What is hypnosis? A story centuries in the making.
From the mystery of mesmerism to modern research, and from the pioneers of suggestion to a more thoughtful, Solution Focused approach. Discover how our understanding of hypnosis has changed—and what it means for therapy today.
A researched guide from Gary Smith · Best Mind Therapy · Swindon & UK-wide online
Not magic. Not mind control. A particular way of paying attention.
Imagine becoming so absorbed in a book, a piece of music or an idea that the room around you briefly fades into the background. Hypnosis is not identical to those everyday experiences, but they help explain what focused attention can feel like.
In clinical use, hypnosis involves a deliberate process of directing attention, often with imagery and suggestion. Some people feel deeply relaxed; others experience concentration without much drowsiness. There is no single feeling everyone has to achieve.
Modern definitions emphasise focused attention, reduced awareness of peripheral distractions and increased responsiveness to suggestion. Researchers still debate how best to describe the underlying state—and that is part of the story worth telling. American Psychological Association ↗
The closer we look, the less mysterious it becomes.
Across the centuries, different theories competed. Three ideas remain useful when exploring hypnosis today.
Focus changes experience.
What we attend to can influence how we notice sensations, imagery and thoughts.
Words can shape expectations.
Suggestion is a psychological process, not evidence of an invisible controlling force.
The client still matters.
Consent, choice and individual responsiveness are central to responsible clinical practice.
From extraordinary claims to careful questions.
The history of hypnosis is not a straight line of ever-improving discoveries. It is a story of bold ideas, failed explanations, new experiments and people who challenged the assumptions of their time.
Ritual, meditation and focused attention
The precursors — not yet hypnotherapy
Across different cultures, people have used ritual, attention, imagination and contemplative practices to alter how an experience feels. Ancient Egyptian and Greek healing traditions are sometimes invoked in histories of hypnosis.
Those practices were not modern clinical hypnosis. Their similarity lies in the questions they raise about attention and expectation, not in an unbroken scientific lineage.
Explore the history: Read the source
Franz Anton Mesmer
A fashionable theory — and a decisive scientific challenge
Viennese physician Franz Anton Mesmer proposed that an invisible force, which he called “animal magnetism”, could be adjusted to improve health. His dramatic Parisian sessions captured public imagination.
In 1784, French royal commissions associated with Benjamin Franklin investigated the claims. They found no evidence for the supposed magnetic fluid and drew attention instead to imagination and expectation. Mesmer’s explanation failed, but the questions his performances prompted did not disappear.
Explore the history: Read the source
Abbé Faria
The individual, not a mysterious external force
The Indo-Portuguese priest and thinker Abbé Faria helped shift attention away from imagined magnetic forces towards the participant’s responsiveness and expectations. His view anticipated later psychological explanations of hypnosis.
It was a crucial conceptual change: what if the experience depended less on an extraordinary power possessed by the operator and more on the mental processes of the person taking part?
Explore the history: Read the source
James Braid
From mesmerism to “hypnotism”
Scottish surgeon James Braid observed mesmeric demonstrations and began testing alternative explanations. His work foregrounded concentration and attention rather than magnetic fluid.
In his 1843 book Neurypnology, he popularised “hypnotism”. Braid initially used the language of “nervous sleep”, although hypnosis is not identical to ordinary sleep. His investigation marks an important bridge towards clinical and experimental study.
Explore the history: Read the source
Jean-Martin Charcot and Hippolyte Bernheim
Two schools. Two explanations.
At the Salpêtrière in Paris, neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot studied hypnosis in patients diagnosed under the historical label “hysteria”, treating it as a distinctive pathological state.
In Nancy, Ambroise-Auguste Liébeault and Hippolyte Bernheim placed much greater emphasis on suggestion and demonstrated hypnotic responses outside Charcot’s clinical population. Their disagreement helped clarify questions researchers still explore: how much is explained by a special state, and how much by attention, expectation and context?
Explore the history: Read the source
Sigmund Freud and Pierre Janet
Hypnosis reaches the emerging science of mind
Sigmund Freud studied with Charcot in Paris and initially used hypnotic techniques, before gradually developing psychoanalysis along a different path. Pierre Janet’s work brought dissociation and the organisation of consciousness into the discussion.
Neither Freud’s early use of hypnosis nor the historical idea of “recovered memories” is evidence that hypnosis can reliably uncover accurate hidden memories. Memory can be influenced by suggestion, which is one reason responsible practice requires care.
