptom Improvement: Research suggests hypnotherapy can be highly effective for PTSD. A 2016 meta-analysis of clinical trials (391 patients) found that all studies reported positive effects, and the overall treatment impact was “large” (Cohen’s d ≈ 1.18, p < 0.001) ​pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. In practical terms, this means patients who underwent hypnosis had very robust reductions in PTSD symptoms. The result was so strong that researchers calculated it would take 290 “null” studies to disprove the benefit!​ (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).
   

• Recognition by Health Authorities: The National Institutes of Health has taken note of hypnosis as a therapy for trauma. The NIH’s NCCIH reports evidence supporting the efficacy of hypnosis in treating PTSD ​frontiersin.org.
   

•  In one notable study on children with PTSD, those who received specialized hypnotherapy showed a 77% improvement in symptoms after one year​ choosingtherapy.com.
   

• Therapists often incorporate hypnosis into PTSD treatment plans to help patients safely process traumatic memories and reduce symptoms, and many PTSD sufferers (including veterans and abuse survivors) have experienced significant relief with hypnotherapy as part of their recovery​ choosingtherapy.com.

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Hypnotherapy for Phobias

• High Success Rates: Phobias (intense irrational fears) respond remarkably well to hypnotherapy. In fact, hypnotherapy is often cited as the most effective treatment for phobic disorders, frequently outperforming all other conventional approaches​. The deep relaxation and subconscious re-framing achieved under hypnosis can rapidly diminish fears; for example, clinicians report success in resolving long-standing phobias (fear of heights, animals, flying, etc.) in just a few hypnotherapy sessions. (aihcp.net)
   

• Fear of Flying Study – Lasting Results: Real-world evidence backs this up. In a Stanford University study, 178 adults with a severe flying phobia underwent a single 45-minute hypnosis session focused on anxiety restructuring.
  When researchers followed up 6 months to 10 years later, the vast majority of these patients reported lasting improvements in their fear.​In particular, those individuals who were deemed highly suggestible, were 2.5 times more likely to have benefitted from the treatment than those with lower hypnotizability​. This suggests that many phobic clients not only conquer their fear with hypnosis, but maintain those gains long-term. (Such outcomes are especially impressive given that untreated fear-of-flying often persists for life.) (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Hypnotherapy for Weight Loss

Clinical studies have evaluated how effective hypnotherapy is for aiding weight loss. Overall, findings show modest but significant weight reductions when hypnosis is used, especially as an adjunct to diet or behavior change:

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• Average Weight Loss in Trials: In a landmark U.S. trial of 60 overweight women, a hypnotherapy program led to an average weight loss of about 7.7–8.0 kg (17–18 lb) over 6 months​ (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Participants continued to lose weight months after the hypnosis sessions ended. Another controlled trial reported that after 18 months, only the group receiving stress-reduction hypnotherapy maintained a significant weight loss (about 3.8 kg, ~8.4 lb) from their starting weight​ (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).

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• Short-Term vs. Long-Term Effects: A 1996 meta-analysis by researchers at the University of Connecticut analyzed multiple studies of cognitive-behavioral therapy with and without hypnosis. Immediately after treatment, those who received hypnotherapy lost around 5.4 kg (12 lb) on average, versus about 2.7 kg (6 lb) in those without hypnosis. By the final follow-up (up to ~18–24 months later), the hypnosis group averaged 6.8 kg (15 lb) weight loss​ (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Notably, no weight regain was observed at 2-year follow-ups in the hypnosis-treated patients in this analysis​ (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). This suggests that the benefits of hypnosis tended to increase over time, with one analysis finding a strong correlation (r = 0.74) indicating greater weight loss the longer patients were followed​ (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

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• Recent Clinical Evidence: Modern trials reinforce these findings. For example, a 2020 clinical study of a 10-week hypnotherapy program in obese adults found a significant drop in BMI from 33.4 to 31.5 (approximately a 11–13.5 lb weight reduction) over the treatment period​ (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Importantly, the participants showed beneficial metabolic changes (e.g. decreased leptin hormone levels) alongside weight loss​, highlighting that hypnosis can facilitate weight reduction along with positive physiological changes​.
   

