1. When I am hypnotized I am under the control of the hypnotherapist. He or She can make me do anything that I normally would be uncomfortable with or would never do.

No matter how deeply hypnotized you are, you remain in control of your own actions throughout the whole session. A person will not do anything under hypnosis that goes against their will or ethical beliefs. They accept suggestions only if they want to accept them. Therefore, it is crucial for the hypnotherapist to understand what the person wants to achieve in hypnotherapy. An in-depth consultation prior to the first session can help clarify the person’s goals and possible boundaries.

2. Hypnosis is done to people. It is not something that people can do for themselves.

You can learn how to apply self-hypnosis as a tool to help yourself. Nobody can be hypnotized against their will. Hypnosis is a state of deep relaxation and concentration, not some mysterious state of mind that only the hypnotherapist can induce.

3. People could get trapped in hypnosis and not be able to come out of it when they want to.

You can come out of hypnosis whenever you want to and you do not need the help of the hypnotherapist to do so.

4. Not everyone can be hypnotized. Only people that are very “gullible” or “suggestible” and easily influenced can enter a state of hypnosis.

The vast majority of people can benefit from hypnosis. Some people enter deeper states of hypnosis faster than others do, but almost everyone can reach some level of hypnosis. Being hypnotizable or choosing to be responsive to suggestions is not a sign of being gullible or weak-minded. It just means that you have the ability to use hypnosis effectively for your own well-being. Hypnotherapy is a completely natural, safe and effective form of therapy. Hypnotherapy can be successfully applied, even if you enter only a light state of hypnosis.

5. People are unconscious during hypnosis.

Even though people are very relaxed during hypnosis, they participate actively in the hypnotherapy session and are not unconscious or asleep. In fact, hypnosis is a state of deep concentration and inward focus.