What Happens When You Visit a Hypnotherapist

By Barrie St John

Many hypnotherapists follow a set script in one to one sessions, but I work a bit differently than other hypnotherapists. There is no ‘usual’ way in which I interact with people; everyone is unique so my response to each person is unique.

Generally, the process I follow is to start out by having a good talk with my client. I check out what the problem is that they are experiencing or what is causing them concern. Then I find out what they want to achieve, or in other words what outcome they are looking for. It may be that they want to stop smoking or to lose weight, or it may be a bit more unusual. Once I have this information, I then ask if they are willing to work toward their goals with me as a team to resolve the problem and if they are comfortable using hypnosis to do so.

Once this agreement is reached, I then begin with an informal induction and a deepener to bring the client into a state of hypnosis. My method is more often about having the client explore their own experience of the problem rather than leading them through a formal script. It’s hard to put into words, but the process allows the client to almost go on a journey within their own mind. At this point I have to be as flexible as I can be to make sure I’m not really leading people into anything, but allowing them to experience their own awareness and resolution through hypnosis.

Every hypnotherapist is different, but the standard process is usually the same. The client meets with the hypnotherapist, chats for a few minutes about their personal history and issues, and then introduces hypnosis through an induction and a deepener, which is probably then followed by a series of suggestions in the form of a script. The session may last for about 20 or 30 minutes before the client is brought back to full working awareness, at which point they might have another chat for a while to wrap it up.

Most hypnotherapists tend to follow the formal method using a script once the client is in hypnosis, whereas I prefer a more adaptive and personal approach. Of course in my one on one sessions I usually end by giving my clients one of my hypnosis recordings as you might expect, but nothing is really set in stone otherwise. The only framework I follow is to check out where the person is, what verbal and non-verbal cues they give me, then go down the road that is best suited and most comfortable for each individual. Every hypnosis session is unique because every client and situation is unique.

In my opinion, the best hypnotherapist is the one that can adapt.

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