{"id":1132,"date":"2016-10-10T17:58:50","date_gmt":"2016-10-10T17:58:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hypnotc.com\/?p=1132"},"modified":"2026-02-24T18:33:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T18:33:08","slug":"hypnotherapy-for-belief-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hypnotc.com\/hypnotherapy-for-belief-change\/","title":{"rendered":"Irrational to rational: Hypnotherapy for belief change"},"content":{"rendered":"

This blog explores how hypnotherapy can be beneficial in identifying and changing unhelpful, rigid and disorted beliefs. These are addressed during our Cognitive Hypnotherapy training within\u00a0our Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma course.<\/p>\n

Our Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma course is award-winning and designed to give you both competence and confidence. Wherever you are on your journey, and whatever your learning differences, preferences or additional needs, you will find that at HypnoTC we are passionate about helping people to become the best hypnotherapist they can be.<\/p>\n

If you have yet to start your hypnotherapy training journey, or would like to refresh or upskill, do have a look at our Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma course and discover how you can train with HypnoTC to become a professional hypnotherapist.<\/p>\n

To find out more about training with HypnoTC, and becoming a professional hypnotherapist, click the button below.<\/p>\n

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Find out more about our Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma course<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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Belief change and the power of hypnotherapy<\/h2>\n

Using hypnotherapy for belief change is just one of the ways in which positive changes can happen. Our thinking about situations creates feelings and actions… Where that thinking is unhelpful, negative or ‘irrational’ then it can lead to unwanted emotional, physiological or behavioural consequences.\u00a0 Focusing on those beliefs and effecting change to more helpful, positive or ‘rational’ beliefs can lead to positive emotional, physiological and behavioural outcomes.<\/p>\n

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Thoughts, Situations and Responses<\/h3>\n

Our responses to situations come from our beliefs. It is not your client shouting at you that ‘makes’ you anxious, it is your belief about being shouted at, by your client, that generates a response of getting upset.\u00a0 Thus you respond to that situation with anxiety.<\/p>\n

Your thought (belief): <\/strong>What you think about the situation can be unhelpful or helpful. Consider the strength (0-100%) of those thoughts. Example:\u00a0 “My clients should always be nice to me, it is unbearable if they shout at me”<\/p>\n

The situation: <\/strong>The situation (past, present, future). Example:\u00a0 Your client shouting at you<\/p>\n

Your response: <\/strong>As a result of your thoughts about a situation, you may notice, either a negative or positive response with an emotion (e.g. anxiety or happiness), a sensation (e.g. tension or relaxation) or a behaviour (e.g. avoid situation or want to do it more).\u00a0 In addition to considering how you feel and act, also consider the intensity of these responses (0-100%). Example:\u00a0 “I feel sad and I get anxious”<\/p>\n

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Unhelpful and helpful beliefs<\/h3>\n

We develop our beliefs from our experience of life.\u00a0 Sometimes these beliefs are helpful and support us, other times they can work against our overall wellbeing.<\/p>\n

Unhelpful beliefs <\/strong>are the results of irrational thoughts, they lead to unhealthy feelings and behaviours. Unhelpful beliefs come from demands we place upon ourselves. These ‘absolutes’ leave no room for the demand not to be met at 100%. When it isn’t met (e.g. at 50%) then it leads to disturbance. Unhelpful beliefs tend to take the form of \u2018absolute demands\u2019, such as \u2018Must, Should, Have to, Need, \u00a0Ought\u2019, for example: “My clients must always think I am wonderful”
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Helpful beliefs <\/strong>are reasonable, objective, constructive and flexible, they lead to survival, happiness, healthy feelings and behaviours. These preferences allow<\/em> for less than 100% and for alternative outcomes. Helpful beliefs take the form of \u2018preferences\u2019. A preference is not an absolute, it leaves room for alternatives, for example: “I would like my clients to always think I am wonderful but accept that at times they may not.\u00a0 They may have other views of me and I accept that. “<\/p>\n

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Response programming<\/h3>\n

Over time, the response (consequences) to the belief becomes a form of hypnosis, creating an automatic response or automatic thought.\u00a0 Where this is a helpful belief and positive outcome, this is a positive form of response programming. However, where the response is not beneficial, as in the case of unhelpful beliefs about situations leading to disturbance, then it can be good to work on belief change to create more beneficial responses.<\/p>\n

