Is online hypnosis safe and effective?

If someone had asked me about ten years ago if hypnotising clients online would work, I suspect I would have been rather sceptical. That was before we all started using platforms such as Zoom on a regular basis. Having spent many years seeing clients face-to-face in my therapy room, I couldn’t imagine doing hypnosis via a screen, never mind building a relationship of confidentiality and trust, and I suspect I wasn’t alone in thinking this way!

Life moves on, and we humans learn to adapt to changing habits, recognising that if we don’t, there’s a good chance we’ll be left lagging behind. In the year or so before Covid and the lockdowns came around, some hypnotherapists were already using Zoom – mostly for workshops and meetings – but finding someone who did online hypnosis sessions was like looking for a needle in a haystack.  

For my part, I was getting an increasing number of enquiries from people who lived in different parts of the UK, and also from overseas, asking me if I did phone or Skype sessions, given that they couldn’t easily see me in person. 

Customised hypnosis for online sessions

In response to this growing need, it became clear that responsible hypnotherapists and past life regressionists needed to customise their hypnotic inductions and develop an effective way of meeting and working with clients using an online platform, whilst also being mindful of ensuring their clients remained safe at all times.  

One of the very few good things that came out of the lockdowns was that an increasing number of people became familiar with using video platforms for work and personal interaction. This made it easier to help convince would-be clients that there were many benefits to doing sessions from the safety and comfort of their own home, even if working with a therapist based in a very different location.  

Coupled with the growing number of people who were experiencing anxiety-related emotional issues, suddenly the concept of online sessions began to take off.  

Now we’re nearing the end of 2023, and hypnotherapists are working with people on a global scale, scheduling appointments according to different time zones, whilst still offering face-to-face appointments in their therapy rooms.

Understandably, many people have questions about doing hypnosis online, such as the following:

Is it as effective as seeing a therapist in person?

Given the number of sessions that are now successfully conducted worldwide, I think we can agree that they are very effective, but it’s a personal decision, and for some people, an in-person session is the preferred option.

How can you hypnotise someone through a screen?

Easily! Think about it for a moment. You’re lying on your bed or sofa with your eyes closed, listening to the hypnotherapist who is watching you carefully at all times, as they guide you into hypnosis. As long as you’re able to hear their voice clearly, it makes no difference whether you’re in the same room or many miles away!

What happens if the internet disconnects and we get cut off?

Yes, that does happen sometimes but it’s rarely a big problem. Even whilst in hypnosis, you will quickly become aware of the silence and will open your eyes and focus on reconnecting again.  

As soon as the connection is re-established, you will relax back into it and quickly return to a deep and comfortable state of hypnosis, just as if you pressed the 'pause' button and have now pressed 'play'.

Supposing I get ill during the session?

A responsible hypnotherapist or past life regressionist will either have requested that you complete a client intake form, or they will ask you a number of questions prior to doing the hypnosis. This will give you the opportunity to make them aware of any illness or other conditions, so they can assess whether doing hypnosis and emotional release work is suitable for you, without the approval of your doctor or other healthcare professional.  

You can also give them the name and phone number of someone to call who is nearby in the unlikely event that there is a problem. This is known as an ICE number (in case of emergency).

Useful tips for doing successful online sessions

If you’re considering the idea of doing online sessions of either hypnotherapy or past life regression, here are some suggestions for ensuring that you have the best possible experience:

• A good camera on a computer or smartphone.
• Fast, stable internet (computer or laptop) or good Wi-Fi (phone or iPad).
• Ideally, you will be in a reclined position, either directly facing the camera or at a ¾ angle, with your device positioned so your face and chest can easily be seen throughout the sessions. Many people choose to lie on their bed or sofa, with their head and neck well-supported by pillows.
• Wearing earbuds with an inbuilt mic will enable the hypnotherapist to hear what you’re saying more easily. Most people don’t realise that they speak at around 50% volume when in hypnosis!
• Your device needs to be fully charged if not connected directly to a power source (Zoom video uses a lot of power!).

So now you know a little more about how online hypnosis works and its benefits. It really can be just as effective as doing it in person and opens up the opportunity to work with professionals further afield. Hopefully this article answered some of your questions, but if you'd like to find out more about online hypnotherapy, get in touch and I'd be more than happy to discuss it with you.