{"id":69089,"date":"2026-10-01T11:12:17","date_gmt":"2026-10-01T09:12:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hypnosementor.nl\/?p=69089"},"modified":"2026-10-01T11:16:34","modified_gmt":"2026-10-01T09:16:34","slug":"hypnotherapy-for-ibs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hypnosementor.nl\/en\/hypnotherapy-for-ibs\/","title":{"rendered":"Hypnotherapy for IBS: therapist or app?"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"l-section wpb_row height_medium\"><div class=\"l-section-h i-cf\"><div class=\"g-cols vc_row via_flex valign_top type_default stacking_default\"><div class=\"vc_col-sm-12 wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>Abdominal pain, bloating, a gut that seems to have a mind of its own. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects 5 to 10% of the population and has a major impact on quality of life. Medication usually targets a single mechanism and often provides insufficient relief. Hypnotherapy for IBS works on several levels at once. New Dutch research shows how well hypnotherapy for IBS works, and what makes the difference.<\/p>\n<p>The study was published in the international journal Gut and was led from Maastricht UMC+. We read the full report and summarised the key insights. For everyone with IBS, for hypnotherapists and for healthcare professionals.<\/p>\n<h2>What is hypnotherapy for IBS?<\/h2>\n<p>IBS is a disorder of gut-brain interaction. In gut-directed hypnotherapy, a person enters a focused, receptive state. In that state, targeted suggestions are used to normalise the sensitivity of the gut and to change how the brain processes signals from the gut.<\/p>\n<p>International guidelines recommend these brain-gut therapies as part of IBS care. Together with cognitive behavioural therapy, gut-directed hypnotherapy has the strongest scientific support. According to the researchers, it is even considered the most effective form in the long term.<\/p>\n<h2>Research on hypnotherapy for IBS: three approaches side by side<\/h2>\n<p>The study included 230 people with IBS, aged 16 to 75. They were recruited through seven Dutch hospitals, advertisements and the patient association. Almost half (47%) were treated in primary care, by their GP. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Hypnotherapy with a therapist<\/strong>, following a fixed protocol.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The same hypnosis scripts as audio in a smartphone app<\/strong>, to follow independently.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Online psychoeducation<\/strong>: information about IBS, as a comparison group.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The main question was whether the app would work as well as a therapist.<\/p>\n<h2>The results of hypnotherapy for IBS<\/h2>\n<p>The researchers focused mainly on abdominal pain. A participant counted as a &#8216;responder&#8217; with at least 30% less abdominal pain, in at least two of the four weeks directly after treatment.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Less abdominal pain:<\/strong> 48% in the therapist group, 33% in the app group and 22% in the psychoeducation group.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Clearly fewer IBS symptoms overall:<\/strong> 61%, 53% and 28% at the end of treatment. This means a reduction of at least 50 points on the IBS Symptom Severity Scale (IBS-SSS).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Six months after treatment:<\/strong> 40%, 33% and 14%. In the app group, the result stayed the same. In the therapist group, it declined slightly and remained the highest. Of the participants who had less abdominal pain directly after treatment with a therapist, 70% still did six months later.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Quality of life<\/strong> improved clearly more in both hypnotherapy groups than in the psychoeducation group.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>After six months, both hypnotherapy groups did clearly better than the group that only received information. Directly after treatment, that difference was only statistically clear for the therapist group. The study could not demonstrate that the app works as well as a therapist. Personal hypnotherapy for IBS gave the best result.<\/p>\n<h3>What participants noticed themselves<\/h3>\n<p>During treatment, participants kept a daily record of their experiences. They also noted positive changes: better sleep, more relaxation, less stress and less abdominal pain.<\/p>\n<p>We recognise this from our practice. Hypnotherapy for IBS focuses on the gut, and at the same time people often notice that they feel calmer, sleep better and experience more space. Brain and gut work together, so a change in one also affects the other.<\/p>\n<h2>Why the therapist makes the difference<\/h2>\n<p>The hypnosis scripts in the app were the same as the therapist&#8217;s. Yet the therapist group scored better. The researchers offer several explanations.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The relationship.<\/strong> Personal contact and a good therapeutic relationship help people feel supported and stay motivated.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Practising consistently.<\/strong> Participants reported how consistently they did the home exercises: 73% in the therapist group, 63% in the app group. Looking only at the participants who completed the treatment as planned, the results were closer together: 52% had less abdominal pain with the therapist and 49% with the app. Guidance helps people keep going.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Tailoring.<\/strong> The therapists in the study worked with a fixed protocol. Personal (post-)hypnotic suggestions were left out as much as possible, so the therapy stayed comparable to the app. According to the researchers, the effect in everyday practice may therefore be even greater, precisely because a therapist attunes to the person.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Preference.<\/strong> Of the participants, 74% preferred a therapist and 21% preferred the app. Notably, this preference did not affect the outcome. Those who received hypnotherapy benefited, even when it was not their preferred format.<\/p>\n<h2>What does this mean for you?