Is hypnosis dangerous?

When practiced by a trained professional, within the well-being framework described here, hypnosis is considered safe by the health institutes that have evaluated it. Reported adverse effects are rare and mild (brief drowsiness, an emotion resurfacing). The real precautions lie elsewhere : never replace medical follow-up, get your doctor's agreement in case of a psychiatric condition, and choose a trained practitioner.

Can you get "stuck" under hypnosis?

No, it's physiologically impossible. The hypnotic state is a natural state you come out of spontaneously, like a daydream or being absorbed in a film. If the practitioner stopped talking, you would emerge on your own within a few minutes, or slip into ordinary sleep and wake up from that normally.

Will I lose control or do things against my will?

No, therapeutic hypnosis is a collaboration. You remain conscious, you hear everything, you can speak, refuse a suggestion, and stop at any time. Suggestions that go against your values are simply rejected — this has been documented for decades. The puppet-like subject is an image from stage shows, not from the therapy room.

Very likely, to your own degree : most people reach a state that's more than sufficient for therapeutic work, and receptivity develops with practice. The three real conditions: being willing (no one is hypnotized against their will), feeling trust, and letting it happen rather than "testing" it. Being receptive is neither a weakness nor gullibility — it's instead correlated with concentration and imagination.

What is the difference between hypnosis, meditation, and sophrology?

Three related but distinct practices. Meditation trains open, goal-free attention — a hygiene of the mind. Sophrology combines relaxation, breathing, and positive visualization, in group or individual settings. Hypnosis, meanwhile, is result-oriented: a state of focus used to work toward a specific goal — undoing a fear, changing a habit, preparing for an exam. Many of our clients practice all three; they complement each other.

Does video-call hypnosis really work?

Yes, and it's not a compromise. The hypnotic state depends on voice, attention, and collaboration, not physical presence. Results are equivalent, and video adds its own advantages: your real environment (valuable for sleep or habits), complete privacy, and the freedom to choose your practitioner without geographic constraints.

How many sessions are needed?

Two to six for most topics. The topic guides each specify their own format — with one constant principle: no endless sessions. Self-hypnosis, learned from the start, makes you self-sufficient; support that drags on with no end in sight should raise questions, with us as with anyone else.

Is hypnosis suitable for children?

Remarkably well-suited : children naturally live in imagination, which is hypnosis's gateway: for them, it takes the form of stories and games, from around age 4-5, always with a willing child and informed parents. Our dedicated page details this specific practice, pediatric hypnosis.

Why does stage hypnosis seem so different?

Because it's a different thing entirely : the show selects the most receptive and most playful volunteers, then relies on audience pressure — a setup designed for entertainment. In the therapy room: no audience, no selection, your goals, your pace. The same state serving two unrelated purposes.

Hypnologist, hypnotist, hypnotherapist : what's the difference?

The terms "hypnologist," "hypnotist," and "hypnotherapist" are often confused, but they describe distinct roles and skills. Hypnologist. A specialist who studies hypnosis from a theoretical and scientific angle, without necessarily practicing it actively : they focus on understanding its mechanisms, effects, and potential applications, and may teach or do research — without necessarily having a clinical or therapeutic practice. Hypnotist. Someone who practices hypnosis, often for entertainment or in an informal setting : this is the world of stage hypnosis shows, inducing hypnotic states in participants to create striking experiences. No therapeutic purpose ; the goal is to entertain or demonstrate trance phenomena. Hypnotherapist. Trained to use hypnosis as a well-being tool, often alongside medical or psychological care : they help clients work through emotional or behavioral difficulties. At Solutions Hypnose, we speak of "therapeutic hypnosis" to set ourselves apart from stage or street hypnosis : we remain neither psychologists nor psychotherapists.

How do you choose a good hypnotherapist?

Three filters (verifiable on each Solutions Hypnose partner's page) : serious training : school, duration, certifications; a clear framework : goal, estimated number of sessions, fees; zero promise of a guaranteed result. Depending on the reason for consultation you mention when booking, a first conversation asks about your situation — and refers you to a doctor or psychologist if needed, criterion number one for seriousness. The trust you feel at first contact does the rest : hypnosis is a collaboration.

What Is Therapeutic Hypnosis?

