Community Submission
By Krista Francis, PhD, RCH
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health concern worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, over 301 million people live with an anxiety disorder globally. In Canada, 1 in 4 people will experience significant anxiety at some point in their lives. For many, symptoms like racing thoughts, insomnia, and constant worry can take a toll on both mental and physical health.
If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, on edge, or unable to quiet your mind, there’s a powerful tool that may help: clinical hypnotherapy.
Though often misunderstood, hypnosis is far from stage magic. It’s a safe, evidence-based therapeutic approach that uses focused relaxation and guided imagery to help people shift unhelpful patterns stored in the subconscious mind. And now, science is backing up what many have experienced firsthand.
In a comprehensive meta-analysis Valentine et al. (2019), reviewed 17 clinical trials comparing hypnosis to control groups for the treatment of anxiety. The results were striking: the average person treated with hypnosis reduced anxiety more than 79% of those in the control group. Even more impressively, at long-term follow-up, that number rose to 84%, with hypnosis showing a large and lasting effect on anxiety relief.
The study also found that hypnosis worked especially well when combined with other psychological therapies—suggesting it can be a powerful addition to existing treatment plans.
So how does hypnotherapy help with anxiety? By guiding you into a calm, focused state, a trained hypnotherapist helps you access the subconscious patterns that drive anxious thoughts and feelings—such as perfectionism, catastrophizing, or chronic fear. In this relaxed state, it becomes easier to shift these patterns and install healthier emotional responses.
Hypnotherapy can be especially helpful for:
Overthinking and excessive worry
Social or performance anxiety
Panic attacks
Sleep issues tied to anxiety
Anxiety related to health or life transitions
To ensure the best results, it's important to work with a well-trained, certified hypnotherapist. Look for a practitioner who is certified by a recognized hypnotherapy association and who takes the time to understand your goals and tailor sessions to your individual needs. A qualified practitioner will always work ethically, collaboratively, and with your safety and comfort in mind.
If anxiety is interfering with your daily life, you don’t have to manage it alone. Hypnotherapy is a well-researched, holistic option that supports emotional resilience and long-term change.
Valentine, K. E., Milling, L. S., Clark, L. J., & Moriarty, C. L. (2019). The Efficacy of Hypnosis as a Treatment for Anxiety: A Meta-Analysis. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 67(3), 336-363. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207144.2019.1613863