Hypnosis... Shall I Be Afraid? A Beginner’s Guide to the Brain’s Secret Reset Button

When you hear the word hypnosis, what pops into your head? Someone waving a pocket watch? People falling in love with a hydrant on a stage? Maybe a mysterious voice saying, “You are getting very sleepy…”

Well, welcome to the world of hypnotherapy—the real deal. It's not about mind control. It's not magic. It’s actually science-backed and surprisingly effective for everything from anxiety and smoking to chronic pain and insomnia.

Let’s break it down in a way that won’t put you to sleep (unless that’s what you want hypnotherapy to help with!).

So, What Is Hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic technique that uses guided relaxation, focused attention, and intense concentration to achieve a heightened state of awareness—sometimes called a trance.

Think of it like putting your brain in “Airplane Mode.” You’re not unconscious. You’re not asleep. You’re just super focused on one thing, and your usual inner chatter (like “Did I leave the stove on?” or “Why didn’t Susan reply to my email?”) quiets down. You are always in control and you can’t be forced to do things you wouldn’t have done  in a normal state of consciousness. For example, a suggestion can be given to you that you are feeling relaxed and calm but you wouldn’t accept a suggestion telling you to go and rob a bank the next day. This simply wouldn’t work because you wouldn’t agree with this even under the usual state of consciousness. Changes cannot be made to the subconsciousness unless a person agrees with them.

In that deeply relaxed state, your hypnotherapist can help you access your subconscious mind and make some desired changes there.

We could think of it like updating our mental software... We do it regularly with our technology but when was it last that you updated your mental software?

Is This Backed by Science?

 Hypnotherapy is supported by hundreds of scientific studies and is recognized by organizations like the American Psychological Association (US) and the NHS (UK) as a legitimate treatment option.

Brainwaves: Hypnotherapy’s Magical Surfboard

Our brains run on electricity—literally. That electric activity forms brainwaves, which shift depending on what you’re doing: focused, relaxed, dreaming, problem-solving, etc. We naturally transition through different brainwaves as we go about living our daily lives. To understand what happens during hypnosis, let’s look at the types of brainwaves. 

Your brain has five main types of electrical activity. Each has its own quality:

Gamma 32-100 Hz γ

Moments of sudden clarity. When a crossword clue suddenly clicks, EEGs show a burst of gamma—simultaneous processing of information from different parts of the brain. Insight tasks and advanced meditation both evoke this rhythm; very long-term meditators, including Buddhist monks, often exhibit much stronger and more regular gamma brainwaves alongside heightened compassion. They are the fastest measurable brainwaves also equating to heightened perception or peak mental states.

Beta 13-32Hz β

These are the waives of normal alert consciousness, active thinking. We’re in beta when having an active conversation, comparing spreadsheets, driving through the city, making decisions, solving problems, focusing on a task and, also, learning new concepts.

Alpha 8-13 Hz α

State of physical  and mental relaxation. We are relaxed, yet ready. Alpha brainwaves are detectable when the eyes are closed and the mind is relaxed. It happens when we are creative and artistic, just before we fall asleep and, also, when we do yoga.

Theta 4-8 Hz θ

State of reduced consciousness. Theta powers dream imagery, hypnosis and deep meditation. Theta means space for creativity, insight and daydreaming - theta brainwaves appear when we’re doing a task so automatically that the mind can detach from it, e.g. teeth brushing. Neuroscientists find that rhythmic, repetitive motion—jogging, swimming, Tai Chi, drumming—entrains theta and sparks free-flowing ideas.

Delta 0,5-4 Hz δ

This is the state when we forget all about the world. Delta brainwaves are the slowest of the brainwaves. It’s the state of deep dreamless sleep with restorative processes happening all around the body. This state is essential for physical regeneration, immune function, and memory consolidation. If you want to remember well what you study, read it before you go to bed!

Knowing about these waves can helps us:

 - Improve focus and creativity

 - Sleep better

 - Handle stress more calmly

 - Make mindfulness and hypnotherapy more effective

Speaking of hypnosis, we enter hypnotic states in our daily lives at random, e.g. when we get absorbed by a book. Hypnotherapy means we are purposely guided into the theta wave state in order to make desired changes in our subconsciousness. We get guided to turn our awareness inwards so that the usual chatter of the mind quiets down. In such state, we can trace down old disturbing mind programs and feelings and safely update them to what is relevant in one’s life. Emotional healing is easier in theta. Changes made to the subconsciousness are long-lasting.