History of Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy: From Ancient Practices to Modern Therapy

Throughout human history, the mind’s susceptibility to suggestion has captivated healers, philosophers, and scientists alike. Hypnosis, though often misunderstood and sometimes sensationalised in popular media, has a rich and complex history spanning thousands of years. From ancient healing rituals to evidence-based clinical applications, the journey of hypnotherapy reflects humanity's enduring quest to understand and harness the power of the subconscious mind.

The practice we now recognise as hypnosis has evolved dramatically over centuries, transforming from mystical ceremonies in ancient civilisations to a respected therapeutic technique backed by neuroscience. This evolution has seen hypnosis move from the realm of spirituality and entertainment to legitimate practice, helping countless individuals overcome challenges ranging from chronic pain to anxiety.

In this comprehensive timeline, we’ll explore the pivotal moments and influential figures who shaped our understanding of hypnotic phenomena. We’ll trace hypnosis from its prehistoric roots through its scientific development in the 18th and 19th centuries to its modern applications in clinical settings. You’ll discover how practices once attributed to divine intervention or magnetic forces gradually yielded to scientific inquiry, revealing the remarkable capabilities of the human mind.

Whether you’re a practising therapist, a psychology student, or simply curious about the mind’s untapped potential, this journey through hypnosis history offers valuable insights into one of psychology's most fascinating subjects. By understanding where hypnotherapy began, we gain a deeper appreciation for its current applications and glimpse the promising future of this powerful therapeutic approach.

Join me as we unravel the compelling story of hypnosis – a tale of mystery, discovery, controversy, and, ultimately, healing.

tall ancient trees in a forest with green leaves — Image by Dan Meyers

History of Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy: A Timeline

This timeline offers key milestones in the development of hypnosis and hypnotherapy as practices for healing, emotional well-being, and mental health.

Ancient Times (Pre-18th Century): Mystical Roots and Sleep Temples

Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome: The use of hypnosis as a healing practice can be traced back to ancient cultures in Egypt and Greece, where sleep temples were used for healing. Patients would enter trances or dream-like states, guided by priests or healers, for physical and emotional healing. Avicenna (Ibn Sina), a Persian philosopher and physician, wrote about the characteristics of the trance state in The Book of Healing in 1027.

India and China: Hypnotic-like states were a part of traditional medicine and spiritual practices, where altered states of consciousness were used for meditation, healing, and introspection.

18th Century: Mesmerism and Animal Magnetism Emerge

Franz Anton Mesmer (1734–1815): Often considered the father of modern hypnosis, Franz Anton Mesmer developed the concept of animal magnetism. He believed an invisible force flowed through all living beings and that illnesses were caused by blockages in this force. His techniques, which involved waving magnets or his hands over patients, became known as ‘Mesmerism’. He published A Memoir on the Discovery of Animal Magnetism in 1779.

Abbé Faria (1746–1819): A Portuguese-Goan monk, Faria challenged Mesmer’s use of magnets and found the phenomena relied on suggestion only. He published On the Cause of Lucid Sleep in 1819.

19th Century: Scientific Inquiry and Medical Recognition

James Braid (1795–1860): In his book Neurypnology (1843), Scottish surgeon James Braid coined the term ‘hypnotism’, from the Greek word ‘hypnos,’ meaning sleep and aosis meaning ‘condition’. He viewed hypnosis as a psychological rather than a magnetic or spiritual phenomenon. Braid's work marked the transition from Mesmerism to modern hypnosis, emphasising focused attention and suggestion. The Scottish surgeon James Braid is known as the ‘father of modern hypnotism’.

Jean-Martin Charcot (1825–1893): A French neurologist who used hypnosis to study hysteria, a condition no longer recognised as a disorder. Charcot believed that hypnosis could induce hysterical states in patients, reinforcing the view that it was a medical condition.

Ambroise-Auguste Liébeault (1823–1904): The ‘Nancy School’ of hypnosis was founded in the late 19th century by Liébeault and developed further by Hippolyte Bernheim. They believed hypnosis was a normal psychological process based on suggestion and argued against Charcot’s more pathological view.

