How Effective Is Hypnosis For Losing Weight?

Does hypnotherapy really work for weight loss? Some people in forums across the internet swear by it, and others say it doesn’t work at all. Who’s right, and why are there such varied responses to this question?

There are a number of factors that need to be considered when we treat weight problems and unless all of them are covered the therapy may not be successful.

Overall, studies have shown that hypnotherapy has an 87% success rate across the world. Those are pretty good odds to begin with. So how can you make sure you don’t get the raw end of the stick when you’re looking into having hypnosis? Here are some guidelines to get you started:

ONE: Choose Someone You Trust

Some people mistakenly think that they can’t be hypnotized. You may have even seen a hypnotherapist in the past, only to discover that you couldn’t relax and that you didn’t feel you went under.

The truth is all hypnosis is self-hypnosis. What that means is that unless you actually trust your hypnotherapist, you will not allow yourself to be hypnotized.

This is why I offer free consultations before my weight loss program; so you can get to know me and see if we will be a good fit together. It’s imperative that you have some level of rapport with the person you are working with before the work begins.

TWO: Make Sure You Have At Least Three Sessions

How to avoid getting ripped off by a weight loss practitioner

I’ve been treating weight problems for a long time; and what I’ve discovered is that in order to address all the underlying issues and causes of weight issues, a minimum of three sessions is needed.

Some hypnotherapists will claim to be able to sort you out in just one session, but unless your unwanted behaviour patterns are purely habit-driven, that’s unlikely to be enough to do the job.

In my experience many people use food to self-soothe or as a way of numbing out to other difficult emotions that arise as a result of the ups and downs of life.

Accordingly, one session just isn’t enough to provide the subconscious mind what it needs to invoke positive and lasting changes in your eating and exercise habits.

THREE: Make Sure Each Session Is Unique

While we’re on the subject of ‘one hit wonder’ weight loss hypnosis programs, many practitioners charge a ridiculous amount of money for your initial session, claiming you can come back as many times after that if needed.

That’s all well and good, provided each session is unique and tailored to your specific needs. However, scratch below the surface and you will likely discover that all follow-up sessions in these so-called ‘programs’ have the same or near-identical content as the original session.

Call me crazy, but if the initial approach didn’t work the first time it’s certainly not going to work the second, third, fifth or hundredth time. Work with a practitioner who asks specific questions about your experience and then applies the therapy based on the information she has gathered. That way you’re far more likely to achieve lasting results from your hypnosis sessions.

FOUR: You Have To Be Ready

What exactly does ‘ready’ mean anyway? Well, there’s a big difference between actually wanting to be slim and liking the idea of being slim. My client Sally had yo-yo dieted for years and after our first two sessions, Sally confessed that she had made no changes to her diet and done no exercise, despite having verbally committed to these goals several weeks before.

Furthermore, she had not listened to the hypnosis MP3 I had given her once. I asked Sally what outcome she had been expecting from this hypnosis program. She replied ‘I thought you could just flip a switch in my head that would motivate me to lose weight’.

Yeah…right. The fact is I can’t motivate you to do anything if you’re not willing or able to meet me half way. Hypnosis isn’t a quick-fix, but rather a tool to put you in touch with your own inner resources. You still have to do the work. It’s not easy – long term weight management never is; but it’s certainly not impossible either, provided you’re willing to make changes in your lifestyle.

Sure, you might be scared and afraid of failing; 99% of my clients are. I can work with that; as long as you can meet me half way.

So…does hypnotherapy really work for weight loss? Yes, if you choose the right hypnotherapist and if you’re willing to do something different to what you’re doing right now. If you would like help with this process contact me on this page today.