There are many misconceptions about hypnosis
— here is what it really is
What is hypnosis
Common myths and misconceptions about hyponsis
Myth 1: The hypnotist controls my mind
You stay in charge of your mind and body at all times, and you cannot be made to do anything against your values or will. People can and do resist or ignore suggestions that don’t fit them, even when deeply hypnotized
Myth 2: I become unconscious in Hypnosis
Brain and clinical studies describe hypnosis as a waking state of awareness in which attention turns inward, not as literal sleep. You may feel deeply relaxed and inwardly focused, but you remain mentally present.
Myth 3: I might get stuck in hypnosis
There are no documented cases of anyone being permanently “stuck” in hypnosis. If the therapist stopped talking, you would either open your eyes on your own or drift into ordinary sleep and then wake naturally
Myth 4: I will reveal all my secrets
Under hypnosis you can still choose what to say, what to keep private, or what not to answer at all. Because you remain aware, hypnosis is not a “truth serum” and should not be used as one
truth 1: YOu will be completely conscious/Aware
We remain able to talk, move, open your eyes, or ask to stop at any point during the session. Many clients actually report feeling more in control, because their mind is calmer and they can respond more flexibly instead of automatically (Rogerson et al., 2021).
truth 2: YOu will be In full control
Even in deep hypnosis, you can choose what to say and what to keep private; hypnosis increases openness to suggestion, not compulsion to speak
And clients can choose to emerge/open their eyes if they desire
truth 3: Hypnosis is a natural state of mind
We slip into Hypnosis multiple times a day without noticing.
When we are absorbed in a film/book and lose track of time; when we arrive somewhere after a long drive with no memory of the journey — that is trance. Focused, inwardly directed attention where your analytical mind steps quietly aside (Hove et al., 2015; Wolf et al., 2022)
The best parallel would be when we are Madly in Love, we are fully conscious and completely aware — and yet the world feels different. Our critical, evaluating mind relaxes its grip, and we become naturally more open, more receptive, more moved by words and images.
Hypnosis is a natural state of focused attention and relaxation that allows us to work more directly with the deeper patterns of the mind. It is not about losing control, being “put under,” or being made to do anything against your will. You remain aware, present, and in control throughout the process.
What is hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is the use of that hypnotic state within a therapeutic relationship to help people change perceptions, emotions, bodily experiences, and behaviours in line with agreed clinical goals
It guides you into a state you already know how to enter — focused, calm, inwardly absorbed — and uses that window of receptivity to help you update the patterns, beliefs, and automatic responses that may be keeping you stuck.
In that state, your rational, over-analytical mind — the part that second-guesses everything — simply rests. What remains is a more direct line to the part of you that stores habits, emotional reactions, and deeply held patterns. That is where lasting change actually happens.
Many people come to hypnotherapy with understandable hesitation, shaped by stage hypnosis, media portrayals, or the fear of losing control. In reality, hypnotherapy is designed to support you, not override you. You cannot be forced to do anything that goes against your values, and most people experience the process as calm, safe, and surprisingly natural
what to expect in a
hypnotherapy session
A typical hypnotherapy session begins with a conversation about your goals, concerns, and questions.
You’ll then be guided into a comfortable, focused state while you remain seated or lying down. From there, the session may take different directions depending on your needs.
In some cases, we may work with regression — a carefully guided process in which we return to a memory or earlier experience where the negative emotional pattern first emerged. Using specific therapeutic techniques, we then address the underlying feelings and bring the experience to a more complete and resolved conclusion. This is often where deep healing and release can occur.
In other cases, we may use tailored suggestions and guided imagery aimed at the changes you want to make, whether that means reducing anxiety, breaking unhelpful habits, processing difficult experiences, or exploring spiritual experiences. Throughout the session, you remain aware and in control, and you can talk, move, pause, or stop at any time.
At the end of the session, you are gently guided back to your usual state of alertness, and we may briefly review what you noticed or experienced.
what if i cannot be hypnotised
Everyone can, and everyone has. Hypnosis is a natural state of focused attention that we enter in everyday life, often more than once a day, such as when we are deeply absorbed in a book, a film, a daydream, or a familiar routine. Some people experience hypnosis more vividly, while others experience it more subtly. Both can be equally effective. What matters most is not whether the experience feels dramatic, but whether it helps us access the patterns, emotions, or suggestions that support change.