Do Doctors Recommend Hypnotherapy for Anxiety?

If you're struggling with anxiety, you may have heard about hypnotherapy as a possible treatment. But one question that often comes up is this: do doctors actually recommend hypnotherapy?

The short answer is yes — many doctors and mental health professionals do recommend hypnotherapy as part of a wider approach to treating anxiety. It's not always the first treatment offered, but it's increasingly recognised as a helpful and evidence-based option for some people.

Hypnotherapy is a form of guided relaxation and focused attention that can help you reach a deeply calm and receptive state. In this state, you can work with a hypnotherapist such as us Eymer Nolan Hypnotherapy to shift negative thought patterns, reduce stress responses, and build new ways of coping. This can be especially helpful if anxiety is affecting your sleep, concentration, or ability to enjoy daily life.

Doctors are more likely to recommend hypnotherapy when it’s delivered by a qualified practitioner and used alongside other tools like counselling, CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), or medication. It’s also recommended when someone is looking for a natural or drug-free approach, or when other treatments haven’t worked as well as hoped.

In the UK, the NHS lists hypnotherapy as a complementary therapy. While it’s not widely available on the NHS, many doctors acknowledge that it can be beneficial — particularly for anxiety, phobias, and stress-related issues. In Ireland, hypnotherapy is not regulated through the HSE, but GPs sometimes refer patients to trusted therapists, especially if they have seen good results in other patients. Ireland tends to follow the UK's lead and GP's are referring more and more patients to this trusted therapy.

The research into hypnotherapy is growing. Studies have shown that it can reduce generalised anxiety, improve sleep, and help people feel more in control of their thoughts. The key is to work with someone who is trained, ethical, and experienced in treating anxiety.

It’s important to remember that no therapy works for everyone in the same way. What makes hypnotherapy stand out is its focus on the subconscious mind — helping you to gently change the deep-seated beliefs and patterns that fuel anxious thinking. For many clients, that sense of calm and clarity starts even in the first session.

If you're thinking about trying hypnotherapy, please contact me for a no obligation chat while also speaking with your GP.

Hypnotherapy isn’t magic and it’s not mind control. It’s a gentle, focused way of helping your mind and body feel safe again. And yes, doctors do recommend it — especially when it’s part of a thoughtful and well-rounded approach to mental wellbeing.

Eymer Nolan DipNGH, DipHb(KGH)