Hypnosis is far older than you might think. From ancient civilisations to modern psychology, here is how it became the calm, evidence-led practice it is today.
Hypnosis has been recorded in existence as far back as 3000–1000 BC, appearing in many different forms throughout recorded history.
The German physician Franz Mesmer developed and promoted the term "mesmerism", exploring his beliefs about the balance of magnetic power within the body — what he called "animal magnetism". Revered by some and rejected by others, he nonetheless achieved real successes in treating his patients' symptoms. Notably, the study of hypnosis grew hand in hand with the study of sleep.
The Scottish ophthalmologist James Braid coined the word "hypnosis", taken from the Greek word for "sleep". Modern science later showed that hypnosis is not actually related to sleep — though both share one thing in common: an enhancement of external focus.
The Austrian physician Josef Breuer drew attention for his treatment of the patient known as "Anna O." for hysteria. Breuer used suggestive hypnosis to surface childhood emotions, which led to a reduction in her symptoms.
A colleague of Breuer, Sigmund Freud used hypnosis work to discover the unconscious process — a significant finding for psychoanalysis. Freud ultimately moved towards "free association", where clients talk freely while the clinician analyses their deeper psychology. Melanie Klein later observed that Freud had become too authoritative in his use of hypnosis, which hindered his results.
The American psychiatrist Milton Erickson (1901–1980) is the most prominent figure in modern hypnosis. A master of using language creatively to communicate with the unconscious, his focus was not on identifying the cause of symptoms but on helping patients release them. His methods — known as Ericksonian hypnosis — strongly influenced contemporary approaches such as neuro-linguistic programming (NLP).
The American Psychological Association established the Division 30 Society of Psychological Hypnosis. Since then, the science of hypnosis has been developed and studied rigorously.
Today, hypnotherapy is a safe, evidence-led approach — and the foundation of the supportive, structured sessions Frances offers.
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