Hypnosis Frequently Asked Questions

Hypnosis as it is used to in this FAQ is generally referring to the practice of clinical hypnosis (a hypnosis session conducted by a professional hypnotist working with a client, in a private practice setting), or as a state of awareness.

Can everyone be hypnotized?

Yes, simply put, everyone is capable of entering a state of hypnosis. Hypnosis is a naturally occurring state of mind that all people go through daily, several times a day. It’s often described as peaceful, a state of mild relaxation, a light “trance” like state, “dreamy” or “spacey”, or an acute fixation or fascination. So a trained hypnotist can get anyone willing to participate, into this state very easily.

Do intelligent people have less success with hypnosis that most people? Or put another way, do people who tend to be more analytical and thoughtful than average, have the same capability of going into hypnosis?

Intelligence has a firmly established connection to suggestibility. Intelligence can also be characterized by an active imagination and the imagination is one of the primary means to hypnosis, therefore the more intelligent a person is, the easier it is for them to go into a state of hypnosis. Some of the most successful entrepreneurs, artists and other kinds of “idea people” go in and out of the hypnotic state quite often, and this is where they get a lot of their “big ideas” from. They are able to pull ideas out of their subconscious mind and turn them into real products, artistic creations, innovative businesses and solutions to life’s problems.

Is there any possibility I will fall asleep during my hypnosis session or get so into it I’m unable to wake up? Also what affect would it have on my results?

This cannot happen. Very few people go so deeply into trance where they reach a point called “somnambulism”. For a casual observer they appear to be sleeping. However they are still aware of the hypnotist’s instructions and will follow along. This is a perfectly fine and healthy state, just like all others during the hypnosis session and any suggestions given will still be beneficial. Even people who go into this state the will return to full consciousness as all other people do the end of the session. The only difference is that may take them a few minutes longer (than average) to return to full waking consciousness once they, in the same way it takes a few minutes to fully wake from a night of sleep or a long nap. Rest assured all aspects of the hypnosis process are beneficial to your health and wellness.

Also worth noting here is that a variety of research studies have clearly demonstrated that your hearing does not get deactivated during sleep. It’s the reason why you sometimes awake from a dream when you alarm clock is going off and the noise from the alarm clock was a part of the background noise in the dream. Your subconscious mind still absorbs and records what it hears in sleep or hypnosis, even when there is no need to respond to that information. So whether or not your conscious mind recalls much of what you experienced and were told during your hypnosis session, you can relax in the knowledge that your subconscious mind takes in all the necessary suggestions and information during your session to facilitate the changes you wish to make.

What is clinical hypnosis?

Clinical hypnosis is a term that refers to a relaxed state of awareness brought on and used by a trained professional hypnotist, within a private practice setting for the purpose of helping the client make specific life changes they requested.

Hypnosis is when the mind and body are completely calm and relaxed, free of worry, concerns for the future, or of negative or critical thoughts. When a person goes into this state the imagination is highly active and very open to suggestion. Clinical hypnosis is the process of using this state to fill the imagination with positive suggestions and imagery that serve as a guide for creating the changes a person wishes to make. In much the same way you may experience a strong emotional or mental reaction to a dramatic scene in your favorite movie, a clinical hypnotist gets you to utilize your imagination in a very specific way that leads you on a path to change.

What exactly can hypnosis do for me?

One of the most beneficial, healthy things a person can do in life is to fully experience the deep relaxation and tranquility which hypnosis can provide. It helps both the mind and body to recharge and gives the body’s natural healing abilities a boost.

There is an unlimited variety of things hypnosis can help you accomplish. Hypnosis can be used for creating improvements in nearly any area of a person’s life. Some of the most popular applications for hypnosis are increasing confidence, reducing and eliminating stress, improving health and fitness, losing weight, letting go of bad habits like smoking cigarettes, academic and professional improvement, working through creative blocks and much more.

If daydreams and hypnosis are so similar, then what are the actual differences? Why am I not able to just get myself to change through daydreaming?

Though hypnosis and daydreaming have some shared qualities they are different processes overall. Daydreaming is a solitary process, which is usually characterized as engaging in fantasy rather than focused on getting a specific outcome. When a person is daydreaming, they usually don’t make a conscious decision to do so (i.e. they don’t say to themselves “I think now I’ll sit around and do some daydreaming”), it happens because they are losing mental focus on some other activity and not decisive enough to take a break. The mental state which occurs when a person is day-dreaming isn’t useful to make changes because it’s mainly a distraction from other activities.

What does relaxation mean and why is it so important to hypnosis?

Relaxation is a calm state of both mind and body. When your mind and body are calm, the part of your mind that is highly reactive, and that makes decisions, judgments about what is right or wrong for your life and personal situation (or anything else) is slowed down.

This decrease in judgment and analysis makes it easier for someone to absorb and act on positive suggestions. It’s the same reason when people don’t take good advice, even when they agree with it and want to take it. The part of their mind responsible for behavior (the subconscious mind) is blocking their ability to do so. The result is people make excuses of being “too busy” and generally procrastinate. Modern hypnosis techniques are designed to bypass this blockage in order to get the desired result quickly.