Hippolyte Bernheim (1840–1919): Berheim was a French physician and neurologist who wrote Suggestive Therapeutics: A Treatise on the Nature and Uses of Hypnotism in 1887. He is known for his theory of suggestibility and demonstrated the creation of false memories in patients who went into a hypnotic state.

Early 20th Century: Freud, Autosuggestion, and Wartime Applications

Sigmund Freud (1856–1939): Sigmund Freud was a pupil of Bernheim and observed his practice with hospitalised patients in 1889. Psychoanalysis, in part, evolved out of Freud’s application of Berheim’s methods of suggestion and hypnosis. Early in his career, Freud used hypnosis to explore the unconscious mind and treat patients with psychological disorders. Although he later abandoned hypnosis in favour of free association and other methods, Freud’s use of it to access repressed memories influenced the later development of hypnotherapy.

Émile Coué (1857–1926): A French psychologist and pharmacist who studied with Bernheim in 1886 and 1887, he developed a method of self-healing based on optimistic autosuggestion and discovered the placebo effect. The ‘Coué Method’ of autosuggestion emphasises the power of self-hypnosis and positive affirmations. His famous phrase, ‘Every day, in every way, I’m getting better and better’, became widely known.

Clark L. Hull (1884–1952): An American psychologist, Hull conducted some of the first scientific research on hypnosis in the 1920s. His work, particularly his 1933 book Hypnosis and Suggestibility, helped to establish hypnosis as a legitimate area of psychological research.

Milton H. Erickson (1901–1980): Erickson, an American psychiatrist and psychotherapist, is one of the most influential figures in hypnotherapy. He revolutionized the practice by using indirect suggestion, metaphor, and conversational techniques, moving away from traditional authoritarian methods of hypnotic induction. He was a prolific writer, and his book Hypnotic Realities: The Induction of Clinical Hypnosis and Forms of Indirect Suggestion was published in 1976. Erikson believed the unconscious mind was highly separate from the conscious mind and developed methods to allow the unconscious to be creative and solution-generating. His approach, now known as ‘Ericksonian hypnotherapy’, emphasised the therapeutic alliance and the patient’s unconscious mind as a source of healing.

World War II (1939–1945): During and after the war, hypnosis was used to treat soldiers suffering from battle trauma, such as PTSD. This use of hypnosis for therapeutic purposes led to its wider acceptance in the medical field.

Mainstream Acceptance (1950s–1960s): In 1955, the British Medical Association approved the use of hypnosis in medicine, followed by the American Medical Association (AMA) in 1958. Hypnosis was increasingly used for pain management, particularly in surgeries and childbirth.

Late 20th Century to Present: Neural Mechanisms and Integrative Practice

Hypnotherapy Emerges as a Discipline (1960s–1980s): Hypnotherapy grew as a professional discipline, integrating psychological theory and methods. Ericksonian hypnotherapy became highly influential, with practitioners using hypnosis to treat a wide range of issues, including anxiety, depression, phobias, and addiction.

Hypno-psychotherapy (1960s–present): Hypno-psychotherapy began developing as the integration of traditional hypnosis techniques with psychotherapeutic approaches became more formalised. It evolved from the work of therapists who combined hypnosis with established psychological frameworks such as psychodynamic therapy and Ericksonian methods to address deeper psychological issues. It can be used for treating complex mental health conditions, such as trauma and dissociation.

Hypnotherapy in Modern Medicine and Psychology (21st Century): Hypnosis is now widely used in pain management, addiction treatment, and trauma therapy. Techniques such as ‘rapid induction’ and ‘mindfulness-based hypnosis’ are being explored in clinical settings. Research continues to explore the neurobiological mechanisms behind hypnotic states and their therapeutic potential.

Neurological Research (1990–present): The use of neuroimaging techniques, such as fMRI and EEG, has provided insights into the neurological mechanisms behind hypnotic states, further validating hypnosis as a legitimate therapeutic tool. Studies continue to explore the neural mechanisms underlying hypnosis, revealing how it alters perception, attention, and consciousness.

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