How online hypnotherapy works: Benefits and setup tips

As a cognitive hypnotherapist, I'm used to people asking me: "Does hypnotherapy actually work?" I've been in practice now for more than 13 years, and I can say with conviction, that yes, it works very well. When Covid-19 hit, many of us had to take our businesses online, and now people ask me: "Does online hypnotherapy actually work?"

Like other hypnotherapy colleagues I spoke with, when I first took my business online I had a lot of my own concerns about whether my work would be as successful over the internet.

• I worried that I wouldn't feel the same rapport as I did when in the room with someone.
• I worried that the hypnosis wouldn't be as effective if I wasn't delivering it in person.
• I worried that the technology might let me down.
• I worried that I wouldn't be able to 'read' my clients as well through a screen.

However, after a month or two when I had really got to grips with the format, it became clear that none of my worries were founded in any truth. And I began to really enjoy working online with clients.

My clients found that being in their own homes in a space that they felt comfortable in helped them to feel relaxed.  They told me that after just a few minutes of talking online with me, they could feel that sense of rapport I try to create at the earliest possible opportunity.

And after our sessions, the feedback was also positive. Yes, online hypnotherapy works.

Why online hypnotherapy works

Psychological safety

When you first visit a new place or meet a new person, your brain is figuring out if it is a safe place to be and if there are safe people to be with. For some people who are very comfortable in new places with new people, this subconscious process will be completed very quickly. But for others, it can be an uncomfortable experience for a short while. By having your hypnotherapy session online from the comfort of your own home, your brain already knows that you are in a safe place, and so the process of dealing with the new situation and person is considerably reduced. 

Rapport

The rapport that we create in person can be created just as well through a screen. Because your brain is still receiving the sight and sounds of the therapist in front of you, it doesn't treat it that much differently - if at all - than if they actually were in front of you. So all those micro-expressions, the tone of voice, the sense of being listened to and heard, are still all there.

Time

A lot of time can be spent travelling to and from the therapist's office. I have some clients who travel upwards of an hour to visit me in practice. For some people this is fine, but for others who are busy and already feel a sense of guilt for taking time out for themselves, factoring in travel and traffic can create a little stress in the situation. Being able to connect to the online hypnotherapy session removes all that extra time pressure for you. 

Flexibility

For some of my clients, being able to access hypnotherapy both online and in person means that they can choose what suits them for each session. It may be that we meet face-to-face for the initial session, and then have a blend of online and in-person work over our time together depending on each other's schedules. 

Therapist choice

By connecting to hypnotherapy online, you can really choose the therapist that is right for you, not just the only one that happens to be geographically convenient. You're not even constrained by working with someone in the same country as you! Online hypnotherapy really widens your choice when it comes to finding someone you connect well with, and who works with you in a way that resonates with you.

Accessibility

In several of the places where I have run my practice over the years, accessibility has been an issue. Where I am currently, is not, unfortunately, suitable for wheelchair users. An alternative space I rent on occasion would be difficult for the elderly or people with mobility issues too, as it is up several flights of stairs with no lift. But online hypnotherapy is accessible to everyone with just a few simple technology checks. 

Of course, online hypnotherapy isn't going to be right for everyone, and some people will always prefer the feeling of getting out of their own homes and going to a hypnotherapist's practice in person. 

I also like face-to-face sessions, so unlike some hypnotherapists, I have not moved completely into an online hypnotherapy model. I like the balance of both worlds and with some clients, we blend the two and have a mix of online and in-person sessions.

How to set online hypnotherapy up for success

Here are some simple tips to get the most out of online hypnotherapy:

Technology

Test that your internet connection is good, that you have a device with a big enough screen to see your therapist clearly, and that it has a good enough camera for them to see you too. Make sure you have the online video platform downloaded and installed that the therapist uses. I use Zoom, but others may use Skype, Google Meets or another software. You can ask your therapist for a test call. I am always happy to do these as they only take a few minutes. Make sure to do this all in advance of your first session. Headphones are preferable but not essential.

Environment

While being in the comfort of your own home is a big bonus to online hypnotherapy, it can bring some drawbacks. It may not feel as confidential as a therapist's office, so make sure you choose a room where you do feel that you can speak freely and you won't be disturbed. Try and choose a quiet location that won't have lots of outside distractions, but if this is not possible then use headphones to keep your attention on the therapist's words.

Comfort

It is good to have a comfortable chair, sofa or bed to sit on. You may wish to lie down for any traditional hypnosis parts of the session, but you should still make sure that you are visible to the therapist if you do so. The chair should be comfortable and supportive enough that if you do drift into a deep relaxing state, you won't worry about falling off.

Device placement

You need to use a hands-free device so that the therapist has a clear and stable image of you through the camera. We don't want to talk to the ceiling! Make sure you have a place where you can stand your device so that the camera has a good view of you and you can move it if you move position.

Establish what to do if the connection drops during online hypnotherapy

Most therapists will discuss this with you. It is normal that we will establish the protocol for if that happens. This might be messaging through WhatsApp to give instructions, or waiting for the therapist to reconnect and reinvite you to the call.

With these things in mind, you and your hypnotherapist will have set yourselves up for a successful online hypnotherapy session, where you too can see that yes, online hypnotherapy works.