Hypnosis Myths & Misconceptions

• Will I be asleep?

  — No

  We’ve all seen the stage hypnotist who clicks his fingers at his willing victim and says “SLEEP” in a commanding voice and clicks his fingers at them. That person closes their eyes, slumps forward and looks as if they are asleep. Two minutes later they are running around the stage imagining they are Elvis or James Bond. That is not possible if you are asleep. It’s understandable for the misconception, the word hypnosis comes from Hypnos the Greek God of Sleep. The majority of people feel more comfortable with their eyes closed during therapy but it is possible to be in hypnosis with your eyes open.

• Will I blurt out my deep, dark secrets during hypnosis?

  — No

  You are always in complete control during hypnosis so you won’t be blurting out any secrets, in fact, a lot of people find it quite difficult to talk during hypnosis.

• Is hypnosis mind control?

  — No

  Hypnosis is not about controlling someone else’s mind and so it can’t be used to make someone do something against their will. I can no more make someone want to stop smoking if they don’t want to than I can make someone give me their pin number against their will or make my children want to tidy their bedrooms! Hypnosis works with your own aims to help you achieve your goals.

• Do I need to focus and concentrate on every word you say?

  — No

  Most people find that their mind wanders naturally during hypnosis and their inner voice, their conscious mind, chats away to them about the same old nonsense it usually does. That’s perfectly normal and perfectly fine. Your subconscious is what we are working with and that will hear every word I say.

• Will I be able to remember what happens during hypnosis?

  — Yes

  You will be able to remember everything that happens during your hypnotherapy session, there is no amnesia associated with it.

• Can I be hypnotised?

  — Probably yes

  There are three kinds of people that can’t be hypnotised:

  1. Children under the age of 5 because they don’t have the attention span or the verbal reasoning to understand.
  2. Anyone with severe mental health issues.
  3. Anyone who doesn’t want to be hypnotised.

• Can I get stuck in hypnosis?

  — No

  Just as when that person waiting behind you at the green light beeps their horn at you, you are able to come straight out of that hypnotic trance you were in and drive off, if an emergency occurs you’d be able to bring yourself out of hypnosis naturally. The worst thing that can happen to you during hypnosis is that you’d fall asleep.

• Is hypnosis natural?

  — Yes

  You go in and out of hypnosis 120 times a day on average. Think about that time that you drove to work and couldn’t remember how you got there. That was hypnosis. Think about when you were sat at a red light and when it turned green someone had to beep their horn at you to get you to move. That was hypnosis. Think about when you were reading a website and your mind drifted off onto your journey to work. That was hypnosis too! We’re doing it all the time because humans are naturally very hypnotic beings.