How to Choose the Right Hypnotic Inductions: A Practical Guide for Hypnotherapists

Hypnotic Inductions

In the first module of the YHT Hypnotherapy Practitioner Course, we learn three completely different hypnotic inductions. Why? Because when students go home to practice what they’ve learned, the first thing they learn is that not every induction suits every person they’re working with.

One person melts happily into a relaxation induction. The next spends the whole time trying to decide whether they’re “doing it right”. Someone else seems to respond much better to a more directive approach.

It’s one of the first lessons students learn, and one of the most important. Successful hypnotherapy isn’t about finding the best induction. It’s about finding the induction that best suits the person sitting in front of you.

Is There a “Best” Hypnotic Induction?

Probably not, although there are inductions that suit some situations better than others. Despite many years of research into hypnosis, there’s no convincing evidence that one way of putting people into trance is universally better than others. According to Kirsch (1994) and Lynn and Kirsch (2006), successful induction depends on

• Rapport,
• Expectation,
• Motivation,
• Therapist confidence.

In other words, very similar factors to the success of your therapy generally. And that’s actually good news.  It means you don’t have to learn hundreds of hypnotic inductions, though it would be wise to know a few that use different approaches.

Hypnosis Starts with the Client

So, when choosing an induction to hypnotise your client, start by asking yourself a few questions.

• How anxious is this client?
• Have they been in hypnosis before? If so, what worked for them then?
• What are they expecting from their hypnotic experience?
• Do they like clear instructions or does that “press the rebel button”?
• Do they enjoy using their imagination?
• Are they analytical?
• Are they physically comfortable with relaxation?
• How much time do we have?

This sort of wondering will usually point you in one direction or another.

Relaxation Inductions

These are often where students begin, and with good reason. They have a long history: the Marquis de Puységur was among the first to use them in the 18^th Century, as hypnosis moved away from the “crises” or abreactions demanded by Mesmerism. Farria, Braid, Liébeault, and Elman also developed and formalised the use of soothing, calm techniques to achieve trance (Waterfield, 2002).

Relaxation inductions are straightforward to deliver, feel safe for therapist and client, and often fit with client’s expectations that hypnosis involves relaxation. (Before you jump on that one, I know hypnosis and relaxation are not the same thing. But some clients believe they are.)

Relaxation inductions also tend to be forgiving of mistakes or verbal slips on the part of the therapist, especially the longer ones. I once said “elbow” instead of “knee” when working my way up the body in a progressive relaxation induction demonstration. No one in that group of around 30 people noticed.

There are disadvantages to relaxation inductions as well. They can eat into your session time, and some clients just “don’t do relaxation”. A few may even become more vigilant or anxious when asked to relax: this is known as relaxation-induced anxiety or paradoxical anxiety, which I covered in another article.

Some clients, in contrast with those who believe that relaxation is hypnosis, may say they enjoyed the relaxation, but when will you start the hypnosis? And some therapists refer scathingly to “relaxo-therapists” who are considered not to use “proper” hypnosis. On that topic, according to a study carried out in 2005 (Ghandi & Oakley), it’s all about what you tell your client to expect.

In this study, all participants took part in the same guided relaxation process. Those who were told it was a hypnotic induction that would take them into trance showed evidence of trance phenomena. Those who were told it was simply a relaxation exercise did not. With that in mind, it might be worth specifically mentioning to your client that you have chosen a relaxation-based method of bringing about hypnosis for them when using relaxation.

Who do relaxation inductions suit?

• Clients experiencing anxiety or high levels of stress,
• First-time clients where a longer, non-threatening induction is a good introduction,
• People who enjoy mindfulness and meditation,
• Therapists building confidence.

