Why hypnotherapy apps might not be the best place to start

Let’s be honest, hypnotherapy apps can seem like a great deal. A mega-pack of sessions for sleep, stress, confidence, weight loss, productivity… the list goes on. And if you’re feeling anxious or overwhelmed, it’s tempting to dive in and start listening to every session under the “anxiety” tag, hoping this one will do the trick.

But here’s the thing, do you even know what the issue really is?

Most people don’t. They just know they feel anxious, stuck, unmotivated or frustrated. So they try everything and hope something sticks. And when it doesn’t work? They feel even more disheartened. Like there’s something wrong with them.

Let me reframe that.

What’s often happening is something we call in the therapy world: “content-free sessions”.

These app-based sessions are generalised. They aim to hit the most common causes or experiences of anxiety, or low mood, or stress. And they might get 70% of it right for you.

But that other 30%? The part that doesn’t quite land, your subconscious notices that. And either consciously or unconsciously, it starts to reject the whole thing. You get that quiet sense of “Hmm, this isn’t really me…” and the doubt creeps in. Which lowers the effectiveness of the parts that could have helped.

Now, I’m not saying that in a one-to-one session I always get right to the root of the issue immediately. (Unless it’s something specific like a spider phobia, then yes, we can often get right to the point).

But what I do leave out is the irrelevant. The stuff that doesn’t apply to you. Because in a tailored session, we explore your thoughts, your language, your emotional patterns and that alone creates a much clearer and more powerful path to change.

Let me share a story.

A client came to me after having great success with hypnotherapy in the past for weight loss. But now, her progress had stalled. She assumed she just needed more of the same. So in session one, we revisited the familiar strategies she had used… meal planning, portion control, healthy habits… and deepened them with new suggestions.

But something she said stood out:

“I’m afraid I’ll be hungry”.

So she always carried emergency food. Even for a short walk. Especially for hikes, fully loaded backpack, just in case.

So I suggested something during the hypnosis session:

Notice when that thought pops up - “I’m scared I’ll be hungry”.

And to notice what emotion came with it. That was her only task for the week.

By session two, her habits were improving again, great! But the biggest shift? Her realisation: That fearful thought was running everything. It was always there.

So we pivoted. A short EMDR process to help shift the emotional charge around that thought.

And a few weeks later on a follow-up call?

She casually mentioned she no longer carries emergency food. Even on hikes.

Because, in her words: “No-one’s going to die if dinner’s a bit late.”

Now that is the power of personalised therapy.

Not a blanket approach. Not guessing in the dark. But listening, noticing and working with the exact thread that you need to pull to change the pattern.

Apps have their place. But if you’re ready for real, lasting change - not just a short-term patch - a one-to-one approach can make all the difference.