How Nerva works
Nerva uses gut-directed hypnotherapy, CBT and diaphragmatic-breathing techniques to help you practise a calmer response to gut sensations.
Gut-directed hypnotherapy (GDH)
Gut-focused visualisation practice that builds a calm, focused state.
Cognitive techniques (CBT)
Practical cognitive strategies that support adaptive coping and calmer thinking patterns.
Diaphragmatic breathing
Engages the vagus nerve and the parasympathetic ‘rest-and-digest’ system.
Components of a hypnotherapy visualization
Hypnotic induction
The deep relaxation phase shifts the body into a calm, focused state, making the brain more receptive to imagery input and reducing stress hormone levels.
Guided visualization
Gut-focused imagery (e.g., a calm river or warm light in the gut) helps people learn to reinterpret gut sensations as safe. With repetition, this establishes automatic, reflex-like pathways that support a calmer response without conscious effort.
Gut suggestions
Guided cues are delivered while the brain is most receptive, promoting calm as the brain's default state.
Hypnotic induction
The deep relaxation phase shifts the body into a calm, focused state, making the brain more receptive to imagery input and reducing stress hormone levels.
Guided visualization
Gut-focused imagery (e.g., a calm river or warm light in the gut) helps people learn to reinterpret gut sensations as safe. With repetition, this establishes automatic, reflex-like pathways that support a calmer response without conscious effort.
Gut suggestions
Guided cues are delivered while the brain is most receptive, promoting calm as the brain's default state.
Get in touch with a clinical specialist
Send an inquiry or book a brief call with our clinical team to discuss Nerva, referral options, EMR integration, or to organize a lunch and learn for your clinic.
Emily Mahadeo
Doctor of Clinical Nutrition (DCN) & Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)
Your questions,
answered.
What is the cost of the program?
The standard public Nerva offer is an annual subscription: $199 USD, A$249 AUD, €199 EUR or £149 GBP for 12 months of access. Patients referred by their healthcare practitioner receive a 25% discount. App stores may show other product names or offers, but the standard offer for new customers is annual.
Patients begin with a 7-day free trial to explore the program risk-free. For added peace of mind, we also offer a 42-day money-back guarantee.
Who is suitable for Nerva?
Nerva is a self-guided programme for adults. Many people who use it are looking for a structured, non-pharmacological way to build calmer gut habits. If you're unsure whether Nerva fits your circumstances, talk to your healthcare provider.
Who should not use Nerva: it is not recommended for individuals with severe psychiatric disorders, unresolved psychological trauma, or cognitive impairments.
What is gut-directed hypnotherapy?
Gut-directed hypnotherapy (GDH) is a guided practice focused on the gut-brain connection. It guides individuals into a state of focused attention, where individuals become more receptive to suggestion. This heightened state of awareness supports the gut-brain connection, shifting the body out of a stress response and into a state of calm.
During hypnosis, we can observe physiological changes in brain activity related to absorption, executive control, and awareness.
With self-hypnosis, you can practise anytime, anywhere – while remaining in complete control.
Can I access patient results?
Yes, patients can choose to add your details, allowing you to receive progress updates and reports with the self-reported IBS-SSS and PHQ-4 check-ins they share. These insights are securely delivered through our HIPAA-compliant and Australian Privacy Principles-compliant reporting system.
Can I test the app as a practitioner?
Yes, we offer free clinician access, allowing you to explore the full Nerva program firsthand. This gives you insight into the structure, content, and experience your patients will have.
How long is the program?
Nerva follows a structured 6-week programme.
Patients receive a 12-month subscription – which includes ongoing access to our flare-up toolkit for maintenance and support whenever they need it.
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- Lindfors, P., Törnblom, H., Sadik, R., Björnsson, E. S., Abrahamsson, H., & Simrén, M. (2012). Effects on gastrointestinal transit and antroduodenojejunal manometry after gut-directed hypnotherapy in irritable bowel syndrome. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, 47(12), 1480–1487. https://doi.org/10.3109/00365521.2012.719727
- Tan, G., Hammond, D. C., & Joseph, G. (2005). Hypnosis and irritable bowel syndrome: A review of efficacy and mechanism of action. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 47(3), 161–178. https://doi.org/10.1080/00029157.2005.10404187
- Labus, J. S., Bolus, R., Chang, L., Wiklund, I., Naesdal, J., Mayer, E. A., & Naliboff, B. D. (2004). The Visceral Sensitivity Index: Development and validation of a gastrointestinal symptom–specific anxiety scale. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 20(1), 89–97. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2036.2004.02007.x
- Moser, G., Truschel, M., et al. (2022). Heart-rate variability in patients with irritable bowel syndrome before and after gut-directed hypnotherapy (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT05283655). Unpublished clinical-trial report.
- Lackner, J. M., Jaccard, J., Krasner, S. S., Katz, L. A., et al. (2007). How does cognitive behavior therapy for irritable bowel syndrome work? A mediational analysis of a randomized clinical trial. Gastroenterology, 133(2), 433–444. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2007.05.014