Yes — self-hypnosis is safe for nearly everyone, as we all go through various states of altered consciousness during a day.

Hypnotherapy is also safe, as long as it is practiced with the help of a licensed hypnotherapist.

Learn all about hypnosis here.

Hypnosis is an instrument, a tool defined by a set of techniques that can be verbal, para-verbal or non-verbal, to voluntarily induce a state of altered consciousness.

It is just as when we become "mesmerized" by someone's story, by a book, by a movie, or in contemplation. The science of hypnotic language (later becoming NLP) studies these particular patterns that make us click, wander or reflect.

Once a state of altered state of consciousness is achieved, hypnotic suggestions tap directly into what Freud and Jung call "our unconscious mind"; or rather at the interplay between various areas or our brain (formerly called by various names including reptilian brain, limbic system, rational system): Executive Control Network (ECN), Salience Network (SN) and the Default Mode Network(DMN).

These suggestions can be interpreted and internalized at a different depth than what our usual conscious mind can achieve. For instance, in cases where a person might say "I'd like to change, and I know this is better for me, but I can't somehow find the will to change!", it suggests that their rational mind has already explored all conscious actions, unsuccessfully. In such a case, changing perception by tapping into a hypnotic state might help the person achieve these goals.

Everyone is fully hypnotizable and has in fact gone through similar states of consciousness multiple times per day. Children, in particular, have this ability over the course of most of the day.

These states are particularly important for learning and internalizing a large amount of new information, without any pre-conceived filters.

The common perception of hypnosis and hypnotizability has been skewed by stage-hypnosis shows where individuals seem to go "instantly" into a trance mode. While this is actually true, it is not the cause of predetermined hypnotizability, but solely to the fact that these individuals have trained their ability of visualization, imagination, and projection at such a level that a hypnotic state becomes very easy to access.

As all practices, hypnotic states are easy to learn and require progressive training to improve hypnotizability.

Finally, as hypnosis is a tool supported by verbal and paraverbal language, every individual will react differently to a hypnotic induction or suggestion. This is why a licensed hypnotherapist can help identifying what is more appropriate for each person.

Hypnosis, meditation, mindfulness, sophrology, breathwork, are all related, but not the same. While they all achieve an altered state of consciousness (when practiced correctly), hypnosis involves highly focused attention that can mobilized to problem-solve, as explained by Dr. Spiegel.

In hypnosis, the individual is active and may choose among various sensory experiences, attention levels, or a combination of them. Hypnosis is also different in its brain activity aspect: According to Dr. Spiegel, hypnosis separates the Executive Control Network form the Default Mode Network (DMN), which involves self-reflection.

Mindfulness is less problem-focused, more designed to help people handle an unpleasant experience. In terms of brain activity, mindfulness turns down activity in the DMN.

Hypnosis is a recognized method for treating phobias by acting directly on unconscious responses. It enables you to reprogram automatic fear reactions and gradually alleviate phobic triggers. Unlike conventional exposure, hypnosis works gently, without brutal confrontation.

Hypnosis helps you better understand the origins of your fears and modify your reactions to anxiety. Using relaxation, dissociation, progressive exposure and positive suggestion techniques, you'll learn to regain control of your emotions and react with greater serenity in everyday life.

The price of a hypnosis session varies according to practitioner and region. In Geneva, you should expect to pay between CHF 140 and 180 per session.

With Hypnology, each one-hour session costs CHF 150.