Meditation, Hypnotherapy and the Mind: Different Paths to the Same Place
In 1992, His Holiness the Dalai Lama invited leading scientists to study the brains of people who had spent decades in meditation. What they discovered began a new era in understanding how training the mind can literally change the brain.
Since then, hundreds of studies have shown that regular meditation and mindfulness practice reshape key areas of the brain involved in attention, emotion, and self-awareness. One of the most interesting findings was the discovery of the Default Mode Network (DMN) — a network of brain regions that becomes active when the mind wanders, when we’re lost in thought, daydreaming, or replaying memories.
The DMN is our brain’s “autopilot.” It helps us make sense of who we are — but when it’s overactive, it can fuel worry, rumination, and self-criticism. It’s the voice that says, “I should have done that differently,” or “What will they think of me?”
What Meditation Does to the DMN
When scientists scanned the brains of experienced Buddhist monks and long-term meditators, they noticed something remarkable — during meditation, the DMN quieted down. Instead of being lost in thought, these practitioners were present, grounded, and aware.
Over time, meditation strengthens new connections in the brain — building flexibility, compassion, and emotional balance. This process is called neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to rewire itself based on experience.
Mark Williams, one of the founders of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), describes this beautifully in his book Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Finding Peace in a Frantic World. He explains how mindfulness teaches us to “step out of the constant chatter of the mind and see thoughts as mental events, not facts.”
In other words, mindfulness doesn’t stop thoughts — it helps us change our relationship with them.
What Hypnotherapy Does Differently
While meditation cultivates awareness through gradual practice, hypnotherapy can create similar states of calm and focus much more quickly. Under hypnosis, the brain enters a relaxed but highly focused state where the usual self-critical narrative of the DMN softens.
This allows positive suggestions to take root — helping to change unwanted habits, release emotional patterns, or create new ways of responding to stress. It’s almost like taking a direct shortcut to the subconscious mind — what meditation achieves through years of training, hypnotherapy can often reach in a single session.
However, this doesn’t make hypnosis “better” than meditation — they simply work differently:
Meditation trains awareness gradually through repetition and patience.
Hypnotherapy guides the mind into a focused, receptive state for immediate therapeutic change.
Many people find that combining both creates the most lasting results — hypnotherapy for quick transformation, mindfulness to maintain balance and self-awareness.
Mindfulness and Mental Health
From a psychological perspective, mindfulness has become one of the most well-researched tools for improving mental health. MBCT — developed by Mark Williams, John Teasdale, and Zindel Segal — was originally designed to prevent relapse in people with recurrent depression.
It works because it teaches us to notice our thoughts and emotions before they spiral out of control. Rather than fighting uncomfortable feelings, we learn to sit with them, understand them, and let them pass. Over time, mindfulness strengthens the same neural pathways that help us recover from stress and build emotional resilience.
Mindfulness isn’t about emptying the mind — it’s about coming home to it.
Meditation and Hypnosis — Two Doors, One Room
Both meditation and hypnotherapy allow us to access a quieter, wiser part of ourselves — a state where the mind is calm and the body is deeply relaxed.
The main difference is the path we take to get there:
Meditation is the slow unfolding of awareness.
Hypnotherapy is a guided shortcut into that same inner space.
Both lead us to the same place — a mind that is clearer, calmer, and more open to positive change.
Begin Your Own Mindfulness Journey
If you’re curious about exploring mindfulness and would like a structured, evidence-based, easy to follow guide, my 6-week Mindfulness Course is designed to help you:
Reduce stress and anxiety
Improve focus and emotional balance
Build self-compassion and resilience
Reconnect with the present moment
You don’t need years of meditation experience — just an open mind and a little curiosity. With real practical tips on how to practice mindfulness in our Western Society. I have a course for children, young adults and adults.
Join me in learning how to quiet the noise of the DMN, calm the inner critic, and find peace in your everyday life.
👉 Learn more about the Mindfulness Course here
References
Williams, M., Teasdale, J., Segal, Z., & Kabat-Zinn, J. (2011). Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Finding Peace in a Frantic World. Piatkus.
Raichle, M. E. (2015). The Brain’s Default Mode Network. Annual Review of Neuroscience.
Garrison, K. A., et al. (2015). Meditation and the Default Mode Network: Insights from Neuroimaging. NeuroImage.
Oakley, D. A., & Halligan, P. W. (2013). Hypnotic Suggestion: Opportunities for Cognitive Neuroscience. Nature Reviews Neuroscience.
The Mind, Explained: Mindfulness, Netflix, 2019.