Hypnotherapy FAQs
Welcome to our hypnotherapy FAQ page, designed to answer your most common questions and help you feel confident about exploring hypnosis and hypnotherapy with Matt Jacobs in London.
Hypnotherapy is often misunderstood, which is why we’ve created this guide — to provide clarity, reassurance, and insight based on over two decades of clinical experience.
Many people are curious about hypnosis but worry it might be “weird” or unsafe. Here, you’ll learn what hypnotherapy really is and what it isn’t.
Hypnotherapy Explained.
Your Questions Answered.
If you’re considering hypnotherapy in London, it’s completely natural to have questions before booking your first session. Hypnosis is often misunderstood, and many people feel curious yet cautious about what it involves. This page has been created to provide clear, honest answers based on over 24 years of experience as a clinical hypnotherapist working with clients across London.
Much of what people believe about hypnosis comes from stage shows or films, where the process is exaggerated for entertainment. Clinical hypnotherapy is very different. It is a professional, structured, and evidence-informed therapeutic approach designed to help you enter a deeply focused and relaxed state where positive change becomes more accessible. There is nothing mysterious or theatrical about it — it is simply a natural state of concentration that we all experience at times in everyday life.
Many first-time clients wonder whether they will lose control, fall asleep, or be made to do something against their will. These concerns are understandable. In reality, hypnosis does not involve surrendering control. You remain aware, able to hear and respond, and fully capable of ending the process at any time. Hypnotherapy is a collaborative process, guided safely and respectfully, with your wellbeing as the priority.
Hypnotherapy can help with a wide range of issues, including stress, anxiety, phobias, unwanted habits, smoking cessation, weight management, sleep difficulties, confidence, and performance enhancement. Whether you are seeking support for anxiety relief, habit change, or personal development, understanding how hypnotherapy works will help you approach sessions with realistic expectations — which is one of the most important factors in achieving lasting results.
Over the past two decades, many clients have arrived feeling unsure about hypnosis, only to discover that the experience is calm, natural, and empowering. Hypnotherapy is not about quick fixes or mind control. It is about focused attention, guided suggestion, and helping your mind shift patterns that may no longer serve you. When delivered by an experienced London-based hypnotherapist, the process is safe, professional, and tailored to your individual goals.
Below, you’ll find answers to the most common questions about hypnosis and hypnotherapy, along with myth-busting explanations that separate fact from fiction. Whether you are simply researching clinical hypnotherapy in London or ready to book a consultation, this guide will help you feel informed, reassured, and confident in taking the next step.
Hypnotherapy FAQs
1. What is hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic technique that uses guided relaxation and focused attention to help create positive changes in thoughts, behaviours, and emotional responses. It works by accessing the subconscious mind, where habits and patterns are stored, allowing constructive suggestions to be more easily accepted.
As a clinical hypnotherapist in London with over 24 years’ experience, I use hypnotherapy to help clients reduce anxiety, overcome phobias, stop smoking, improve sleep, and build confidence. It is a professional, structured process tailored to your individual goals.
2. Will I lose control during hypnosis?
No, you do not lose control during hypnosis. You remain aware, able to hear everything, and free to end the session at any time. Hypnosis is a collaborative process, not mind control.
Many people are surprised to discover they feel calm yet mentally clear. You cannot be made to act against your values or reveal anything you wish to keep private.
3. Is hypnosis safe?
Yes, hypnotherapy is considered a safe, non-invasive therapeutic approach when conducted by a qualified professional. It does not involve medication or physical intervention.
Most clients simply feel relaxed afterwards. As an experienced London hypnotherapist, I ensure sessions are structured, ethical, and adapted to your needs and comfort level.
4. How many hypnotherapy sessions will I need?
The number of sessions depends on your goal and the complexity of the issue. Some clients see results within one to three sessions, particularly for smoking cessation or specific phobias.
More established patterns, such as long-term anxiety, may benefit from a short course of treatment. Your initial consultation includes a realistic plan tailored to you.
5. What does hypnosis feel like?
Hypnosis feels like a state of deep relaxation combined with focused concentration. You are not asleep, but your mind becomes calm and receptive.
Many people compare it to being absorbed in a book or daydream. You remain aware and able to respond throughout the session.
6. Can anyone be hypnotised?
Most people can experience hypnosis if they are willing and open to the process. It is not about being weak-minded; in fact, good concentration often enhances responsiveness.