Explore the history: Read the source
Émile Coué and Clark Hull
From self-suggestion to controlled research
Émile Coué helped popularise autosuggestion in the early twentieth century, though his sweeping therapeutic claims should not be adopted uncritically.
Psychologist Clark Hull’s 1933 work Hypnosis and Suggestibility brought more systematic experimentation to a field often dominated by anecdote. The emerging research tradition began asking not merely whether something happened, but under what conditions and compared with what alternatives.
Explore the history: Read the source
Milton H. Erickson
Language, metaphor and the person in front of you
American psychiatrist Milton H. Erickson became influential for his flexible, individualised style, therapeutic stories and attention to a client’s own language, resources and circumstances.
His work influenced later approaches to brief therapy and modern hypnotherapy. Contemporary “Ericksonian” practice draws on these ideas, but individual styles and therapeutic effects should still be judged on their merits rather than reputation alone.
Explore the history: Read the source
Dave Elman
Rapid induction and teaching the medical profession
Dave Elman (1900–1967) followed an unconventional route into the history of hypnosis. An American radio personality and former stage hypnotist, he became known for concise, structured methods of guiding people into hypnosis. What is now called the Elman induction remains an influential example of rapid hypnotic induction.
From 1949 he taught hypnosis to physicians and dentists, with a particular interest in its practical application in medical settings. His 1964 book Findings in Hypnosis was later republished under the title Hypnotherapy. His legacy lies in making induction techniques teachable and adaptable to busy clinical practice—not in proving that one induction is right for every client or that hypnosis can replace necessary medical care.
Explore the history: Read the Dave Elman biography
Ernest Hilgard and his contemporaries
Hypnosis becomes an experimental question
Ernest Hilgard at Stanford investigated hypnotic responsiveness and developed influential accounts of dissociation. Other researchers, including Theodore Barber and Theodore Sarbin, questioned whether a special hypnotic state was needed to explain the findings.
That debate enriched rather than ended the research. Today, scientists study focused attention, suggestion, expectancy, brain activity and individual differences—without requiring one simple explanation for every hypnotic response.
Explore the history: Read the source
Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg
What would you like to be different?
In Milwaukee, Steve de Shazer, Insoo Kim Berg and colleagues developed Solution Focused Brief Therapy. Rather than spending every session dissecting a problem, they asked about the person’s preferred future, existing strengths, exceptions and achievable next steps.
This is a history running alongside hypnosis—not a claim that Berg and de Shazer invented hypnotherapy. Their contribution is the solution-focused conversation that later practitioners have combined with hypnosis.
Explore the history: Read the source
David Newton and The Clifton Practice
A recognisable Solution Focused Hypnotherapy model
British practitioner David Newton drew on solution-focused work, Ericksonian traditions and other influences as he developed a structured, forward-looking hypnotherapy approach. He and Stefanie Newton established The Clifton Practice in Bristol in 1995; hypnotherapy training began there in 2002.
This is a particularly relevant point in the story of Best Mind Therapy: the model joins a constructive, strengths-based therapeutic conversation with hypnosis or relaxation when appropriate. It does not imply that one method is scientifically proven for every problem.
Explore the history: Read the source
Clinical research, ethics and informed choice
An evolving field, not a finished story
Contemporary researchers use carefully designed studies and brain-imaging methods to examine hypnosis. Clinical guidance recognises possible roles in selected circumstances: for example, NICE advises considering psychological interventions that can include hypnotherapy for persistent IBS that has not responded to medication after 12 months.
That does not mean all forms of hypnotherapy treat all conditions, or that hypnosis replaces established specialist treatment. A responsible contemporary approach explains what is known, what remains uncertain and how therapy should fit the individual.
Explore the history: Read the source
Historical note: terms such as “hysteria”, “animal magnetism” and “nervous sleep” describe ideas used at the time; they are not endorsements of those theories or labels today.
A change in language became a change in practice: from who controls the trance to what might help the person.
Follow the thread to today ↓Today, curiosity sits alongside clinical responsibility.
There is legitimate clinical research on hypnosis. Equally, its findings do not justify the sweeping promises often found in advertising.
Attention, suggestion and individual differences.
Research explores how suggestions influence perception, attention, expectation and, in some studies, responses to discomfort or pain. Brain-imaging work adds insights, but there is no single “hypnosis switch” proven to explain every experience.
Some individuals respond more strongly to hypnotic suggestions than others. That variability is a reason for honest conversations and tailored work—not a reason to promise that one technique suits everyone.
