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Hypnotherapy for Pain Management

When pain starts making decisions for you, it can feel as though your world is getting smaller.

Living with persistent pain can affect your sleep, confidence and the things you enjoy doing. Hypnotherapy may help you manage your experience of pain and develop a greater sense of control, alongside your existing medical care.

Book Your Free 30-Minute Discovery Call

LIVING WITH PERSISTENT PAIN

When Pain Starts Affecting Everyday Life

Living with persistent pain can mean making adjustments that other people rarely notice. You might find yourself planning around how you feel, missing activities you once enjoyed or feeling exhausted by the effort of getting through an ordinary day.

Whatever your experience, you deserve to feel heard and supported.

Planning Around Your Pain

You think ahead about whether an activity might make things worse and how much energy you’ll have afterwards.

Missing Out on Things You Enjoy

You may turn down invitations or put plans on hold because you’re unsure how you’ll feel on the day.

The Exhaustion

Getting through an ordinary day can leave you physically and mentally drained.

Worrying About the Next Flare-Up

Anticipating a flare can be difficult in itself, especially when you’re watching for changes in how you feel.

Feeling Misunderstood

It can be hard to explain how much pain affects you when other people can’t see it.

UNDERSTANDING THE APPROACH

How Hypnotherapy May Help You Manage Pain

Pain is a real experience, and it can affect people in very different ways. Alongside the physical sensations, there may be worry about the next flare-up, disrupted sleep or a growing reluctance to do things you previously enjoyed.

Hypnotherapy offers an opportunity to explore how you experience and respond to pain. Through guided hypnosis and techniques you can practise yourself, you may develop new ways of managing discomfort and feeling more in control.

Pain and distress

Hypnosis may help some people manage pain intensity and pain-related distress.

Shaped around you

Sessions are tailored to what you experience and want to work on.

Skills to practise

Where appropriate, you can learn self-hypnosis for use between sessions.

Alongside medical care

Hypnotherapy does not treat the underlying physical cause of pain.

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A CLIENT’S EXPERIENCE

Rachel's Experience: Regaining Control Over Pain

I sought support from Connect Hypnotherapy for trauma-related head pain following a medical procedure. Having previously had a positive experience with their service for weight management, I felt confident returning for further support.

Following a single online session with Alex, I experienced an immediate and significant reduction in pain. I also felt better able to manage and reduce the intensity of the pain myself, giving me a greater sense of control.

Based on my experience, I have no hesitation in recommending Connect Hypnotherapy.

Rachel · Google review

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A Neurologist's Observations

In a written assessment, Rachel’s neurologist documented her report that she could reduce her pain from approximately 5–7 out of 10 to around 2 using hypnotherapy techniques. The neurologist considered those techniques worth continuing as part of her wider medical care.

Rachel was also receiving other medical care. This is one person’s experience and is not a typical or guaranteed outcome.

THE EVIDENCE

What Does the Research Say?

Clinical research has explored how hypnosis may help people manage pain, including persistent pain and discomfort associated with medical procedures.

A systematic review of 106 studies published in the European Journal of Pain in 2026 reported modest reductions in pain intensity associated with hypnosis compared with inactive controls.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists also discusses hypnosis as a way of redirecting attention away from chronic pain, while Stanford Medicine has explored how hypnosis may influence the brain's perception of pain.

Results vary, and the evidence is not equally clear for every use. Hypnotherapy may offer an additional approach to managing the impact of pain on everyday life.

Reading glasses resting on a small stack of research papers

Clinical Research

Systematic Review of Hypnosis for Pain

A review examining hypnosis and pain outcomes across 106 studies.

Read the systematic review →

Royal College of Psychiatrists

Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy

Patient information discussing the use of hypnosis, including for pain management.

Read the patient information →

Stanford Medicine

How Hypnosis Can Alter the Brain's Perception of Pain

An accessible explanation of how hypnosis may influence attention and the experience of pain.

Read the Stanford article →

MEET ALEX AND GARY

A Personal Approach to Pain Management

You can choose to work with Alex or Gary. If you’re unsure who would be a good fit, we can talk it through on your free discovery call.

Alex Holland smiling, seated on a green sofa

Alex Holland

Clinical Hypnotherapist | ADCH, MNSPsy

I'm Alex, a clinical hypnotherapist at Connect Hypnotherapy.

Pain management formed part of both my Advanced Diploma in Hypnotherapy and my Master in Hypnotherapy certificate training. This provides a foundation for my work helping people explore ways of managing persistent pain.

I understand that pain can affect far more than physical comfort. It can influence your sleep, confidence, relationships and everyday activities.

My approach is individual and collaborative. I take time to understand your experience and, where appropriate, help you develop self-hypnosis skills you can practise between sessions.

Hypnotherapy works alongside appropriate medical care, rather than replacing it.

View Alex Holland's profile →
Gary Holland smiling, seated beside a pond

Gary Holland

Clinical Hypnotherapist | DCH, DHP

Gary trained at the Institute of Clinical Hypnosis in London in 1997.

His work is calm and collaborative, with time to talk things through and understand patterns that affect everyday life.

He combines hypnosis with practical therapeutic techniques and adapts sessions to what feels useful and comfortable for you.

View Gary Holland's profile →

YOUR ONLINE SESSION

What Happens in a Session?

Online sessions are conversational and shaped around what living with pain is like for you.

  1. STEP 01

    Understanding your experience

    We talk about your pain, your medical background and how pain affects your days.

  2. STEP 02

    Discussing your goals

    We agree what you would like to work on and what feels realistic and useful to you.

  3. STEP 03

    Guided hypnosis

    The session is tailored to you. You can speak, pause or stop whenever you wish.

  4. STEP 04

    Practical skills

    We explore techniques you can practise between sessions and review what you find useful.

There is no fixed number of sessions. We discuss what suits your circumstances and review progress together.

Working Alongside Your Medical Care

Hypnotherapy is intended to complement appropriate medical care, not replace it. New, unexplained or changing pain should be assessed by a suitable healthcare professional before using hypnosis to manage symptoms.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Frequently Asked Questions About Hypnotherapy for Pain Management

Can hypnotherapy help with chronic pain?

Yes, hypnotherapy can be a valuable way to help manage chronic pain. Research has shown that hypnosis can reduce pain intensity for some people, while also helping them develop a greater sense of control over how they experience and respond to discomfort. It can work alongside your existing medical care, giving you additional tools to manage pain and its impact on everyday life.

Does hypnotherapy remove the cause of pain?

No. Hypnotherapy does not treat the underlying medical condition causing pain. Instead, it may help with aspects of pain perception, emotional distress and coping.

Will I lose control during hypnosis?

No. You remain aware and able to communicate throughout the session. You can ask questions, move or stop whenever you wish.

Can I continue my medication and other treatments?

Yes, where hypnotherapy is appropriate for your circumstances. It is intended to complement your medical treatment. Any changes to medication or medical care should be discussed with your treating clinician.

How many sessions will I need?

This varies depending on your circumstances, goals and response. We'll discuss an appropriate approach and review progress together.

Can pain management hypnotherapy be done online?

Yes. Sessions are conducted online, so you can participate from a quiet, private and comfortable environment.

YOUR NEXT STEP

Could Hypnotherapy Help You Feel More in Control?

If you’re looking for another way to manage persistent pain, we can begin with a conversation about what’s happening for you and whether hypnotherapy could be a useful addition to your existing care.

You don’t have to decide anything today.

Book Your Free 30-Minute Discovery Call

Online sessions · Confidential conversation · No pressure to book