Hypnosis is often talked about as a magical tool to help people change their habits, feel calmer, or even overcome fears. But what if you try hypnosis, and it just doesn’t seem to work? Does it mean there’s something wrong with you—or with hypnosis? Not at all! Let’s dive into what it might mean and how to think about it.
Hypnosis Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All
First, it’s important to understand that hypnosis works differently for everyone. Some people feel deeply relaxed and see results right away. For others, the changes might be slower or less noticeable. Hypnosis isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, and how you respond can depend on many things—like your mindset or expectations.
Are Your Expectations Too High?
If you went into hypnosis expecting to wake up and have all your problems solved, you’re not alone. It’s a common myth! Hypnosis isn’t magic; it’s a process. It can plant helpful suggestions in your mind, but you must take action daily to reinforce those changes. Think of it as planting a seed—it needs time, care, and the right conditions to grow. For example, I teach all clients self-hypnosis at the end of their first session and give them easy homework or S.E.W. as I like to call it – S.E.W. stands for Self Empowerment Work.
The other myth about hypnosis is that the hypnotist does all the work. Hypnosis is a partnership between me and my client. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis; I know how to speak to the mind, take the client to a focused state of relaxation, and hold space for their higher mind to make the changes happen.
Are You Ready for Change?
Sometimes, hypnosis doesn’t work because a part of you isn’t ready to let go of the problem. This might sound strange, but people often have unconscious reasons for holding on to habits or fears.
Here’s an excellent example. I had a client who smoked and needed to have knee replacement surgery. Her doctor told her that she would have to stop smoking before he would do the surgery. So she came to me and stopped smoking. She had her knee replacement done.
Fast forward a few years, and she called me. She had started smoking and said she had called another hypnotist because she was too embarrassed to call me again. She didn’t want me to think she had failed. (Side note: I never judge clients).
The other hypnotist made house calls and came to her house. He had the session with her, and as soon as he left, she lit up a cigarette. I suggested we get together for a couple of sessions.
We did her first session, and she quit after that. We did a reinforcement session a week later. I ran into her about two years later and asked how she was doing. She was very happy to say that she still wasn’t smoking and was saving a lot of money.
So clearly, she wasn’t ready to quit the first time I worked with her, but she was the second time.
The Importance of Trust and Comfort
Feeling comfortable with your hypnotist is a big deal. If you don’t trust them or feel uneasy, it can be hard to relax and let hypnosis do its thing.
Let’s go back to the smoking client I mentioned earlier. When the hypnotist arrived at her house, her dog started barking at him, so she put the dog in the bedroom.
There’s a quote attributed to Bill Murray, “I’m suspicious of people who don’t like dogs, but I trust a dog when it doesn’t like a person.” Maybe her dog planted a subconscious question about the hypnotist, and that affected her success.
Take the time to find someone you feel good working with. A consultation or a quick chat can help you decide if they’re the right fit for you (by the way, I want clients to be the right fit for me, too). I’ve recently started offering monthly group introductory sessions. These are not meant to work on an issue but to give the participants a feel for my process and to find out if they’re comfortable with me.
Be Open
Being open to the possibility of change and trusting yourself is an important factor in success.
There’s More Than One Way to Achieve Change if Hypnosis Doesn’t Work For You
Hypnosis may not be for everyone, but that’s okay. There are many ways to tackle personal challenges, from therapy to coaching to mindfulness techniques. The key is to keep looking until you find the best solution.
If you went to the doctor and they gave you a prescription that didn’t work, you would probably let them know and ask for something different – right? It doesn’t mean that the doctor or you failed. That script just wasn’t right for you.
The same thing goes for hypnosis. Everyone is unique, and what works for one person may not work for another. So, don’t wave the white flag in defeat yet.
Are You Curious to see if Hypnosis will Work for You?
If you’re curious about hypnosis and it’s right for you, why not book a free consultation with me or join one of my monthly Introduction to Hypnosis Sessions? Either one could be life-changing for you.