The theory behind hypnoanalysis is that for some issues or concerns, there is a cause. The aim of the therapy is to uncover this cause and therefore resolve it. This process is often longer than suggestion hypnotherapy and can take a number of sessions. This allows you and your therapist to work together in a safe and confidential environment. Over time, rapport and trust builds.

Having a trusting relationship is key, as you should naturally find yourself opening up and discussing things that may have been ‘bottled up’ from the past. These past events can often be the cause of a present day problem. The same theory is used by psychoanalytic therapists.

The difference between hypnoanalysis and psychoanalysis is the use of hypnosis. When someone is in a hypnotic state, their conscious mind falls into the background, allowing the subconscious mind to come forward. This is the part of the mind that tends to ‘store’ information about the ‘cause’ of certain problems.

For example, when asked, you may not remember a specific event that triggered a phobia. So your conscious mind may not be aware of it. Using hypnoanalysis, a hypnotherapist can communicate with your subconscious to reveal the event/cause in your subconscious.

Once the cause is found and addressed, there is room for new, healthy ways of thinking. Hypnotherapy and suggestion techniques are typically used to help this process.

As this therapy is so intricate and involved, it needs the expertise of a trained professional and should ideally take place in person. Self-hypnosis recordings, for example, are not appropriate for this type of work.