Hypnosis
- Medical Review: Ting Bao, MD, MS, FSIO
Hypnosis is a deeply relaxed, focused state of awareness that can help relieve stress and ease some cancer symptoms and treatment side effects.
How hypnosis might help
Research shows that hypnosis can improve quality of life in different ways. Hypnosis may help reduce:
- Anxiety
- Nausea
- Pain
- Fatigue associated with radiation therapy
- Hot flashes
For some people, hypnosis can help ease anxiety before procedures such as biopsy or surgery. It can also relieve stress related to tests such as mammogram or MRI.
How hypnosis works
During a hypnosis session:
- A qualified, licensed mental health professional trained in hypnosis, such as a psychotherapist, will ask you about your goals, such as anxiety relief.
- You may lie on a couch or massage table or sit in a comfortable chair.
- Your therapist will talk to you in a gentle voice and may guide you through a specific scene, helping you to deeply focus on an image or event that is meant to help you feel safe and secure.
- When you are relaxed, your therapist will make suggestions about how you can change thoughts or behaviors triggered by specific situations, such as upcoming scans or procedures.
- Your therapist will then gently guide you out of hypnosis.
Unlike what’s sometimes depicted in movies or television shows, hypnosis does not involve a loss of control. Most people are aware of their surroundings during hypnosis and remember the experience afterward.
Some programs may also train you in self-hypnosis, so you can use hypnotic techniques to calm yourself in the moment, such as whenever you have a follow-up scan.
Hypnosis sessions are often about an hour long. A first-time consultation may be longer.
The number of recommended sessions can vary depending on your goals.
How to find a qualified hypnosis professional
Different types of licensed mental health professionals may offer hypnosis. They include:
- Psychotherapists
- Psychiatrists
- Social workers
- Medical doctors with special training in hypnosis
Some hospitals have trained hypnosis professionals. When you look for a hypnosis professional outside your cancer center, try to find someone with a medical or psychology background. You can also ask if they have experience working with people who have been diagnosed with cancer.
Paying for hypnosis
The cost of a hypnosis session can range from $75 to $250 or more, depending on the provider’s experience and where you live in the U.S. Seeing a hypnotherapist based in a rural area may cost less than seeing one in a large city.
If the provider is a licensed mental health professional, such as a psychotherapist, psychiatrist, or social worker using hypnosis as one part of an overall mental health treatment plan, your health insurance plan may offer coverage. Contact your health insurance provider to make sure.
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Reviewed and updated: August 6, 2026
Reviewed by: Ting Bao, MD, MS, FSIO
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