• Another randomized trial in 2022 (HYPNODIET) targeting individuals with obesity and impulsive eating habits found that after 8 months, the hypnosis-treated group had a slight additional weight loss (~1.8 kg more, on average) and significantly greater BMI reduction than a diet-education control group​ (ajcn.nutrition.org). While the extra weight loss was modest, the hypnosis group showed marked improvements in eating behavior (discussed below), which are critical for sustained weight management​ (ajcn.nutrition.org)

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Long-Term Outcomes and Weight Maintenance

One advantage observed with hypnotherapy is improved long-term weight maintenance. Several studies indicate that weight lost with the help of hypnosis tends to be kept off better over time (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov):
 

• Sustained Weight Loss: In the meta-analysis linked above, patients who used hypnotherapy not only lost more weight but also maintained or continued losing weight at follow-up, unlike typical patterns where weight regain is common. The hypnotherapy group’s average loss increased from ~5.4 kg initially to ~6.8 kg at around 18–24 months, whereas those without hypnosis showed no further loss​. Consistently, a review of clinical trials concluded that out of 11 randomized studies on hypnosis for weight loss, 9 reported positive effects (usually mild to moderate) that were more evident at longer-term follow-ups​. This suggests hypnosis’ impact often becomes clearer over time as patients continue to reinforce new habits.
   

• Follow-Up Studies: Multiple individual trials support hypnosis’ role in long-term outcomes. In one follow-up study, participants who received hypnotherapy as part of a weight loss program were the only ones to show a significant net loss at 18 months (several kilograms), whereas those who only got standard dietary advice had drifted back toward their baseline weight​. Another trial comparing two hypnosis-based therapies found that one approach (which combined hypnosis with acupressure) led to additional weight loss during the 6-month post-treatment follow-up (about 2.2 kg more lost after treatment ended) while also improving body-image and eating behavior scores. This continued improvement after active treatment underscores hypnotherapy’s potential for helping patients maintain weight loss and even continue losing weight on their own.
   

• Weight Maintenance vs. Regain: A critical factor in obesity treatment is preventing relapse. Hypnosis may aid in breaking the cycle of weight regain by addressing underlying behaviors. In fact, one analysis reported no weight regain at 2 years among hypnosis-treated patients​– a notable outcome given that roughly 70% of people in conventional weight loss programs regain much of their lost weight within that time frame. By reinforcing new eating patterns and stress-coping strategies, hypnotherapy appears to promote more durable weight outcomes.
   

Real-World and Self-Reported Outcomes of Hypnosis for Weight Loss
 

Outside of controlled trials, real-world experiences and patient-reported outcomes shed light on how hypnotherapy helps individuals with weight management:
 

• Behavioral Changes and Habit Control: Hypnotherapy often targets the psychological drivers of overeating. Patients frequently report improved control over food cravings, emotional eating, and portion sizes after hypnosis. In the 2022 HYPNODIET trial, for example, 67.7% of those receiving hypnotherapy completely normalized their tendency toward impulsive overeating, compared to just 11.1% of non-hypnosis participants​. This dramatic improvement in eating behavior occurred alongside the modest weight loss, suggesting that hypnosis helps people gain control over unhealthy eating triggers. Since high impulsivity around food is a known predictor of weight regain, such changes bode well for long-term success​ (ajcn.nutrition.org)

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• Quality of Life and Activity: Beyond the scale, people using hypnotherapy often note positive lifestyle changes. A narrative review compiling several studies found that hypnotherapy users not only lost weight during treatment but also reported better eating behaviors and quality of life afterward​. In some cases, participants became more physically active after undergoing hypnosis​, an important factor in sustaining weight loss. These self-reported outcomes indicate that hypnosis can instill healthier habits and attitudes, making it easier for individuals to stick with diet and exercise recommendations in their daily lives. (researchgate.net)
   

