Can Hypnotherapy Help With Anxiety and Overthinking?
Oct 17, 2026
Can Hypnotherapy Help With Anxiety and Overthinking?
By Leanna Lapidus, Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist & Transformational Coach
You’re tired, but your mind keeps going.
You replay a conversation. Question a decision. Imagine what could go wrong. You tell yourself to stop thinking about it, only to find yourself back in the same loop.
You may be wondering: “Can hypnotherapy help with anxiety? What if I understand why I do this, but still can’t stop?”
Hypnotherapy may help some people explore learned responses and practice a different way of responding to anxious thoughts. Results vary, and it is not a guaranteed cure for an anxiety disorder.
In my practice, I combine hypnotherapy and coaching to help people understand the patterns behind their reactions and build greater self-trust. My focus is healing at the root: exploring what may be keeping a pattern going, rather than only asking how to get through the next anxious moment.
Why do I overthink everything?
Sometimes, thinking feels like a way to protect yourself.
“If I go over it one more time, maybe I’ll know I made the right choice.”
“If I prepare for everything, maybe nothing will catch me off guard.”
“If I figure out what they meant, maybe I can finally relax.”
In my work with clients, we explore whether overthinking has become a learned habit of searching for certainty, reassurance, or control. That does not explain every experience of anxiety, but it can be a useful place to begin.
The question becomes: “What am I hoping all this thinking will give me?”
You may discover that you are looking for permission to trust yourself, tolerate uncertainty, or stop treating every uncomfortable thought as a warning.
How is hypnotherapy used for anxiety and overthinking?
Hypnotherapy uses focused attention, guided imagery, and suggestions agreed upon with you. In my sessions, these tools are combined with conversation and coaching around your goals.
For example, you might recognize a belief such as “If someone is disappointed in me, I’ve done something wrong.” We can explore how that belief affects your choices and rehearse a more balanced response.
The goal is not to force positive thinking. It is to create room for a thought that is more accurate and useful: “Someone can be disappointed, and I can still make a thoughtful decision.”
We may work toward recognizing triggers, questioning old assumptions, and responding with greater calm and confidence.
You can read more about my approach on my hypnotherapy for anxiety in Los Angeles and online page.
Does hypnotherapy work for everyone?
No approach works the same way for every person.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health reports promising findings for hypnosis used for anxiety around medical or dental procedures, while noting that the overall evidence is inconclusive. Those findings should not be treated as proof that hypnosis cures ongoing anxiety disorders.
I approach this work as a personalized process. We discuss your goals, what you have already tried, and whether my services are an appropriate fit. Hypnotherapy can complement care from a licensed mental health professional; it does not replace needed assessment or treatment.
What happens during a hypnotherapy session?
We begin with what is happening in your life.
What brings on the worry? What do you tell yourself in those moments? What would you like to do differently?
From there, I tailor the session to your needs. It may include guided relaxation, imagery, reframing, and practicing a different response to a familiar situation.
My work is to empower you. I want you to leave with something you can use in daily life, whether that is a reflective question, a new perspective, or a practice to reinforce between appointments.
Will I be awake and in control during hypnosis?
Hypnotherapy is a collaborative process, not a performance.
You can communicate, ask questions, decline a suggestion, or stop. You do not have to share anything you are not ready to discuss.
Before beginning, I explain the process and make space for your questions. Your participation and comfort matter.
How many hypnotherapy sessions will I need for anxiety?
There is no honest number I can promise everyone.
Your goals, history, response to sessions, and practice between appointments all matter. Feeling calmer after a session can be encouraging, but it does not tell us that a long-standing pattern has permanently changed.
We discuss a plan together and review how the work is affecting your everyday life. Are you spending less time replaying conversations? Making decisions with less reassurance? Responding differently when something feels uncertain?
Those practical changes matter more than a promise about speed.
Can I do hypnotherapy for anxiety online?
I offer private online hypnotherapy sessions through Zoom, as well as in-person appointments in the Los Angeles area.
For an online session, you will need a private, quiet space, a reliable internet connection, and time when you can participate without interruption. We can discuss whether the format fits your needs during a Clarity Call.
My experience helping people change learned patterns
I am Leanna Lapidus, a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, Transformational Coach, and Addiction Recovery Specialist with more than 15 years of experience.
My background includes 10 years as a Clinical Hypnotherapist & Spiritual Counselor at Passages Malibu. I work with people navigating anxiety, trauma-related patterns, addictive behaviors, and questions of self-worth.
People often come to me knowing what they want to change, but feeling pulled back into familiar reactions. Together, we explore those reactions with curiosity and work toward different choices.
You can learn more about my background and approach here.
Ready to take the next step?
You do not have to figure everything out before asking for support.
If you are looking for anxiety hypnotherapy in Los Angeles or online, a free 15-minute Clarity Call is a place to ask questions and discuss whether working together makes sense for you.
This article is educational and is not a diagnosis or individualized treatment advice.