Norwest Wellbeing

Anxiety hypnotherapy: frequent questions

Moderate evidence

Short answers on Grade B versus Grade A, the 0.79 misreading, CBT, dental anxiety, and sibling diagnoses.

Last reviewed 27 August 2026

Short answers. Citations live on the linked pages.

Q: Is this about GAD? A: Yes. This hub grades generalised anxiety (ongoing worry) as Grade B. Procedure-day distress is Grade A on a separate page. Those are not the same claim.

Q: Does hypnotherapy work for GAD? A: Grade B. Studied, not a replacement for CBT or prescribed medicine. See does it work.

Q: Doesn't a meta-analysis show 79% success? A: No. Valentine 2019 reported an effect size of 0.79. That is not the percentage of patients who recovered.

Q: Can it replace CBT or medication? A: The defensible reading is adjunct, not replacement. NICE CG113 is not a hypnotherapy guideline.

Q: What about dental anxiety? A: Grade B on a three-trial subgroup. The dental Cochrane review was withdrawn.

Q: Is this the same as stage hypnosis? A: No. See suggestion.

Q: What about social anxiety, panic, or a child’s anxiety? A: Separate clinical problems. They are not graded on this hub and are not redirected here.

Q: Where is treatment booked? A: Not in this wiki body. The clinic handshake after the article is the path to Norwest care when those fields are set.

This page is informational only. It is not personal medical advice.

Headshot of Rebecca Smith

Reviewed by

Rebecca Smith

Dip.Clin.Hyp. Women's Health Specialist

Clinical HypnotherapistWomen's Health Specialist