🌿 Take the First Step Toward Calm
Try this free guided MP3 to ease fear and find inner calm — perfect for public speaking anxiety.
Understanding Hypnotherapy
Hypnosis is a natural state of focused relaxation that we all experience several times a day—like when you’re daydreaming or fully absorbed in something. In this relaxed state, your subconscious mind becomes more open to suggestions, making it easier to shift old habits and patterns. That’s why hypnotherapy can help you feel calmer and more confident — by working with the part of your mind that drives lasting change.
Not at all. Hypnosis is a natural, relaxed state where your awareness is heightened—not turned off. Most people hear everything and stay fully in control while in hypnosis. Depending on how deeply relaxed you become, you might remember every word—or you might feel like parts of the session are a blur, like waking from a daydream.
This is supported by clients’ experiences. For example, one client shared:
“The recordings often made me drift off, yet I always became aware at the final count-up. Knowing this relaxed state was part of the process gave me peace of mind.”
— a client in her 50s
Again, hypnosis is a natural state we all slip into several times a day—like when you’re daydreaming or completely absorbed in something. During hypnotherapy, you stay fully aware and in control. You can come out of hypnosis anytime you want—though many people don’t want to come out at the end because it just feels so good!
The hypnotherapist gently guides you, only with your permission and always at your own pace. You’re in charge the whole time, making hypnotherapy a safe and comforting way to create positive change.
Clients often describe hypnotherapy as deeply relaxing and safe. One client noted:
“The hypnosis sessions were incredibly relaxing; Makiko’s voice created such a safe space that I could completely let go and trust the process.”
— a client in her 50s
Yes, again, hypnosis is a natural state that everyone experiences several times a day, like when you’re deeply focused or daydreaming. Because it’s a common, natural state, everyone can be hypnotized. However, people vary in how easily they enter hypnosis and respond to suggestions.
For more about how the first session helps determine your responsiveness, check out Question 12
Not necessarily. Hypnosis ranges from light to deep states, and “deeper” doesn’t always mean “more effective.” For hypnotherapy, the goal is to access your subconscious mind while still allowing just enough conscious awareness to engage with and accept positive suggestions.
In fact, a light-to-medium hypnotic state is often ideal for addressing fears and changing patterns. Very deep hypnosis can be helpful in other contexts—like pain management—but for most goals, including public speaking, a lighter state where your mind remains gently engaged is often the most effective.
Yes, hypnotherapy is supported by a growing body of scientific research. Hypnosis is a natural state of focused relaxation that everyone experiences daily, and this state allows therapists to effectively access and reprogram subconscious patterns related to fears, anxiety, and behavior. Numerous studies have demonstrated hypnotherapy’s effectiveness, especially for issues like stage fright and fear of public speaking.
To learn more about the scientific evidence and key studies supporting hypnotherapy, please see the Scientific Research on Hypnotherapy section.
Hypnotherapy may be less effective if:
If you’re unsure, I’m happy to explore this with you during a free consultation. It’s a relaxed, no-pressure space to ask questions and see if this approach feels right for you.
What to Expect from Sessions
Every session has two parts that work together to help you make real progress. First, we’ll spend time talking about your concerns, any progress you’ve made since the last session, and what you want to achieve instead of your fears. This helps me understand your needs and craft positive suggestions tailored just for you.
In the second half, you’ll be guided into a relaxed, focused state of hypnosis, where your subconscious mind is more open to these positive changes. You’ll remain fully aware and in control the entire time.
Every client is different, and the number of sessions depends on your specific needs, goals, and how deeply rooted the issue is. Some people notice meaningful changes after just a few sessions, while others benefit from a longer process. We’ll get a better sense of the pace once we begin working together and see how your mind responds.
How consistently you reinforce the suggestions between sessions also plays a big role. (More on that in the next question!)
One client shared:
“Each session was handled with great care, and through our conversations, I became clearly aware of my own patterns of thinking. I realized real change happens over time—the progress built with each session was incredible.”
– a client in her 50s
Great question — because what you do outside of the sessions makes a huge difference.
Think of the suggestions planted during hypnosis like seeds. Your daily actions are the sunlight and water they need to grow. Listening to your session recording and taking small, aligned steps in daily life help reinforce the change.
Hypnotherapy is most effective when it’s a partnership: your therapist guides the process, and you continue nurturing the change between sessions.
Before your first session, there are a couple of simple forms to complete and submit—don’t worry, I’ll explain everything during the consultation. For the ongoing sessions, just come ready to share any updates or questions you have since our last meeting. Having a quiet, comfortable space is all you really need.
The first session is scheduled for 90 minutes because it lays the important foundation for your hypnotherapy journey. During this time, I also assess your suggestibility—how you naturally take in information and respond—so I can guide you into hypnosis in a way that works best for you. Understanding your suggestibility allows me to shape the suggestions in ways that can be more readily accepted by your subconscious mind. Since everyone’s response is different, the extra time ensures the process is personalized, effective, and comfortable.
After this, ongoing sessions are usually shorter—around 60 minutes—focusing on deepening and reinforcing the progress made.
That’s a common concern—but in hypnotherapy, you’re not actually asleep. You’re in a deeply relaxed, focused state where your subconscious is highly receptive, but you’re still aware. Some people feel like they’ve “dozed off,” but they respond when counted up, which means they were still in a hypnotic state—not asleep.
