Why it works: In a trance-like state, there’s heightened suggestibility: you’re more open to ideas, but only those you’re comfortable with, you won’t cluck like a chicken or dance like Elvis. In this hypnotic state, resistance or objections raised by the conscious mind, like “I can’t relax!” get quieted, allowing positive change to sneak in unnoticed. On top of that, neuroplasticity comes into play. Your brain forms pathways, networks of neurons, based on repeated thoughts, emotions, or behaviours. For example, if a lawyer associates courtrooms with anxiety, that’s a well-worn neural route: the amygdala (responsible for fear) lights up, stress hormones spike, and the heart races. Hypnosis works by weakening that neural pathway and strengthening a new one, like calm confidence.

The case for hypnotherapy’s effectiveness isn’t new; it dates back to studies like Alfred Barrios’ 1970 research in Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice. Barrios’ study compares hypnotherapy’s efficacy to psychoanalysis and behaviour therapy, claiming a 93 per cent recovery rate for hypnosis versus 38 per cent for psychoanalysis and 72 per cent for behaviour therapy. According to Barrios, the reason hypnosis is so effective in facilitating therapy is that “the incoherent perceptions, beliefs, and attitudes kept interfering with the suggestion and thus the conditioning”. In other words, hypnosis clears the mental clutter, allowing new, empowering patterns to take root, whether that’s unshakable confidence in the courtroom or laser-sharp focus during a deposition.

For lawyers, the applications of hypnotherapy are as varied as the cases they handle. It can dial down pre-trial anxiety, replacing it with a steady calm that lets you think on your feet when a judge throws a curveball. Hypnotherapy can also temper emotional reactions, so you stay composed when opposing counsel gets under your skin. It fosters empowerment by helping you tap into an inner sense of control, ensuring you feel fully in command of your case, while building confidence to deliver arguments with conviction, whether negotiating a settlement or making your case in court.

Beyond performance, hypnotherapy offers other powerful benefits: it can enhance creativity, helping you develop innovative legal strategies or arguments; reduce stress, allowing you to approach every challenge with a clearer mind; and improve communication skills, ensuring your message resonates effectively with clients, colleagues, or the court. It also helps break through mental blocks, allowing you to overcome self-doubt and performance anxiety. Additionally, it tackles burnout by promoting better sleep, enhanced relaxation, and work/life balance, ensuring you’re not just surviving the legal grind but thriving in it.

But don’t just take my word for it:

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One of my clients, Lauren Cassimatis, is an accredited criminal law specialist and founder of Gallant Law and Connecting Lawyer Mums. She has been a criminal lawyer for 20 years and has been running her businesses for seven years.

She said: “When I was at uni, a lecturer advised us to manage our stress constructively because the stats showed too many lawyers turned to alcoholism and other maladaptive behaviour to get them by. He was a pretty progressive lecturer, given ‘wellness in law’ wasn’t really a thing in 2001.”

“I encourage lawyers to try holistic therapy and treatment to not only manage stress but develop tools to thrive in the office, courtroom and at home. After all, it is a high-pressure profession. I’ve turned to meditation and hypnotherapy.”

“It helps me shake off all the head noise and external noise and tap into my subconscious mind to essentially reignite a sense of confidence and a passion for what I do. I have been doing this and feel lighter after each session and just ready to not only face challenges, but welcome positive opportunities. It’s a unique and wonderful experience”.

Joel Fogel is a Melbourne-based hypnotist.

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