What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘hypnosis’? Dr Amit J Logan shares on Hypnotherapy and the Healing Power of Hypnosis
By Joel Betrand Antonius
Maybe it’s someone swinging a pocket watch or a stage performer making people act silly. Some wonder if hypnosis is even real. But clinical hypnotherapy is far from a stage act. It’s a science-backed therapy used by professionals to support patients with chronic pain, anxiety, emotional trauma, and stress-related conditions.
We spoke to Dr Amit J Logan, a former armed forces medical doctor who now practices medical hypnosis, helping patients reclaim control over their minds and bodies.
What’s the biggest misconception you’d like to clear up about hypnotherapy?
Dr Amit J Logan: One big misconception is that hypnotherapy works for everyone. That’s not true. Not everyone can be hypnotised especially if they aren’t open to it. Hypnosis works best when the person is willing, has a clear intention, and is open to change.
Another myth is that hypnosis is mind control. It’s not. You’re always in control during a session. Your subconscious mind won’t accept suggestions that go against your values. We enter hypnotic states every day, like when you’re driving and suddenly realise you’ve zoned out, or when you’re so into a movie you forget everything else. That’s a trance state, and that’s what we work with in clinical hypnotherapy.
Image credit: Dr Amit J Logan
Why did you choose medical hypnosis over psychology?
Dr Amit: I chose medical hypnosis because it allows me to be creative and flexible when working with people. Every person has a different way of thinking and experiencing the world. To treat someone effectively, especially when it comes to health and wellness, you need to understand both the mind and the body.
Hypnosis gives access to the subconscious mind, which governs many of our automatic behaviours and even bodily functions. But I also studied psychology and various therapeutic approaches, which I now combine into something called integrative psychotherapy. This allows me to adapt my methods to each patient’s needs, whether they respond to hypnosis or not.
You help people with pain, too, as a hypnotherapist. How does that work?
Dr Amit: Yes, we use hypnosis for chronic pain management. Most illnesses are stress-related, so when we reduce stress, we often reduce the severity of the condition itself. Hypnosis helps patients feel like they’re in more control over their pain.
We don’t obliterate pain, especially if it’s part of a medical condition but we reduce its intensity and emotional impact. Over time, patients learn to live with it in a way that’s much more manageable.
What other medical issues can hypnotherapy help with?
Dr Amit: In many countries, especially in Europe and the U.S., hypnoanesthesia is used in surgery. Instead of using strong drugs to knock a patient out, we guide them into a hypnotic state before the procedure. The patient stays relaxed and doesn’t feel pain, but is still in a kind of conscious, trance-like state.
This requires preparation, usually around three weeks of sessions to get the mind ready. When general anaesthesia is used, the body is under a lot of stress. With hypnoanesthesia, there’s usually less bleeding, faster recovery, and patients often wake up feeling refreshed.
Are patients conscious or unconscious during hypnoanesthesia?
Dr Amit: They’re in a trance state, which is technically conscious but deeply relaxed. They can talk and respond, but that part of the brain that processes pain is calm. It feels like a pleasant, drowsy dream. Some patients even describe it as a ‘natural high’.
What does medical hypnosis mean to you, and where is it heading?
Dr Amit: I see medical hypnosis as a complementary therapy, not a primary treatment. But it’s a powerful tool. When patients are calm, relaxed, and mentally prepared, their bodies function better physically, emotionally, and behaviourally.
For example, hypnosis won’t cure diabetes, but it can help someone change their lifestyle, eat better, manage stress, and adopt healthier habits. It supports traditional treatments by rewiring the mind to be more receptive to change.
Why do scam calls feel so convincing? Is that just persuasion, or is it a form of hypnosis?
Dr Amit: It’s not hypnosis, but it uses similar language patterns. Scam callers use tone, timing, and persuasive phrasing to trigger emotional responses. If you say the right words in the right way, the brain accepts them, especially if the person is caught off guard. That’s why language is powerful in both hypnosis and manipulation.
