What is hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is a structured use of hypnosis within a therapeutic conversation. During hypnosis, a person may experience focused attention, physical relaxation, and increased responsiveness to suggestions. People remain capable of responding to the therapist and do not lose control of their actions.
Hypnotherapy is sometimes used to support behavior change, manage stress, address anxiety, or strengthen motivation. Its possible role in alcohol or drug treatment is more limited: it should be viewed as a complementary approach, not a replacement for evidence-based addiction treatment.
Can hypnotherapy stop alcohol or drug use?
It may help some people with specific parts of behavior change, such as:
strengthening motivation to change;
identifying situations that increase the urge to use;
practicing responses to cravings;
developing coping skills for stress and difficult emotions;
supporting a decision to avoid alcohol or drugs;
reinforcing a treatment plan created with a qualified clinician.
However, current evidence does not establish hypnotherapy as a stand-alone treatment for alcohol use disorder or drug use disorders. Reviews of hypnosis for substance use have found limited and uneven evidence, with important differences among studies in treatment methods, comparison groups, and outcomes.¹
A responsible answer is therefore: hypnotherapy may be helpful for some people as an addition to comprehensive care, but it should not be relied on as the only treatment.
What does the research say about alcohol use?
Research on hypnosis for alcohol problems has included clinical trials and reviews, but the evidence base remains small and inconsistent. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials found that the available studies did not provide strong enough evidence to conclude that hypnotherapy is an effective treatment for alcohol dependence.²
This does not mean that no one can benefit from hypnosis. It means that research has not shown a reliable, general effect that applies across patients and treatment settings. A person may find hypnosis useful for relaxation, coping, or commitment to change while receiving other forms of care. Those possible benefits should not be confused with proof that hypnosis treats alcohol dependence by itself.
Alcohol-related problems can range from risky drinking to a severe disorder involving withdrawal, loss of control, and continued use despite harm. The appropriate response depends on the person’s pattern of use, health, safety, support system, and treatment goals.
What does the research say about drug use?
Evidence for hypnotherapy in drug use disorders is also limited. Studies have examined hypnosis in connection with smoking, opioid use, and other substance-related concerns, but findings cannot automatically be generalized from one substance or behavior to another.
For example, evidence about hypnosis for tobacco cessation does not prove that hypnotherapy treats opioid, stimulant, sedative, or polysubstance use disorders. Each condition can involve different withdrawal risks, medical complications, medications, and recovery needs.
Treatment decisions should be based on the specific substance, the person’s health, the severity of use, and the availability of qualified care. Hypnotherapy may be considered as an adjunct when it fits the person’s plan and does not delay more established treatment.
Can hypnotherapy reduce cravings?
It may help a person practice responding differently to urges, but claims that it reliably removes cravings are not supported by strong evidence.
Cravings can be influenced by withdrawal, stress, sleep, pain, trauma, mental health symptoms, social settings, and learned associations. A hypnotherapy session may provide a focused opportunity to rehearse coping strategies, but urges can return outside the session. Effective care usually involves repeated practice and several forms of support.
A therapist should avoid promising that hypnosis will eliminate cravings or make relapse impossible. A more realistic goal is to help a person notice an urge, pause, use a planned coping response, and seek support when needed.
Can hypnosis replace detox or medication?
No. Hypnotherapy should not replace medical evaluation, withdrawal management, or prescribed medication.
Alcohol withdrawal can become medically dangerous, particularly after prolonged or heavy use. Symptoms may include tremors, sweating, agitation, hallucinations, seizures, and delirium. Severe withdrawal requires urgent medical attention.¹
Some medications have established roles in treating alcohol use disorder, and medications are also important for certain opioid use disorders. The American Society of Addiction Medicine recommends medications for opioid use disorder, including methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone, as appropriate to the patient’s situation.³
A person should not stop alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, or other drugs suddenly without professional guidance when withdrawal may be dangerous. Hypnosis cannot provide the monitoring, medication, or emergency care that withdrawal management may require.
What treatments have stronger support?
Effective care is usually individualized and may combine several services. Depending on the person’s needs, these can include:
motivational interviewing;
cognitive behavioral therapy;
contingency management;
medication;
mutual-support groups;
family or couples therapy;
treatment for depression, anxiety, trauma, pain, or sleep problems;
residential or outpatient treatment;
recovery coaching and continuing care.
Several behavioral therapies have evidence for substance use disorders. For stimulant use disorders, contingency management has particularly strong support in clinical guidelines.⁴ For alcohol use disorder, medications such as naltrexone and acamprosate may be considered, along with behavioral treatment and recovery support.⁵
Hypnotherapy can be discussed with the treatment team if the person wants to use it as one part of this broader plan.
Who might consider hypnotherapy?
It may be reasonable to discuss hypnotherapy with a qualified professional when a person:
understands that it is complementary rather than a cure;
is willing to use established treatment when indicated;
has a clear goal, such as practicing stress-management skills;
can recognize personal triggers and warning signs;
has a safety plan for cravings or relapse;
has no urgent withdrawal or overdose risk requiring immediate care.
