Does Hypnotherapy Work on Everyone?

Imagine that you suffer from a condition that doesn’t have a successful healing method or even if there is, that doesn’t seem to help you at all. What would you do? Many people keep their hopes up and look for outside-of-the-box methods for their “incurable” condition. Many of these “outside of the box healing methods” include alternative therapies such as acupuncture, change of diet, chiropractic care, EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), hypnotherapy, and so on.

 A growing amount of research supports that hypnotherapy can be helpful with a variety of problems such as chronic pain, anxiety, low self-esteem, boosting the immune system, and many others. However, there is no 100% guarantee that hypnosis is the way to help you be better and healthier.

According to a study that was published in the US National Library of Medicine, there are a few elements that make a hypnotherapy session successful: biological factors, psychological factors, and social factors. When all of these elements come together, hypnotherapy becomes a successful form of therapy to help individuals take back their mental and physical health.

If you are a first-timer, or even if you had experience before, how can you gauge whether if the hypnotherapy session will help you with your personal goal or not? Check for the psychological, biological, and social cues! Here are a few recommendations that can increase the likelihood of a positive hypnotherapy experience:

1-    Find a hypnotherapist that you feel comfortable being around 

Biological observations of the article Mechanisms of Hypnosis examine brain activity during hypnosis. Findings show that during hypnosis there is a decrease in frontal activity and a significant increase in theta activity. Theta brain waves are slower bursts of electrical activity that are associated with deep calmness and relaxation. According to the article, hypnotic suggestions such as “letting go” decreases frontal activity even more. Therefore, being able to calm down and let go during hypnosis will enhance the results of the other hypnotic suggestions.

Unfortunately, to this day, hypnosis and hypnotherapy are relatively unknown subject for many people. Trying hypnotherapy can actually be nerve-wracking for many first-timers. If the person is nervous or anxious before hypnosis, this may result in keeping a guard up and not being able to fully let go. 

To eliminate this result, you can simply find a hypnotherapist that you feel comfortable with. Every hypnotherapist will have a different approach, perspective, and understanding. By interviewing them before and having a clear understanding of how they can help you, you can increase the trust and communication between both parties.

2-    Find a credible hypnotherapist

The first interaction with your hypnotherapist is probably one of the most important moments in terms of the success of the whole therapy. When someone is credible with their level of experience, education, and expertise, we start building trust with the person unconsciously. This unconscious trust in the person is necessary for the success of a hypnotherapy session. 

Start by checking the hypnotherapist’s level of education. Did they go to a weekend crash course or a yearlong program? Remember, you are not just being hypnotized but also you are receiving therapy with hypnosis. Next, look for cues to see if you can open up to your hypnotherapist without withholding any information. Are you comfortable speaking to them? Are they good listeners? Do they have knowledge or experience in the area that you need help with?

You may realize that with some people you have a negative gut reaction. This may be an important clue because your mind is working subconsciously to prepare you for this unknown experience. Pay attention to your intuition and make sure that you trust in your hypnotherapist’s knowledge, experience, and ability to help you in your specific situation.

3-    Do you believe in hypnosis? Make sure the answer is YES.

One of the widely known factors for hypnotherapy’s success is the person’s attitude towards hypnosis. The article, Mechanisms of Hypnosis, summarizes “the attitude” as the person’s hypnotizability, expectancies, and motivation. 

Remember, no one can change you unless you really want to change yourself. Therefore, when someone wants to try hypnosis because of non-personal reasons such as they want to test whether is it working as a methodology or not, or their spouse wanted them to do so, most likely, that person will not have a successful hypnotherapy experience.

Consider these questions before committing to hypnotherapy:

• Do you believe in hypnosis?

• Do you believe in hypnotherapy?

• Do you believe in mind power?

• Do you think you can heal yourself by changing your beliefs?

• Are you ready to change?

• Do you want to change?

If you answer the majority of these questions as “No”, maybe hypnotherapy is not the best holistic approach for you.

Making the Final Decision

All the three points listed above are significant contributors to success with hypnotherapy. In short, make sure to interview or get a consultation with the hypnotherapist before you commit to therapy. As you engage in the conversation with the hypnotherapist, ask for their education, expertise, and knowledge. After, look for how you feel as you speak with the hypnotherapist. Is it a warm feeling? Or maybe you still feel suspicious. If things don’t sit well with you, remember, you always have an option to look for another professional who is a better fit for you and who will help you change your life with hypnotherapy.