Quick Overview: Yes. The National Institute of Mental Health states that psychotherapy can include mindfulness and relaxation techniques. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health describes self-hypnosis as learning to produce the relaxation response in response to a phrase or nonverbal cue. These sources do not establish that self-hypnosis is included in a particular therapy service, appointment, or plan.
What the Sources Say About Psychotherapy
The National Institute of Mental Health uses psychotherapy and talk therapy to refer to a variety of treatments that aim to help a person identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Its description of psychotherapy includes several possible elements, including mindfulness and relaxation techniques such as meditation and breathing exercises.
The same source describes other possible elements of psychotherapy, including identifying ways to cope with stress, developing problem-solving strategies, examining interactions with others, tracking emotions and behaviors, and supportive counseling. This list describes elements that psychotherapy can include. It does not state that every therapist uses every element or that relaxation techniques are part of every appointment.
NIMH also states that therapists may use one primary approach or incorporate elements from multiple approaches. The approach used depends on the therapist’s training and experience and on the needs of the person receiving treatment.
A Clear Boundary About Self-Hypnosis
NIMH states that psychotherapy can include relaxation techniques, but its description does not specifically identify self-hypnosis as an element of psychotherapy. NCCIH describes self-hypnosis among relaxation techniques. Taken together, these sources support a limited answer: talk therapy can include relaxation techniques, and self-hypnosis is described by NCCIH as a relaxation technique.
They do not establish that self-hypnosis is part of a particular therapist’s approach, that it is offered by a particular practice, or that it will have a particular effect for an individual.
How NCCIH Describes Self-Hypnosis
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health describes relaxation techniques as practices intended to bring about the body’s “relaxation response.” NCCIH characterizes that response as involving slower breathing, lower blood pressure, and a reduced heart rate.
In NCCIH’s description of self-hypnosis programs, people learn to produce the relaxation response when prompted by a phrase or nonverbal cue of their own. NCCIH calls that phrase or cue a “suggestion.”
This is a definition of self-hypnosis in the context of NCCIH’s relaxation-technique information. It does not describe how a particular therapist explains the practice, whether it is used in individual therapy, or whether it is appropriate for a particular person.
Self-Hypnosis and Other Relaxation Techniques
NCCIH lists several relaxation techniques in addition to self-hypnosis. These include progressive relaxation, autogenic training, guided imagery or visualization, biofeedback-assisted relaxation, and breathing exercises. The presence of these techniques in an NCCIH overview does not establish that they are interchangeable, that they are used in psychotherapy, or that they are part of a particular service.
NIMH specifically names meditation and breathing exercises as examples when describing mindfulness and relaxation techniques that psychotherapy can include. Neither source states that a person receiving psychotherapy will use a particular relaxation technique.
Reflection Questions for a Therapy Conversation
The questions below are for reflection. They do not determine whether self-hypnosis or another relaxation technique will be included in therapy.
| Reflection question | Question to carry forward |
|---|---|
| What would I like to understand about the phrase “self-hypnosis”? | How would you describe self-hypnosis? |
| What does NCCIH mean by a phrase or nonverbal cue? | What would a phrase or cue mean in this context? |
| What do I understand by “relaxation technique”? | Which relaxation techniques, if any, are part of your approach? |
| What information would I want before considering a technique? | What is the rationale for this approach and its evidence base? |
| What would I want to know about the therapy approach? | What approach will you use to help me? |
Practice Note: Rooted Integrative Therapy lists individual therapy, couples therapy, group therapy, and therapy intensives. Alina Hovsoyan, LCSW, is listed by the practice. Rooted Integrative Therapy offers in-person therapy near Orem and Provo and virtual therapy across Utah.
The available practice information does not state whether self-hypnosis is included in any of these services. A general description of individual therapy or another service does not answer that question.
Questions to Bring to a Consultation
Rooted Integrative Therapy’s FAQs describe scheduling a consultation call as a first step, with an opportunity to ask questions and consider fit. Questions may include:
- How do you describe your therapy approach?
- Does your approach include mindfulness or relaxation techniques?
- Is self-hypnosis included in any service offered by the practice?
- What is the rationale and evidence base for the approach you use?
- How will therapy proceed?
- How is progress assessed?
NIMH includes questions about a therapist’s approach, the rationale and evidence base for therapy, how treatment will proceed, therapy goals, and how progress will be assessed in its discussion of preliminary conversations with possible therapists.
FAQs
Can talk therapy include relaxation techniques?
Yes. NIMH states that psychotherapy can include applying mindfulness and relaxation techniques, including meditation and breathing exercises. This does not establish what a particular therapist or appointment will include.
What is self-hypnosis?
NCCIH describes self-hypnosis as learning to produce the relaxation response in response to a phrase or nonverbal cue. NCCIH refers to that phrase or cue as a suggestion.
Does the information establish that self-hypnosis is part of individual therapy?
No. The available sources do not state that self-hypnosis is part of every form of individual therapy. The verified practice information for Rooted Integrative Therapy does not state that self-hypnosis is included in individual therapy.
What services does Rooted Integrative Therapy list?
The practice lists individual therapy, couples therapy, group therapy, and therapy intensives. It lists in-person therapy near Orem and Provo and virtual therapy across Utah.
Sources and Further Reading
Sources used for this article:
- National Institute of Mental Health: Psychotherapies
- nccih.nih.gov: Relaxation Techniques What You Need To Know
A Grounded Next Step
Rooted Integrative Therapy’s Connect page invites inquiries and appointment requests through its contact details or form. Its FAQs describe a consultation call as an opportunity to ask questions and consider fit. To contact the practice, visit the Connect page.
Please do not include urgent or highly sensitive clinical information in a general inquiry.
This article is for general education only. It is not a diagnosis, treatment plan, or substitute for individualized mental-health care. A qualified mental-health professional can help you consider what fits your circumstances.