What is Hypnotherapy? Hypnosis has moved away from its earlier association with quackery and is gaining acceptance within the medical establishment. It is used in fields such as medicine and sport to change the way a person's brain interprets experiences and produce a change in perception and behaviour. The application of hypnosis for therapeutic purpose is generally called hypnotherapy. Hypnotism has had a chequered history, and still suffers from an image problem, owing to stage hypnosis, some novels and films. These preconceptions should be forgotten. Hypnosis is fast gaining credibility as a valuable medical and psychological tool, with many orthodox doctors now referring patients to Hypnotherapists. Virtually every human being, unless mentally subnormal or psychotic, is capable of entering a hypnotic trance. The big advantage of using hypnosis as a treatment is that it is without side effects. If you are anxious about trying hypnosis, you should be reassured that you cannot be made to do anything against your will that is unacceptable to your own values and patterns of behaviour.