Dr. David Spiegel on Huberman Lab: How hypnosis rewires fear

Hypnosis narrows attention to separate thought from all feeling; Reveri protocols cut acute pain, ease stress, and speed relief from phobias and trauma.

Andrew HubermanhostDr. David Spiegelguest

Nov 27, 202534mWatch on YouTube ↗

EPISODE INFO

Released: November 27, 2025
Duration: 34m
Channel: Huberman Lab
Watch on YouTube: ▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode, my guest is Dr. David Spiegel, MD, the Associate Chair of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Director of the Center on Stress and Health, and Director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. We discuss the science and clinical applications of hypnosis, including how hypnosis works in the brain. We examine the evidence-based uses of clinical and self-hypnosis for pain, trauma, phobias, sleep and stress, and explain how to gauge your own level of "hypnotizability." We also outline practical ways to access these tools, from working with a trained clinician to using structured self-hypnosis protocols. Show notes: https://go.hubermanlab.com/KsO42nz Huberman Lab Essentials are short episodes focused on essential science and protocol takeaways from past full-length Huberman Lab episodes. Watch the full-length episode: https://youtu.be/PctD-ki8dCc Watch more Huberman Lab Essentials episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPNW_gerXa4OGNy1yE-W9IX-tPu-tJa7S *Timestamps* 00:00:00 David Spiegel 00:00:20 What is Hypnosis?; Clinical vs Stage Hypnosis 00:02:33 Brain & Hypnosis, Cognitive Flexibility 00:06:14 ADHD, Self-Hypnosis & Focus 00:07:16 Stress Reduction, Mind-Brain Connection; Improve Sleep, Phobias 00:10:35 Narrative & Hypnosis, Mental State Change; Reframing Trauma 00:16:44 Naming Importance; Clinical Hypnotist, Durability of Hypnosis, Reveri App 00:19:17 Obsessive Thoughts, OCD, Hypnosis 00:20:35 Hypnotizability, Spiegel Eye Roll Test, Eye-Brain Connection 00:23:51 Trauma Recovery, Deliberate Self-Exposure to Pain or Trauma, Control 00:25:57 Mind-Body Connection, Control; Reframing Pain, Tool: Opportunity for Action 00:28:42 Children & Hypnosis; Group Hypnosis 00:30:29 Breathing in Hypnosis, Cyclic Sighing, Relaxation 00:32:06 Peak Performance & Hypnotic States 00:33:15 Reveri Hypnosis App, Finding Clinical Hypnotist; Acknowledgements Disclaimer & Disclosures: https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer

SPEAKERS

Andrew Huberman
host
Dr. David Spiegel
guest
Narrator
other

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Huberman Lab, featuring Andrew Huberman and Dr. David Spiegel, Dr. David Spiegel on Huberman Lab: How hypnosis rewires fear explores harness Hypnosis: Train Brain States To Transform Health And Performance Andrew Huberman and psychiatrist Dr. David Spiegel explore hypnosis as a scientific, trainable brain state of highly focused attention that can increase control over mind and body, rather than surrender it.

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