Questions ยท Online across Australia
Does Hypnotherapy Work? Honest Answers to Common Questions
Many people have a few doubts before they book. The big one is usually: does hypnotherapy work? Others are about hypnosis itself or cost. Some are the ones people feel a bit silly asking. None of them are silly. Here are straight answers to the ones I hear most.
Ernest McLeod, clinical hypnotherapistAn Adelaide practice, seeing clients across Australia by video. Fourteen years in practice.
Does hypnotherapy work? The short answer
Hypnosis can help some people with some problems, and the research is stronger for some issues than others. Here’s what the reviews I cite on this site found, in plain words.
- Anxiety. A 2019 meta-analysis pooled 15 studies. The average person who had hypnosis ended up less anxious than about 79% of people in comparison groups. It did better combined with other psychological therapy than on its own.
- Smoking. A 2019 Cochrane review covered 14 studies and 1,926 people. It found there isn’t enough evidence to say hypnotherapy beats other quit support. Any advantage is “small at most”.
- Sleep. A 2018 review found 24 studies of hypnosis and sleep. Fourteen reported a benefit, but many were small and of low quality.
- Phobias. A 2008 meta-analysis of 33 randomised studies found exposure therapy did better than other approaches. So I pair hypnosis with graded real-world steps.
- Low mood. A 2019 meta-analysis pooled 10 small studies. People who had hypnosis reported fewer depression symptoms than comparison groups.
So hypnosis has real research behind it, but the studies are often small. The anxiety review found it did better combined with other therapy. So I see it as a partner to the care you already have, not a replacement. I won’t quote you a success rate, and each service page sets out the evidence for that issue.
What is hypnotherapy, and how hypnosis works
Hypnotherapy is the therapeutic use of hypnosis, with your consent, for a problem you’ve chosen to work on. Hypnosis itself is focused attention combined with relaxation, a bit like being absorbed in a good film. You stay aware and in control the whole time.
A session starts with an induction: a few minutes of guided relaxation that settles your attention. In that hypnotic state, it’s easier to rehearse a new response to an old trigger. We might picture a situation that usually sets off anxiety and practise meeting it calmly. You also learn self-hypnosis, so you can use the same skill on your own between sessions.
Is hypnosis safe? The possible negative effects
For most adults, yes. Hypnosis uses no medicine. The usual after-effects are mild, like feeling drowsy or a little emotional for a while. Victoria’s Better Health Channel lists false memories among rare unwanted effects. It also advises against hypnosis for people with severe depression.
Please talk to your GP first if you live with psychosis, severe depression or another serious mental illness. Hypnosis sits alongside your GP or psychologist, never instead of them.
About hypnosis
What is the success rate of hypnotherapy?
I don’t quote one. Figures like “90%” usually come from small or old studies, or from a practitioner’s own records. The Cochrane review on smoking says advertised success rates are likely to be exaggerated. I’d rather you decide knowing the real picture.
Will I lose control?
No. You hear everything, you remember it, and you can open your eyes and stop at any point. You can’t be made to say or do anything you don’t want to.
Can everyone be helped by hypnosis?
No. Nothing helps everyone, and people vary in how deeply they go. If you’ve ever driven somewhere and not remembered the trip, you already know the state. It isn’t a test you can pass or fail, and I adjust my approach to suit you.
Are you tired after hypnosis?
Some people feel a little drowsy or very relaxed afterwards. Give yourself a few quiet minutes before driving. It usually passes quickly.
What’s the difference between a hypnotist and a hypnotherapist?
A hypnotist usually uses hypnosis to entertain, for example in a stage show. A hypnotherapist uses it in private, with your consent, to help with a problem you’ve chosen. Neither title is regulated in Australia, so it’s fair to ask anyone you see about their training and memberships. They include my Fellowship of the Australian Society of Clinical Hypnotherapists, and they’re all on the About page.
Can hypnotherapy replace my doctor or psychologist?
No. Hypnotherapy is a complementary therapy. It can sit well alongside medical care, but it isn’t a substitute for it. If something needs a doctor’s check, I’ll say so.
About sessions
Can hypnosis be done online?
Hypnosis depends on your attention and on what we do together, and both come through a video call. Many people find it easier to relax at home. Research comparing online and face-to-face hypnosis directly is still limited, so I won’t quote you a figure. How online sessions run
What happens on the free call?