Therapeutic hypnosis is a natural state of focused attention : a relaxed concentration in which the mind becomes more receptive to helpful suggestions. It is used by a trained practitioner to work on what willpower alone struggles to reach: automatic patterns, emotions, and beliefs. You remain conscious and in control from start to finish: this is neither sleep, nor a loss of control, nor magic.

To understand it better : let's look at what actually happens in your brain, why stage hypnosis has muddied the picture, what a session looks like, what the science honestly says, and the many topics hypnosis can help with.

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Hypnosis: Definition and How It Works

You already know hypnosis — you do it every day

Let's start by demystifying it: the hypnotic state is nothing exotic. You may have experienced it this morning — absorbed in a book to the point of not hearing someone speak to you, arriving at your destination "on autopilot" with no memory of the last few miles, so caught up in a film that you jumped at a sudden scene. These "everyday trances" are exactly the state a hypnotherapist helps you return to — deliberately, more deeply, and above all: aimed at a goal. Hypnosis creates nothing artificial; it uses an ability your brain already exercises several times a day.

Two centuries of history, in three steps

Modern hypnosis was built by shedding its trappings. In the 18^th century, Franz Mesmer captivated Europe with his "animal magnetism" — spectacular, but based on a false theory. In the 19^th century, Scottish surgeon James Braid understood that it was neither fluid nor magnetism but a state of concentration within the subject: he coined the word "hypnosis." And in the 20^th century, American psychiatrist Milton Erickson revolutionized the practice: a flexible, conversational, respectful hypnosis — where the practitioner doesn't command but guides, and where the resources are the client's own. Contemporary hypnotherapy, the kind our teams practice, descends from this lineage.

What happens in the brain?

Brain imaging has taken hypnosis out of the realm of mystery : the hypnotic state corresponds to measurable changes in brain activity — notably in the networks involved in attention, control, and perception. Concretely, three things change :

Attention narrows : the beam tightens, distractions fade — as with the book that absorbs you.
The inner critic loosens, the filter that usually says "yes, but" lets helpful suggestions through to automatic patterns.
Imagination becomes more "real" : scenes experienced mentally engage sensory and emotional circuits more strongly — which is what makes mental rehearsal so effective.

It's this combination that allows deep work on what ordinary conversation only skims. Public health institutes — from the American NIH (NCCIH) to the French INSERM, which devoted an evaluation report to the practice (INSERM) — now document this state and its applications.

Stage hypnosis has muddied the waters — let's set the record straight

The chicken on stage, the finger snap, "sleep, I command it" : stage hypnosis is the number-one reason people hesitate to seek help — and it looks nothing like what happens in a session. The show selects audience members who are both the most receptive AND the most willing to play along (getting up on stage is already consent to the act), then leans on the social pressure of the crowd. Therapeutic hypnosis is its exact opposite : a confidential setting, YOUR goals, no audience, no possible humiliation — and one absolute principle: nothing can be suggested to you against your values. The same word covers two different worlds; don't let the first one keep you from the second.

Demystifying Hypnosis

The five myths to bury

Woman lying on a couch during a session, the practitioner taking notes

"I'll lose control." No — it's actually the opposite: hypnosis requires your active participation. You hear everything, you can speak, adjust, refuse a suggestion, open your eyes at any moment. No one can be hypnotized against their will.
"I'll reveal my secrets." No — you only say what you choose to say, just as in any conversation. Hypnosis is not a truth serum; in fact, many sessions involve very little talking on your part.
"I might get stuck." Impossible — the hypnotic state is a natural state you come out of spontaneously, the way you emerge from a daydream. At worst, if the practitioner stopped talking, you'd "wake up" on your own within a few minutes… or drift into actual sleep.
"Hypnosis is sleeping." No — despite the etymology (Hypnos, the god of sleep: Braid himself later regretted the word choice). EEG confirms it: the hypnotic state is a particular state of wakefulness, often described as a restful concentration.
"There's a magic word that fixes everything in one session." No — and be wary of anyone who sells that. Hypnosis speeds up and deepens a process of change; it doesn't replace it. Expect generally two to six sessions depending on the topic, including your own involvement.

Is everyone hypnotizable?

