Suggestions with self-hypnosis can be a usual way to manage emotions like fear, anxiety, and more. Through self-hypnosis, it’s possible to change how the patient can handle these experiences and their relationship with them. There are many possibilities to change physical and emotional sensations and responses. 

Sometimes, patients who experience self-hypnosis can experience deep relaxation, making it possible for them to administer hypnotic suggestions to themselves. Sometimes, they are so efficient in practicing self-hypnosis that they don’t need deep relaxation to be fully in trance.

But what is self-hypnosis? How to teach self-hypnosis to your patients, and how to reach an advanced level in self-hypnosis? In this article, we will provide you with the answers to these questions. Check it out!

What is self-hypnosis?

Self-hypnosis is about being highly focused and highly willing to receive positive suggestions to achieve your goals. And this means that self-hypnosis has nothing to do with:

• loss of mind control;
• brainwashing;
• sleeping;
• becoming unconscious;
• a mystical state.

It is an individual practice that can be taught with the help of a therapist who will teach their patients this technique to increase their autonomy and achieve their goals.

Its effectiveness is more likely when the subject has learned to control physical and emotional factors, and thus, enjoy its benefits, such as relaxation.

The most common advantages are:

• It can be done anywhere the person can concentrate;
• The person can feel more in control of themselves;
• The person chooses the hypnotic suggestions that make the most sense to them;
• Helps reduce the need for new consultations with therapists.

The therapist who identifies their patient’s need to use self-hypnosis needs to teach them, but may encounter some difficulties. Therefore, see some recommendations on how to do this below.

How to teach self-hypnosis to patients?

Self-hypnosis needs to be done through a specific script, using methodologies that work and are adapted to the patient’s reality. It is also necessary to assess the patient’s condition, as self-hypnosis can also happen with the patient alone, but this would not be recommended for those who already have more intense difficulties in dealing with their minds during a crisis. Therefore, read each instruction carefully.

Creating a script

The script needs to be created before execution so that the hypnotherapist can be confident that they are applying some methodologies that should initially promote the patient’s relaxation.

It is important if this script is sent to the patient as a text, that the therapist at least reads it aloud to ensure that their script is clear and fulfilling its function.

See below a suggestion on how to apply self-hypnosis:

We will start by using this as a method to help you relax. After practicing a few times, we will add hypnotic suggestions and imagery.

First, it’s important to reduce distractions by going to a place where you are unlikely to be disturbed. Turn off the phone, television, computer, etc. This is your time. You should focus on your self-hypnosis goal and nothing else. Once done, let’s go step by step:

1. Sit in a comfortable chair with your legs and feet uncrossed.

Avoid eating a large meal beforehand, so you don’t feel bloated or uncomfortable. Unless you wish to nap, sit in a chair. Lying on a bed will likely lead you to sleep.

Wear comfortable clothes and take off your shoes. If you wear contact lenses, it is advisable to remove them. Keep your legs and feet uncrossed.

2. Look at the ceiling and take a deep breath.

Without straining your neck or tilting your head back, choose a point on the ceiling and fix your gaze on this point. As you keep your eyes fixed on this point, take a deep breath, hold the air for a moment, and then exhale.

Silently repeat the suggestion “My eyes are tired and heavy, and I want to enter self-hypnosis now.”

Repeat the process to yourself a few times. If your eyes take a while to become heavy, let them close and relax in a normal position. It is important, when making the suggestion, that you say it to yourself with intention but without pressure. Say it softly and calmly, but convincingly.

3. Let your body relax.

Allow your body to become loose and limp in the chair like a rag doll. Then, slowly count silently from five to zero.

Tell yourself that with each count, you will become more and more relaxed. Stay in this relaxed state for a few minutes while you focus on your breathing.

Observe the movement of your chest and diaphragm. Be aware of how relaxed your body is becoming without you even having to try to relax it. The less you try, the more relaxed you will become.

4. When you’re ready, return to the room by counting from 1 to 5.

Tell yourself that you will become aware of what is around you, and by the count of 5, you will open your eyes. Count from 1 to 5 in an animated and energetic way. At the count of 5, open your eyes and stretch your arms and feet.

Repeat this technique three or four times and observe how each time you will reach a deeper level of relaxation.

If you find that you are not relaxing as much as you would like, don’t force it. There is a learning curve involved, so determine to practice self-hypnosis on a regular basis.

Sometimes people may feel a little sluggish or drowsy after coming out of hypnosis. This is similar to waking up from an afternoon nap, it’s harmless and passes after a few moments. However, do not drive or operate machinery until you feel fully awake.

Monitoring results

It is important to have done an excellent anamnesis to understand everything so that the therapist can identify necessary changes within their script to adapt to more specific patient issues, avoiding words that may trigger unexpected and negative responses, and using words that the patient shows a more positive association for relaxation.

If some improvements are needed, see below some ways to enhance self-hypnosis:

• Have a goal in mind for the patient;
• Help them schedule routine times for self-hypnosis;
• Encourage them to persevere in practice to intensify results;
• Suggest music that can help.

But how to reach a more advanced level in self-hypnosis? Check out the answer to this question below!

How to develop to an advanced level in self-hypnosis?

Developing in self-hypnosis so that it is truly effective and your skills also develop is a matter of practice. The relationship is, the more the individual practices, the more skilled they become. 

A good practice for development is when the therapist adopts various different approaches to find the most useful for their goal. But to have a sense of progress, some questions should be asked:

• Has the patient expressed a preference or discomfort with any approach?;
• Are the approaches achieving the goal the patient desires?;
• Do the approaches only leave the patient relaxed but not help with the problem?

If the patient offers negative responses, it does not necessarily mean that the therapist’s techniques are bad. It may be that the patient is practicing the therapist’s instructions in small amounts during the week.

It may also be that they are experiencing seasonal problems in their environment, or in extreme cases, may initially need help from other professionals such as a psychologist or psychiatrist if they have significant difficulties in controlling their emotions and concentration on their own.

Self-hypnosis for pain, for example, requires practice up to twice a day, with perseverance over long periods for more significant results. Therefore, the therapist should make this clear to their patient when suggesting this type of treatment.

Therefore, when the use of self-hypnosis is necessary, the therapist needs to be aware if their patient is capable of applying it. If they don’t feel prepared, they should seek more advanced preparation, following these tips.

Additionally, even if the hypnotherapist is capable of guiding the individual in sessions, they must consider the patient’s entire daily life and needs to establish teaching and good self-hypnosis practices that are possible and achievable with the patient’s needs.

Did you like our guide? Then, leave your main questions or experiences with self-hypnosis in the comments.

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