Key Takeaways
- 20% of adults worldwide live with chronic pain (Goldberg & McGee, BMC Public Health, 2011).
- A meta-analysis found hypnotic suggestions produced significant pain reduction across settings (Montgomery et al., International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 2000).
- Hypnotherapy works with how the brain processes pain signals — it doesn’t ask you to pretend pain isn’t there.
- It works best as part of an integrated plan with your health professional.
Around 20% of adults worldwide live with chronic pain (Goldberg & McGee, 2011). If you’re one of them, you’ve probably already tried the scans, the specialists, the medication. You’ve been told it’s “just something you’ll have to live with.”
At Make Changes NLP & Hypnotherapy, Wendy Gadsby takes a different view. Pain is real — your nervous system is involved, and that means there are ways to influence how strongly it’s experienced. Hypnotherapy doesn’t claim to eliminate pain. It claims to help you change your relationship with it.
How It Works
Chronic pain isn’t just a signal from damaged tissue. Your brain interprets pain through layers of stress, attention, memory, fear, and sleep quality. That’s why pain feels worse when you’re exhausted, anxious, or tense. It’s also why calming the nervous system can make a real difference.
Hypnotherapy guides you into a focused, relaxed state where your body can settle. From that steadier place, you practise new responses — noticing pain without bracing against it, shifting attention away from it, using imagery (a dimmer switch, a cooling sensation) to dial down intensity.
The research backs this. A meta-analysis by Montgomery, DuHamel and Redd (2000) found hypnotic analgesia provided substantial relief across pain settings. Jensen and Patterson (American Psychologist, 2014) found hypnosis may reduce pain intensity and improve quality of life. For conditions like fibromyalgia — where the nervous system is highly sensitised — hypnosis has shown benefit (Castel et al., International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 2007).
The honest take: results vary. Hypnosis is not a cure. It works best alongside medical care, physiotherapy, and lifestyle strategies — not instead of them.
What to Expect
Your first session starts with understanding your actual experience. What makes the pain worse? What helps? When did it start? You won’t be asked to prove anything.
During hypnosis, you sit comfortably. Eyes closed. Wendy guides you through relaxation. The suggestions are specific — warmth where there’s tightness, softening around the pain, creating a cue your body recognises as “settle.” You’re in control throughout.
Between sessions, you practise. Short self-hypnosis routines. Noticing early signs of tension and responding before pain peaks. These small repeated actions teach your nervous system that calm is possible. The people who get results treat it as a skill, not a treatment.
Hypnotherapy can support conditions like fibromyalgia, where the nervous system is highly sensitised. It complements physiotherapy, psychology, and medical care — not replaces them. If your pain is new, severe, or changing, see your health professional first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can hypnotherapy help with chronic pain?
For many people, yes — particularly by changing how the brain processes pain signals and reducing the fear-bracing-tension cycle. It doesn’t claim to eliminate pain.
Will I be asked to stop my medication?
No. Hypnotherapy complements medical care. Always follow your health professional’s guidance.
How many sessions?
Varies. Some notice changes quickly. Long-standing or complex pain may need more. Wendy discusses a realistic plan in your consultation.
Is it suitable for fibromyalgia?
Research suggests it can help by calming the sensitised nervous system. Results vary by person.
About the Author
Wendy Gadsby founded Make Changes NLP & Hypnotherapy in Melbourne. Certified Hypnotherapist, NLP Practitioner, and NLP Master Practitioner with over 15 years of experience and 5,000+ clients supported. Her approach is practical, direct, and grounded in real behaviour change.
Medical Disclaimer
This article is for general education only. It is not medical advice. Hypnotherapy may support pain management but does not diagnose, treat, or cure any condition. If you have new, severe, or changing pain, seek guidance from a qualified health professional.