Do YouTube hypnosis videos work?
People ask me that a lot as a hypnotherapist so let me explain some of the reasons online hypnotherapy videos fail.
Don’t get me wrong: many people including myself enjoy listening to hypnosis videos on YouTube. They’re great at giving you an introduction to hypnosis and a feel of what it’s about but here’s why you shouldn’t put too much hope into them fixing your problems.
For more help using hypnosis see my page why can’t I be hypnotised?
The problem isn’t the problem
YouTube hypnosis videos focus on fixing the issue directly but that won’t work because:
The problem isn’t the problem!
A fear of driving has nothing to do with driving, weight loss has nothing to do with weight loss and insomnia has nothing to do with insomnia. It’s the same for everything but let’s stick to driving anxiety for this example.
Driving anxiety is the symptom, the way that another problem shows itself. It’s just the same as how sneezing means you have a virus. It’s no good working on the sneezing (the symptom) when you need to be working on the cause (the virus).
Think of it like turning up in a fire engine and squirting the water at a house that isn’t on fire as the one over the road engulfed in flames burns down. Play the video below to see that actually happening!
These firefighters aim in the wrong direction just like a lot of YouTube hypnosis videos do
There’s no rapport with a video
Rapport is when you get on well with other people and share positive feelings.
Good rapport is an essential part of therapy because for your mind to listen to someone and accept what they say, it must trust them.
Videos have a hard time building rapport. Until you have listened to several tracks by the same person and got used to their voice, their mannerisms and their personality, your mind will naturally resist what they say. It’s like how you feel comfy and relaxed with friends yet tense and wary around strangers. It’s natural and it takes time to trust someone.
A lack of rapport explains why people who just listen to one video can often find that it doesn’t work. If you keep repeating that track and listen to other tracks by that person then the chances are it will work better because your mind will get used to them and start to trust them.
YouTube hypnosis videos are a one-size-fits-all approach
When you listen to a video or audio file you’re just listening to something that’s designed to work for everyone in general.
It isn’t personal to you. It doesn’t include your name or your problem. It’s just a generic one-size-fits-all approach.
One-size-fits-all doesn’t fit anyone!
A real-life hypnotherapy session is highly tailored to YOUR needs.
This driving hypnosis video of mine will work for some people but not everyone
YouTube hypnosis videos use weak suggestion based solutions
If you’ve ever listened to a YouTube hypnosis track then you’ll know they tell you things like you’ll feel more confident, you’ll get rid of the problem.
This is what we call suggestion therapy.
Although an essential part of therapy, when used alone it’s the weakest and flimsiest type of therapy that will work on a small number of people some of the time.
Many people think that all hypnotists do is sit telling people to not worry and they’ll be fine next time they get on a plane. It’s nothing like that at all.
Real hypnotherapy uses interactive techniques so you take part in the session. It’s no good sitting back and expecting me to do the work for you because I can’t. Only you have access to your mind so only you can make the changes.
That brings us to the next point.
There’s no interaction with YouTube hypnosis videos
You’re just sitting or lying there listening to someone talking. What if they’re going too fast? Too slow? What if you aren’t even in hypnosis?
YouTube videos take none of that into account.
A hypnotherapist like myself will be able to guide you at a pace that suits you. If you’re struggling with anything then I can help and I won’t just keep marching on like a robot ignoring you!
Contrary to what many think, you can still speak when in hypnosis. You’re not asleep or unconscious.
Good therapy sessions rely on interaction from the client because you need to tell me what you’re experiencing so I can tailor the session or even switch to a different technique that will work better for you.
I offer online hypnotherapy which is much different from just listening to a prerecorded session. It’s interactive so you get the best of both worlds: hypnotherapy from your phone without it being generic.
Do YouTube hypnosis videos work? It’s unlikely with there being no interaction.
This video of mine contains a very powerful technique but even this doesn’t work as well without interaction.
Hypnosis videos use weak inductions
A hypnotic induction describes the way that we guide you into hypnosis.
The slowest and weakest kind of induction is called progressive induction. This is when you are guided through the imagery of a rain forest, walk down some steps or are told to relax your muscles.
The problem is that this is the weakest kind of hypnotic induction which often results in people barely being in hypnosis at all.
Again, it’s a one-size-fits-all approach that doesn’t take into account your preferred style of induction.
There is nothing wrong with progressive inductions but they are SO slow!
It can take 20 to 30 minutes for a progressive induction to get someone into a light hypnotic state. For many people, like me, it just annoys them and doesn’t work. The more you tell some people to relax the tenser they get.
In real life, I can tailor the induction to suit you.
I almost always use rapid inductions to get a deep state of hypnosis in under 1 minute, often in seconds.
That leaves us more time for therapy and you’ll often be in a deeper state of hypnosis meaning it’ll all work better.
There are no safety checks
You shouldn’t use hypnosis if you have a history of mental illness. If you have epilepsy or asthma then hypnosis can trigger an attack.
Many hypnosis tracks I have used don’t even mention these things. When people ask me ” Do YouTube hypnosis videos work?” I often advise against listening to them for this reason alone.
That brings us on to the next point.
Anyone can make hypnosis videos on YouTube
Anyone can make a video about hypnosis and put it on YouTube.
Why would they though? Maybe because YouTube pays you to put adverts on popular videos and you can make lots of money.
Due to this, there are many self-proclaimed “experts” making videos on all kinds of things and hypnosis is no different.
I’ve been making driving lesson videos for years and have made thousands of pounds from YouTube. I did that by being an expert driving instructor. I know what I am talking about and that’s why people flock to my YouTube channel.
Some people just want the money but don’t care about the quality of their content.
This video of mine helps with driving anxiety but it’s unlikely to fully clear it
Do YouTube hypnosis videos work for anything?
Online hypnosis tracks are a great way of getting an idea of what hypnosis is like. Just don’t go putting everything into them working because they often don’t.
Do YouTube hypnosis videos work for anything? Yes, they can but it’s unlikely. Many people listen to one hypnosis track on YouTube and then form the impression that hypnosis doesn’t work. They then spread that message to everyone they know and discard hypnosis thinking that it doesn’t work. They go on living for years with problems that hypnosis could easily get rid of, as do all the people they spread the message to.
It’s just like someone that learns to drive with a bad instructor and then goes around telling everyone not to drive because it’s horrible. The driving wasn’t nice because of the bad instructor in the same way hypnosis didn’t work because it was just a YouTube video.
If you want professional help with an anxiety problem or phobia and don’t want to rely on an amateur YouTube video that won’t do anything then contact me now.
For more help using hypnosis see my page why can’t I be hypnotised?
