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PTSD Hypnotherapy and Hypnotherapy for Trauma.

Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are significant psychological responses to distressing events. Trauma is a natural reaction when someone encounters life-threatening or deeply disturbing experiences. However, PTSD represents a more prolonged and often debilitating condition that can linger long after the traumatic event has occurred. While traditional therapies such as Psychotherapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) are widely used to treat these issues, hypnotherapy for trauma is gaining recognition as an effective healing method.

To understand trauma and PTSD better, it's essential to recognize that trauma happens when an individual faces an event that overwhelms their ability to cope. This can lead to lasting emotional, physical, and psychological effects. Common sources of trauma include accidents, natural disasters, physical or sexual assault, combat experiences, or the sudden loss of a loved one. Initially, individuals may feel shock, confusion, or disbelief; however, most people gradually recover with time and support.

In contrast, PTSD is a mental health condition that may develop after exposure to a traumatic event. Symptoms of PTSD can manifest in various ways:

  • Intrusive memories: These include recurrent involuntary memories, flashbacks, or distressing dreams related to the trauma.
  • Avoidance:  Individuals may actively try to avoid thoughts, feelings, or discussions about the trauma while steering clear of places or people that remind them of it.
  • Negative changes in mood and cognition: This can involve feelings of detachment, numbness, guilt, shame, or difficulty experiencing positive emotions.
  • Hyperarousal:  Symptoms might include irritability, trouble sleeping, being easily startled, or heightened alertness.

These symptoms can significantly disrupt daily life and diminish quality of living.

Despite the profound impact trauma and PTSD can have on an individual's existence, healing is possible with proper treatment. Hypnotherapy presents a unique approach by addressing the root causes of trauma. It helps individuals process and reframe distressing memories while developing healthier coping mechanisms. Engaging in hypnotherapy services can be a valuable step toward recovery and regaining a sense of peace and well-being.

Hello, I am Mary Galanis

As a certified Strategic Psychotherapist and Clinical Hypnotherapist, I am deeply committed to guiding you through life’s challenges with both practicality and compassion. I recognize that trauma and PTSD can leave you feeling helpless, overwhelmed, and disconnected from yourself. My mission is to empower you by providing the tools and treatments necessary for healing and regaining control over your life.

I focus on achieving tangible results by creating personalized treatment plans that utilize a variety of effective methods, such as Hypnosis, EMDR for trauma, Psychotherapy, and Somatic Healing. Your holistic well-being is always at the heart of our collaboration.

Clinical Hypnotherapy and Strategic Psychotherapy are recognized by healthcare professionals as safe and effective approaches to addressing trauma, PTSD, and their impact on both mind and body. My aim is to equip you with tailored treatments that help restore your peace of mind swiftly and effectively.

Outside of my professional life, I cherish time spent with my two adult daughters, enjoy practicing yoga, and find joy in the company of my two cats. I believe in the importance of continuous growth—both personally and professionally—always striving to help you become a more balanced and fulfilled version of yourself.

Together, we will work on a customized treatment plan designed specifically for your unique journey toward improved wellness. 

Here’s to better and better.

Treating Trauma and PTSD with Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy

Hypnotherapy Facilitates Change in Trauma and PTSD

PTSD Hypnotherapy and Hypnotherapy for  Trauma.

Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) impact millions of individuals globally. These conditions can arise from a single traumatic event or prolonged exposure to stressful situations, severely affecting one’s ability to function, sleep, concentrate, and feel secure. Fortunately, as mental health treatments advance, an increasing number of people are turning to PTSD hypnotherapy and hypnotherapy for trauma. These approaches aim to address the root causes of distress while promoting lasting emotional healing.

But how does hypnotherapy create meaningful change for those dealing with trauma and PTSD? The answer lies in its interaction with the subconscious mind—the place where traumatic memories often reside and where profound transformation is possible.

Understanding Trauma and PTSD

Before exploring how hypnotherapy aids recovery, it’s important to understand what occurs in the brain and body during traumatic experiences. When a traumatic event unfolds, the brain's fight-or-flight response is triggered. For some individuals, this intense reaction doesn’t return to baseline once the danger has passed; instead, it becomes "stuck." This leads to various symptoms such as:

- Flashbacks and nightmares
- Hypervigilance and anxiety
- Emotional numbness
- Avoidance of reminders
- Difficulty sleeping or concentrating

This condition is recognized as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). While traditional talk therapies can provide support, many individuals find that trauma resides so deeply within their subconscious that conventional methods may not fully access it. This is where hypnotherapy for trauma proves to be especially effective. 

