Physical health
Hypnotherapy for fibromyalgia
Hypnotherapy can help you manage fibromyalgia pain and the stress, poor sleep and exhaustion that come with it, as part of the plan agreed with your doctor.
How hypnotherapy helps with fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia brings widespread pain, tiredness, poor sleep and often difficulty concentrating. It can be hard to explain to other people, and the uncertainty of good days and bad days is stressful in itself. Pain, stress and poor sleep tend to feed each other.
Research suggests hypnotherapy can help some people with fibromyalgia manage pain and distress, as part of a plan agreed with their doctor. A 2017 review of seven randomised controlled trials found that people who had hypnosis were more likely to report at least a 50% reduction in pain, and also reported less psychological distress, than people in comparison groups. An earlier 2011 review also found benefits.
Hypnotherapy is not a treatment for the condition itself. It gives you practical ways to turn down the volume on pain, settle your nervous system and sleep better, so you feel more in control.
What we work on
- Techniques to ease how strongly pain is felt
- Deep relaxation to calm an overstretched nervous system
- Sleep: falling asleep and getting back to sleep
- Stress, frustration and low mood linked to living with pain
- Pacing your energy without guilt
- Self-hypnosis for flare-up days
How sessions work
Start with a free 15–30 minute consultation by phone or video. Sessions take place in person at 9 Coldbath Square, Farringdon, or online, which can save energy on difficult days. Every session is tailored, drawing on Ericksonian hypnotherapy and NLP, and you will learn self-hypnosis to use at home.
Why Tim
Tim Dunton has more than 20 years of experience and has been training since 2004. He is a member of the General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR), an Advanced and Ericksonian Hypnotherapist and a Master Practitioner of NLP, trained by Richard Bandler and John Grinder. He has worked with celebrities, sportspeople and business leaders.
Do I need a diagnosis?
Yes, ideally. Fibromyalgia should be diagnosed by a doctor, because other conditions can cause similar symptoms.
Will it replace my treatment?
No. Hypnotherapy works alongside the care your GP or specialist provides. Keep taking anything prescribed.
Can I have sessions online?
Yes. Many clients with fibromyalgia prefer online sessions so they do not have to travel.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Aim | Manage pain, distress and sleep |
| Evidence | Moderate: reviews of randomised trials |
| Typical course | Usually around five sessions (7 hours) |
| Format | In person in Farringdon, London EC1, or online |
| First step | Free 15–30 minute consultation |
| Fee | £150 an hour online, £195 in person |
Hypnotherapy works alongside medical care. Please see your GP about any medical condition, and keep taking prescribed medication unless your doctor advises otherwise.
See also: hypnotherapy for physical health, chronic pain and insomnia.
The research
- Zech N, Hansen E, Bernardy K, Häuser W (2017). Review of 7 randomised controlled trials (387 people) of hypnosis for fibromyalgia. European Journal of Pain 21(2):217–227. PubMed 27896907
- Bernardy K et al (2011). BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 12:133. PubMed 21676255
Individual experiences vary.
Related treatments
A free, no-obligation 15–30 minute call by phone or video. Or call 07975 653893.