How Hypnotherapy can Help You Release Trapped Emotions
What is Hypnotherapy?
A few years ago, I had the incredible fortune of experiencing a series of transformative hypnotherapy sessions with a young man named Raj. I’ll never forget the day we met. He was working as a barista at my neighborhood espresso bar, radiating an infectious smile and a charismatic laugh. We clicked instantly.
From our very first conversation, I could tell Raj was brilliant. So why was he working at a coffee shop that exclusively hired undergraduates from the local university? Raj appeared to be nearing 30—far older than his coworkers. Something didn’t quite add up. Over the next few weeks, I eagerly anticipated my morning chats with Raj. Our banter was playful, bordering on hilarious. It was the highlight of my mornings.
Then, one day, Raj caught me off guard. “So, what do you do?” he asked.
“I’m a clinical hypnotherapist,” I replied.
His eyes widened. “What’s that?”
I explained, “It’s a therapy technique that uses guided meditation to help heal emotions.”
With a sudden seriousness, he asked, “Can it make me stop feeling worthless?”
“Maybe,” I said. “Why don’t you come in and give it a try? For you, the first session is free.”
We scheduled a session for the following week.
Raj’s Story
When Raj arrived for his session, my suspicions were confirmed—he was brilliant. He had graduated with honors in computer programming from the local university, with impressive job offers lined up before he even received his diploma.
“So, what happened?” I asked. “Why are you making coffee?”
Raj shared his story. He came from a family of highly successful entrepreneurs. His father, a pioneer in specialized medical equipment, had built a substantial fortune.
But Raj’s memories of his father were painful. “He never saw me for who I was,” Raj explained. “He only saw my shortcomings.” His father’s constant criticisms left him feeling inadequate, even after earning honors.
At his graduation, Raj’s father delivered a stinging remark: “You may be smart, but you’ll never be like me in business.”
“That day,” Raj said, “I silently thought, ‘F** you.’* And then I decided to prove him right.”
From that moment, Raj began sabotaging himself. He declined job offers, avoided interviews, and turned to smoking pot. He lost interest in work, relationships, and life. When his father was diagnosed with cancer, Raj visited him one final time. His father, though weak, never acknowledged Raj’s presence. “It left me spiraling into a deep depression,” Raj said. “It took months to drag myself off the couch, and that’s when I got this coffee job.”
The Hypnotherapy Sessions
In Raj’s first session, we explored his buried emotions. As I guided him into a relaxed state, I encouraged him to confront his feelings of unworthiness. The result was profound—he erupted into tears, sobbing uncontrollably for ten minutes as he relived the experiences that shaped his pain.
“That was a major emotional release,” I thought.
A few weeks later, we worked on forgiveness. In a single session, Raj transformed his perception of his father. “I don’t know how I did it,” he said afterward, “but I let him go. It feels like a huge weight has been lifted.”
In our final session, we focused on dynamic future visualization. Raj vividly imagined possible futures, feeling a newfound energy coursing through him. “I can actually feel it buzzing,” he said, leaving the session visibly inspired.
I didn’t see Raj at the coffee shop again. When I asked about him, a new barista said, “Oh, I just started here. I don’t know who Raj is.”
A year and a half later, I received a Christmas card. Inside was a photo of Raj with his glowing wife, who was pregnant, both smiling radiantly. On the back of the card, a handwritten note read:
“Started a new online company. Doing well. You have no idea. Thank you so much.”
What is Hypnotherapy?
Raj’s story is a testament to the power of hypnotherapy. But what exactly is hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is a form of guided meditation that accesses the subconscious mind to address three primary areas:
Emotional and physical healing
Enhancing creativity
Expanding consciousness (e.g., spiritual awakening)
Hypnotherapy and Healing
Emotions are meant to be experienced. When they aren’t, they become trapped in the body and subconscious, lingering like unresolved energy. These suppressed emotions can manifest as repeating patterns of pain, injuries, or even illness. Hypnotherapy helps release these trapped emotions, breaking the cycle of pain and facilitating healing.
Hypnotherapy and Creativity
When the subconscious is free of suppressed emotions, creativity flourishes. Hypnotherapy removes internal blocks, unlocking the creative potential within you—not just in art, but in all aspects of life.
Hypnotherapy and Consciousness
As you continue to clear your subconscious through hypnotherapy, your vibration rises, and you may connect with the Universal Life Force—whether you call it God, the Divine, or the Universe. This connection can manifest as synchronicities, miracles, or mystical experiences. Once you’ve felt it, your life will never be the same. For Raj, it meant rediscovering himself, his creativity, and the joy of family and purpose.
About Joseph
Having worked in the healing and spirituality filed since 1991, Joseph Drumheller is the founder of JDH Academy of Wellness, a Master Hypnotherapist, Energy Healer, Advocate for Soul Evolution, Teacher, and four-time award-winning author, with works in fiction, non-fiction, and children's books.