# Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy May Pose Specific Challenges in Gender-Diverse Patients: A Review of 3 Patients

## TL;DR

Gut-directed hypnotherapy may be harder for gender-diverse patients due to body awareness and vulnerability challenges.

## Contribution

Highlights specific challenges in using gut-directed hypnotherapy for gender-diverse patients through qualitative insights.

## Key findings

- Gender-diverse patients experienced distress from increased body awareness during hypnotherapy.
- Vulnerability and external barriers were significant challenges in treatment adherence.
- Gender-affirming support is crucial for successful hypnotherapy in this population.

## Abstract

Disorders of gut-brain interaction are common and often characterized by chronic symptom courses. While gut-directed hypnotherapy is effective for refractory disorders of gut-brain interaction, the required internal awareness and vulnerability may be challenging. Driven by our own clinical experiences, we conducted qualitative interviews with patients who identified as transgender or gender diverse and who had discontinued gut-directed hypnotherapy. Four main themes were generated from these interviews related to distress resulting from body awareness, difficulty with vulnerability, the importance of gender-affirming supports, and external barriers. Providers are encouraged to consider gender diversity, and more broadly body image, in discussion of hypnosis treatment.