The therapist should be trained in hypnosis and have appropriate qualifications in mental health, medicine, addiction counseling, or another relevant health profession. Training requirements vary by location, so it is important to check the practitioner’s license, scope of practice, and experience with substance use disorders.
Who should avoid relying on hypnotherapy alone?
A person should not use hypnotherapy as the sole response when there is:
possible alcohol or drug withdrawal;
recent overdose or a high risk of overdose;
loss of consciousness, confusion, seizures, or severe agitation;
suicidal thoughts or immediate danger;
pregnancy with significant substance use;
serious medical illness;
repeated relapse despite attempts to stop;
use of opioids, benzodiazepines, or multiple substances with uncertain doses.
These situations call for prompt professional assessment. In the United States, call 911 for an immediate medical emergency. If someone may have overdosed and naloxone is available, use it according to its instructions and call 911. For urgent emotional distress or suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 in the United States and Canada.
How can someone find a safe hypnotherapist?
Before scheduling, ask:
What professional license or clinical qualification do you hold?
What training do you have in substance use disorders?
What evidence supports the method you use?
How would you coordinate with my physician, therapist, or addiction-treatment program?
What would happen if I experienced withdrawal, intense cravings, or a relapse?
What results do you consider realistic?
What is your policy on confidentiality and communication with other providers?
Be cautious if a practitioner:
promises a guaranteed cure;
says one session will permanently end addiction;
advises stopping prescribed medication;
tells you to withdraw from alcohol or drugs without medical supervision;
discourages counseling, medication, or support groups;
uses shame or fear;
cannot explain their training and professional role.
A trustworthy practitioner will welcome questions and will not present hypnosis as a substitute for medical or addiction care.
What might a session involve?
A session may include an assessment, discussion of goals, education about urges and triggers, a period of focused attention, therapeutic suggestions, and planning for practice between sessions. The therapist may help the client rehearse a response to a high-risk situation, such as leaving a stressful setting, calling a support person, or using a coping skill.
The person remains responsible for decisions during hypnosis. A qualified practitioner should obtain informed consent and make clear what the method can and cannot do.
Hypnotherapy should be adapted to the person’s history and current stability. Someone with trauma symptoms, psychosis, dissociation, severe mood symptoms, or cognitive impairment may need careful assessment before hypnosis is considered. Hypnosis is not appropriate for every person or every treatment goal.
Can hypnotherapy help with relapse prevention?
It may support relapse-prevention work by helping a person rehearse a plan for common triggers. A useful plan might include:
identifying early warning signs;
delaying action on an urge;
leaving the setting where substances are available;
contacting a trusted person;
attending a meeting or treatment appointment;
keeping naloxone available when opioid overdose is possible;
reducing access to substances;
returning to care quickly after a lapse.
A lapse does not mean treatment has failed. It is a sign that the plan needs review and additional support. A therapist should respond without blame and help the person address safety, triggers, and next steps.
What questions should someone ask before choosing hypnotherapy?
Consider asking:
What specific problem are we treating?
How will progress be measured?
What other treatments should I consider?
Will you work with my doctor or addiction counselor?
What should I do if I have withdrawal symptoms?
How will we handle a return to use?
What fees and number of sessions do you expect?
What privacy protections apply?
It is also reasonable to ask whether the practitioner has treated people with the same type of substance-use concern. Experience with smoking cessation alone, for example, does not necessarily mean experience with alcohol or other drug disorders.
What is the bottom line?
Hypnotherapy may help some people practice coping skills, manage stress, and support motivation. Research has not shown that it reliably treats alcohol or drug use disorders on its own. It should not replace medical evaluation, withdrawal care, medication when appropriate, behavioral therapy, or ongoing recovery support.
The safest approach is to discuss hypnotherapy with a qualified health professional and use it only when it fits a broader, evidence-informed treatment plan. If there may be dangerous withdrawal, overdose, or immediate risk of harm, seek urgent help rather than waiting for a hypnotherapy appointment.
Notes
American Society of Addiction Medicine, “The ASAM Clinical Practice Guideline on Alcohol Withdrawal Management,” Journal of Addiction Medicine 14, no. 3S Suppl 1 (2020): 1–72.
Barnes, Joseph, Nicola Dong, George McRobbie, and Edzard Ernst, “Hypnotherapy for Smoking Cessation,” Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, no. 10 (2010), article CD001008. This review concerns smoking cessation and does not establish hypnotherapy as a treatment for alcohol or other drug-use disorders; it is cited here to distinguish the limited evidence base for hypnosis-related substance-use interventions from evidence for addiction treatment generally.
American Society of Addiction Medicine, “The ASAM National Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder: 2020 Focused Update,” Journal of Addiction Medicine 14, no. 2S Suppl 1 (2020): 1–91.
American Society of Addiction Medicine and American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, The ASAM/AAAP Clinical Practice Guideline on the Management of Stimulant Use Disorder (2024).
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Department of Defense, VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Substance Use Disorders (2021).