A swinging pocket watch, a mysterious voice, someone clucking like a chicken — that’s what hypnosis looks like for many people. The controversy around it is so widespread that many people deny themselves the opportunity to benefit from a very versatile and effective tool. Clinical hypnosis is a natural, collaborative process. You stay in control the entire time. In fact, all hypnosis is essentially self-hypnosis. The therapist guides, but your mind decides what it’s willing to explore.

This is the most important thing to understand, so let’s address it first.

No one can be hypnotised against their will. No one can be made to do, say, or believe anything that conflicts with their values. This isn’t a disclaimer — it’s how hypnosis actually works. Real hypnosis is more akin to guided meditation than anything else. It’s a deep and focused state of relaxation (which may sound a bit bizarre and a contradiction in terms).

When a person is relaxed, we call it “trance”. When we guide the person towards their goal by appealing to their unconscious mind, we call it “suggestion”. For suggestions to land, your unconscious mind needs to agree with it. The suggestion has to feel relevant, useful, and aligned with what you actually want. If it doesn’t, your mind simply ignores it — or you snap right out of trance altogether.

Dave Elman, one of the most influential hypnotists of the twentieth century, tested this extensively. He and his students deliberately gave suggestions to people in deep trance that were irrelevant or contradicted their values. The result? People either ignored the suggestion completely or woke up immediately (Elman, 1964). Even in the deepest state of relaxation, the unconscious mind has its own boundaries — and it enforces them.

This is why knowing your goals and expectations before we begin is so important. Hypnosis works with you, not on you. The clearer we are about what you want to achieve, the more effectively your mind can respond. That’s why during our first hypnotic session we go over such things as how you usually relax, what makes you happy, what you want to start doing or getting. I need your picture of your desired state, otherwise your unconscious mind will reject it.

What to expect

We always start with a conversation. Before any hypnotic work, we’ll talk about what you’d like to address, check that hypnosis is suitable for you, and run a few simple exercises to get a sense of how you respond to relaxation and suggestion. The tests, called susceptibility tests, are simple instructions to test your imagination, trust and ability to relax — essential for hypnosis to be effective. If you have some reservations about it or you don’t believe in it — your unconscious mind will reject all the work point-blank.

Then, if everything feels right, I’ll guide you into a relaxed state — first the body, then the mind. It’s gentle and gradual. You’ll hear my voice throughout, and you can speak, move, or stop at any point. It might take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes, depending on your state and hypnotic experience.

Trance has different depths, and most people experience light trance in their first sessions — which is already enough to do meaningful work. In light trance, you follow along, stay aware, and remember everything afterwards. You might feel pleasantly relaxed, like that state just before falling asleep.

With practice and trust, trance can deepen. In medium trance, you’re aware but thoughts become quieter — you might choose not to notice background sounds or simply let them pass. In deep trance, external distractions fade away almost entirely. People often describe it as a blank, comfortable stillness. Some don’t remember everything the therapist said — not because they were unconscious, but because they were deeply at ease. But if you start asking them to remember, often they will.

The key point: at every level, you hear what’s happening. You just don’t feel the need to react to anything that isn’t relevant. Your mind relaxes into what matters and lets the rest go.

Can I be hypnotised?

Almost certainly, yes. Trance isn’t something exotic — it’s something you already experience. Have you ever driven somewhere familiar and arrived without remembering the journey? Or been so absorbed in a book that someone had to call your name twice? That’s an altered state — focused, aware, yet different from your usual mode (Erickson, 1983).

Clinical hypnosis works by gently guiding you into that same kind of state and then using it purposefully. It can help you unblock something that feels stuck, strengthen your motivation, or explore patterns and memories that are hard to reach through conversation alone.

What matters most isn’t whether you can be hypnotised — it’s whether hypnosis is the right fit for what you need. And that’s something we figure out together.

Unfortunately, people are exploited in this state too: advertising and marketing strategies often appeal to the unconscious mind and are particularly effective when people are watching TV or doing other activities that guide them into that focused state.

Is hypnosis right for you?

Clinical hypnosis can be a powerful tool when used for the right reasons. It works well for people who:

  • Are dealing with anxiety, stress, or emotional tension that feels stuck in the body as much as the mind
  • Want to work on habits or behavioural patterns — smoking, nail-biting, sleep difficulties — that resist conscious willpower alone
  • Experience emotional blocks — feeling numb, disconnected, or unable to access certain feelings
  • Are curious about combining hypnosis with psychotherapy to deepen the therapeutic work
  • Feel open to the process — hypnosis works with your willingness, not against your resistance

You don’t need to be especially “suggestible” or good at relaxing. Most people are surprised by how natural it feels.

When it may not be the right approach

Hypnosis is not appropriate in every situation. It may not be the best choice if:

  • You have a history of psychosis or dissociative disorders — altered states of awareness need to be approached with particular care
  • You’re in acute mental health crisis — stabilisation should come first
  • You have epilepsy — certain induction techniques may need to be avoided or modified
  • You’re not comfortable with the idea — hypnosis requires your active participation, and it’s perfectly fine if it’s not for you
  • You’re under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
  • You’re under 18.

If you’re unsure, we’ll talk it through in the intro call. I’ll always be honest about whether I think hypnosis is the right tool for what you’re working on.

References

  1. Elman, D. (1964). Hypnotherapy. Westwood Publishing Company.
  2. Erickson, M. H. (1983). The collected works of Milton H. Erickson, M.D.: Vol. 10. Hypnotic realities [R. E. Rossi (Ed.)]. Irvington Publishers. (Kindle ed.)
  3. Wikipedia. (2025, October 11). Hypnotic susceptibility. In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnotic_susceptibility