The Truth About Hypnotherapy — Debunking the Myths Once and For All
- Michelle Turpin
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
If the word hypnotherapy makes you picture swinging pocket watches, chicken impressions, or some bloke in a sparkly waistcoat saying “you are getting sleeeepy…” — you’re not alone.
It’s probably the most misunderstood tool in the wellbeing world.
But here’s the truth: it’s not mind control, it’s not magic, and it’s definitely not about losing control.
In fact, it’s quite the opposite.
Let’s clear this up once and for all.
Myth #1: “You’ll Make Me Do Things Against My Will”
Nope. Not a chance.
You are always in control during hypnotherapy. You can open your eyes, talk, move, sneeze, or walk out for a cuppa if you want to.
Hypnosis is simply a deeply relaxed, focused state — the same state your brain naturally enters when you’re lost in a good book, a film, or a long scroll through social media.
Your subconscious becomes more open to positive suggestions, but you still have free will.
Think of it as guided daydreaming with purpose.
So let's debunk the myths...
Myth #2: “It’s Just Like Stage Hypnosis”
Ah yes — the dreaded “make them cluck like a chicken” moment.
Stage hypnosis is entertainment.
Therapeutic hypnosis is collaboration.
I’m not there to do something to you, I’m there to work with you — to help your subconscious get on board with what your conscious mind already wants.
No tricks. No humiliation. Just real change that sticks.
Myth #3: “It’s Just Relaxation or Placebo”
Relaxing? Yes. “Just” relaxation? Not even close.
Hypnotherapy works at the subconscious level — where habits, beliefs, fears, and emotional responses live.
That’s why it can help people overcome anxiety, phobias, confidence blocks, sleep issues, or self-sabotaging patterns that no amount of logic could fix.
The science backs it too — studies show that hypnosis can change neural pathways and create measurable shifts in brain activity.
So yes, it feels lovely — but it’s also powerful stuff.
Myth #4: “Only Weak-Willed or Gullible People Can Be Hypnotised”
Actually, the opposite is true.
The best clients are usually intelligent, imaginative people who can focus and follow guidance — aka, the exact sort of people who assume they can’t be hypnotised.
If you’ve ever cried at a movie or jumped during a scary scene, congratulations — your subconscious already knows how to respond to imagined experience.
That’s hypnosis in action.
Myth #5: “It Won’t Work for Me”
It might not — if you don’t want it to.
Hypnotherapy isn’t a magic wand, it’s a partnership.
I can guide, suggest, and facilitate — but the real change comes when you’re ready to engage, let go, and try something new.
And for many of my clients, that’s where the biggest breakthroughs happen: when they stop trying to “do it right” and simply allow themselves to feel safe enough to change.
The Reality: Gentle, Effective, and Deeply Personal
At its core, hypnotherapy is about helping you reconnect with the part of you that already knows how to feel calm, confident, and capable.
It’s not about fixing you — it’s about reminding your subconscious that you’re safe to grow.
No pocket watches. No clucking. Just calm, practical change — that lasts.
Curious about what hypnotherapy could actually do for you?
Book a free 30 minute discovery call. I’ll explain it, answer all the questions, and you can decide if it’s for you.
No pressure, no weirdness — just a real chat about real change.
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