Mindful Hypnotherapy Intervention for Well-Being in Older Adults: A Mixed-Methods Randomized Clinical Trial
Chnanis Ladha
International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis September 28, 2026 DOI: 10.1080/00207144.2026.2710909 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 62 |
| Population | Community-dwelling adults aged 60–95 years |
| Interventions | Mindful hypnotherapy intervention (MHI) non-hypnotic relaxation |
| Duration | Four-session intervention |
| Key findings | The authors report that mindful hypnotherapy produced a significant overall treatment effect on well-being measures, with participants reporting higher happiness, life satisfaction, and affect balance and lower distress than controls. They present these as preliminary findings and call for larger, more rigorously controlled trials. |
Abstract
This randomized controlled trial examined the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a mindful hypnotherapy intervention (MHI) integrating positive psychology suggestions to enhance well-being in older adults. Sixty-two community-dwelling adults aged 60–95 years were randomized to MHI, non-hypnotic relaxation, or wait-list control. The four-session intervention combined hypnotic induction, guided imagery, and suggestions targeting gratitude, savoring, self-compassion, acceptance, positive relationships, hope, and optimism, followed by post-hypnotic cues to support self-practice. Outcomes included happiness, life satisfaction, affect balance, and psychological distress; semi-structured interviews explored participants’ subjective experiences. A multivariate analysis controlling for baseline scores revealed a significant overall treatment effect, F(8, 104) = 2.88, p = .006, partial η2 = .18. Compared with controls, MHI participants reported higher happiness, life satisfaction, and affect balance, and lower distress. Qualitative findings indicated increased calmness, gratitude, emotional regulation, and perceived interpersonal benefits. The findings provide preliminary support for hypnosis as a potential medium for delivering strengths-based psychological content associated with resilience and well-being. The MHI demonstrated feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary benefits, supporting further investigation in larger, more rigorously controlled trials.