Can everyone be hypnotised?
Most people can experience hypnosis to some degree. How deeply varies from person to person, you don’t have to believe in it for it to be useful, and you stay aware and in control the whole time.
This is one of the questions I’m asked most, usually by someone who has seen a stage show, had a disappointing session elsewhere, or simply can’t imagine switching off. So here’s a plain answer from 17 years in clinical practice.
Can everyone be hypnotised?
Not everyone responds in the same way, but most people can be hypnotised. Researchers at Stanford University estimate that around two-thirds of adults are at least somewhat hypnotisable, and a smaller group are highly responsive. A minority respond very little to formal hypnosis tests.
That natural responsiveness, which researchers call hypnotisability, seems to stay fairly stable through adult life. It has nothing to do with being gullible or weak-willed. David Spiegel, a Stanford professor of psychiatry who studies hypnosis, describes it as less about personality and more about cognitive style: how you tend to focus and absorb yourself in things.
In practice, the label matters less than people think. Clinical hypnosis isn’t a test you pass or fail. It’s focused attention, imagination and suggestion, used on purpose, and most people can do those things well enough for it to be useful.
What hypnosis actually feels like
Hypnosis is a focused, relaxed state. Most people describe it as like being absorbed in a good book or film, or the drifting feeling just before sleep. You can hear everything I say. Some people feel heavy and calm, some feel light, and some feel nothing special at all and are surprised afterwards by how much time has passed.
If you’re expecting to be knocked out, or to wake up with no memory, you may think it hasn’t worked when it has. That expectation is one of the most common reasons people decide they “can’t be hypnotised”.
Do I have to believe in it?
No. You need to be willing to give it a go, not to believe in it. I’ve worked with plenty of sceptics, and being curious is enough.
Expectation does play a part in hypnosis, as it does in most talking therapies, and I won’t pretend otherwise. But doubting it isn’t the same as refusing to take part. If you’re willing to follow along and let your imagination do its work, that’s all I need. If you’re determined to resist, you will, because you’re in charge.
Will I lose control?
No. You stay aware and in control throughout. You can hear me, move, speak, and open your eyes and stop at any point. I can’t make you do anything you don’t want to do, and you won’t reveal anything you’d rather keep to yourself.
Stage hypnosis gives people the wrong idea. The volunteers on stage are chosen because they’re responsive and happy to perform. In a clinical session there’s no audience and no tricks. We talk first, then I guide you into a focused state that we use to rehearse the changes you want to make.
What if I can’t relax?
You don’t need to be good at relaxing. Hypnosis isn’t the same as relaxation, and you can be in a useful hypnotic state with a busy mind. Thoughts wandering off is normal. When they do, you come back to my voice.
If you find sitting still hard, I’ll adapt the approach. Some people respond better to a more active, conversational style, sometimes with their eyes open to begin with. We find what works for you.
Hypnosis is a skill that improves with practice
Your natural level of responsiveness doesn’t change much, but your skill in using hypnosis does. Most people settle more quickly and go deeper the more they practise, because they know what to expect and trust the process.
That’s one reason the hypnosis in every session I do is recorded for you to keep. Listening between sessions is practice, and it helps the work become part of your day. You can try it now with a free recording on my free weight-loss hypnosis page, or learn a simple routine on my self-hypnosis for weight loss page.
Find out if hypnosis is likely to suit you
My free suitability test takes about four minutes and gives you an honest answer about whether hypnotherapy is likely to help with your eating, and how. If it suggests something else would suit you better, it will say so.
Hypnotherapy for weight works best alongside sensible eating and moving more, not instead of them, and your own commitment still matters. If you’d like to know what the research says, read Does hypnosis work for weight loss?
Try a session free
If you’d like to find out how you respond, these are full sessions from my podcast, The Hypnotist, free to listen to. Listen somewhere comfortable, never while driving.
Hypnosis for Overeating and Self Control
A short session in which you watch a craving on an imagined cinema screen, shrink it, and swap it for a picture of yourself eating calmly: a good first taste of how hypnosis uses your imagination.
Hypnosis To Change Associations With Foods
You imagine yourself as a forager in a forest, choosing what nourishes you and loosening the pull of foods tied to old memories.
Common questions
Can everyone be hypnotised?
Most people can experience hypnosis to some degree, but how strongly varies from person to person. Stanford researchers estimate that around two-thirds of adults are at least somewhat hypnotisable. Clinical hypnosis isn’t a pass or fail test, and most people can use focused attention and imagination well enough for it to be useful.
Do I have to believe in hypnosis for it to work?
No. You need to be willing to take part, not to believe. Plenty of sceptics find it useful, although if you decide to resist, you can, because you stay in control.
Will I lose control or say something I don’t want to?
No. You stay aware throughout, you can hear everything, and you can open your eyes and stop whenever you like. Nobody can make you do or say anything against your wishes in hypnosis.
What if I can’t relax or my mind keeps wandering?
That’s fine and very common. Hypnosis isn’t the same as relaxation, and a wandering mind doesn’t stop it being useful. I adapt my approach to suit you.
Can you get better at being hypnotised?
Yes, in the sense that you get better at using it. Your natural responsiveness stays fairly steady through adult life, but most people settle more quickly and get more from it with practice, which is why I record every session for you to keep.
Is hypnosis safe?
For most adults, yes. The NHS says hypnotherapy may not be safe if you have epilepsy, schizophrenia or a history of psychosis, so please tell me about any medical or mental health conditions, and any medicines you take, on the consultation call. I work with adults only.
Where to start
Is hypnosis right for you?
Take my free four minute suitability test. You get an honest answer about whether hypnotherapy is likely to help with your goals, and how.
Work on it with me
Book a consultation call and we will talk through your eating, what you have tried and whether hypnotherapy is right for you. Use code SLIM at checkout for half price: £24.50 instead of £49 (or $29.50 outside the UK). The fee comes off your first session.
Or start with a recorded session
Sessions from my store, recorded for this kind of eating. Listen somewhere comfortable, never while driving.
Please read this first
If you’re eating very little, making yourself sick, or feel your eating is out of your control, please speak to your GP, or contact Beat, the UK eating disorder charity, on 0808 801 0677. Hypnotherapy is not a substitute for medical advice, and if you take prescribed medication, speak to your prescriber before changing anything. I work with adults only. Never listen to hypnosis recordings while driving or doing anything that needs your full attention.