EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DOING HYPNOTHERAPY ONLINE
In this article I will discuss everything you need to know about online hypnotherapy sessions. The benefits vs. cons, what to expect from working with a hypnotherapist online, how to make your environment comfortable for a hypnosis session and how to set up your phone or computer for an ideal experience.
Since the beginning of pandemic most of us got accustomed to using various online video services. Whether it be to socialize with friends, work from home, attend events and workshops and a myriad of other reasons to jump on a video call, it’s a lot more commonplace to do so and it is no different when it comes to doing therapy and more specifically hypnotherapy.
Prior to the lockdown, doing online sessions was somewhat of a rarity in my practice. I would do a few sessions here and there but the large majority of my work would take place in person. Currently, online hypnotherapy makes up about half of my clientele from all over the world.
IS DOING ONLINE HYPNOTHERAPY EFFECTIVE?
This is probably the most common question I get during my consultation calls with potential clients. The most straightforward answer I give is that if hypnosis is going to work for you, it will work whether it is in-person or online. That’s not to say that there are some major differences between doing hypnotherapy in and office and at home and factors to be considered when it comes to having a successful session.
Perhaps somewhat surprisingly there are a number of benefits of doing hypnosis remotely. Firstly, most people seeking out hypnotherapy have a lot of misconceptions and usually very little first-hand experience. Culturally hypnosis is a fascinating, mysterious and perhaps even eerie to some (nothing to be afraid of, I promise. On the contrary most people find the process very pleasant and relaxing).
This of course is attributed to decades of negative imagery perpetuated by the media and the use of hypnosis for entertainment. As a result, some people may feel uneasy about starting the process. Doing virtual hypnosis from your home setting can provide a sense of ease and comfort associated with being at home. This benefit can be invaluable to the success of the sessions.
Another great benefit of doing hypnosis virtually is that it gives people who may not have hypnotherapists in their area to providers from all over the country. Since doing online sessions has become commonplace, most hypnotists accept requests for online sessions. This of course not only gives people a lot of options, but also a chance to work with top professionals in the field. If you are not located near a city you may find that your options for hypnotherapists are limited.
HOW TO SET UP AN IDEAL ENVIRONMENT FOR AN ONLINE SESSION
One of the great benefits of doing a session in person is that the hypnosis practitioner will provide the clients with an ideal an environment for a successful session. A quiet office, a recliner chair, a dim light setting and at times white noise are just some of the staples of a hypnosis office. When doing online sessions, the responsibility of providing an ideal or at least adequate setting falls on the client. With a bit of effort and attention to detail, this can be easily achieved by following these steps:
Get your environment as quiet as possible. Pets, kids and significant others tend to get in the way of a successful session and are best kept out of the area where you’ll be doing the session. This may seems like a no-brainer, yet it happens a lot more than expected, even when these instructions are communicated. If you live in a noisy area, finding the quietest part of your home is important. I’ve had clients who use noise cancelling headphones if the noise from outside is a problem.
Find a comfortable spot. Typically the trance portion of the session takes 30-45 minutes so this is highly recommended. Ideally you should have back and arm support, sitting in a comfortable chair or couch will suffice. You can also lay down, however if you are prone to falling asleep quickly you might want to make sure you are sitting up a bit.
You want to make sure that the hypnotherapist can see you during the video call. This isn’t a must, however hypnotists will read your body language to help guide the session. Typically, using a laptop is ideal for this very reason. Phones can be tricky as it is hard to keep them upright unless you have some kind of stand or a solid way to prop it.
Video sessions are preferably done on Zoom. It’s the most reliable and easy way to connect online. Of course other methods such as Face Time and Skype can be accommodated.
ALL THINGS CONSIDERED…
…Doing hypnosis remotely and in-person are both effective. The suggestions above on how to do hypnosis sessions online are just that, suggestions. Most people’s situations can be accommodated while working remotely as it is a pleasant process for most and it’s fairly easy to set up. It’s not completely uncommon for me to get clients in my are who would rather do sessions online than come into my office.
However, if you are someone who has a hard time focusing and has a lot of distractions at home, it might be a good idea to try out hypnosis in person if it is accessible to you. If you’d like more information and a first-person account of what its like doing hypnosis on a video call, check out the following article:
https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/online-hypnosis-experience