For many, the past isn’t just a memory, it’s a physical weight. Whether it’s a single, shattering event (PTSD) or a long-term cycle of adversity (CPTSD), trauma rewires how your brain perceives the world. It turns “safe” into “dangerous” and “now” into “then.”
If you feel like you are constantly bracing for a blow that never lands, or if you’ve lost the version of yourself that felt “whole,” you are not alone. More importantly, you are not broken. Your nervous system is simply stuck in survival mode.
At London Hypnotics, we specialize in helping you shift from surviving to thriving by using clinical hypnotherapy to address trauma where it lives: in the subconscious mind.
Understanding the Burden: PTSD vs. CPTSD
While both conditions stem from trauma, they impact the psyche in distinct ways. Understanding which one resonates with you is the first step toward a tailored recovery.
| Feature | Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | Complex PTSD (CPTSD) |
| Origin | Usually a single, discrete event | Prolonged, repeated trauma |
| Core Symptoms | Flashbacks and nightmares | Emotional dysregulation and negative self-concept |
| Relational Impact | Localized to specific triggers | Deep-seated trust and boundary issues |
| The Internal Voice | I am in danger right now | I am fundamentally worthless or unsafe |
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Trauma imprints on the amygdala (your brain’s alarm system) while bypassing the prefrontal cortex (the logical part). This is why you can’t simply “think” your way out of a flashback, your body believes the threat is happening right now.
The Paradigm Shift: Why Hypnotherapy Works
Traditional talk therapy is invaluable, but it often operates on a conscious level. Hypnotherapy offers a “top-down” regulation approach, accessing the subconscious folders where traumatic “data” is stored.
1. The Safety Paradigm
We never “dive” into trauma without a map. We start by building an internal “Safe Place.” Through guided hypnosis, we train your nervous system to recognize the physical sensation of peace. This becomes your anchor.
2. The Movie Screen Technique
One of our most effective tools is therapeutic dissociation. Imagine watching your traumatic memory on a distant movie screen while you hold the remote. You can pause, rewind, or dim the lights. This allows your brain to process the event as a past occurrence without the overwhelming emotional “flood.”
3. Memory Reconsolidation
Science shows that when we access a memory in a state of deep hypnotic calm, the brain can “re-save” that file. We aren’t erasing your history; we are stripping away the “terror” tag so the memory becomes just that, a memory, not an emergency.
Evidence-Based Healing: The Research
Clinical research consistently confirms the power of hypnotherapy as a bridge to recovery. Here are the studies mentioned above:
- Significant Symptom Reduction: Rotaru, T. Ș., & Rusu, A. (2016). A Meta-Analysis for the Efficacy of Hypnotherapy in Alleviating PTSD Symptoms. This study found that hypnosis-based treatments yielded a large post-treatment effect (d=1.17) that remained stable over long-term evaluations. View on PubMed | Full Text via ResearchGate
- Enhanced Results (The 32% Boost): Kirsch, I., Montgomery, G., & Sapirstein, G. (1995). Hypnosis as an adjunct to cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy: A meta-analysis. This landmark research demonstrated that adding hypnosis to CBT significantly enhanced outcomes across various disorders, often cited as increasing treatment efficacy by approximately 30-32%. View on PubMed
- Applicability for CPTSD & Dissociation: Gold, S. N., & Quiñones, M. (2020). Applicability of hypnosis to the treatment of Complex PTSD and dissociation. This research specifically explores why hypnotically structured treatment is uniquely suited for the “complex” nature of CPTSD. View on PubMed
- Sleep and Insomnia Recovery: Chamine, I., Atchley, R., & Oken, B. (2018). Hypnosis Intervention Effects on Sleep Outcomes: A Systematic Review. While research is ongoing, meta-analyses indicate that hypnotherapy consistently helps shorten sleep latency and improve sleep quality for those with stress-related complaints. View on PMC
Your Path to Recovery Starts Here
Recovery isn’t about forgetting what happened; it’s about reaching a place where what happened no longer controls your pulse, your sleep, or your self-worth.
Whether you are struggling with the sharp edges of PTSD or the heavy, complex layers of CPTSD, there is a way back to yourself. You’ve carried this weight long enough. Let’s put it down, together.
Ready to see if this is the right fit for you?
Click here to book a free 15-minute consultation and discover how we can help you rewrite your internal narrative.
