Cognitive Hypnotherapy (CH) uses CBT as the central way of understanding and treating problems, and then draws on the benefits of hypnosis in aiding relaxation, enhancing long-term changes and unlocking problems at deeper levels than CBT can usually reach.

Where necessary, cognitive hypnotherapy draws on techniques and theories from other schools of psychotherapy,  especially if it is appropriate to investigate deeper beliefs (called "schemas") that may be at the root of long-standing problems.