Written by Dr. Ali Navidi
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Co-Founder & CEO, GI Psychology
Clearing the Air on Clinical Hypnosis
Picture this: You’re sitting in the most comfortable chair in a quiet room. Your breathing deepens, your muscles soften, and a gentle sense of calm begins to take root. You’re focused—not on your gut discomfort or your to-do list, but on your own inner calm. Your belly feels more at ease and your mind less burdened. This isn’t a magic trick. It’s not mind control. It’s clinical hypnosis, and for many people with GI distress, it’s the missing link in managing both symptoms and stress.
When people hear the word “hypnosis,” they often picture swinging watches, clucking like chickens, or surrendering control to someone else. It’s no wonder that many patients—and even healthcare providers—feel hesitant about clinical hypnosis. But here’s the truth: clinical hypnosis is not mind control. It’s a well-researched, evidence-based therapy that empowers patients to regulate their own nervous systems, reduce gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, and improve quality of life.
Let’s demystify clinical hypnosis, especially as it relates to GI conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), functional nausea, and abdominal pain. We’ll also explore how pediatric gastrointestinal specialists and gut-brain therapists use this approach to support both children and adults.
What Is Clinical Hypnosis?
Think of clinical hypnosis as guided daydreaming with a therapeutic purpose. It’s a technique that helps you slip into a deeply relaxed, focused state often referred to as a trance. This trance state is similar to becoming completely absorbed in a good book or movie—you remain aware, but your focus narrows. Unlike stage hypnosis, clinical hypnosis is conducted by trained, licensed clinicians who use it to support healing, not performance (Palsson & Whitehead, 2002).
In the context of GI disorders, gut-directed hypnotherapy uses this relaxed state to send calming messages along the gut-brain connection. That means relief from symptoms like nausea, bloating, and abdominal pain.
And yes—you stay fully present and in control the whole time.
The Science Behind Hypnosis for GI Conditions
Let’s get into the evidence. Clinical hypnosis has been rigorously studied in GI care:
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Gut-directed hypnosis significantly reduces symptoms, with lasting improvements even five years later (Whorwell et al., 1984; Gonsalkorale et al., 2002).
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Hypnosis may help reduce inflammation, increase remission time, and lower flare frequency (Keefer & Keshavarzian, 2007; Mawdsley et al., 2008).
- Functional GI Disorders: For tough-to-treat cases of functional nausea, bloating, and abdominal pain, hypnosis offers real relief (Vlieger et al., 2007).
It works by calming the nervous system, reducing pain sensitivity, and improving gut function through the powerful mind-body connection (Simrén et al., 2004).
Addressing Common Misconceptions
Let’s bust a few myths:
Myth 1: Hypnosis is mind control.
Reality: You’re always in control. Hypnosis is about empowerment, not surrender.
Myth 2: Only highly suggestible people can be hypnotized.
Reality: Most people can benefit from clinical hypnosis, especially if they’re motivated and open-minded.
Myth 3: Hypnosis is a last resort.
Reality: Clinical hypnosis is a front-line therapy for some GI conditions and pairs beautifully with gut-directed CBT (Keefer et al., 2018).
Integrating Hypnosis into GI Care
Pediatric GI specialists and gut-brain therapists often include hypnosis in treatment plans for IBS, IBD, and functional GI disorders and ensure sessions are tailored, flexible, and deeply supportive.
Take Zack, a teen with ulcerative colitis and severe functional nausea. Through hypnosis and CBT, he gained confidence, reduced symptoms, and even avoided surgery. That’s the power of integrated care.
Takeaways
- Clinical hypnosis is safe, evidence-based, and rooted in science—not stage theatrics.
- It helps manage symptoms like functional nausea, bloating, abdominal pain, and IBD flares.
- It enhances the gut-brain connection and empowers self-regulation.
- Telehealth for pain and GI distress has made this treatment more accessible than ever.
If you’re curious whether hypnosis might help, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Explore our resources at www.GIPsychology.com/resources
Contact us at admin@gipsychology.com
Schedule a meeting to learn how GI Psychology can help support your patients.
References
Gonsalkorale, W. M., Houghton, L. A., & Whorwell, P. J. (2002). Hypnotherapy in irritable bowel syndrome: a large-scale audit of a clinical service with examination of factors influencing responsiveness. The American journal of gastroenterology, 97(4), 954–961. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1572-0241.2002.05615.x
Keefer, L., & Keshavarzian, A. (2007). Feasibility and Acceptability of Gut-Directed Hypnosis on Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Brief Communication : Laurie Keefer y Ali Keshavarzian. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 55(4), 457–466. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207140701506565
Keefer, L., Palsson, O. S., & Pandolfino, J. E. (2018). Best Practice Update: Incorporating Psychogastroenterology Into Management of Digestive Disorders. Gastroenterology, 154(5), 1249–1257. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2018.01.045
Mawdsley, J. E., Jenkins, D. G., Macey, M. G., Langmead, L., & Rampton, D. S. (2008). The effect of hypnosis on systemic and rectal mucosal measures of inflammation in ulcerative colitis. The American journal of gastroenterology, 103(6), 1460–1469. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1572-0241.2008.01845.x
Palsson, O. S., & Whitehead, W. E. (2002). The growing case for hypnosis as adjunctive therapy for functional gastrointestinal disorders. Gastroenterology, 123(6), 2132-2135. https://doi.org/10.1053/gast.2002.37286
Simrén, M., Ringström, G., Björnsson, E. S., & Abrahamsson, H. (2004). Treatment with hypnotherapy reduces the sensory and motor component of the gastrocolonic response in irritable bowel syndrome. Psychosomatic medicine, 66(2), 233–238. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.psy.0000116964.76529.6e
Vlieger, A. M., Menko-Frankenhuis, C., Wolfkamp, S. C., Tromp, E., & Benninga, M. A. (2007). Hypnotherapy for children with functional abdominal pain or irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Gastroenterology, 133(5), 1430-1436. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2007.08.072 Whorwell, P. J., Prior, A., & Faragher, E. B. (1984). Controlled trial of hypnotherapy in the treatment of severe refractory irritable-bowel syndrome. The Lancet, 324(8414), 1232-1234. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(84)92793-4