<\/h2>\n<h3>If you have IBS<\/h3>\n<p>Hypnotherapy for IBS is a well-researched treatment, recommended in international guidelines. Discuss it with your GP and choose a hypnotherapist with experience in gut-related complaints. In the Netherlands, you can find a recognised hypnotherapist near you in the <a href=\"https:\/\/erkende-hypnotherapeuten-register.nl\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Erkende Hypnotherapeuten Register<\/a>. No therapist nearby, or does the step feel too big right now? Then, according to the researchers, an app is a valuable option. Especially if you like to work independently and are comfortable with digital tools.<\/p>\n<h3>If you are a hypnotherapist<\/h3>\n<p>This research on hypnotherapy for IBS underlines what you see in practice: you make the difference. Anyone can play a script. Attuning to what the client shows, formulating personal suggestions and guiding someone in practising at home, that is craftsmanship. The researchers mention a hybrid format as a promising direction: one or two sessions in person first, then continuing digitally. They also mention tailoring to the client&#8217;s sensory preference: visual, auditory or kinaesthetic. Provide recordings, stay in touch and screen carefully at intake.<\/p>\n<h3>If you are a healthcare professional<\/h3>\n<p>According to the authors, the result of the app is on par with medication for IBS, and hypnotherapy with a therapist scores clearly higher. Referring patients for hypnotherapy for IBS to a specialised hypnotherapist is therefore a well-founded option. An app can help when there is no therapist nearby or when costs are a barrier. If someone also has significant anxiety or depressive symptoms, the researchers consider personal treatment more suitable than self-help or a fixed script. Almost half of the participants came from primary care, so this research is directly relevant for GPs too. And what works in hypnotherapy also works in your own consultations: language and contact influence how someone experiences symptoms.<\/p>\n<h3>If you are considering becoming a hypnotherapist<\/h3>\n<p>The researchers name a clear barrier: certified hypnotherapists are in limited supply. At the same time, three quarters of the participants with IBS preferred to see a therapist. So there is room for well-trained hypnotherapists who can offer hypnotherapy for IBS, with knowledge of physical complaints. Want to find out if this profession suits you? Start with the <a href=\"https:\/\/hypnosementor.nl\/en\/hypnosis-training\/introductory-hypnosis-course\/\">Introductory Hypnosis Course<\/a>. Ready to start professionally? Then the <a href=\"https:\/\/hypnosementor.nl\/en\/hypnosis-training\/hypnosis-and-hypnotherapy-training\/\">OMNI Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy Training<\/a> is the next step.<\/p>\n<h2>In conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>Research shows that hypnotherapy for IBS can reduce symptoms, and six months later the effect was still clearly visible. An app makes hypnotherapy accessible to more people. In this study, the results were best with a therapist. In our own practice, too, we see how important it is that a well-trained therapist attunes to the person. Would you like to learn more? Explore the <a href=\"https:\/\/hypnosementor.nl\/en\/hypnosis-training\/\">trainings of HypnoseMentor<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><em>This blog is for information only and does not replace medical advice. Always have abdominal complaints assessed by your GP first.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Source<\/strong><br \/>\nSnijkers JTW, Bosman MHMA, Winkens B, et al. In-person therapist-delivered hypnotherapy versus smartphone-based self-guided hypnotherapy in IBS: a multicentre three-armed randomised controlled trial. Gut 2026. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/gutjnl-2026-338385\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/gutjnl-2026-338385<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"l-section wpb_row height_medium\"><div class=\"l-section-h i-cf\"><div class=\"g-cols vc_row via_flex valign_top type_default stacking_default\"><div class=\"vc_col-sm-3 wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_col-sm-9 wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><h4>Author<\/h4>\n<p>Drs. Ina Oostrom is director of HypnoseMentor, OMNI Designated Certified Instructor (DCI) and international speaker. She was trained by Gerald Kein and received the Gerald Kein Award for Excellence in Hypnotism in 2015. In 2019, she was inducted into the Council Order of Braid of the National Guild of Hypnotists. She is the author of Hypnosis, The Key to Self-Empowerment and co-author of the Dutch books Operatie met Hypnose and Klinische Hypnotherapie.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hypnotherapy for IBS can reduce symptoms, according to new Dutch research with 230 participants. Personal hypnotherapy with a therapist gave the best result, and an app is a valuable option. Read what this means for people with IBS, hypnotherapists and healthcare professionals.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":69088,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[654,651],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-69089","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-applications","category-explanation"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hypnosementor.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69089","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hypnosementor.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hypnosementor.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hypnosementor.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hypnosementor.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=69089"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/hypnosementor.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69089\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":69091,"href":"https:\/\/hypnosementor.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69089\/revisions\/69091"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hypnosementor.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/69088"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hypnosementor.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=69089"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hypnosementor.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=69089"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hypnosementor.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=69089"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}