Whether you have anxiety, stress or are being held back by something else, hypnotherapy can be a great way to shake off the old you and start living the life you want. But the $64,000 question for many is: will it work?
Hypnotherapy – either face-to-face or online – is a powerful tool that is used all over the world to treat a wide range of issues, including anxiety, stress, trauma and stuttering.
Signing up for a session with a clinical hypnotherapist requires commitment – not least because of the expense. It’s little surprise that the question on everyone’s lips is: will it work for me?
If you take a look at my testimonials, you’ll see well over 100 success stories. These are often people have come to me with a problem and have quickly reported that it has either been reduced or disappeared completely. So I see evidence that hypnotherapy works time and time again on a weekly basis. But, as with all therapies, guarantees are impossible to give.
Success in hypnotherapy depends on multiple factors.
The answer to whether or not it will work for you depends on a number of things, including:
- The chemistry between the client and hypnotherapist.
- The commitment and motivation to change from the client.
- The competence of the therapist.
- The client’s confidence in the therapist.
- The therapist’s ability to inspire confidence during an initial consultation.
- The client’s open-mindedness and belief in the process.
- The chemistry between the client and hypnotherapist.
Let’s go through these one at a time…
The relationship between the client and hypnotherapist
This is essential to the success of hypnotherapy. The client needs to feel comfortable and trusting with the hypnotherapist in order to be able to relax and let go.
If there is no chemistry between the client and hypnotherapist, it is unlikely that the hypnotherapy will be effective.
The Commitment and motivation to change from the client
Hypnotherapy is not a passive process. The client needs to be committed to it and motivated to change. If the client is not committed or motivated, it is unlikely that the hypnotherapy will be effective.
If you are sceptical about it, the chances of it working are reduced, too. It’s OK to have a certain uncertainty about it – so long as you are 100% open to possibility and willing to try.
The competence of the therapist
Hypnotherapy is a complex skill that requires training and experience. If the hypnotherapist is not competent, it is unlikely that the hypnotherapy will be effective. My clients take comfort in the fact that I have now treated more than 5,000 people and completed 2,000+ hours of training.
The client’s confidence in the therapist
The client’s confidence in the therapist is also important. If the client does not trust or believe in the therapist, it is unlikely that the hypnotherapy will be effective.
The therapist’s ability to inspire confidence during an initial consultation
Your hypnotherapist’s ability to inspire confidence during an initial consultation is also important. If the client does not feel confident in the therapist after the initial consultation, it is unlikely that they will continue with hypnotherapy.
For this reason, I precede all new client sessions with a free 20-minute phone consultation. It’s a great way for you to understand the process – and to makes sure we don’t have a serious disconnect between us.
The client’s open-mindedness and belief in the process
Your open-mindedness and belief in the process are also important factors. If a client is closed-minded or sceptical about hypnotherapy, it is unlikely that it will be a success.
When all these factors line up, the chances of success with hypnotherapy are boosted enormously. A capable, educated, experienced hypnotherapist plus an open-minded, committed client pushes the needle of success as high as it can go.
Understanding The Placebo Effect
The placebo effect is a phenomenon in which people experience a benefit (such as pain reduction) after being given an inactive treatment, such as a pill made from sugar (instead of medicine). The placebo effect is thought to be due to the power of suggestion and expectation.
The placebo effect can play a role in the effectiveness of hypnotherapy. When a client believes that hypnotherapy will work, they are more likely to experience a positive outcome.
I occasionally meet people who are surprised I don’t try and bury this fact – almost as if it detracts from the efficacy of hypnotherapy. Far from it. If you believe something is going to work, study after study has shown that success is more likely to be the outcome.
My own case files bear this out. Those clients who come to me with an enthusiasm for hypnotherapy, perhaps having read some of my many positive testimonials, tend to get the most out of it.
How to increase your chances of success with hypnotherapy
If you are considering hypnotherapy, there are a number of things you can do to increase your chances of success:
Find a qualified and experienced hypnotherapist.
Read their reviews, ask friends for any recommendations, and get a feel for the hypnotherapist you are thinking of working with.
Be honest about your commitment to the process.
If you are not sure whether you are ready to make the changes that hypnotherapy can help you with – in the case of stop smoking hypnotherapy, for example, you really need to want to quit – it is best to wait until you are in the right frame of mind.
Make a connection.
If you don’t feel comfortable with a particular hypnotherapist, remember that you are 100% free to move on and try someone else.
Be open-minded and believe in the process. The more open-minded and trusting you are, the more likely you are to experience a positive outcome.