Further reading: APA overview of clinical hypnosis ↗
Different concerns require different standards.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists describes clinical applications of hypnosis as part of psychological treatment. NICE recommends considering psychological interventions including hypnotherapy for some people with persistent IBS after 12 months without response to pharmacological treatment.
That recommendation is specific to a defined situation. It does not validate every hypnotherapy approach, or justify replacing established treatment for conditions such as OCD, PTSD or major depression.
References: RCPsych ↗ · NICE CG61 ↗
Evidence in context: hypnosis and hypnotherapy are not one standardised treatment. Outcomes depend on the problem, the approach, the practitioner, the client and the quality of the research. There are situations where specialist NHS-recommended care is the more appropriate first option.
From the pioneers to Solution Focused Hypnotherapy.
If the earlier chapters asked how hypnosis works, Solution Focused therapy introduces another question: what would you like your life to look like when things are different?
Steve de Shazer, Insoo Kim Berg and colleagues developed a collaborative approach centred on strengths, preferred futures and meaningful next steps. In Bristol, David Newton brought these principles together with hypnosis in the model known as Solution Focused Hypnotherapy.
That tradition helped shape my own professional training at the Clifton Practice. At Best Mind Therapy, the person and their goals come first. Hypnosis can be included as an optional, guided part of a broader, considered conversation—not as a magic shortcut.
Read more: Solution Focused Therapy Institute ↗ · Clifton Practice history ↗
How the historical ideas translate into a session.
The practical method is simpler than the history: a conversation with a purpose, a calm and collaborative pace, and a considered choice about whether hypnosis belongs in the session.
Begin with what matters to you.
We explore what is difficult, what you want to be different, and the strengths or small steps that may help you move forward.
Use focused attention deliberately.
Where suitable, relaxation, imagery and suggestion may be used to support the goals discussed. There is no requirement to experience a particular depth of trance.
Draw on methods responsibly.
I may use NLP-informed communication exercises and CBT-informed ideas where appropriate, without claiming to provide a specialist CBT programme or treating NLP as an established medical intervention.
What happens during a modern hypnotherapy appointment?
There is no swinging watch and no performance to put on. A session is a professional, collaborative appointment arranged around your circumstances and needs.
First, we listen.
We explore what has brought you to therapy and whether this approach may be suitable. You can ask direct questions about evidence, alternatives and limitations.
Agree a direction.
We identify what you would like to notice changing in daily life and what a useful next step might be.
Guided hypnosis, if appropriate.
If you choose, we may use guided attention, relaxation, imagery or suggestion. You are not required to surrender control.
Take it into life.
We discuss the experience, what feels useful, and whether a further appointment, different approach or additional professional support is needed.
The stories hypnosis does not need.
Stage performances have shaped the public image of hypnosis for decades. Clinical work should be far less theatrical—and much more transparent.
“The hypnotist controls your mind.”
Hypnosis is not mind control. Participation is voluntary and clients are involved in what happens.
“You must be completely unconscious.”
Hypnosis is not general anaesthesia. Some people feel relaxed or absorbed, while others remain quite alert.
“Hypnosis reveals hidden truth.”
It is not a dependable memory-recovery tool. Suggestion can distort recollection, which is why this is not a method used to establish historical facts.
“One technique works for everything.”
No therapy can guarantee outcomes for every person or condition. Suitability and evidence need to be discussed honestly.
There is a person behind every reason for seeking help.
I’m Gary Smith, a psychotherapist and Solution Focused Hypnotherapist based in Swindon. My interest in the mind and behaviour grew from wanting to understand experiences that were affecting someone close to me—and finding practical ways to help.
I trained at the Clifton Practice and have continued to develop my approach through psychotherapy, hypnosis and NLP study, including Neo-Ericksonian hypnosis training. The history matters to me because it shows why a thoughtful practitioner should stay curious, question sweeping explanations and keep the individual at the centre.
In sessions, we can discuss anxiety, confidence, fears, stress and other concerns, always considering whether the approach is appropriate and whether specialist evidence-based treatment may be more suitable.
The history is still being written in today's training rooms.
The story does not end when a therapeutic model is developed. It continues when people learn the ideas, question them, practise responsibly and take them into the lives of future clients.
Alongside my work at Best Mind Therapy, I am a Senior Lecturer with Inspiraology Hypnotherapy Training (IHT). I teach in Swindon, Cardiff & South Wales, and Birmingham, helping students explore the principles of Solution Focused work alongside practical hypnosis, therapeutic communication, assessment and professional ethics.