You request a time window (morning, afternoon, evening or anytime) and I ring you within 24 hours. In fifteen minutes you tell me what’s going on and I ask a few questions. Then I tell you honestly whether I think I can help. There’s no obligation and no hard sell. Request a free consultation
How many sessions will I need?
Many issues suit a 4-session program. Anxiety, panic attacks, stress and burnout, trauma, depression and OCD usually need a treatment plan. That’s around 6 to 12 sessions. Quitting smoking or vaping is one 90-minute session with 12 months of support. These are typical ranges, not promises. Your first session runs up to 90 minutes, and follow-up sessions up to 60 minutes.
What happens between sessions?
After your sessions you receive an audio recording to listen to between appointments. You’ll also have a simple routine to practise on your own.
Can I have hypnosis while I’m on medication?
Generally, yes. Please don’t change or stop any medication without talking to your doctor. Let me know what you’re taking when we speak.
Is what I tell you confidential?
Yes. What you tell me stays between us. The only exception is the one that applies to any practitioner: if I believed you or someone else was at serious risk of harm, I would act on it. I’ll explain this before we start.
Do you see children and teenagers?
I see adults only, aged 18 and over.
About cost
How much does it cost?
A 4-session program is $1,000 upfront, or $300 a session as you go ($1,200 in total). Treatment plans usually total $1,500 to $3,000 upfront, or $1,800 to $3,600 as you go. Quit smoking or vaping is a $590 program. Prices are in AUD and no GST applies. Full pricing and terms
Is it covered by Medicare or my health fund?
Hypnotherapy isn’t covered by Medicare, and you don’t need a GP referral. Some health funds include it in extras cover and some don’t, so check with your fund before you start.
What if I don’t use all my prepaid sessions?
They stay yours for 12 months. You can use them for something else, or pass them on to someone you know. Your rights under the Australian Consumer Law always apply. See the terms
How do I pay?
By card, processed through Stripe, or by bank transfer.
If you’re struggling right nowI’m not a crisis service. If you’re in distress or thinking of harming yourself, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Call 000 if you or someone else is in danger. The numbers are below.
Still have a question?
Ask me on the free call. Tell me the best time to reach you and I’ll call within 24 hours.
Request a free consultationOr call 0427 218 092
Free and confidential, open now. Tap to call.
Where these numbers come from
Valentine KE, Milling LS, Clark LJ, Moriarty CL (2019). The efficacy of hypnosis as a treatment for anxiety: a meta-analysis. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis 67(3): 336-363. doi.org/10.1080/00207144.2019.1613863. Source of the 15 studies and the 79% figure, which describes the average effect, not a success rate.
Barnes J, McRobbie H, Dong CY, Walker N, Hartmann-Boyce J (2019). Hypnotherapy for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews Issue 6: CD001008. doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD001008.pub3. Source of the 14 studies, 1,926 participants, the “small at most” conclusion and the note that advertised success rates are likely to be exaggerated.
Chamine I, Atchley R, Oken BS (2018). Hypnosis intervention effects on sleep outcomes: a systematic review. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine 14(2): 271-283. doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.6952. The 14 of 24 counts studies that reported a benefit, not people who improved.
Milling LS, Valentine KE, McCarley HS, LoStimolo LM (2019). A meta-analysis of hypnotic interventions for depression symptoms: high hopes for hypnosis? American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis 61(3): 227-243. doi.org/10.1080/00029157.2018.1489777. Source of the 10 studies.
Wolitzky-Taylor KB, Horowitz JD, Powers MB, Telch MJ (2008). Psychological approaches in the treatment of specific phobias: a meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review 28(6): 1021-1037. doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2008.02.007. Source of the 33 randomised studies; exposure-based treatment outperformed no treatment, placebo and other psychological approaches.
Better Health Channel (Victorian Government). Hypnosis. betterhealth.vic.gov.au. Source of the note on false memories as a rare unwanted effect, and the advice to avoid hypnosis with severe depression. I’ll always show you where a number came from.
Hypnotherapy is a complementary therapy, not medical treatment, a diagnosis, or a substitute for care from your doctor or a psychologist. If your symptoms are severe or persistent, please speak to your GP. Last updated 9 October 2026.