Clinical Hypnosis

Clinical Hypnosis for Health and Healing

Clinical hypnosis is a safe, evidence-based approach that uses focused attention and guided relaxation to support health and wellbeing. In this state of calm concentration, your mind is more open to helpful suggestions and imagery that can reduce symptoms, ease stress, and support your body’s natural healing. You remain aware, engaged, and in control throughout the process.

Health Concerns that May Benefit

Clinical hypnosis has been shown to help with many health challenges, especially when combined with medical care. It may be especially useful for:

Pain Management

  1. Chronic pain conditions (back pain, fibromyalgia, headaches, arthritis)

  2. Pain associated with medical procedures or recovery

  3. Reducing reliance on medication

Bladder and Pelvic Health

  1. Overactive bladder

  2. Urinary urgency or frequency

  3. Pelvic pain conditions

Digestive Health

  1. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

  2. Functional abdominal pain

  3. Stress-related digestive discomfort

Other Concerns

  1. Sleep problems

  2. Anxiety related to health conditions or procedures

  3. Preparing for or recovering from surgery

What a Session Looks Like

Sessions are tailored to your unique needs and goals. Your clinician will guide you into a state of comfortable relaxation and use personalized suggestions or imagery to target the symptoms you want to address. Many people find the experience calming, restorative, and empowering. You may also receive strategies or recordings to practice between sessions, strengthening the benefits over time.

Why Consider Clinical Hypnosis?

Research shows hypnosis can be an effective tool for managing pain, calming the nervous system, and improving quality of life in conditions that don’t always respond fully to medication or procedures. It is non-invasive, safe, and can be integrated with your existing medical care.

Taking the Next Step

If you are feeling stuck with ongoing symptoms or want to explore additional mind–body strategies, clinical hypnosis may be a helpful option. Together, we can use these techniques to support your health, comfort, and overall wellbeing.

Meet Dr. Daisy Vélez, NCHP’s Clinical Hypnosis Specialist

Dr. Daisy Vélez received specialized training in clinical hypnosis, including a fellowship and the Hypnosis for Cancer Pain program at the Center for Behavioral Oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She is also a member of the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. Her clinical experience spans various settings, including active military and veterans' care, and she is certified in lifestyle medicine through the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and in perinatal mental health through Postpartum Support International.

To learn more about Dr. Vélez's background and approach or to schedule an initial consultation, please visit her profile.

Peer-Review Articles on Clinical Hypnosis for Health-Related Conditions

Elkins, G., Barabasz, A., Council, J., & Spiegel, D. (2015). Advancing research and practice: The revised APA Division 30 definition of hypnosis. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 57(4), 378–385. https://doi.org/10.1080/00029157.2015.1011465

Hammond, D. C. (2007). Review of the efficacy of clinical hypnosis with headaches and migraines. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 55(2), 207–219. DOI: 10.1080/00207140601177921

Komesu, Y. M., Schrader, R. M., Rogers, R. G., Ketai, L., & Nygaard, I. (2020). Hypnotherapy or medications: A randomized noninferiority trial in urgency urinary incontinence. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 223(2), 257.e1–257.e10. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0002937819310270

Montgomery, G. H., DuHamel, K. N., & Redd, W. H. (2000). A meta-analysis of hypnotically induced analgesia: How effective is hypnosis? International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 48(2), 138–153. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207140008410045

Palsson, O. S., & Whitehead, W. E. (2002). The growing case for hypnotherapy as treatment for irritable bowel syndrome. American Journal of Gastroenterology, 97(11), 2835–2838.

Rainville, P., Duncan, G. H., Price, D. D., Carrier, B., & Bushnell, M. C. (1997). Pain affect encoded in human anterior cingulate but not somatosensory cortex. Science, 277(5328), 968–971. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.277.5328.968

Rosenbloom, B., Smith, J., Patel, R., & Thompson, L. (2024). A randomized controlled trial of clinical hypnosis as an opioid-sparing adjunct treatment for pain relief in adults undergoing major oncologic surgery. Journal of Pain Research, 17, 1123–1135. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S424639

Soriano, A. J., Schnur, J. B., Harvie, H. S., Newman, D. K., Montgomery, G. H., & Arya, L. A. (2021). Pilot randomized controlled trial of a hypnosis intervention for women with bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis. Neurourology and Urodynamics, 40(5), 1331–1339. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34420228


Tezcan, B., Yilmaz, A., & Demir, F. (2021). A randomized clinical trial on the effect of hypnosis in reducing pain and anxiety during endoscopic procedures. Endoscopy International Open, 9(12), E1840–E1847.https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/end.2020.0101