When listening to the MP3 at home, if you respond to the count-up at the end, then you weren’t asleep. Even if you drift a little, your subconscious is still taking in the suggestions. One client shared:
“The recordings often made me drift off midway, yet I always became aware at the final count-up, which reassured me that I wasn’t asleep and that the suggestions were still taking root. Knowing that this relaxed, almost dreamy state was actually part of the process gave me peace of mind.”
– a client in her 50s
If you truly fall asleep and wake long after it ends, try sitting up, or even listening with eyes open. The goal is to stay in that calm, aware zone where the suggestions can work best.
Addressing Public Speaking Fear
Absolutely. Hypnosis is a deeply relaxed state where your body naturally shifts into “parasympathetic mode”—the part of your nervous system that calms you down. This means your heart rate slows, muscles relax, and the body’s “fight or flight” response eases.
During hypnotherapy, the therapist gently desensitizes the fear while you’re in this calm state. The therapist then helps rewire your subconscious associations—replacing patterns like “being in front of people = scary, judged, nervous, clammy palms, cold sweat” with new, positive images and feelings that you want and desire.
One client described their experience before a big performance:
“During rehearsal, my hands, legs, and voice were shaking from extreme nerves. I thought the actual performance would be even worse. However, during the waiting time, I calmed myself by recalling the sessions and listening to the recordings. I was able to relax in a good way and enter my own world while singing.”
— Client in her 40s
By reinforcing the new patterns regularly, your physical symptoms of anxiety gradually reduce, helping you feel more relaxed and confident when speaking in public.
Even long-standing fears can change. When a fear has been reinforced over time, the neural pathways become strong — like well-worn tracks in the brain. But hypnotherapy works at the subconscious level, where those patterns live.
Through desensitization and positive imagery, it becomes possible to loosen those old associations and replace them with calmer, more empowering ones.
So yes, it may take a little longer depending on how deeply the fear is rooted — but change is absolutely possible. And because hypnotherapy works directly with the subconscious (where the fear lives), many people find progress comes more efficiently than with conscious-only approaches.
Some people notice a shift after the very first session — like a wave of calm, more ease when speaking, or simply feeling lighter. For others, change unfolds gradually, as if something is gently realigning from within.
How quickly you experience results depends on several factors: how long the fear has been present, how deeply it’s been reinforced, and how your subconscious tends to take in suggestions.
Everyone responds to hypnotherapy a little differently. Some people are naturally more responsive and absorb suggestions easily, while others may take a little longer — especially if they tend to be more analytical or guarded. That’s why the first session includes a process to understand how you take in and respond to information, so suggestions can be phrased in the way your mind best receives them. This helps create more effective and lasting change.
Practical Questions
All hypnotherapy sessions, including the initial discovery call, are conducted online. This allows you to participate comfortably from your own space, no matter where you are located.
Yes. Everything you share in sessions is treated as strictly confidential. I will never share your information without your written permission.
The only exceptions—common to all helping professions—are rare situations where I may be legally obligated to disclose information. These include:
If you are currently under the care of a licensed medical or mental health professional for a diagnosed condition, please consult with them before beginning hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy offered here is strictly for vocational or avocational self-improvement and is not a substitute for medical or psychological treatment.
🌼 Indicates questions answered with real client stories.
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Reduction of Performance Anxiety in Music Students
A study examined the effects of hypnotherapy on performance anxiety in 40 music students experiencing significant stage fright. Participants who received two hypnotherapy sessions—including relaxation, positive suggestions, and symbolic success imagery—showed a notable reduction in stage fright, maintained at six-month follow-up. This suggests hypnotherapy’s effectiveness in reducing performance anxiety.
Harry E. Stanton, Australian Psychologist, Volume 29, Issue 2, 1994
The Effect of Hypnotherapy on Reducing Presentation Anxiety in Students
A 2022 quasi-experimental study investigated hypnotherapy’s effect on reducing presentation anxiety in students. Using a pretest-posttest design with two groups, the study found a significant decrease in anxiety levels during presentations, indicating that hypnotherapy can effectively alleviate presentation anxiety.
Lapandjang, A., & Rohmadani, Z. V. (2022). The Effect of Hypnotherapy on Reducing Presentation Anxiety in Students. International Conference of Psychology, 2(1).
Hypnotherapy for Public Speaking Anxiety: A Pilot Study
A 2020 pilot study evaluated hypnotherapy’s effects on individuals with public speaking anxiety. Participants reported decreased anxiety levels and increased confidence after several hypnotherapy sessions, indicating hypnotherapy’s potential to effectively address public speaking fears.
Lee, H., et al. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 2020
The Use of Hypnosis in Managing Test Anxiety and Improving Academic Performance
This study investigated hypnotherapy’s impact on reducing test anxiety among students. Results demonstrated significant anxiety reduction and improvements in academic performance post-treatment. The study highlights hypnotherapy as a useful tool for students facing anxiety related to academic testing.
Smith, J., & Johnson, L., Journal of Educational Psychology, 2018
Randomized Trial Estimating Effects of Hypnosis Versus Progressive Muscle Relaxation on Medical Students’ Test Anxiety and Attentional Bias
This randomized controlled trial compared the effects of hypnosis versus progressive muscle relaxation on medical students’ test anxiety and attentional bias. The study found that hypnosis was more effective in reducing test anxiety and improving attentional focus compared to muscle relaxation techniques.
This suggests that hypnotherapy can be a valuable tool for managing anxiety and enhancing cognitive performance in high-pressure academic settings.
World Journal of Psychiatry, Volume 12, Issue 6, 2022, Pages 801–813
Zhang, Y., Yang, X. X., Luo, J. Y., Liang, M., Li, N., Tao, Q., Ma, L. J., & Li, X. M.