Can Everyone Be Hypnotised?

Can everyone be hypnotised? The short answer is no, but yes, the majority of the population can be. For the purpose of therapy, it’s important to be open minded and willing. Yes, resistance is possible, which of course defeats the purpose. Every one of us is unique, and just as medication or any other therapies do not have a one hundred percent success rate, not everyone will have the exact same outcome in hypnosis. Keep in mind that there is more to a hypnotherapy session than hypnosis. Often counselling and homework tasks are used in addition, meaning that with or without hypnosis, there is likely to be improvement in your circumstances.

How Does Hypnosis Work?

Hypnosis is an altering of the unconscious mind, a relaxed state of heightened suggestibility. Scientists can detect measurable changes to brain activity during hypnosis. This makes it possible to break or modify habits, improve moods, create feelings of empowerment and self-belief, and to release or process strong but unwanted, or inappropriate emotions or beliefs relating to past experiences. Hypnotherapy is often applied for weight loss, quitting habits such as smoking, or for easing depression or anxiety. The possibilities are almost endless when it comes to the potential of what hypnosis may assist in. During hypnotherapy a client is typically lying down or in a similarly relaxed seated position. There are several different techniques that might be used, firstly to create deep relaxation, and then for therapy.

1. Body scan 

The Body scan is a simple and effective relaxation technique, starting at one end of the body and concentrating on slowly relaxing each body part individually. This progressive relaxation method uses focused attention to enter the trance-like state. 

2. Countdown breathing

Countdown breathing is another common technique used to hypnotise. This technique is similar to that of the body scan technique. A person reaches a relaxed state by controlling his or her breaths while counting backwards from a certain number such as 100.  

3. Visualisation 

Visualisation is a therapy tool used in most hypnotherapy sessions, with allowances made for those that find it hard to visualise. One useful application is that it provides a safe means of addressing past traumas from a different perspective, processing and releasing any strong, lingering emotions in a safe, controlled environment. Visualisation helps us to perceive the past, present, and future in new ways. It’s a means of exploring multiple scenarios based on different choices and actions we may consider taking, perhaps providing clarity where it has been lacking. This very versatile technique may be especially helpful to those who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety or depression triggered by a specific life event. 

These are just a few of the techniques used to induce a trance. Typically, once the person reaches a trance-like state the hypnotist may then use both indirect or direct suggestions.

Once the therapy is over it’s like simply waking from a daydream or light sleep.

How to Know if Hypnosis was Effective

Your hypnotist will observe signs you displayed or did not display during your session, regarding its effectiveness. You, yourself may also be able to notice or sense after the session if there was an effective outcome, depending on what it was you were being hypnotised for. For example, if you were being hypnotised for pain control then you should likely be able to tell if there was a change directly after the session. Like any skill we learn, in most situations your therapy will become more effective and enduring with the benefit of multiple sessions.

You can rest easy knowing Evolution Hypnotherapy offers a free strategy session. This provides an opportunity to meet with us and have your questions answered without obligation, so that you can be confident in choosing our services.