• User Engagement and Success Rates: Real-world success with hypnosis appears to depend greatly on the individual’s engagement with the process. In one trial of self-hypnosis techniques for weight loss, patients who practiced the hypnosis exercises daily (before meals) achieved roughly 9.6 kg of weight loss, whereas those who practiced rarely saw virtually no change.​ (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  This dose-response effect – more frequent hypnosis yielding more weight loss – underscores that hypnosis is a skill that works best when actively utilized. Consistent with this, experienced clinicians report that a strong commitment to lifestyle change, coupled with hypnotherapy, leads to successful long-term weight control in about 70–75% of motivated clients.​ (b-hypnotized.com)
   

Hypnotherapy for Smoking Cessation

• 90.6% Success Rate for Smoking Cessation Using Hypnosis
  Of 43 consecutive patients undergoing this treatment protocol, 39 reported remaining abstinent from tobacco use at follow-up (6 months to 3 years post-treatment). This represents a 90.6% success rate using hypnosis.
  University of Washington School of Medicine, Depts. of Anesthesiology and Rehabilitation Medicine, Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2001 Jul;49(3):257-66. Barber J.
   

• 87% Reported Abstinence From Tobacco Use With Hypnosis
  A field study of 93 male and 93 female CMHC outpatients examined the facilitation of smoking cessation by using hypnosis. At 3-month follow-up, 86% of the men and 87% of the women reported continued abstinence from the use of tobacco using hypnosis.
  Performance by gender in a stop-smoking program combining hypnosis and aversion. Johnson DL, Karkut RT. Adkar Associates, Inc., Bloomington, Indiana. Psychol Rep. 1994 Oct;75(2):851-7. PMID: 7862796 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE].
   

• 81% Reported They Had Stopped Smoking After Hypnosis
  Thirty smokers enrolled in an HMO were referred by their primary physician for treatment. Twenty-one patients returned after an initial consultation and received hypnosis for smoking cessation. At the end of treatment, 81% of those patients reported that they had stopped smoking, and 48% reported abstinence at 12 months post-treatment.
  Texas A&M University, System Health Science Center, College of Medicine, College Station, TX USA. Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2004 Jan;52(1):73-81. ​

Hypnotherapy for Sports Performance

• Performance Boost in Multiple Sports: Many athletes use mental training techniques, including hypnosis, to gain a competitive edge. A 2016 review of sports psychology research concluded that hypnosis reliably improves performance across a variety of sports, with some of the strongest effects observed in sports like basketball, golf, soccer, and badminton​.(pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).
   

• In precision/dexterity-based sports, hypnosis is especially beneficial – by enhancing focus, confidence, and “in the zone” concentration, hypnotic interventions often yield measurable improvements in athletes’ execution of skills​. Sports psychologists in the U.S. increasingly incorporate hypnosis for things like pre-game mental preparation, visualization of success, and overcoming performance anxiety. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
   

• Real Examples – From Court to Course: Controlled experiments illustrate these gains. In one study with collegiate basketball players, those who underwent a series of hypnosis sessions showed significant performance improvements: after hypnosis, players dramatically increased their free-throw and three-point shooting accuracy, improved their defensive play, and even performed better on drills measuring speed and agility, compared to a control group that used relaxation techniques alone.​ (rewritehypnosis.com)
   

•  Similarly, case reports in golf have found that golfers using hypnosis to master their mental game were able to lower their average strokes and enter peak “flow” states during competition.​ Even elite professionals have embraced hypnotherapy – it’s well known that championship golfers and Olympic athletes have used hypnotists to sharpen their focus and calm their nerves under pressure. For athletes looking to maximize their potential, hypnotherapy offers a proven mind-body approach to boost training outcomes and competitive results.(psychologytoday.com​)
   

• Many famous Athletes across many multiple sports have credited hypnosis with improving their performance. Including, but not limited to, these recognizable athletes:

  • Tiger Woods – began seeing a hypnotist at age 13 to improve focus. (Source)

