3) What if I can't be hypnotised?   Provided you are willing, there is no reason you can't be hypnotised. However there are some groups who cannot be hypnotised: Very young children who cannot concentrate for long, people who have little control over their minds such as the mentally ill, people who are drunk, and people who are below average intelligence with a limited attention span.

4) Is hypnosis addictive or dangerous?   Hypnosis is a totally natural state, and is not addictive or habit forming; you may practice quite safely as you choose to. It is not dangerous, and provided you are taught by an experienced and qualified professional therapist, you will learn the skill, and the many benefits of self-hypnosis, to practice for life.

5) Will I be in control, and can I be made to do anything against my will?  You have absolute control at all times, and are not under any kind of spell or mystical power of the Hypnotherapist. You are simply in an altered state of mind, aware of what is happening, and what is being said. You cannot and will not be made to do anything against your will, that you find unacceptable or that violates your own values or normal patterns of behaviour.

6) Will I remember what happens during a session? Most people will remember everything they or the therapist said or did during a session. In some cases, they may need reminding of something to trigger the memory completely. It is possible for the therapist to give a post-hypnotic suggestion to forget something, usually something traumatic that is hindering the client, but this is not common practice.

7) Will the therapist have to touch me?  Some therapists will touch you on the wrist, shoulder, neck or forehead to test whether you are properly relaxed or to assist you into a deeper state of hypnosis. They should seek your permission first. Other than this form of contact, a therapist has no business touching you. The vast majority of therapists are ethical, and transgressions are rare. Should you have any misgivings about your session you should get in touch with the professional body that your therapist is a member of and report the matter.

8) Could I stay 'frozen' and never come out of it? Could I harm myself?  The trance state can be terminated at any time you choose. It is your choice to enter the trance state and you can always choose to leave it. If you were left in a trance state by your Hypnotherapist or by a hypnotic tape, you would either return to full consciousness on your own or enter a natural sleep and awaken after a short pleasant nap. In any case professional therapists are trained to awaken clients reluctant to leave the trance state.

9) How many sessions will I need?  Simple problems like smoking or fear of spiders/insects may only require three or four sessions after the initial consultation. More deeply rooted problems require more sessions. Your therapist should discuss with you an acceptable time frame and plan to work towards your goal, and if they don't, then you should ask.

10) Is hypnosis suitable for children?  Yes, usually from about the age of six, provided they can understand what is being said, are intelligent and imaginative, and can concentrate for a long period of time. Younger children can benefit from the relaxation, and should always be accompanied by a parent or appropriate adult during a session. In 1981 self hypnosis was introduced into the national curriculum in Sweden.