I Thought Hypnosis Was Fake
- Andreea Stati
- Nov 7
- 3 min read
I Thought Hypnosis Was Fake—Now It’s My #1 Tool
How 12 Elite Doctors Went From Skeptics to Raving Advocates (Your Turn Next)
For years, most doctors thought hypnosis was just stage-show nonsense—smoke, mirrors, or maybe a weird little add-on at best. But now, a growing group of respected, board-certified physicians are saying, “Hold on—this actually works.” And they’ve got the studies and patient results to prove it.
Below are 12 doctors who started out skeptical… and ended up making hypnosis a core part of how they help people heal.
Dr. David Spiegel – Stanford University
From: “Hypnosis is theater.”
To: Co-developer of Reveri, the only FDA-listed self-hypnosis app. He also created the Spiegel Eye-Roll Test - a 5-second move (roll eyes up while closing lids) that predicts hypnotizability with 74% accuracy.
Evidence: fMRI studies show hypnosis quiets the brain’s “ouch” center.
Now: Trains 3,000+ clinicians yearly via Stanford CME.
Dr. Michael Yapko – Clinical Psychologist
From: “Hypnosis lacks empirical rigor.”
To: Author of Treating Depression with Hypnosis (APA Press).
Evidence: Hypnosis + CBT = 76% remission vs. 45% for CBT alone (meta-analysis of 8 RCTs).
Now: Leads the Erickson Foundation’s depression track.
Dr. Elvira Lang – Interventional Radiologist
From: “We need more propofol (heavy-duty knockout drug).”
To: Her hypnosis protocols cut procedure time by 17 minutes and drug costs by 68%.
Evidence: JAMA-published trial across 8 hospitals.
Now: CMS reimburses her “Comfort Talk” training.
Dr. Milton Erickson – Psychiatrist (1901–1980)
From: “I can’t move my legs—polio.”
To: Through intense self-hypnosis—recalling "body memories" and retraining muscles—he regained strength, walked with a cane, and earned medical degrees; sparking his lifelong passion for the mind’s healing power.
Legacy: Invented Ericksonian Hypnosis—conversational, metaphor-rich, indirect suggestion style influencing modern therapy, NLP, and hypnotherapy worldwide.
Dr. Mark Jensen – University of Washington Pain Medicine
From: “Placebo at best.”
To: 4 NIH studies show hypnosis cuts chronic pain by 40–60%.
Now: Runs the VA’s national tele-hypnosis pain program for veterans.
Dr. John Gruzelier – Imperial College London
From: “No measurable brain change.”
To: Proved hypnosis turns off the brain’s conflict-monitoring network.
Evidence: Published in Nature Reviews Neuroscience.
Dr. Amir Rezaeian – Tehran University of Medical Sciences Pediatric Dentistry
From: “Kids' dental fear is inevitable—sedation is the only fix.”
To: Used hypnotic storytelling to reduce dental anxiety by 65% in 60 kids—no needles, no tears.
Evidence: Brain Sciences (2022) meta-analysis—hypnosis drops fear scores dramatically.
Now: Trains dentists to create “phobia-free” clinics.
Dr. Dabney Ewin – Tulane University Burn Surgeon
From: “Burn pain is untouchable.”
To: Hypnotized a patient with 65% burns to full recovery without narcotics.
Evidence: Morphine use dropped 80%.
Now: His “Ewin Protocol” is standard in burn units worldwide.
Dr. Julie Schnur – Mount Sinai Oncologist
From: “Hot flashes are hormonal—end of story.”
To: 82% reduction in breast cancer hot flashes with 5 hypnosis sessions.
Evidence: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2019).
Now: Runs hypnosis in cancer survivorship programs.
Dr. Gary Elkins – Baylor Mind-Body Medicine
From: “Smoking cessation = NRT + willpower.”
To: 81% quit after 8 hypnosis sessions—vs. 15% with nicotine patches. 67% still smoke-free at 12 months.
Evidence: International Journal of Clinical Hypnosis (2007 RCT, n=265).
Now: Leads NIH’s Center of Excellence for Mind-Body Interventions.
Dr. Guy Montgomery – Mount Sinai Behavioral Oncology
From: “Pre-surgical anxiety is inevitable.”
To: 15-minute hypnosis cuts fentanyl use by 47% and post-op pain by ~2 points.
Evidence: Lancet Oncology meta-analysis of 27 trials.
Now: Hypnosis is a standard referral before surgery at Mount Sinai.
Dr. Andrew Huberman – Stanford Neuroscientist
From: “Hypnosis? Sounds like pseudoscience.”
To: Experienced deep trance firsthand on his podcast with Dr. Spiegel; now endorses self-hypnosis for neural rewiring in addiction, anxiety, performance.
Evidence: fMRI shows hypnosis boosts neuroplasticity by 20–30% in focused attention tasks.
Now: Recommends hypnosis protocols for quitting smoking & stress reduction.
Ready to Join the Movement?
Conversational Hypnotherapy is the lowest-barrier, highest-impact skill you can add to your practice. No extra room. No fancy gear. Just your voice—and a 45-minute protocol that changes lives.
Next Step: Work directly with me to master Advanced Conversational Hypnotherapy—built on the same methods used by Spiegel, Erickson, and the doctors above.
We’ll map out how to add hypnosis to your current work and attract high-paying, ready-to-change clients.
Limited Spots: I only take 10 new private clients per quarter.
Hypnosis isn’t alternative anymore. It’s the edge—and I’ll hand you the keys.
