Episode # 267 • 31 Mar 2026
Clinical Hypnotherapy Applications in ENT Medicine
with Dr. Sonia Gupte, Dr. Gopi Shah
Why do some patients recover faster, cope better, and experience less pain despite similar diagnoses? The answer may lie not in the pathology, but in perception. In this episode of the BackTable ENT & Allergy Podcast, Dr. Sonia Gupte, a former family physician and board-certified clinical hypnotherapist, joins host Dr. Gopi Shah to explore how hypnotherapy works and where it fits in modern medical care.
Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction
05:13 - Understanding the Subconscious Mind
09:29 - The Hypnotherapy Process
15:43 - Patient Selection
18:58 - Anxiety, Stress, and Pain Perception
23:54 - Use in General ENT Population
28:14 - When to Refer
31:51 - History of Hypnotherapy in Cancer Care
32:56 - Awareness, Access, and Billing Insurance
38:59 - Setting Expectations, Visits Required, and Smoking Cessation
43:42 - Virtual Visits and Possible Limitations
46:57 - Techniques for ENTs
49:14 - Closing Thoughts
Resources
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More about this episode
Dr. Gupte shares how her mother’s cancer journey led her to recognize gaps in addressing the mind-body connection and ultimately transition into hypnotherapy. She clarifies the difference between hypnosis and clinical hypnotherapy, emphasizing the latter as a collaborative, goal-oriented process aimed at uncovering the “why” behind patient patterns and reshaping perceptions. The conversation covers the structure of a hypnotherapy session, relevant brainwave states, patient selection and contraindications, and clinical applications ranging from oncology support to ENT-related quality-of-life concerns. They also discuss use in pediatric patients, expected timelines for improvement, virtual care delivery, and practical communication strategies clinicians can use to reduce patient anxiety in everyday practice.
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