We always hear about hypnosis from movies or other people’s experiences. But what is hypnosis?

Some people describe it to be some sort of mind control while for some people it’s very similar to meditation. How can experiences be so much different from each other?

That’s because there are different types of hypnosis that can leave different effects on people. It’s important that you identify which type of hypnosis you need in order to get the best results. Here is a breakdown:

1- Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy uses hypnosis to deliver therapeutic results. Hypnotherapy is mostly about relaxation and calmness which allows you to focus on your mind and the voice of the hypnotherapist.

That's when the hypnotherapist can guide you deeper into your subconscious mind and give you suggestions, directions, or imagery journeys.

Hypnotherapy is not supposed to be invasive. It's also not supposed to be controlling. In fact, It's supposed to be teaching you how to control your thoughts, behaviors, and habits.

2- Stage Hypnosis

Stage hypnosis also uses hypnosis to entertain the crowd. Usually, the hypnotist is a very charismatic figure that captures the whole audience. Among the audience, they usually pick volunteers who are highly suggestible to hypnosis.

Once the volunteers are on the stage, the hypnosis show starts. Volunteers are usually people pleasers or they like to entertain the crowd just as much as the hypnotist does. So naturally, they tend to follow the directions of the hypnotist easier.

This can feel very controlling. Also, stage hypnosis usually uses wowing techniques to surprise the audience. Its results usually don't last as long as hypnotherapy or other therapeutic methods.

3- Self-hypnosis

Self-hypnosis is a form of hypnosis that is very similar to meditation. It's something that you can do for yourself but think about meditation with a purpose. It actually conditions your mind towards a very specific goal.

If you practice self-hypnosis daily it can actually be a very powerful tool to change your habits and the things that you're struggling with in your life. It can help with pain management, sleeping better, eating better, increasing your motivation, or even increasing your self-esteem.

You can join one of my self-hypnosis classes here if you are curious about how it works.

4- Natural Hypnosis

Natural hypnosis is something that we all experience during the day multiple times. For example, when we drive on a freeway for a long time we may forget that we're driving even though we are actively driving. This is called natural hypnosis.

You may also know natural hypnosis as autopilot but it is actually a hypnotic state. This is why it's very important to listen or tune into things that are positive rather than negative while you're driving.