Hypnotherapy works best when approached with cooperation and realistic expectations.
7. What can hypnotherapy help with?
Hypnotherapy can help with anxiety, stress, phobias, smoking cessation, sleep problems, confidence, and habit change. It is also used for performance enhancement in work, sport, and public speaking.
The focus is always on practical, goal-oriented outcomes tailored to your individual situation.
8. Is hypnotherapy the same as stage hypnosis?
No, clinical hypnotherapy is very different from stage hypnosis. Stage hypnosis is entertainment, often involving willing volunteers in exaggerated scenarios.
Clinical hypnotherapy is a professional therapeutic method focused on helping individuals achieve meaningful personal change in a safe and structured environment.
9. Will I remember what happens during hypnosis?
Yes, most people remember everything that happens during hypnosis. You remain aware throughout the session and can hear and respond normally.
Although you may feel deeply relaxed, hypnosis does not cause memory loss. Some clients feel time passes quickly, but they remain conscious and in control.
10. Are there any side effects of hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy has very few side effects and is considered a low-risk therapeutic approach. It does not involve medication or physical procedures.
Occasionally, clients may feel emotionally reflective or very relaxed after a session. These responses are temporary and completely normal.
11. Do I need to believe in hypnosis for it to work?
You do not need blind belief in hypnosis, but openness to the process improves results. Hypnotherapy works best when you are willing to engage and follow guidance.
Even clients who begin sceptical often experience positive outcomes once they understand how the process works and allow themselves to relax into it.
12. Can hypnotherapy help with medical conditions?
Hypnotherapy can support many psychological and stress-related issues, but it is not a replacement for medical treatment. It works best as part of a broader wellbeing approach.
For conditions requiring medical supervision, hypnotherapy can complement advice from your GP or healthcare professional.
13. How does hypnotherapy work on the unbconscious mind?
Hypnotherapy works by helping you access a focused, relaxed state where the unbconscious mind becomes more receptive to constructive suggestions. This is where habits and emotional patterns are stored.
By working at this level, hypnotherapy can help reframe unhelpful responses and reinforce healthier behaviours more effectively than conscious effort alone.
14. Will I say or reveal things I don’t want to?
No, you will not reveal secrets or say anything against your wishes during hypnosis. You remain fully aware and able to choose what you share.
Professional hypnotherapy is confidential and conducted within clear ethical boundaries.
15. Is hypnotherapy only for serious problems?
No, hypnotherapy is also widely used for personal development and performance enhancement. Many clients seek support for confidence, focus, or stress management.
It is just as valuable for growth and optimisation as it is for addressing anxiety, phobias, or unwanted habits.
16. Can children or teenagers benefit from hypnotherapy?
Yes, children and teenagers often respond very well to hypnotherapy. Young people naturally use imagination and focused attention, which makes hypnosis accessible.
Sessions are adapted to age and developmental stage, with appropriate parental involvement where necessary.
17. What happens in the first hypnotherapy session?
The first session involves discussing your goals, background, and what you would like to achieve. The process is explained clearly before any hypnosis begins.
Most clients experience gentle guided relaxation in the initial session and leave feeling calm, informed, and reassured.
18. Can hypnotherapy help with confidence and performance?
Yes, hypnotherapy is commonly used to improve confidence, public speaking, exam performance, and workplace effectiveness. It helps reduce performance anxiety and strengthen positive mental rehearsal.
By reinforcing calm focus, hypnotherapy can enhance clarity and resilience under pressure.
19. How long does a hypnotherapy session last?
A hypnotherapy session typically lasts between 50 and 90 minutes. Initial consultations may take slightly longer to allow for assessment and goal setting.
This timeframe ensures there is sufficient space for discussion, hypnosis, and reviewing progress.
20. How should I prepare for a hypnotherapy session?
No special preparation is required before hypnotherapy. It is helpful to arrive well-rested and with a clear idea of what you would like to achieve.
Approaching the session with openness and realistic expectations supports the best outcomes.
Why Choose Matt Jacobs?
With 24 years of clinical hypnotherapy experience in London, Matt Jacobs provides a professional, compassionate, and results-focused approach. Your safety, comfort, and goals are always the priority.
More questions?
Just ask! 07720 74 6652 matt@londonhypnosis.com
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