Hypnosis for Depression, Grief & Loss
A Compassionate & Evidence-Based Approach to Healing from Bereavement, Grief, Separation, Divorce and Loss
How Depression, Grief and Loss Impact Our Lives
Almost everyone experiences sadness, grief, or emotional heaviness at some point in life. These emotions may bring negative self-talk, self-doubt, and feelings of emptiness. For some, these feelings deepen into persistent hopelessness, often with thoughts such as:
“I just can’t see a way out… I don’t feel like myself anymore.”
Depression, grief, and loss can impact every area of life—relationships, work, motivation, and even physical health. Emotional numbness, withdrawal from others, and the inability to enjoy activities once loved are common. This cycle can feel inescapable, isolating, and overwhelming.
This is where a compassionate, integrative approach to therapy can help you reconnect with hope, energy, and emotional freedom.
Our Integrative Approach to Depression, Grief & Loss
Depression often affects not just emotional wellbeing but also the body—sleep disturbances, fatigue, appetite changes, and physical tension are common. Grief can intensify this burden, particularly when it is linked to unresolved emotions or unexpected loss.
We take a holistic, evidence-based approach, bringing together advanced therapeutic techniques to help you:
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Address and release root causes of emotional pain
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Build effective coping skills and emotional resilience
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Reconnect with purpose, motivation, and a sense of inner peace
Hypnosis for Lasting Emotional Change
Hypnosis allows access to the subconscious mind, where negative patterns often reside. In this deeply relaxed, focused state, old self-defeating beliefs can be reframed, allowing you to develop healthier inner dialogue, stronger self-worth, and renewed motivation.
Clients often describe a powerful emotional shift following hypnosis sessions, moving from a place of “I can’t” to “I can” and eventually, “I want to.” This mental shift can be life-changing, helping you regain clarity, direction, and hope.
Counselling & Psychotherapy
Alongside hypnosis, we integrate counselling and psychotherapy to provide space for reflection, emotional processing, and personal growth. These approaches allow you to:
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Explore emotional pain safely and without judgment
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Understand patterns of thinking and behaviour
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Develop new perspectives and healthier coping strategies
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Strengthen emotional resilience and self-compassion
Counselling and psychotherapy are evidence-based modalities that work well with hypnosis, providing both practical tools and deeper self-understanding, helping to create lasting, meaningful change.
Evidence-Based Talk Therapies
We complement hypnosis psychotherapy and counselling with additional approaches where appropriate, including:
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – for reframing unhelpful thinking patterns
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Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) – and other Somatic Work for emotional regulation and resilience
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Mindfulness-Based Strategies – for calm, focus, and emotional balance
- Functional Medicine Nutrition – As a Registered Nutritionist we can incorporate gentle changes to help support your physical body, as well as your mental and emotional health
What Research Says About Hypnotherapy for Depression, Grief and Loss
Scientific studies strongly support hypnotherapy as an effective treatment for depression, Loss and related emotional conditions:
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A meta-analysis published in the BMJ reported that Cognitive Behavioral Hypnotherapy (CBH) produced 70% greater treatment outcomes and improved long-term remission compared to CBT alone.
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A systematic review by the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine concluded that hypnotherapy significantly reduced depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory-II), in some cases outperforming antidepressants.
These findings show that hypnotherapy is not only effective for reducing symptoms but also for helping individuals build emotional resilience and prevent relapse.
Taking Your First Step Towards Healing
Choosing the right therapeutic approach can feel daunting, but you don’t need to do this alone. We offer a free phone consultation to explore your needs and design a tailored plan for your emotional healing.
If you are feeling weighed down by depression, grief, separation or loss, there is a way forward.
With the right support, it is possible to move from hopelessness to hope and from emotional heaviness to clarity and peace.
Book Your Consultation Today
Take the first step towards reclaiming your wellbeing.
Book Your Free Consultation with Claire Russell
Scientific Academic References:
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Alladin, A. (2016). Cognitive Hypnotherapy for Depression: An Evidence-Based Approach. American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/14965-000
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Milling, L. S., Valentine, K. E., McCarley, H. S., & LoBlanco, A. E. (2018). Hypnotic enhancement of cognitive-behavioral interventions for depression: A meta-analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 86(8), 659–667. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000337
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Milling, L. S. (2019). Evidence-based hypnotherapy for depression: A meta-analytic review. BMJ Open, 9:e025600. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/5/e025600
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Kirsch, I. (1996). Hypnotic enhancement of cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64(2), 214–220. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.64.2.214
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Brown, D. P., & Fromm, E. (2013). Hypnotherapy and Hypnoanalysis. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203787287
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Bryant, R. A., Moulds, M. L., & Guthrie, R. M. (2001). Hypnosis and anxiety: A meta-analysis. Contemporary Hypnosis, 18(2), 62–73. https://doi.org/10.1002/ch.226
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Yapko, M. D. (2013). Mindfulness and Hypnosis: The Power of Suggestion to Transform Experience. W. W. Norton & Company. https://books.wwnorton.com/books/9780393707691
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Gruzelier, J. (2002). A review of the impact of hypnosis, relaxation, guided imagery, and meditation on immune function. Contemporary Hypnosis, 19(1), 3–14. https://doi.org/10.1002/ch.243
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Spiegel, H., & Spiegel, D. (2004). Trance and Treatment: Clinical Uses of Hypnosis. American Psychiatric Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9781585626788
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Hammond, D. C. (2010). Hypnosis in the treatment of depression: An overview. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 52(4), 275–287. https://doi.org/10.1080/00029157.2010.10401727
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Barabasz, A. F., & Barabasz, M. (2015). Clinical hypnosis: A review of its efficacy for pain and other disorders. Psychology, 6, 1590–1599. https://doi.org/10.4236/psych.2015.614157
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Lynn, S. J., & Kirsch, I. (2017). Clinical hypnosis and self-regulation: Cognitive-behavioral perspectives. American Psychologist, 72(6), 506–519. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000168
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Cramer, H., Lauche, R., Paul, A., Dobos, G., & Saha, F. J. (2015). Hypnosis in integrative mental health: Evidence base and practice considerations. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 23(3), 375–380. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2015.03.001
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Elkins, G., Barabasz, A. F., Council, J. R., & Spiegel, D. (2015). Advancing research and practice: The revised APA Division 30 definition of hypnosis. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 57(4), 378–385. https://doi.org/10.1080/00029157.2015.1011465
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Tang, Y. Y., & Posner, M. I. (2014). Mindfulness neuroscience and hypnosis overlap: Evidence and implications. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 45, 100–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.05.014
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Kihlstrom, J. F. (2013). Neuro-hypnotism: Prospects for hypnosis and the brain. Cortex, 49(2), 365–374. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2012.05.016
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Barabasz, A. F. (2011). Hypnosis and trauma: Integrative approaches. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 54(1), 35–46. https://doi.org/10.1080/00029157.2011.10401757
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Wagstaff, G. F. (2014). Hypnosis and suggestibility in clinical practice. Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice, 1(2), 172–190. https://doi.org/10.1037/cns0000016
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Kirsch, I., Montgomery, G., & Sapirstein, G. (1995). Hypnosis as an adjunct to psychotherapy: A meta-analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 63(2), 214–220. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.63.2.214
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Wickramasekera, I. (2015). Hypnosis and psychophysiological disorders: Evidence base and clinical applications. Biofeedback, 43(1), 22–32. https://doi.org/10.5298/1081-5937-43.1.07