Clinical Hypnosis for IBD with Dr. Ali Navidi: Tools, Science, and Real Relief

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Imagine being able to turn down the volume on gut pain, food fear, and medical anxiety—without white-knuckle coping or guesswork. We sit down with Dr. Ali Navidi, co-founder of GIpsychology.com and past president of the Northern Virginia Society of Clinical Hypnosis, to unpack how clinical hypnosis and gut-focused CBT help people with inflammatory bowel disease interrupt the gut-brain loop that keeps symptoms alive. No stage tricks here—just practical tools that retrain the nervous system, reduce visceral hypersensitivity, and restore a sense of control.

We explore the real differences between stage and clinical hypnosis and why trance is a natural state you already know how to access. Dr. Navidi explains how anchors—a simple conditioned cue—can trigger a calming response within seconds, whether you’re prepping for a colonoscopy, calling the insurance company, or navigating an unexpected flare. We dig into disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBIs) that can drive symptoms even when labs look great, and why gut-focused CBT plus hypnosis outperforms one-size-fits-all mental health approaches for persistent GI distress.

Trauma and nocebo effects show up in subtle ways across the IBD journey. We get candid about medical trauma, memory reconsolidation, EMDR as a hypnotic protocol, and how conditioned food sensitivities form—like the “pizza panic” that lingers long after a flare. You’ll hear how to calm hypervigilance, rebuild trust with your body, and reintroduce foods safely. We also share details on a new eight-week telehealth group, created with the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation and the American College of Gastroenterology, that pairs weekly skills training with recorded hypnosis sessions for daily practice.

Ready to try tools that actually change how your system reacts? Follow, share with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review to help others find the show. Your story might be the anchor someone else needs today.

Links:

• Information about the IBD Psychotherapy Group
• Information on Disorder of the Gut-Brain Interaction (DGBI)
• Great resources from GI Psychology
• Article in the Atlantic
• Dr. Navidi on the About IBD Podcast with Amber Tresca

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