Is hypnosis the key to tackling workplace burnout?

Burnout is no longer just a buzzword – it’s a workplace crisis, writes Joel Fogel.

Burnout is no longer just a buzzword – it’s a workplace crisis. Recent research shows that nearly 77 per cent of Australian employees have experienced burnout, with chronic stress, overwork and lack of recovery time being major contributors. Burnout isn’t just an individual problem – it affects productivity, engagement, retention, and overall organisational health.

Despite the growing awareness of the problem, many traditional wellness programs (such as meditation apps, yoga classes, or flexible work policies) only address surface-level symptoms. They rarely tackle the underlying neurological and psychological mechanisms that drive burnout. If organisations want lasting change, they need to explore interventions that work at a deeper level. One such approach gaining traction is hypnosis.

The World Health Organisation defines burnout as a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It manifests as:

• Emotional exhaustion.
• Cynicism or detachment from work.
• Reduced professional efficacy.

These symptoms arise not only from heavy workloads but also from the brain’s automatic stress responses. When under prolonged pressure, the brain’s stress pathways (particularly involving cortisol and adrenaline) become overactive, keeping employees’ nervous systems on high alert. Over time, this neurophysiological pattern entrenches itself, making it difficult for individuals to recover with conscious strategies alone.

Conventional wellness programs tend to focus on coping mechanisms like mindfulness, exercise, or workload adjustments. While helpful, these interventions don’t necessarily change how the subconscious mind responds to stress. This is where hypnosis comes in.

Unlike theatrical hypnosis you may see on stage, clinical hypnotherapy is a scientifically supported method that enables individuals to access a focused, relaxed state of mind. In this state, the subconscious brain becomes more receptive to new thought patterns, emotional regulation, and stress management strategies. Unlike surface-level relaxation techniques, hypnosis can influence habitual stress responses, helping employees reduce anxiety, improve focus, and build resilience.

A meta-analysis published in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews found that hypnosis is effective in reducing anxiety and enhancing emotional control. Furthermore, research published by the American Psychological Association proves that hypnosis can alter activity in the anterior cingulate cortex – a brain region responsible for attention, self-control, and emotional regulation – explaining its measurable impact on stress and performance.

In simple terms, hypnosis allows employees to “retrain” their brains to respond to stress more effectively, rather than staying trapped in reactive patterns that drive burnout.

Integrating hypnosis into corporate wellness doesn’t require dramatic changes to existing programs. HR leaders can consider these approaches:

1. Clinical stress reduction sessions: Led by a reputable hypnotherapist, these sessions help employees deeply relax and retrain subconscious stress responses.
2. Targeted burnout programs: Credible practitioners can design tailored hypnotherapy programs to address specific organisational pressures and rebuild resilience.
3. One-on-one virtual hypnotherapy: Employees can access confidential, therapist-led sessions online, ensuring professional support across locations.

Importantly, these programs are not about “mind control” or dramatic stage performances. They are structured, evidence-based interventions designed to foster wellbeing, resilience, and sustained performance.

Despite strong scientific support, hypnosis is still widely misunderstood. Many people associate it with entertainment or fantasy. In reality, elite athletes, first responders, surgeons and corporate leaders have long used hypnotic techniques to enhance focus, improve decision making, and regulate emotions under pressure.

For HR leaders, understanding and communicating the science behind hypnosis is key. Evidence shows that when employees can manage stress effectively at a subconscious level, they are more engaged, creative, and productive – outcomes that directly help the organisation.

Burnout is complex. Tackling it requires more than surface-level solutions. By combining conventional wellness initiatives with evidence-based interventions like hypnosis, organisations can address the root causes of stress and support employees in developing sustainable coping strategies.

Investing in programs that target both conscious and subconscious stress responses is not just a wellbeing initiative; it’s a performance strategy. Workplaces that prioritise mental health, resilience, and recovery will be better positioned to keep talent, improve productivity, and maintain engagement in a highly competitive employment landscape.

The bottom line: addressing burnout requires bold, science-backed approaches. Hypnosis is a powerful tool that can complement existing wellbeing strategies and create lasting impact for both employees and organisations.

Joel Fogel is a clinical hypnotist and the founder of Hypnotist Melbourne.