Relational hypnotherapy, lucid dreaming, and sleep paralysis: A case study
American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis April 3, 2026 Carlos A. Ramos
Sleep paralysis (SP) is a temporary muscle paralysis during the transition between REM sleep and wakefulness, often accompanied by frightening hallucinations. It affects about 20% of the population and is common in narcolepsy. This article describes using relational hypnotherapy combined with lucid dreaming suggestions for a 62-year-old white male whose recurring waking nightmares from SP harmed his mental health. While hypnosis has treated SP, little research has examined combining it with lucid dreaming. Lucid dreaming—awareness of dreaming—can reduce nightmares and improve sleep quality. The article shows how lucid dreaming interventions can be integrated into hypnotherapy to transform waking nightmares into preferred dream experiences.