Eye Fixation Inductions

Again, this has a bit of a history to it. Faria, who often worked in the streets of Paris, where a long relaxation would not have been convenient, used a system of mental focus and gazing upwards as early as 1815. But the person given the credit for developing the eye fixation as we know it today was James Braid, who asked people to hold a small bright object away from the eyes and slightly above the forehead and to maintain a steady gaze on it. The eyes were allowed to grow tired naturally and to close when the patient was ready. (Waterfield, 2002)

The eye fixation induction is where the stereotypical swinging watch comes from too, though few modern therapists have a watch on a chain as the early Victorian gentlemen hypnotists did. But we have learned that pretty much any object will do, and people use crystals on chains if it will appeal to their client group or, more prosaically, a spot on the wall or ceiling of their therapy room. It’s still an effective way of narrowing the client’s focus.

The benefits of the eye fixation method are that it’s relatively quick, easy to combine with hypnotic tests like glued eyes if you want to use them, and reassuring for clients who expect the stereotype. You can find some fun hypnotic spirals online as well, to play around with as fixation targets.

The main drawbacks are practical. It can be difficult for clients with varifocals to focus comfortably, and if you recline your clients for therapy, it can be a challenge to get them to focus above their eye line, which helps to tire the eyes. It’s also to be avoided if your client has any medical issues in their neck, or

Eye fixation inductions tend to suit:

• Clients who find relaxation difficult,
• Those who feel vulnerable if they’re asked to close their eyes immediately,
• Sceptical or analytical clients,
• Those who prefer direct, step-by-step instructions, not rooted in abstracts or imagination,
• Those who need the conscious mind to be occupied,
• Those who are encouraged by physical signs of trance such as watering eyes or the eyelids feeling heavy.

Confusional Inductions

Confusional inductions came a bit later, and the person generally credited with their development was Milton Erickson, in the 20^th Century. (Waterfield, 2002)

Confusing your client seems counterintuitive if you want them to focus, but the principle behind confusional inductions is that if you confuse the logical conscious mind enough, it stops trying to make sense of what you’re saying. That makes it less able to be critical of your suggestions and allows the unconscious to become more receptive.

Confusional inductions are extremely effective with the right person, although they can annoy others who like things to make sense. Some highly anxious clients might become overwhelmed or worry that they are not able to understand what’s happening. These inductions are best avoided with anyone who has recently experienced trauma, or who has poor ego boundaries.

And, as a therapist, you do have to learn them word for word, especially when you’re starting out. Otherwise, you tend to alter them to make more sense without realising you’re doing so, or become confused yourself!

Confusional inductions tend to suit:

• Analytical people and logical thinkers,
• Those who say their minds are always busy and don’t relax,
• Sceptics who doubt their own ability to go into trance,
• Those who don’t like authoritarian approaches,
• Hypervigilant or Resistant clients.

Rapid Inductions

By rapid, I mean inductions that work very quickly, often in less than a couple of minutes. Examples might be the hand press induction, magnetic hands, butterfly fingers, and some counting inductions. The traditional Elman induction is often considered to be a rapid induction as well; it takes around eight minutes, but that includes a deepener.

A quick aside. I’m not considering shock inductions that rely on the startle reflex, as I personally don’t believe they have a place in the therapy room. Most of our clients are experiencing trauma and/or anxiety, and to add shock to that seems to me unnecessary. Especially when there are plenty of other options. And, at times, we have had to reassure clients that what we do is not what they see on a stage; the very rapid inductions seem to me to undermine that.

Rapid inductions certainly have an appeal. They look and feel impressive and can be effective with the right client. If you’re giving a talk on hypnosis or some other public demonstrations, they don’t take up all your time and make you look very skilled.

On the other hand, faster doesn’t always mean better, and they mostly have to be followed very quickly by deepening techniques anyway. That means you may not save as much time as you hoped. Some clients simply don’t respond that fast, and they often rely very heavily on split-second timing, which some therapists find daunting. Of course, practice can put that right!

I’ll be honest and say I don’t use them often in therapy, though they are fun to do with friends who want a quick demonstration of your hypnotic “powers”.

Rapid inductions suit:

• Clients with short attention spans, or who are easily distracted,
• Clients experiencing severe pain, who may not be able to concentrate on longer options,
• Clients who find entering trance exceptionally easy (those who test high on hypnotisability tests, for example).

