Why all hypnosis is really self hypnosis!

I regularly talk to all sorts of different audiences about hypnosis and am fond of saying "I can hypnotise absolutely anyone...anyone at all...you, you and you!" I then add "If they want me to..." And that is because of the simple fact that the phenomenon of hypnosis is actually all self hypnosis. It requires the consent and desire of the subject to go into the that particular state.When most people think of hypnosis, they often imagine a mysterious figure swinging a pocket watch, commanding someone to “sleep,” followed by the person falling into a trance and doing whatever the hypnotist says. While that image makes for great stage shows and movies, it doesn’t reflect the truth of how hypnosis actually works. In reality, all hypnosis is self-hypnosis — and understanding this can change how we view healing, change, and personal development.

What Is Hypnosis?

At its core, hypnosis is a natural, focused state of awareness. It’s a process in which a person enters a state of deep concentration and heightened suggestibility, usually accompanied by a sense of physical relaxation. It’s not sleep or unconsciousness, and certainly not mind control. In fact, most people in hypnosis are fully awake and aware — just highly focused and receptive.

You’ve likely experienced mild forms of hypnosis without even realising it. Think about times when you’ve been so engrossed in a movie or book that you didn’t notice what was happening around you, or when you drove a familiar route and arrived without remembering much of the journey. These are examples of naturally occurring trance states.

The Role of the Hypnotist

A trained hypnotist or hypnotherapist doesn’t impose hypnosis onto someone. Instead, they act as a facilitator or guide. They provide suggestions, structure, and techniques that help the subject enter a hypnotic state. But the shift in awareness and the acceptance of suggestions come from the individual themselves.

For example, if a hypnotist says, “You feel your eyelids getting heavy,” the subject has the power to:

• Accept the suggestion and experience the feeling

• Ignore it entirely

• Modify the suggestion mentally in a way that suits them

The person undergoing hypnosis is doing the real work. The hypnotist is simply providing a framework. Without the subject’s cooperation, belief, and willingness to engage, no hypnosis can occur. That’s what makes all hypnosis, at its core, self-hypnosis.

Hypnosis Requires Consent and Participation

You cannot hypnotise someone who does not want to be hypnotised. This fact alone proves that hypnosis is never something “done to” a person — it’s something that happens with their consent and through their participation.

Even the most experienced hypnotist cannot override someone’s values or compel them to do something truly against their will. In every session, the subject remains in control. This makes hypnosis very different from the portrayals we often see in pop culture.

When a person decides to enter a hypnotic state, they are using the hypnotist as a tool to help access that internal experience. They are, in effect, hypnotising themselves.

The Process of Self-Hypnosis

Whether guided by a professional or practiced independently, the hypnosis process involves several internal steps that are self-directed:

1. Relaxation – You choose to slow your breath, quiet your thoughts, and relax your body.

2. Focus – You direct your attention inward, often using mental imagery or goals.

3. Suggestion – You hear or generate a suggestion and decide to mentally accept and explore it.

4. Reinforcement – You use repetition, imagination, or emotion to deepen the experience.

In all these steps, you are the active participant. You are not being “hypnotised” by someone else — you are entering the hypnotic state yourself, even if another person is guiding the process.

Everyday Examples of Self-Hypnosis

We enter trance-like states frequently in daily life:

• Daydreaming

• Zoning out during a routine task

• Immersing yourself in music or meditation

• Giving yourself a pep talk or visualizing success

All of these experiences involve elements of self-hypnosis: focused attention, internal dialogue, visualization, and altered perception. If you’ve ever told yourself “I can do this” before a challenge, you’ve used a suggestion in the same way that hypnosis works.

The Role of Belief and Expectation

Hypnosis works best when the person believes in the process and expects it to help. This is similar to the placebo effect — when people experience real results from a treatment because they expect it to work.

When you accept a suggestion, such as “I feel more confident every day,” your brain begins to act as though it is true. This mental shift can affect feelings, thoughts, and even physiology. It’s not magic — it’s focused mental rehearsal and belief coming together.

That’s the essence of self-hypnosis: intentionally using your mind’s natural responsiveness to suggestion to create real change.

Guided Hypnosis Is Just Structured Self-Hypnosis

Even in clinical settings or with recordings, what’s really happening is that a person is choosing to follow along with the guidance. They are still creating the images, accepting the ideas, and entering the trance state on their own.

A skilled hypnotherapist helps structure the session and introduce effective suggestions, but the power comes from the individual’s mind. This is why hypnotherapists often teach their clients how to practice self-hypnosis outside of sessions. The goal is not dependency but empowerment.

Why It Matters That Hypnosis Is Self-Hypnosis

Understanding that all hypnosis is self-hypnosis has powerful implications:

• It puts the power back in your hands. You are in charge of your mind and your responses.

• It removes fear. Since no one can control your mind without your permission, you can engage in hypnosis with greater trust and openness.

• It opens the door to self-directed change. You can use self-hypnosis on your own to improve habits, manage anxiety, increase confidence, or boost creativity.

In other words, realising that you are the source of your hypnotic experiences gives you more control, more clarity, and more potential for personal growth.

All hypnosis is self-hypnosis because it relies entirely on your own focus, imagination, belief, and willingness. Whether guided by a therapist, listened to in an audio track, or created through your own internal dialogue, the hypnotic process always begins and ends with you.

Rather than viewing hypnosis as a mysterious power wielded by someone else, think of it as a tool — one that anyone can learn to use with the right guidance and intention. Your mind already knows how to enter these states. All that’s left is to learn how to direct them toward the changes you want to make.

By embracing the truth that all hypnosis is self-hypnosis, you unlock a deeper level of self-awareness, self-mastery, and possibility.

If you'd like help learning self-hypnosis, there are simple methods, scripts, and exercises you can use for sleep, focus, healing, or performance. It's easier than you think — and it's already inside you.

I can hypnotise absolutely anyone...if they want me to...