If you’ve been curious about hypnosis but feel a little unsure whether it’s right for you, I’d like to gently put your mind at ease. In this article, I explore three common myths about hypnosis, share a brief background, and reassure you that hypnosis is a natural, accessible process for anyone who chooses to participate.

Myth 1: “I might lose control or be made to do something I don’t want to do”

This is probably the biggest myth of all. Hypnosis does not take away your control. You remain aware, present, and able to choose throughout the entire session. You can hear what’s being said, you can move, you can speak, and you can stop at any time.

Hypnosis actually works really well because you are participating, playing your part in a way that feel comfortable for you.  Your values and boundaries hold firm. Your secrets remain safe within you, unless of course you want to disclose them. Nothing can make you say anything you don’t want to say.

In reality: Hypnosis is a state of focused attention, not surrendering control.

A client recently said to me that he felt as if his body was asleep but his mind was aware of everything that was said, at the time it was said, even though he didn’t remember everything at the end of the session

Myth 2: “I might get stuck in hypnosis or not come out properly”

This is a common misconception, but nobody has ever been “stuck” in hypnosis. Many of my clients have said they would love to stay in that comfortable hypnotic state because it’s so relaxing, but everyone opens their eyes, fully alert and aware, and gets on with the rest of their day.

Hypnosis is a natural state that we move in and out of every day, like daydreaming, becoming absorbed in a good book, or losing track of time while driving.    Even if a session were interrupted, you would simply return to your normal level of awareness on your own.

In reality: Hypnosis always ends naturally and safely.

On a practical note, the hypnotic state can also be accessed just before falling asleep at night and just before fully waking in the morning, when the mind is naturally relaxed, aware, and more open to suggestion. At these times, it can be helpful to quietly repeat a calm, positive intention or suggestion to yourself, rather than analysing or forcing anything.  Just allow your mind to fully absorb it naturally, as if it's certainty already.

Myth 3: “I don’t think I can be hypnotised”

Many people say this, often because they believe hypnosis has to be dramatic or extreme, or they think hypnosis is a kind of mind control (which it isn’t). While stage hypnosis can be a dramatic performance, therapeutic hypnosis is a collaborative process that is goal oriented.

Some people think they have to feel “under/gone/unconscious” in order to be hypnotised.  This is not true.

Many clients report feeling comfortably heavy, or light and floaty, or gently drifting in and out of awareness during a session. This isn’t sleep, but a deeply restful state where the body and nervous system can settle. It’s similar to what’s now referred to as Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR) — a restorative, regenerative state in which the body rests while the mind remains responsive.

Some people describe hypnosis as feeling very calm and deeply aware at the same time, while others notice more subtle shifts — such as a narrowing of focus on the words being spoken, background sounds fading away, time seeming longer or shorter, the breath naturally deepening, thoughts slowing, and muscles gently loosening. Some people also notice colours or soft shapes behind closed eyes. All of these experiences are perfectly normal hypnotic responses.

Hypnosis is a learnable skill, not a special talent and there is nothing mysterious about it.  The most important ingredients are willingness, attention, and engagement, not “going under.”

So in reality, the majority of people can be hypnotised, if they want to.  If you can focus, imagine things in whatever way feels right for you, and follow some guided suggestions, you can experience hypnosis.  Hypnosis is not about losing control, it’s about working with your mind and allowing thoughts and feelings to bubble up spontaneously. There’s no right or wrong way to experience hypnosis, your mind responds in the way that’s right for you.

Hypnosis is a natural state of focused attention that has been safely understood and used in psychology for over 180 years.

A very brief background

The founder of hypnosis, James Braid, a Scottish surgeon in the 1800s, was the first to use the term hypnosis. He described it as a state of focused attention and heightened mental concentration, rather than sleep or unconsciousness.

Braid believed hypnosis was a physiological and psychological process, produced through focused attention, expectation, and suggestion — not mystery or loss of control.

Later, Milton Erickson  (1901-1980) showed that hypnosis is a natural, everyday state of focused awareness in which people can access inner resources, learning, and abilities they already have. He emphasised that hypnosis works best when it feels comfortable, permissive, and personal.

More recently, Michael Yapko, born in 1953,  brings evidence-based psychological approaches.  He has described hypnosis as a process that enhances your responsiveness to ideas, images, and experiences — especially those that support positive change.

In other words, hypnosis is something you do, not something that is done to you. Across all of these perspectives, the message is the same: your engagement matters.

Hypnosis Is a Learnable Skill

Hypnosis is a learnable skill, anyone can do it, if they are willing.  The right mindset sets you up for success – imagination, expectation, and willingness.

Your mindset before hypnosis plays a powerful role in how you respond. I encourage you to gently adopt this attitude:

• Be open and willing to go with the flow
• Be motivated to experience positive change
• Be confident in your ability to respond
• Be optimistic about the process
• Expect to notice the experiences being suggested or imagined

When you approach hypnosis this way, your mind naturally becomes more responsive.

Listen and Engage With the Process

Hypnosis works best when you pay attention in a relaxed manner.  You may drift off from time to time, and that’s normal, most people do.  If this happens, I remind you to just come back to my voice and carry on.  I invite you to follow the suggestions, engage with the imagery, and allow yourself to imagine what’s being described. You don’t need to force anything, simply imagining things is enough, your mind will find it’s own way of making subtle changes.

Posture Matters

Whenever possible, I recommend sitting comfortably or reclining, rather than lying down, especially when listening to recorded sessions. Sitting up helps you remain mentally engaged while you still become deeply relaxed.  This tends to enhance positive results.  Ultimately, whatever works for you is best.

Trust Yourself and the Process

Hypnosis is not about losing control, far from it, it’s about working with your mind.

Trust that:

• You can follow the simple suggestions
• Your mind knows how to respond in a way that feels right for you
• Change can happen gently and naturally without effort

A Gentle Intention Before Each Session

Before you begin hypnosis, take a quiet moment to connect with your intention. You might gently say to yourself, “I am ready and willing to make the changes I am now ready to make,” or “I am open to allowing positive change to unfold in a way that feels right for me,” or choose your own calm, positive intention that works for you.

If you have any further questions,  or you would like to experience hypnosis for yourself, just send me a message and let the conversation begin.