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Three simple questions to dispute unhelpful (irrational) beliefs<\/h3>\n

Change is created by exploring the unhelpful (irrational) belief and adopting a helpful (rational) belief, by asking three questions.\u00a0 These consider the evidence that is currently used to support the belief, together with the logical of maintaining that view and what benefit it serves.<\/p>\n

Evidence: <\/strong>Where is the evidence…? Where is the universal law that says your clients must always think you are wonderful?<\/p>\n

\u00a0Logic: <\/strong>How logical is it…? Just because you want your clients to always think you are wonderful, does it follow that they always will?
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Help: <\/strong>How does it help to believe…? How does it help you to believe that your clients must always think you are wonderful?<\/p>\n

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\"Belief<\/strong><\/p>\n

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New belief formulation<\/h3>\n

When the unhelpful belief has been explored there can be discussion of alternative explanations for the event, or alternative ways of seeing the situation. \u00a0The same three questions (evidence, logic, help) can be applied to check the new helpful belief.<\/p>\n

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Two methods for rational belief integration<\/h3>\n

So far, you will have identified the situation, unhelpful belief and response. Then you will have explored the unhelpful belief and formulated a new helpful belief.\u00a0 This belief change then leads to the final stage, action, of which there are two parts.<\/p>\n

Commitment for change and contract for action: <\/strong>The client will understand that it is their responsibility to monitor their beliefs about situations and to challenge unhelpful beliefs. Practice, over time, will lead to a new automatic way of responding.<\/p>\n

Future pacing \/ mental rehearsal: <\/strong>To help the client connect to their new beliefs, the client sees themselves responding in a new way to the given situation.<\/p>\n

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Worked example of a belief change process: Excessive drinking at a party<\/h3>\n

This approach helps an addict resist urges and regain control. Over time, applying the process will become automatic and urges will weaken.<\/p>\n

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\"Belief<\/p>\n

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Situation: <\/strong>I am at a party<\/p>\n

Unhelpful belief(s): <\/strong>A party must<\/u> be fun or I am disappointed…I feel anxious so must<\/u> have a drink to relax and have fun… (absolute demand).
\nThis is Awful<\/u> and I can’t stand<\/u> being here… (awfulising and low frustration tolerance).
\nI am a bad<\/u> person because I need<\/u> a drink… (Self-damning, a global view from one aspect)<\/p>\n

Response to situation as a result of unhelpful belief: <\/strong>Drink alcohol at party<\/p>\n

\u00a0Dispute: <\/strong>Question irrational belief and remain abstinent<\/p>\n

Create new helpful belief: <\/strong>This may be difficult but I can have fun without drinking…
\nThis may be uncomfortable, but I can handle being here…
\nIt is in my long-term interest to abstain from drinking; I prefer being a sober person…
\nWhile it may be upsetting, it is not life-threatening…
\nI may desire a drink, but I can survive without one…<\/p>\n

Action: <\/strong>Identify, mentally rehearse and use new beliefs and resultant more resourceful ways of responding<\/p>\n

New response to situation as a result of the belief change: <\/strong>More resourceful ways of addressing anxiety or concern e.g.\u00a0 Stay at party and have fun; sober. Remain abstinent, become a sober person, and have a clear mind<\/p>\n

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Hypnotherapy can be used at each stage of the belief change process<\/h3>\n

By focusing on the unwanted responses, we can identify and take the client back to the ‘triggering situation’, and by focusing on the triggering situation, the unhelpful beliefs or unwanted responses can also be identified.<\/p>\n

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\"Belief<\/p>\n

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Hypnosis during the questioning process can gain easier access to insight about the unhelpful belief, also hypnosis can aid in the creation of the helpful belief.<\/p>\n

In the final ‘action’ stage, the use of future pacing \/ mental rehearsal \/ pseudo orientation in time, whilst under hypnosis can also be very helpful.<\/p>\n

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A helpful video on using belief change in hypnotherapy…<\/h3>\n

To expand upon this topic further, take a look at this video<\/a> about rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT), which uses the principles covered within this blog to help clients overcome and challenge unhelpful beliefs whilst working to create new, healthy, helpful ones:<\/p>\n

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