Hypnosis

Overview

Hypnosis, also called hypnotherapy, is considered a type of complementary medicine. During hypnosis, a qualified specialist helps you enter a trance-like state of deeply focused concentration. You may have experienced a similar state of awareness in your daily life, such as becoming so absorbed in a book that you fail to hear someone talking to you. Your free will remains intact and you don't lose control over your behavior.

Hypnosis may help you become deeply relaxed and leave your unconscious mind open to suggestions that can help improve your health. Hypnosis may be suggested for dealing with a variety of conditions, ranging from pain control to coping with chemotherapy.

Why choose Mayo Clinic

• Expertise and experience. Mayo Clinic has developed a specialty called Complementary and Integrative Medicine that blends the best of both worlds — conventional and alternative medicine. Specialists at Mayo Clinic recognize that many complementary and alternative medicine treatments such as hypnosis can help promote physical, mental and spiritual wellness. Mayo specialists are skilled at integrating hypnosis into your overall treatment plan, if appropriate.
• Psychological and medical therapy. Mayo Clinic offers hypnosis as a psychological and medical therapy to help relieve symptoms of many diseases and conditions, such as stress, anxiety, insomnia or pain. Hypnosis can also reduce anxiety before a procedure or surgery.
• Evidence-based approach. Mayo doctors recommend treatments that are based on research demonstrating the effectiveness of complementary and integrative medicine treatments.

Mayo Clinic: Answers you can trust

At Mayo Clinic, we assemble a team of specialists who take the time to listen and thoroughly understand your health issues and concerns. We tailor the care you receive to your personal health care needs. You can trust our specialists to collaborate and offer you the best possible outcomes, safety and service.

Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical institution that reinvests all earnings into improving medical practice, research and education. We're constantly involved in innovation and medical research, finding solutions to improve your care and quality of life. Your doctor or someone on your medical team is likely involved in research related to your condition.

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care — and trusted answers — like they've never experienced.

Why Choose Mayo Clinic
What Sets Mayo Clinic Apart

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