Hypnotherapists and Mental Health

Mental health issues affect a significant part of the UK population. 1 in 6 people in the UK aged above 16 have experienced a mental health problem at least once in the past week. The proportion is even

elevated

in women. Prevalence has also been increasing since 1993. Yet it is only in recent years that greater attention has been given to improving mental health.

Mental health issues are a global challenge. This blog explores how hypnotherapists support clients' mental health. First, we’ll briefly outline common mental health problems.

Mental health definition

‘Mental health’ relates to how we think, feel and behave. Mental health refers to our cognitive, behavioural, and emotional well-being. Whether good or poor, our mental health will influence our physical health, our daily life, and our relationships. It is normal for our mental health to vary, at times feeling brighter, at others less so. Depending on our circumstances, work, relationships, community or society (as well as many other things), our genetic makeup, and how we were brought up, we can be influenced. Just as we can improve our own physical health, so we can improve our mental health. Hypnotherapists can also work with clients to help them make positive changes and learn how to help themselves.

Quality of mental health

Good mental health generally helps someone feel positive about life. It gives people the resilience to overcome challenges and recover more quickly or easily.

Poor mental health can range from mild anxiety, stress, or low mood to a mental health disorder. Life may feel more difficult, and new challenges can appear overwhelming as a result.

Whilst we may actively enhance our physical health through diet, hydration, sleep, and exercise, improving mental health is often overlooked.

Common mental health concerns

Stress

Stress, according to Mind, is how someone reacts when they feel under pressure or threatened, often in situations they don’t feel they can manage or control. The Health and Safety Executive has a different definition, which is particularly useful, referring to ‘the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them’. Each person has a different stress threshold.

A Statista survey found that 79% of UK respondents report frequent stress. Stress causes various health issues and significantly impacts the nation, accounting for 33% of short-term work absences. While clients often seek hypnotherapy for specific symptoms, improving mental health is usually a key part of effective stress management.

 Anxiety

Anxiety is commonly defined as unease, such as worry or fear. Its severity can range from mild to intense and may be either highly specific or generalised. Notably, health-related anxiety has received growing attention, especially since Covid.

Everyone has feelings of anxiety at some point in their life.

Anxiety is as serious as stress, affecting about 6.6% of the population. When untreated, it can trigger issues such as hypertension and problems in the digestive, respiratory, and nervous systems. Hypnotherapists guide clients to build tools for handling current anxiety and to develop strategies for future challenges, promoting effective coping and anxiety reduction or prevention.

Phobias

Harvard Medical School suggests that a phobia is an anxiety disorder marked by a persistent, excessive, and unrealistic fear of an object, person, animal, activity, or situation. People with phobias either avoid their triggers or endure them with intense anxiety and distress.

According to NHS estimates, around 10 million people in the UK experience some form of phobia. Phobias are a widespread issue, impacting people regardless of sex, social background, or age; anyone can develop a phobia. Hypnotherapy is an effective approach for clients seeking to improve mental health by overcoming a phobia.

Insomnia

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder characterised by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or returning to sleep after waking too early. People often feel fatigued upon waking. Insomnia reduces energy, worsens mood, and can impair physical health, work performance, and overall quality of life.

Insomnia may be a primary issue, or it may result from another mental health issue. With so many people affected by mental health problems, 1 in 3 people in the UK have experienced insomnia. Insomnia cascades into issues like lower productivity, fatigue, mood disturbances, and diabetes. To improve mental health through hypnotherapy, a client’s sleep habits, behaviours, and beliefs are evaluated, and appropriate sleep hygiene is developed.

 Depression

Depressive disorder, or depression, is a common mental health condition that can happen to anyone. According to the World Health Organisation, it is characterised by a low mood, or a loss of pleasure or interest in activities or daily life. People might experience changes in their eating habits (eating more or less) and disturbed or unrefreshing sleep. It is estimated that more than 75% of people experiencing mental disorders in low- and middle-income countries receive no treatment.

Depression is widely regarded as the most prevalent mental health disorder. In the UK, the Office for National Statistics reports that 1 in 6 adults suffers from it. This figure applies to adults with moderate-to-severe symptoms; rates rise further when mild symptoms are included. Hypnotherapy offers a versatile way to support mental health for people with depression, as hypnotherapists can select from various techniques. This enables a gentle yet precise method tailored to the client's capacity for change.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

The NHS defines PTSD as a mental health condition resulting from extremely stressful, frightening, or distressing events. Symptoms can include flashbacks, insomnia, and nightmares, which may severely impact quality of life.

According to the World Economic Forum, in 2019, 1 in 13 people in the UK experienced PTSD. The numbers may be higher post-Covid. Both hypnotherapy and hypno-EMDR effectively alleviate trauma symptoms and provide clients with coping strategies to support daily functioning.

Popular remedies to improve mental health

Counselling

Counselling is a talking therapy focused on examining thoughts, feelings, and behaviours to deepen self- and interpersonal understanding. Sometimes the emphasis is on transformation; other times, on managing issues. Counselling models include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Psychodynamic Therapy. In CBT, the therapist guides you to alter thinking patterns and behaviours through conversation. Psychodynamic Therapy explores the link between a client’s past and present to shift perspectives. Critics argue that gained insight may not always lead to action and that some talking therapies can be prolonged.