When people think about hypnosis, issues around control tend to arise. This is because of the caricature of hypnotherapy they see in movies or on a stage. For people considering hypnosis who have seen hypnosis as enhanced by entertainment, there are generally 3 camps of people.
One type of person is terrified to give over control. They would never consider giving over control to a hypnotherapist, because they derive their sense of safety from being in control, especially in control of their own minds and emotions.
The second type of person is actually quite eager to give over control to the hypnotherapist. They might generally be a “go with the flow” type of person, or on a more extreme level, they struggle to make decisions for themselves. They also may not feel like they have the inner resources to solve their own problems, so they’re eager for a professional to take over and “do it for them.”
The third type of person is a combination of the other two: they have one part of them that wants to sign up for hypnosis because they’re eager for a professional to take the reins, and another part of them that is terrified to do so.
The Truth About Control and Hypnosis
I have been practicing Depth Hypnosis for several years. While there are many types of hypnosis out there and I cannot speak for them all, I can confidently speak for Depth Hypnosis. Issues around control that come up towards hypnosis are a form of transference that are actually quite misguided.
In reality, the hypnotherapist is not in control of your mind, nor do they make all of the decisions for you. The hypnotherapist works collaboratively with you to identify your problems and goals, find the root causes, and create the change you would like to see. You are not a passive participant, even when you are under hypnosis. You are actually quite active in the process.
Hypnosis leads you into a state where you are quite relaxed, while still lucid. The state is quite similar to a meditation or a dream. You can come out of the experience at any time if need be, you are able to talk during the experience, and you will be able to remember what happened.
Thus, the person with issues surrendering control may feel more relaxed with the idea of hypnosis, the person who feels they lack inner resources will be empowered, and the person who is torn between the two will feel more inner peace.
However, the issues around control that come up about hypnosis are gateways to more deeply understanding yourself. They may even be factors that contribute to the suffering you might be considering seeking out hypnosis for, and it could be useful to bring them forward in Depth Hypnosis sessions to be looked at more closely.
Ultimately, I believe change is more profound when you are an active participant in the process. Depth Hypnosis offers both freedom for you to determine the course of sessions along with structure and facilitation that you can relax into - the perfect combination for deep and transformational change.
You can learn more about Depth Hypnosis sessions here.