Relaxation is so important because makes is possible to get a person to consistently accept and act on the suggestions with very little resistance from external or internal distractions.

What if I can’t relax?

A skilled hypnotist has dozens of ways to help a client relax, so this is rarely if ever an issue. Things like caffeine consumption, a buildup of stress, or some ADHD medications may mean an individual takes a little longer to get to the desired state. However in practical terms, it just means that port of the session maybe be a bit longer than average by a few minutes.

Is hypnosis appropriate for everyone?

Hypnosis is appropriate for nearly everyone. A few exceptions where it may not be suitable for people are those with very specific medical diagnoses such as epilepsy, schizophrenia. Other than that, nearly anyone can benefit from hypnosis.

Are there any drawbacks to experiencing hypnosis?

Some people who experience hypnosis report maintain a sense of calm for some hours after their session has ended. It is usually considered a very positive benefit. In general there are no major drawbacks to hypnosis.

Will my free will be affected during the process?

Your free will and self-control is fully maintained at all times during and after hypnosis. You will be less aware of your physical surroundings and things like outside / background noises but you will be able to exit the hypnotic state at any time. For example if you were to require a restroom break, you would have no trouble making the hypnotist aware of this, and then getting up to go to the restroom. Your session would continue the minute you returned from break with no need to backtrack.

How is the mind-body connection related to the hypnosis process?

Despite the popular notion that the mind and body are separate systems, they are inextricably linked and inter-connected. Hypnotists use this awareness, at a high level to access the right parts of this mind-body connection. They then give nurturing, empowering suggestions on how to make the client’s desired changes, directly to the part of their mind that has the greatest affects on behavior. It’s an amazing way to make changing seem effortless.

Is ok to be engaged in other types of therapy while I am working with a hypnotist?

Yes it is quite alright to use hypnosis in concert with traditional therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, or related services provided by a licensed therapist, or counselor. It is also appropriate to advise both your hypnotist and therapist of the work you are doing with the other.

Do people ever report negative after effects?

Relaxation and the hypnotic suggestions that make up the basis of hypnosis are generally not perceived as having any know negative aspects to them. Some people report sleeping very deeply at night on those days their hypnosis session took place, but that is seen as a positive benefit.

Will I do or say anything against my choice?

No, you will always be in control.

Do people get any unwanted physical sensations or negative affects?

The body and mind are both very relaxed and any unpleasant or unwanted sensations are not a part of the process. There are no negative affects to speak of.

How likely is it that I will say or do something I shouldn’t, like sharing private information about a friendship inadvertently?

You will not be prompted to speak or act in any way that would encourage or create this scenario.

How do you know when I’m in hypnosis? What are the signs a person is going into or has gone under hypnosis?

A hypnotist is thoroughly trained to monitor and keep aware of non-verbal signs (body language) such as rate of breathing, slowing of physical gestures and movements, slower rate of speech, etc. A hypnotist watches all the signs a client gives them all throughout the session and knows what to do every step of the way for the best result.

Is it possible I can use hypnosis instead of seeing a doctor?

No, you should always seek the advice of a medical doctor for anything that requires the guidance of a medical professional. For example if you looking to use hypnosis to install motivation for a high level fitness regimen but you have existing medical concerns that warrant advice and directions from your doctor, you must consult them first as to the proper course of action.

Is there any problem that a person would not be able to overcome with hypnosis?

In general hypnosis can make a positive contribution to nearly any aspect of a person’s life – the physical body, mental / emotional outlook, relationships, professional and athletic performance, personality traits and much more can all be positively impacted with hypnosis. Hypnosis cannot repair parts of the body that have been permanently damaged – i.e. loss of motor function due to degenerative conditions, brain damage etc. What it can do is help someone improve their attitude towards these conditions where physical damage has occurred. For serious consideration of healing of physical injury you should seek the knowledge of a medical professional.

Are any medications involved or used?

Medications are not used or required to enter a state of hypnosis. However it is appropriate to notify and advise your hypnotist before hand of any medications you are taking. The majority of professional hypnotists, are not medical professionals and are not legally qualified to give advice or guidance regarding the use of medications, or altering of medication regimens. You should always seek the advice of a medical doctor if you wish to stop using medication.

Are some people too old to change? Will my age be a stumbling block to getting results from hypnosis?

The part of your mind responsible for maintaining or changing your behaviors (your subconscious mind) does not recognized the notion of age. Hypnotists are expert at working with the subconscious mind effectively and can help you change no matter what.

What if I don’t believe in hypnosis or I’m not sure if I can be hypnotized? Will it work anyway?

If you are open-minded and able to follow instructions, a skilled hypnotist will easily be able to guide you through it. If you are intentionally resistant or not willing to give your full attention to the process, then it won’t work (or it will be less than optimally effective), because you are always in control.

I’m not sure I really want to lose weight, or really give up smoking, or get over a particular habit even though I know it’s unhealthy, will hypnosis work regardless?

It can still work, but your results will be much, much better if you are fully committed to the program.

What makes a person a good candidate for benefiting from hypnosis?

Anyone who wants to make a change in his or her life is a good candidate for benefiting from clinical hypnosis.

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