How Hypnotherapy Facilitates Change in PTSD and Trauma

  1. Accessing the Subconscious Safely
    When you enter a hypnotic state, your mind becomes calm, focused, and less defensive. This openness enables your therapist to gently guide you in identifying subconscious memories, beliefs, and responses formed during or after a traumatic event.

In PTSD hypnotherapy, you don't have to relive your trauma in an overwhelming manner. Instead, this process allows you to observe it from a safe distance by using techniques like dissociation or guided imagery to lessen emotional intensity.

Reframing Traumatic Memories
Once a memory is accessed under hypnosis, you can start reframing how it’s stored and understood. The brain often "freezes" trauma in an overly emotional state. Hypnotherapy helps you:

  • Introduce new, balanced perspectives
  • Decrease the emotional weight of traumatic memories
  • Separate your present self from past experiences

This reframing process helps “unstick” the trauma, allowing your nervous system to reset and gradually alleviating PTSD symptoms.

2. Building Emotional Regulation Skills
Hypnotherapy also enhances emotional regulation by helping you form new subconscious associations. For instance, if your trauma has made certain places feel unsafe, hypnotherapy can assist in retraining your mind to view those locations as neutral or safe once again.

Through hypnotic suggestions, you can cultivate feelings of calmness, confidence, and self-control—skills that reduce emotional reactivity and empower you to handle stress without panic or avoidance.

3. Breaking Patterns of Avoidance and Fear
Individuals with PTSD often steer clear of triggers that remind them of their trauma. While this response is natural, it can limit your world and hinder healing.

Hypnotherapy provides gentle support in confronting these triggers—not by forcing exposure but by changing how your mind automatically reacts to them. Over time, this leads to diminished fear levels, increased resilience, and a restored sense of control.

4. Promoting Deep Relaxation and Healing
One immediate benefit of hypnotherapy is its ability to induce deep relaxation. Trauma can leave the body trapped in a state of fight or flight. Hypnotherapy helps regulate the autonomic nervous system, activating the body's natural rest-and-repair functions. This alone can enhance sleep quality, reduce anxiety levels, and foster an overall sense of well-being.

Trauma and PTSD may seem overwhelming at times; however, healing is not only attainable—it can be profoundly transformative. Hypnotherapy for trauma offers a gentle yet effective pathway toward recovery by addressing the root causes of your pain at the subconscious level. Embrace the opportunity to move beyond fear and reclaim your sense of calmness, safety, and self-worth.

Success Stories

I used Mary for old trauma challenges. She was kind and thoughtful.. Her ability to tap into my issue was knowledgeable and she is easy to talk to.

Jane.

I spent alot of time on my own. I had not been in a relationship in a very long time and I was estramged from my parents. I had a breakdown on top of all that. I was having nightmares and panic attacks.

Francine

FAQs

1What is trauma and PTSD ?

The emotional and psychological trauma is the result of overly stressful events that change your sense of security, making you feel helpless in a dangerous world. Psychological trauma can leave you struggling with upsetting emotions, memories, and anxiety that won’t go away. It can also leave you feeling numb, disconnected, and unable to trust other people.

Traumatic experiences often involve a threat to life or safety, but any situation that leaves you feeling overwhelmed and isolated can result in trauma, even if it doesn’t involve physical harm. It’s not the objective circumstances that determine whether an event is traumatic, but your subjective emotional experience of the event. The more frightened and helpless you feel, the more likely you are to be traumatized.

Emotional and psychological trauma can be caused by:

  • One-time events, such as an accident, injury, or a violent attack, especially if it was unexpected or happened in childhood.
  • Ongoing stress, battling a life-threatening illness or experiencing traumatic events that occur repeatedly, such as bullying, domestic violence, or childhood neglect.
  • Other life causes, such as surgery (especially in the first 3 years of life), the sudden death of someone close, the breakup of a significant relationship, or a humiliating or deeply disappointing experience, especially if someone was deliberately cruel.
2What are the symptoms of trauma & PTSD?

We all react to trauma in different ways, experiencing a wide range of physical and emotional reactions. There is no “right” or “wrong” way to think, feel, or respond, so don't judge your own reactions or those of other people. Your responses are Normal reactions to Abnormal events.

Emotional and psychological symptoms:

  • Shock, denial, or disbelief.
  • Confusion, difficulty concentrating.
  • Anger, irritability, mood swings.
  • Anxiety and fear.
  • Guilt, shame, self-blame.
  • Withdrawing from others.
  • Feeling sad or hopeless.
  • Feeling disconnected or numb.
  • Feeling of rejection - judgment - abandonment.