Post-Hypnotic Inductions

After you have worked with a client once or twice, and they see trance as a safe and comfortable place, there is no need to start from scratch every time. A simple post-hypnotic induction can be used with a trigger to help the client get back into deep hypnosis at any time. They’ll work with almost all clients, though you may need to add a deepener for some.

You can download a free hypnosis script for this here.

No Induction At All

One of the most useful lessons I learned from clients is that some of them don’t seem to respond to any induction at all, perhaps because it feels as if you are “doing something to them” rather than working “with them”.

I remember long ago I had a client like this, and no matter what I tried, nothing worked. I had run through all the inductions I could remember, and made a few up, and both of us were aware it wasn’t doing anything for her at all. It was like watching someone try not to fall asleep – the yes would close, the body would relax, the head would droop, then suddenly she’d lift her head, and her eyes would pop wide open.

In the end, I said we’d use some eyes open work, just talking. I asked her to imagine being in a peaceful place, and like magic she instantly slumped in the chair, her eyes closed, and she was deeply in trance.

It was an important reminder that clients don’t read the books!

Varying Your Hypnotic Inductions

There are other inductions, of course, that don’t quite fit into the ones I’ve discussed, but space only permits so much detail. Whatever induction you use, the most common worry is “What if it doesn’t work?”

There is a temptation to keep repeating yourself, but we all know about someone who keeps repeating the same thing and expecting a different result!

Instead, stay flexible. If your client seems restless or unresponsive, segue from one induction into another. For example, if your client doesn’t seem to want to close their eyes on an eye fixation no matter how hard you work at it, tell them to do so. Then pick up a traditional Elman induction at the eyes stuck shut section. Or use a relaxation induction starting from the yes down.

The client has no idea you changed in the middle, and you can remind yourself that hypnosis isn’t the point of the exercise. That’s just a scene setter. However you get to that point, it’s the therapy you’ll be delivering, the rapport that you build, and the listening skills you use that will help the client in the end.

References:

• Barber, T.X. (1969) Hypnosis: A Scientific Approach. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.
• Dhrubo, J., Sen, Nandi, K. and Dhananjoy Saha (2015). HYPNOSIS: THE NETWORK TO CONTROL ONE’S MIND. Certified Journal │ Sen et al. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research 1867 World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research SJIF Impact Factor 8, [online] 11(4), pp.1867–1888. doi:10.20959/wjpr20224-23661. [Accessed 14 July 2026].
• Ghandi, B. & Oakley, D.A. (2005). Does ‘hypnosis’ by any other name smell as sweet? The efficacy of ‘hypnotic’ inductions depends on the label ‘hypnosis’. Consciousness and Cognition, 14, 304-315. see http://digest.bps.org.uk/2005/06/whats-in-name.html [Accessed 14 July 2026].
• https://www.facebook.com/stephenbrooks21 (2020). What is Ericksonian Hypnosis? Definition & History | BHRTI. [online] British Hypnosis Research. Available at: https://britishhypnosisresearch.com/about-ericksonian-hypnotherapy/ [Accessed 14 July 2026].
• Kirsch, I. (1994) ‘Suggestibility or hypnosis: What do our scales really measure?’, International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 42(3), pp. 249–265.
• Lynn, S.J. and Kirsch, I. (2006) Essentials of Clinical Hypnosis: An Evidence-Based Approach. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
• Waterfield, R. (2002) Hidden depths: the story of hypnosis. London: Macmillan.
• Yeates, L. (2023). James Braid — Surgeon, Gentleman Scientist, and Hypnotist. [online] Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/374753278_james_braid_-_surgeon_gentleman_scientist_and_hypnotist [Accessed 14 July 2026].

Disclaimer
The information and ideas shared on this blog are based on the author’s professional experience, research, and training. They are intended for educational purposes and to support reflection and professional development. Therapists should always apply their own professional judgment and consider the needs of individual clients when using any techniques or suggestions discussed here.
While every effort is made to ensure the information is accurate and helpful, no responsibility can be accepted for any loss, damage, or difficulties arising from the use or misuse of material contained in these articles.