"Can Hypnosis Change Your Life?" The Expectations and Limitations of Hypnotherapy Gaining Attention from Celebrities

The work notifications have stopped ringing. No meetings, no deadlines. Despite finally having free time, I feel strangely unsettled.

The New York Times, dated September 29, 2026, introduced such post-retirement confusion.

Pamela Lopez, 62, living in Seattle, found herself enjoying time for travel, family, and friends after retirement, yet she was unsure of her purpose when not working for someone else.

She chose to learn "self-hypnosis," which uses breathing and imagery to influence one's mental state. She enrolled in a six-month course by coach and author Jim Curtis.

In Japan, too, questions about how to perceive oneself without a role, triggered by retirement, job changes, or children becoming independent, can become pressing. The entry point to feeling connected to this article lies more in the sense of loss than in the mysterious word "hypnosis."

However, it's important to pause here. Feeling attracted to something as emotional support and verifying its effectiveness as a treatment need to be confirmed separately.

Moving away from the image of "being put to sleep and controlled"

When one hears hypnosis, some might imagine a scene where a pendulum is shown, and they fall asleep, moving as instructed.

Hypnosis used in medical and psychological support cannot be understood merely as entertainment. The Mayo Clinic in the U.S. describes hypnosis as a state of heightened focus and attention, where one becomes more open to suggestions but does not lose the ability to control their actions.

Through words and imagery, it can influence how pain is perceived, responses to tension, and behavioral habits. Reactions vary among individuals, and not everyone will have the same results.

Additionally, it's easier to understand if we distinguish between the state or technique of "hypnosis" and "hypnotherapy," which is used for therapeutic purposes. Listening to relaxing audio, coaching for self-understanding, and clinical interventions targeting specific symptoms have different objectives and evaluation methods.

What does the phrase "rewriting the brain" promise?

In the publicly available part of the original article, Curtis is introduced as someone who combines elements of acceptance, self-examination, neuroscience, and behavioral therapy. The expression that wellness practitioners help people "re-wire their brains" also appears.

Such words are appealing. For those suffering from long-standing anxieties or thought patterns, the explanation that they can change becomes a beacon of hope.

However, the expression "rewriting the brain" alone does not clarify what and to what extent things will improve.

For example, feeling lighter immediately after a session and having continued improvement in symptoms months later have different meanings. There might be a combination of factors such as the reassurance of being heard, rest, expectations, and changes in lifestyle.

Even if changes occur in a course that combines multiple methods, it cannot be concluded that all changes are due to the effect of hypnosis itself. Moreover, the results of hypnotherapy researched for specific diseases do not directly support general self-improvement courses.

What we want to see is not an impressive explanation, but "who benefited, by what method, compared to what, and to what extent."

The potential shown by research and what cannot yet be definitively stated

It is difficult to categorically determine hypnotherapy as "effective" or "ineffective" because the accumulation of research varies depending on the symptoms targeted.

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) in the U.S. indicates that hypnotherapy focused on the functioning of the digestive tract may help improve symptoms and quality of life for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

However, the recommendations from the American Gastroenterological Association are conditional, and the quality of evidence is considered "very low." Being an option in clinical practice does not mean it can be recommended to everyone based on strong evidence.

There is promising research on pain management, but overall conclusions about anxiety associated with medical and dental procedures remain unsettled.

Regarding smoking cessation, a 2019 Cochrane review concluded that there is insufficient evidence to determine that hypnotherapy is superior to other support or no support.

The "insufficient evidence" mentioned here does not mean it has been proven ineffective for everyone. However, it also does not serve as a basis for promising certain effects.

The introduction of the original article also mentions its use for depression and addiction. However, the mere fact that it is "actually used" does not mean it can replace standard treatments.

On social media, "I felt better" and "nothing changed" coexist

Even looking at public social media, evaluations are not one-sided.

Here, we focus on a post in the IBS community on the overseas forum Reddit. It is not an evaluation of the original article or Curtis's course but mainly personal experiences with gut-directed hypnotherapy or related apps.

One poster, initially skeptical of hypnotherapy, explained that their symptoms improved after using an audio program, making it easier to engage in studies and daily life.

However, the same poster expressed dissatisfaction with the high cost and the repetition of audio after the program ended. Even if satisfied with the effects, they did not necessarily affirm the service's price or explanation.

In the same thread, there was a reply stating that trying it for three months was not very helpful.

Another post confirmed that while stress and anxiety were alleviated and it helped with IBS, symptoms triggered by food remained. Some could calm down, but their physical symptoms did not improve.

These posts teach us the importance of asking "what changed" rather than simple pros and cons.

Did anxiety decrease? Did abdominal pain lessen? Was it easier to go out? Did symptoms remain but became easier to manage? Each can have value for the individual. However, they cannot be counted as the same result.