  • Jack Nicklaus – used visualization and self-hypnosis to win championships. (Source)

  • Steve Hooker – credited hypnosis with helping him win Olympic gold. (Source)

  • Mary Lou Retton – used hypnosis to block pain during her gold-winning Olympic performance. (Source)

  • Jimmy Connors – practiced hypnosis for pre-match mental rehearsal. (Source)

  • Phil Jackson – used self-hypnosis and meditation for team success. (Source)

  • Frank Bruno – used hypnosis before fighting Muhammad Ali. (Source)

  • Andre Agassi – incorporated NLP and hypnosis into his training. (Source)

  • Stephen Bunting – a hypnotist helped him improve diet, sleep, and focus. (Source)

  • Kevin McBride – used hypnosis to mentally prepare for boxing matches. (Source)

  • Michael Schumacher – reportedly used hypnosis to enhance racing focus. (Source)

  • David Beckham – consulted a hypnotherapist for emotional well-being. (Source)

  • Kobe Bryant – practiced meditation and hypnosis for peak performance. (Source)

  • Wayne Gretzky – reportedly used hypnosis to improve focus. (Source)

  • Shaquille O’Neal – learned hypnosis under coach Phil Jackson. (Source)

  • Michael Jordan – used hypnosis with Phil Jackson to sharpen concentration. (Source)

  • Ken Norton – employed hypnosis before his victory over Muhammad Ali. (Source)

  • Mike Tyson – trained in hypnosis early in his career to improve focus. (Source)

  • Steve Collins – used hypnosis to beat Chris Eubank in 1996. (Source)

  • Adam Malysz – used hypnosis before ski jumps for mental rehearsal. (Source)

  • Chicago White Sox – hired a full-time hypnotist in 1983 and made the playoffs. (Source)

  • Swiss Ski Team – won medals after working with a hypnotherapist. (Source)

  • New York Mets – players used hypnosis for performance and injury recovery. (Source)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers – players used hypnosis for performance. (Source)

  • Minnesota Twins – used hypnosis to manage pain and improve focus. (Source)

  • Ian Woosnam – golfer who used hypnosis for mental sharpness. (Source)

  • Nick Faldo – employed hypnosis to enhance his golf game. (Source)

  • Iwan Thomas – track athlete who used hypnosis to train his mind. (Source)

  • Mike Brearley – England cricket captain who used hypnosis. (Source)

  • Russell Winter – surfer who used hypnosis to improve performance. (Source)

Hypnotherapy for Panic Attacks

Hypnosis can be a powerful tool for people suffering panic attacks or panic disorder. Hypnosis helps to rewire the subconscious fight-or-flight response that underlies panic episodes.

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• Therapists report that with practice, patients learn to recognize their panic triggers and use hypnotic techniques to quickly induce calm. Over time, this process can significantly reduce the frequency of panic attacks and lessen their severity – patients gain a sense of control as the symptoms (racing heart, dread, hyperventilation, etc.) become more manageable​. While formal clinical trials are limited, many individuals have found dramatic relief: instead of random debilitating panic episodes, they experience shorter, milder symptoms or even none at all after hypnotherapy training. (aihcp.net)
   

• Integration with Mainstream Treatment: U.S. healthcare providers are increasingly open to hypnotherapy as a complement to standard treatments for panic and anxiety. In some cases, doctors actually recommend trying hypnotherapy first for panic disorder, given its strong safety profile and the potential to avoid or minimize medication​ (aihcp.net)
   

• Psychologists often integrate hypnosis with cognitive-behavioral therapy for panic patients, using hypnosis to reinforce coping skills and positive suggestions at a deep level. The American Psychiatric Association has noted that hypnosis can “calm down the amygdala” – the brain’s fear center – thereby dampening the cascade of physical symptoms during a panic attack​. (aihcp.net)
   

• Many people who did not respond to other therapies have reported great results when hypnotherapy was added​. In short, for those struggling with panic attacks, hypnotherapy offers a gentle yet effective strategy to regain control and confidence in daily life. (aihcp.net)​​