Wellness trend: Hypnotherapy

Can something as New Age as hypnosis really help you outsmart stress and slim to your happy weight? A-listers think so! But are they right? FIRST health and wellness columnist Jorge Cruise weighs in

When you think of hypnosis, you probably imagine a magician with a shiny gold pocket watch and some volunteer from the audience clucking like a chicken, not a therapy session at a medical doctor’s office. But that’s exactly the kind of treatment celebrities like Reese Witherspoon and Courteney Cox rely on to help them with everything from gaining confidence to giving up cigarettes to losing weight. In fact, when celebrity chef Nigella Lawson reportedly underwent hypnotherapy to help dial back cravings, she lost 28 pounds.

Hypnotherapy has actually been practiced around the world for centuries, dating as far back as ancient Egypt, where it was used for surgical preparation, anesthesia and healing. These days, a typical session begins with the practitioner and patient talking through the patient’s goals and obstacles, then the practitioner uses relaxation and meditation techniques to help the patient form positive new thought patterns around those goals. Fans claim they “wake up” from the trance feeling energized, refreshed and motivated to start making changes.

Proponents say the therapy is a remarkably effective tool for dropping stubborn pounds—especially for those who are emotional or unconscious eaters. That’s because hypnotherapy can help the patient rewrite her internal monologue around food

“I get panic attacks, especially right before I start a movie. Half the time on set I feel like I’m hanging on by the seat of my pants… [Hypnosis] was so helpful.”

—Reese Witherspoon