Does a Hypnotherapist Have Control Over a Patients Mind While in Hypnosis?
Absolutely not. Both entering and staying within the hypnotic state are completely under the control of the subject. The hypnotherapist only acts as a guide. To achieve the trance state, a subject must first consent to allowing the conscious portion of his/her mind to be guided into a relaxed, secondary position as a passive observer so that the hypnotherapist can communicate more directly with the subconscious mind. Consequently, the patient’s conscious mind is still present and maintains the capacity to reject any suggestions that are being offered by the hypnotherapist. As a matter of fact, a hypnotized person maintains free will and can readily exit the trance state at any time during a hypnosis session.
