How Can I Get The Most Benefit From My Hypnosis Sessions

Understanding more about hypnosis will definitely help you get the most benefit from it.  It is a simple process which is, usually an extremely pleasant one.  The hypnotist creates imagery and suggestions which are individualized to suit your needs and personality.  The self-hypnosis process is also personalized to what is most effective for you.  The use of deep relaxation, creative imagery and appropriate suggestions can help you achieve positive growth and change.  Reinforcement with self-hypnosis teaches you to be in greater control of your life.  The key to success is to simply allow yourself to follow along in an easygoing manner, without trying or resisting.  The beauty of the power of hypnosis is that it all comes from your own mind.

Can Anyone Be Hypnotized?

Just about anyone can experience some degree of hypnosis.  A conservative figure would be somewhere above 90%.  Because it is such a natural state, such as daydreaming, etc., it is an easy and pleasant process to get into.  There are some people who are afraid of it or who are very rigid in their thinking.  They will not allow themselves to go into hypnosis.  As stated in a previous post, the client is always in control of his or her mind.  However, people who are totally closed to the experience of hypnosis for whatever reason will not schedule an appointment with a hypnotist.  This is not the same as being nervous or skeptical about it.  Most of my clients are somewhat nervous and skeptical on the first appointment.  Establishing rapport and taking my time with them overcomes anxiety and skepticism and working after that is much easier.  If clients are open enough to come in they should be able to be hypnotized without any problem.

How Will I feel When I'm In Hypnosis

We all experience hypnosis differently.  Usually you will feel relaxed and comfortable.  Some people describe their body as feeling pleasantly heavy, others feel light, and some do not feel different in any way yet are able to achieve goals they have struggled with in the past.  If you ask ten different people how it felt to them, you may get ten different descriptions.  The truth is you can't "feel" hypnosis itself.  In my practice I usually use relaxation techniques to induce hypnosis because most people enjoy being able to relax more than they usually are able.  However, hypnosis and relaxation are not synonymous.  You can be relaxed and not in hypnosis and vice versa.  It is a vehicle into hypnosis, but not the only one.  When I have worked with a person several times and she comes in with more to discuss than usual, I may not have enough time to do a full relaxation and address all the issues discussed.  In that case,  I will use a brief induction and proceed from there.  The closest I can describe it in terms of how it feels is to tell you what it's like.  It is like daydreaming.  It is like that twilight state when you are first waking up or just falling asleep.  It is like when you are totally absorbed in a great novel or movie.

About Hypnosis

When a client comes to me and tells me he/ she tried hypnosis before and couldn't be hypnotized, the problem almost always is misconceptions about hypnosis.  Although there is no definitive definition of hypnosis upon which all hypnotists agree, it basically is a temporary state in which the conscious mind is passive and the subconscious is alert and responsive.  As a result, a person in this state becomes more suggestible and, with the help of appropriate suggestions and guided imagery, is able to carry out suggestions beyond his or her normal capabilities.  It is a safe and pleasant experience and can be extremely powerful.  It is like the state of daydreaming where you are awake but your conscious mind is not highly active.  I find that after discussing hypnosis with a client for a few minutes, getting the person into hypnosis is not a problem.  Actually achieving the goal for which she came in is where training, imagination and intuition come into play.  If clients are motivated and do the self hypnosis taught, most people can achieve success.  I will continue to add more information about hypnosis on future posts to dispel the many misconceptions that exist.


"Will you make me bark like a dog?"  I am asked this question all the time,  jokingly but not really.  The short answer is "no."  The reason for the question is that most people have only had exposure to stage hypnosis.  While entertaining, it is very different from clinical hypnosis.  The real question they are asking is "will you be in control of my mind?"  The answer to that is a definite "no."  I guide my client through the experience and make appropriate suggestions, but he is always in control of his own mind.  The suggestions are accepted because the client wants to make certain changes and allows himself to accept these suggestions.  A person will not accept a suggestion that is against his ethics, morals, beliefs or best interest.