Honest answer: yes, to varying degrees. Hypnotic receptivity varies from person to person — a minority enter a very deep trance, most reach a moderate state that's more than enough for therapeutic work, and a few need more time or adapted techniques. Three factors matter more than anything :

Willingness : hypnosis is a collaboration — anyone who "dares" the practitioner to hypnotize them always wins, and wastes their time.
Trust in your practitioner : going into hypnosis is a mental letting-go that only works if you accept it.
Practice : receptivity develops from session to session, like a skill. "Good subjects" are neither weaker nor more gullible: the capacity to absorb is instead correlated with imagination and concentration.

The Benefits of Therapeutic Hypnosis

Video transcript

Bonjour, L’hypnose a encore parfois une réputation sulfureuse, alimentée notamment par son usage en spectacle ou par certains films. D’où cette vidéo pour vous parler de l’intérêt de l’hypnose thérapeutique et de notre pratique chez Solutions Hypnose. Tout d’abord, pour casser certaines idées reçues : 1 - Non, en état d’hypnose, vous ne dormez pas. D’ailleurs vous pouvez dialoguer sous hypnose avec votre hypnothérapeute et vous vous souvenez en général de la discussion, et parfois de manière très précise.

Un client avec des troubles de l’attention importants était étonné récemment de se souvenir parfaitement de toute sa conversation sous hypnose, ce qui ne lui arrivait pas souvent dans la vie courante. 2 - Non, nous n’avons pas de « pouvoir » sur nos clients. Et si vous n’avez pas confiance dans votre hypnothérapeute, cela ne marchera pas. Votre conscient est toujours là en arrière-plan et vous refuserez ce qui ne rentre pas dans vos valeurs ou votre cadre mental.

Maintenant qu’est-ce que l’hypnose ? Tout d’abord il y a une ambiguïté dans le mot qui désigne à la fois l’état de conscience modifié que nous recherchons et le nom des techniques que nous utilisons pour cela. Donc nous faisons de « l’hypnose » pour vous amener en état « d’hypnose ». L’état d’hypnose c’est un état de conscience particulier : Contrairement à l’état de veille ou au sommeil paradoxal, en hypnose vous êtes très détendu physiquement et mentalement.

Contrairement au sommeil profond ou quand vous rêvez, vous vous souvenez de ce qui se passe. Cela pourrait se rapprocher de l’état atteint lors la méditation mais nous savons maintenant que les ondes dans le cerveau sont différentes… Donc c’est un état de conscience modifié, un peu comme du rêve éveillé. Et nous faisons tous l’expérience de l’état d’hypnose au quotidien : par exemple quand vous êtes dans un transport et que votre esprit décroche en regardant défiler le paysage, ou quand vous regardez un film et que vous rentrez complètement dans l’histoire, ou quand vous êtes « dans la lune »…

Alors, quel est l’intérêt d’aller rechercher cet état d’hypnose ? - Tout d’abord c’est très agréable car vous êtes très détendu physiquement et mentalement - Mais surtout, en état d’hypnose, votre esprit rationnel et critique « décroche » et votre cerveau créatif a le champ plus libre. Au lieu de parler de votre problème en disant « c’est comme cela », « cela a toujours été comme cela », « de toute façon, je ne suis pas capable… », vous allez accepter de jouer avec votre imagination, avec les « si c’était possible… », ou bien « imagine que ton problème a disparu… » Et c’est là où le changement intervient, car notre corps et notre esprit sont fascinants.

Souvent nos clients sont des spécialistes de leur problème, et ils ont tout essayé. D’ailleurs vous savez cela, plus cherchez à vous endormir ou à ne plus penser à votre mal de dos, moins vous dormez ou plus vous vous focalisez sur votre douleur. Parfois ils viennent même à l’hypnose pour se prouver qu’ils ont vraiment « tout » essayé. Ou bien ils sont envoyés par leur médecin quand tous les examens médicaux ont été faits et qu’il n’y a pas de raison physiologique au problème.

Eh bien sous hypnose, la personne va se détendre, va voir sa situation de manière différente, faire des liens conscients ou inconscients avec d’autres éléments de sa vie, et devenir créative par rapport à de nouvelles options ou solutions. Je ne dis pas que c’est magique, et que cela va résoudre tous vos problèmes dans l’instant, mais si vous tournez en rond depuis trop longtemps dans une situation qui ne vous convient pas, l’hypnose thérapeutique peut vous aider à ouvrir de nouvelles portes.

