Nerva personalized digestive care
Gut-directed hypnotherapy for IBS
Nerva combines gut-directed hypnotherapy, dietary guidance and symptom tracking in a personalized digestive care program, with a six-week core and continued maintenance access.
Understand the approach
Your symptoms are real. The gut-brain connection matters.
In IBS, nerves in your gut can become overly sensitive, so even normal digestion can trigger signals that your brain interprets as pain or discomfort—like an alarm that goes off too easily. Your symptoms are real; the gut-brain connection can amplify them.
Gut-directed hypnotherapy, also called gut-directed hypnosis or IBS hypnotherapy, uses focused attention, relaxation and gut-focused imagery to help train your brain to interpret and respond to these signals differently. In Nerva, you practice this through guided sessions, alongside the other parts of your personalized digestive care program.
How gut-directed hypnotherapy works: evidence and session guide →Your personalized care program
Bring your digestive care together.
Nerva is a personalized digital digestive care program combining clinical screening, brain-gut behavioral care, dietary guidance, symptom tracking and escalation when needed. It includes a six-week core program and continued maintenance access.
- 01
IBS hypnotherapy
Practice gut-directed hypnotherapy at home with guided audio in the Nerva app. Sessions of around 15 minutes each help you build a routine throughout the six-week core of your personalized digestive care program.
- 02
Dietary guidance
Bring dietary guidance into the same program as your behavioral care, with education to help you understand the dietary side of your symptoms.
- 03
Symptom tracking
Follow your symptoms through the six-week core program. Continued maintenance access lets you keep using your program and tools beyond the core.
- 04
Clinical screening and escalation
Our clinical team screens and escalates when medical follow-up is needed, while existing clinicians continue to manage diagnosis and complex care.
The Nerva difference
Clinical evidence behind Nerva.
Participants reported a significant improvement in symptom management using Nerva’s gut-directed hypnotherapy program.
81%1of participants met the primary symptom endpoint, compared with 63% on active control.
Randomized controlled trial · N=244 · active control · AJG 2025 Read the research →
- clinically significant abdominal-pain reduction, compared with 35% on control
- 71%
- adults randomized against a matched psychoeducation control
- 244
244 adults with IBS were randomized; 240 received the programs. The primary endpoint was a decrease of at least 50 points on the IBS Symptom Severity Scale at program completion. The trial evaluated a 42-session digital program with and without gut-directed hypnotherapy; its results apply to that studied intervention. Individual results vary.
Independent evaluation by PHTI
“Within the evidence reviewed, Nerva presented the strongest overall evidence for improving IBS symptoms.”
Peterson Health Technology InstituteVirtual Gastrointestinal Care Solutions, March 20262
Before you start
Your questions, answered.
Does hypnotherapy work for IBS?
Clinical research supports gut-directed hypnotherapy for IBS symptom management. In a randomized trial of Nerva’s app-delivered gut-directed hypnotherapy program in adults with IBS, 81% of the Nerva group versus 63% of the active-control group met the primary symptom endpoint at program completion: an improvement of at least 50 points on the IBS Symptom Severity Scale. Individual results vary. See the trial results and study details.
How do Nerva’s at-home IBS hypnotherapy sessions work?
Open the Nerva app, find a comfortable place and listen to a guided audio session. Sessions last around 15 minutes each throughout the six-week core, using focused attention, relaxation and gut-focused imagery. These recorded sessions fit around your day and sit alongside dietary guidance and symptom tracking. Explore what’s included in the program.
Is Nerva only gut-directed hypnotherapy?
No. Nerva is a personalized digital digestive care program. Gut-directed hypnotherapy is one component of its brain-gut behavioral care, alongside clinical screening, dietary guidance, symptom tracking and escalation when needed.
Will I lose control during hypnosis?
Gut-directed hypnotherapy involves focused attention and guided imagery. You remain in control of whether you continue, pause or stop the session.
Is Nerva for IBS-C, IBS-D or mixed IBS?
Nerva’s personalized digestive care program is for people with IBS, including constipation, diarrhea and mixed subtypes. Clinical screening and symptom tracking are part of the program; discuss treatment choices for your bowel symptoms with your clinician.
Do I have to stop my current diet or medication?
Nerva includes dietary guidance alongside behavioral care. Discuss changes to an existing diet or prescribed treatment with your healthcare professional. If you are exploring low FODMAP, see how it fits in the digestive care picture.
What happens after the six-week core program?
Your program includes continued maintenance access, so you can continue your practice and use your tools beyond the core.
How much does Nerva cost, and how do I start?
The standard US offer is $199 USD for a 12-month subscription, with a 7-day free trial. A referral from a doctor or another healthcare practitioner brings the annual price to $149.25 USD. App-store offers may differ. Start with the free assessment and review your subscription terms before signing up. The Patient Assistance Program can help if cost is a barrier. You can also explore access options.
Take the next step in your digestive care.
Start with the free assessment and explore your personalized digestive care program. Review your access options before you begin.