Physical symptoms:

  • Insomnia or nightmares.
  • Fatigue.
  • Being startled easily.
  • Difficulty concentrating.
  • Racing heartbeat.
  • Edginess and agitation.
  • Aches and pains.
  • Muscle tension.

Life symptoms:

  • Substance and over drinking.
  • Narcissistic relationships.
  • Mood swings.
  • Depression and anxiety.
  • Social isolation and withdrawal.
  • Insomnia.
  • Panic attacks.
  • Anger.
  • Overwhelming fear.
3How Childhood Trauma can occur?

While traumatic events can happen to anyone, you're more likely to be traumatized by an event if you're already under a heavy stress load, have recently suffered a series of losses, or have been traumatized before—especially if the earlier trauma occurred in childhood.

Childhood trauma can result from anything that disrupts a child's sense of safety, including:

  • An unstable or unsafe environment.
  • Separation from a parent.
  • Serious illness.
  • Intrusive medical procedures.
  • Sexual, physical or verbal abuse.
  • Domestic violence.
  • Neglect.

Experiencing trauma in childhood can result in a severe and long-lasting effect. When childhood trauma is not resolved, a sense of fear and helplessness carries over into adulthood, setting the stage for further trauma.

However, even if your trauma happened many years ago, there are steps you can take to overcome the pain, learn to trust and connect to others again, and regain your sense of emotional balance.

4Why You Need Hypnotherapy For Trauma Treatment

Hypnotherapy offers you the chance to deal with and eliminate symptoms of trauma without the dangers of re-traumatisation. A hypnotherapist can guide you to avoid any escalating trauma symptoms you may experience so you won’t have to relive the traumatic event. This includes any feelings of impending doom, nervous stomach, increased heart rate, shortness of breath and muscle tension.

The goal of hypnotherapy for trauma is to prevent more serious conditions as a result of trauma such as long-term chronic pain, concentration problems, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and other serious physical or psychological conditions.

Hypnotherapy can effectively remove old triggers and emotional barriers to healing from trauma. This way, you can gain the freedom you need and move forward in life with confidence.

5How effective is hypnotherapy for trauma & PTSD?

Hypnotherapy offers you the chance to deal with and eliminate symptoms of trauma without the dangers of re-traumatisation. A hypnotherapist can guide you to avoid any escalating trauma symptoms you may experience so you won’t have to relive the traumatic event. This includes any feelings of impending doom, nervous stomach, increased heart rate, shortness of breath and muscle tension.

The goal of hypnotherapy for trauma is to prevent more serious conditions as a result of trauma such as long-term chronic pain, concentration problems, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and other serious physical or psychological conditions.

Hypnotherapy can effectively remove old triggers and emotional barriers to healing from trauma. This way, you can gain the freedom you need and move forward in life with confidence.

6How safe is hypnotherapy for trauma & PTSD?
Yes, hypnotherapy is very safe for trauma. Hypnotherapy creates a safe space where you feel comfortable, calm, and at ease. A 2015 review published in the academic journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine# found there were no adverse effects of hypnotherapy when treating trauma.
7How many hypnotherapy sessions are needed to see improvements in PTSD and Trauma ?

The number of sessions varies based on the depth of the trauma and your individual healing process.

  • 3 to 6 sessions: noticeable emotional shifts and better coping
  • 6 to 10 sessions: deeper changes in core beliefs and inner resilience
  • Ongoing or booster sessions: helpful for maintaining progress or addressing new triggers

Many people begin to feel lighter and more empowered within the first few sessions.

8Is online hypnotherapy available for PTSD and Trauma treatment in Melbourne?
Yes, online hypnotherapy is available and can be just as effective as in-person sessions. It offers comfort, privacy, and flexibility, all while working through trauma in a safe environment.
9How does hypnotherapy assist in treating PTSD and Trauma

Hypnotherapy can support healing from PTSD and trauma by gently working with the subconscious mind. It helps process unresolved memories, regulate emotions, and reduce triggers.

  • Allows safe access to subconscious trauma without feeling overwhelmed
  • Helps reduce anxiety, panic attacks, and sleep disturbances
  • Reframes how the brain responds to traumatic memories
  • Strengthens inner coping strategies and self-worth
  • Encourages new emotional responses like calm instead of fear
  • Improves sleep patterns and reduces recurring nightmares

Many people find that hypnotherapy offers a calmer, more controlled way to face difficult past experiences and build resilience.