It should be noted that anonymous posts cannot verify diagnoses, concurrent treatments, or progress. Respecting the poster's experience and using it as evidence of general treatment efficacy should be distinguished.

What to consider in Japan is the content of "wanting to change"

If we bring Lopez's story closer to Japan, the first question should be "what do you want to change?"

Do you want to fill the void after retirement? Do you want to ease pre-work tension? Do you want to alleviate long-lasting abdominal pain? Or is your life becoming difficult due to mood swings?

Even with the same "suffering," the necessary support differs.

When searching for purpose or connection with others, starting new activities or dialogues can be meaningful. On the other hand, symptoms that might indicate illness require evaluation of causes and conditions.

If trying hypnosis becomes a reason to delay diagnosis or treatment, it deviates from the original purpose.

Additionally, caution is needed with explanations like "the person didn't change because they didn't believe enough." The individual differences in effectiveness and the limitations of the method should not be shifted solely to the user's willingness.

Things to confirm before applying

If considering hypnotherapy or related courses in Japan, it's important to verify specific explanations rather than just the name or the recommender's fame.

• Purpose and Evidence: What improvement is aimed for, and what research supports the method?
• Practitioner's Expertise: What are the foundational medical or psychological qualifications, hypnosis training, and experience in dealing with the targeted issues?
• Costs and Termination Conditions: Are the total cost, additional fees, conditions for renewal or cancellation, and response if there is no improvement clear?
• Collaboration with Medical Care: Does it connect to necessary medical consultations and respect discussions with the primary doctor regarding medication or continued visits?

There are academic societies in Japan that engage in hypnosis research and professional education, with certification systems in place. However, rather than just looking at the word "certification," it's important to verify which organization certifies under what conditions.

Another point to be cautious about is treating memories that surfaced during hypnosis as proof of historical facts. According to medical information from Johns Hopkins University, hypnosis is not a reliable method for recovering accurate memories and may even strengthen confidence in false memories.

Handling images that come to mind and verifying historical facts are separate tasks.

Rather than "changing your life," consider what part of your life becomes easier

Discussions about hypnotherapy often come with two extreme views: the expectation that it can change everything and the dismissal that it's all just imagination.

In reality, while research has been conducted on its use for specific symptoms and some people find it helpful, there are also applications where its effectiveness has not been sufficiently verified.

Lopez's story reflects that when life's roles change, people seek ways to face themselves. There is no need to find it strange to have an interest in hypnosis during such exploration.

However, the more hope is entrusted, the more we want to see specific changes.

Is it easier to go out? Has anxiety about pain decreased? Can you choose your daily schedule yourself? Is that change continuing? Is it worth the cost and time spent?

Instead of a grand promise of "becoming a different person," consider what part of your life becomes easier and to what extent. Keeping this question in mind is a realistic way to engage with hypnotherapy.

Sources and Reference URLs

1. The New York Times:
   "Hypnotherapy Is Praised by Celebrities. Does it Work?" Experiences of a retired woman, Jim Curtis, and interest in hypnotherapy.
   https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/29/style/hypnotherapy-hypnosis-jim-curtis.html

2. Mayo Clinic: Overview of Hypnosis
   Explanation of focus, attention, self-control during hypnosis, and individual differences in effects. Mayo Clinic
   https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/hypnosis/about/pac-20394405

3. NCCIH: Compilation of Research on Hypnotherapy
   Research status on IBS, pain, anxiety associated with procedures, and limitations of recommendations and evidence. NCCIH
   https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/hypnosis

4. Cochrane: Review of Hypnotherapy for Smoking Cessation
   2019 research review. Evaluation that there is insufficient evidence to determine superiority over other methods. Cochrane
   https://www.cochrane.org/evidence/CD001008_does-hypnotherapy-help-people-who-are-trying-stop-smoking

5. Reddit: Experiences and Replies on Hypnotherapy for IBS
   Posts reporting symptom improvement, dissatisfaction with cost and content, and replies stating no effect was felt. These are personal experiences and not evidence of treatment efficacy. reddit.com
   https://www.reddit.com/r/ibs/comments/1c1lxnz/hypnotherapy_helped_me_no_really/

6. Reddit: Discussion on Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy
   Voices distinguishing between alleviation of anxiety and improvement of physical symptoms, experiences of remaining food-induced triggers. reddit.com
   https://www.reddit.com/r/ibs/comments/1ipd490/gut_directed_hypnotherapy/

7. Japanese Society of Hypnosis Medicine and Psychology: Detailed Regulations for Certified Hypnotist Qualification
   Materials to confirm the certification system and qualification requirements of domestic societies. Japanese Society of Hypnosis Medicine and Psychology
   https://www.jshypnosis.jp/qualification/regulation2/

8. Johns Hopkins Medicine: Hypnosis and Memory
   Limitations of memory recovery through hypnosis and caution about confidence in false memories. Johns Hopkins Medicine
   https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/hypnosis