Our teaching brings historical ideas into a modern learning environment: supervised practice, thoughtful discussion, reflection and an appreciation of the evidence and limits of each approach. It is not about copying famous names. It is about developing practitioners who can think independently and put clients first.
Swindon & Wiltshire
Bradbury House, Westmead Drive, Swindon. A local route into classroom-based hypnotherapy training for Wiltshire and the surrounding region.
Swindon training details ↗Map ↗Cardiff & South Wales
The Miners, Watford Road, Caerphilly. Supporting learners from Cardiff, the Valleys and communities across South Wales.
South Wales training details ↗Map ↗Birmingham & West Midlands
The Natural Health Centre, 86 The Green, Kings Norton. A teaching centre for students exploring professional hypnotherapy in the Midlands.
Birmingham training details ↗Map ↗I teach with Inspiraology; the centres are part of the Inspiraology training programme, separate from the Best Mind Therapy clinical practice. Course schedules, venues and qualifications should be checked with the provider before applying.
Clear answers, without the theatre.
Is hypnosis the same as being asleep?
No. Hypnosis involves focused attention and responsiveness to suggestion. You might feel deeply relaxed, but it is not the same as ordinary sleep, and experiences vary.
Will I be unconscious or lose control?
Hypnosis is not general anaesthesia. Clients generally remain able to communicate and make choices, and participation is voluntary. A practitioner should explain the process and seek consent.
Can hypnotherapy make me reveal secrets?
Clinical hypnosis is not a truth serum. You can decline questions or suggestions, and a professional should never pressure you to disclose information.
Can hypnosis recover accurate forgotten memories?
Hypnosis is not a reliable method of recovering accurate memories. Suggestion can affect recall, so using it to establish the truth of alleged past events is inappropriate.
Does hypnotherapy work for everyone?
People vary in how they respond to hypnosis. Evidence also differs across conditions. No practitioner should guarantee a particular result or number of sessions.
How is Solution Focused Hypnotherapy different?
It combines goal-oriented, collaborative conversations about preferred changes, strengths and manageable next steps with hypnosis or guided relaxation when appropriate. The approach is tailored to the person.
Do I have to discuss my past in detail?
Not always. Solution Focused work usually emphasises the changes you want to make now, but relevant history and safety considerations should not be ignored when they matter.
Is hypnosis the same as NLP?
No. Hypnosis is a psychological procedure involving focused attention and suggestion. NLP refers to a separate collection of communication and change techniques, with a more limited clinical evidence base.
Can I receive hypnotherapy online?
Online sessions may be suitable for some people and concerns. The initial consultation is an opportunity to discuss privacy, your needs and whether online or in-person support is appropriate.
What happens during a first appointment?
We discuss your concerns and goals, what you would like to be different, the approach and its limitations, and whether this support fits your needs. There is no obligation to continue.
Sources and further reading.
A credible history should invite scrutiny. These sources informed the chronology and the contemporary explanations above. Historical accounts sometimes disagree about dates, interpretations and the meaning of hypnosis.
- International Society of Hypnosis — history of the field ↗
- Hypnosis at the Crossroads — contemporary peer-reviewed historical review ↗
- Royal College of Psychiatrists — hypnosis and hypnotherapy ↗
- American Psychological Association — clinical hypnosis and research ↗
- Freud Museum London — from medicine to psychoanalysis ↗
- Ernest Hilgard — history of hypnosis research centres ↗
- Solution Focused Therapy Institute — origins and principles ↗
- David Newton / Clifton Practice — development of Solution Focused Hypnotherapy ↗
- Dave Elman — biography, medical teaching and Findings in Hypnosis ↗
- Inspiraology — training locations and Gary Smith's lecturer profile ↗
- Best Mind Therapy — Inspiraology diploma pathway ↗
- NICE CG61 — IBS and psychological interventions ↗
- National Council for Hypnotherapy — historical overview ↗
- Best Mind Therapy — Gary Smith’s professional background ↗
Editorial note: this guide is historical and educational, not a substitute for personalised medical advice. The inclusion of a historical figure does not endorse every theory they proposed.
Curious about whether hypnotherapy might be right for you?
We can discuss what you are experiencing, how Solution Focused Hypnotherapy is used, its limitations and whether another service would be more suitable. The initial consultation is free and without obligation.
Swindon & surrounding areas · UK-wide online appointments where appropriate