Hypnosis is nothing more than an altered state of consciousness that can be induced by either a hypnotist or subject through the use of specialized stimuli. Any or all of these conditions can be a useful tool for improving one's mental health. In the clinical setting, the term hypnosis can be used to refer to any or all of the following: altered states of consciousness, such as stage hypnosis, self-hypnosis, or hypnosurgery relaxation and analgesia the emergence of new beliefs or reality patterns or the cessation of a series of behaviors or thoughts. Today, there are many institutions that offer hypnotherapy as a therapy for many different types of mental disorders. Clinical hypnosis has been around for quite some time, however it was not until recently that science was able to measure its effectiveness objectively. What is hypnosis? The answer is a complicated one, however, the results of many studies are beginning to show that hypnosis is a real and measurable phenomenon.