10Is hypnotherapy effective for managing PTSD and Trauma symptoms?

Yes, hypnotherapy can be highly effective in managing PTSD symptoms, especially when part of a broader trauma-informed approach.

  • Eases hypervigilance and the fight-or-flight response
  • Helps reduce cortisol levels and calm the nervous system
  • Desensitises emotional triggers gently and safely
  • Restores a sense of control and internal stability
  • Improves sleep, focus, and overall emotional resilience
  • Reinforces healing beliefs like “I am safe now” and “The past is behind me”

It doesn't erase memories but helps people gain peace and control over how they respond to them.

11What can I expect during a hypnotherapy session for PTSD and Traum

Each session is conducted at a pace that feels safe and comfortable to you. A typical session may include:

  • An initial conversation to understand your goals
  • A clear explanation of how hypnotherapy works
  • A guided induction to help you enter a relaxed, focused state
  • Deepening of that relaxed state to engage the subconscious mind
  • Therapeutic suggestions and imagery tailored to your needs
  • Post-hypnotic suggestions that support ongoing healing
  • A gradual return to full awareness
  • Space to reflect and discuss your experience

Every session is unique and tailored to your comfort level and readiness.

12Can hypnotherapy help with childhood trauma-related PTSD and Trauma

Yes, hypnotherapy is particularly helpful in addressing childhood trauma when delivered by a trauma-informed practitioner.

  • Accesses deep-rooted subconscious beliefs shaped during childhood
  • Allows safe, symbolic revisiting of painful memories without being retraumatised
  • Supports inner child healing through guided reassurance and emotional nurturing
  • Replaces feelings of danger or unworthiness with new beliefs of safety and self-worth
  • Builds emotional regulation and resilience for long-term healing

It’s a gentle yet powerful way to process wounds that may have lingered for years.

13What qualifications should I look for in a hypnotherapist for PTSD?

Choose a hypnotherapist who is experienced in trauma-informed care and trained through a recognised institution.

In Australia, look for practitioners who are members of organisations such as:

  • International Strategic Psychotherapists Association (ISPA)
  • Australian Hypnotherapists Association (AHA)
  • Hypnotherapy Council of Australia (HCA)

These affiliations reflect professionalism, ethics, and up-to-date knowledge.

14Are the effects of hypnotherapy for PTSD and Trauma long-lasting?

Yes, when hypnotherapy is done thoroughly and supported by healthy habits, its effects can be long-lasting.

  • Works at the subconscious level where trauma beliefs live
  • Reprograms negative thought patterns into empowering ones
  • Helps integrate emotions and build a stable emotional foundation

With consistent sessions and a supportive environment, many clients find the benefits are sustainable over time.

15Can hypnotherapy assist with improving sleep disturbed by PTSD and Trauma
Absolutely. Hypnotherapy offers natural and soothing methods to improve sleep disrupted by PTSD. Calms the nervous system to support falling and staying asleep Reduces nightmares through guided imagery and dream rescripting Replaces fear-based sleep beliefs with calming affirmations Builds positive sleep associations using techniques like visualisation and relaxation Encourages deeper, more restorative rest Better sleep often leads to better emotional balance and energy during the day.
16Is hypnotherapy suitable for managing PTSD and Trauma in high-pressure professions?

Yes, hypnotherapy is well-suited for professionals exposed to high-stress or traumatic situations, including first responders, healthcare workers, military personnel, and emergency services.

  • Provides fast and effective stress relief
  • Enhances emotional regulation and composure under pressure
  • Allows trauma processing without feeling overwhelmed
  • Improves sleep, mental clarity, and decision-making
  • Restores confidence and supports long-term mental resilience

For those in high-demand roles, hypnotherapy can be a key part of recovery and sustainable well-being.

17What does a typical session look like ?

Sessions last for 60 minutes. This gives me time to treat both the mind and the body. The first session lasts for 90 minutes. All other sessions are 60 minutes each.

  • Beginning: Typically, each session begins with a discussion of what’s happened since your last session. This gives us a clear idea of the progress you feel you’ve made and what areas we need to focus on.
  • Middle: You’ll sit back, relax, and listen as you receive hypnotherapy (most clients’ favourite part of the session!).
  • End: Finally, we’ll discuss what actions need to take place between this session and your next to ensure your healing continues.
18How do I get in touch with you?

Simply send me a message using the enquiry/booking form or book in a 30-minute free discovery call, and I’ll be in touch!

Or if you’d like to have a quick chat prior to booking a session, you can also call me on 0411 11 4587. I look forward to meeting you.