C’est un outil de changement à la fois puissant et délicat, « écologique » : c’est vous qui allez à votre rythme, et nous sommes là pour vous accompagner à votre rythme. Personnellement, je trouve cela fascinant et très satisfaisant car c’est le client qui trouve ses propres solutions, qui reprend son pouvoir dans sa vie, et les résultats sont là, et durables. L’équipe d’hypnothérapeutes de Solutions Hypnose est là pour vous accompagner.

En présentiel près de chez vous ou par vidéo, cela fonctionne aussi très bien. Prenez rendez-vous dès maintenant pour créer la vie que vous souhaitez grâce à l’hypnose ! A bientôt !

Hypnotherapy is a complementary form of support and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns about your health, please consult a physician first.

What a session actually looks like

The intake conversation. Getting to know you, understanding your situation, answering your questions, refining your goal to make it even more motivating — and, if needed, a referral to a healthcare professional before any work begins (this is a mark of seriousness).
The induction. The practitioner guides you into the hypnotic state through voice, breathing, and focus: a few minutes is usually enough, no swinging pendulum or theatrics involved. Different techniques are possible, and with experience you will be able to tell your practitioner what you prefer.
The therapeutic work. This is the core of it: suggestions, metaphors, visualizations, sometimes dialogue — all aimed at your goal, with absolute respect for your values.
The return. A gradual, gentle emergence; most people feel rested, as if after a nap without sleep.
Self-hypnosis. From the first sessions, you learn to recreate the state on your own: this is the tool that extends the work into everyday life — and our constant goal: your autonomy.

A session lasts 50 to 60 minutes (sometimes up to 90 for the first one, depending on the practitioner), in-office or by video call — both formats produce equivalent results, since the hypnotic state depends on voice and attention, not physical presence.

What the science says — honestly

Our position, true to this site's trademark: say what's solid, what's less so, and never oversell. The best-documented area is pain : the National Institutes of Health recognize hypnosis among the useful complementary approaches for chronic pain (NIH — NCCIH), literature reviews point the same way (NIH — PMC), and France's public health service mentions it among approaches to chronic pain (Santé.fr). For other areas — stress, sleep, phobias, preparation for medical procedures, habits — results are encouraging but the evidence is of uneven maturity: sometimes small sample sizes, heterogeneous protocols. And for still others, hypnosis rests more on documented clinical practice than on experimental proof. What this means for you: hypnosis is serious support with real but variable effects depending on the person and the topic — anyone who guarantees you a result is lying to you, and our topic guides go into detail area by area, with sources.

Limits and precautions — read before you consult

Well-being hypnotherapy does not treat illness and never replaces a treatment : any physical or psychological symptom is first and foremost a matter for a doctor or a psychologist, and a treatment is never stopped without the prescriber's agreement. Certain situations require the prior agreement of the treating physician, notably ongoing psychiatric conditions.

Finally, since the profession is not uniformly regulated, choose your practitioner on verifiable criteria : named training, a clear framework, honesty about limits.

Why trust the Solutions Hypnose team

A standard of competence : each partner goes through a professional hiring process, takes part in ongoing training and collective supervision, and will tell you frankly when another professional should come first.

Code of ethics : we follow the code of ethics of RITMA (Regroupement des Intervenants et Thérapeutes en Médecine Alternative) and of the ICF (International Coach Federation), notably on client information and respect, confidentiality, and conflict of interest.

The different schools of hypnosis

"Classic" hypnosis. Based on the conscious/unconscious split, generally fairly directive. Every hypnosis practitioner knows techniques from classic hypnosis, but it is mostly used as such in medical settings.
Ericksonian hypnosis. Named after American psychiatrist Milton Erickson, who used very particular strategies, deliberately seeking vagueness and ambiguity to bypass the patient's rational mind, telling anecdotes and giving them tasks (often highly creative ones). Learn more about our Ericksonian Hypnosis consultations.
New Hypnosis. Combines elements of classic and Ericksonian hypnosis with contributions from NLP, in a less directive approach that involves the patient more actively.
Humanist hypnosis. Developed by Olivier Lockert, it no longer relies on the conscious/unconscious split but reverses the usual hypnotic induction to reconnect the person with themselves and with others, engaging or awakening them further. Learn more about our Humanist Hypnosis consultations.