Time and again, I meet people who tell me that hypnosis doesn’t work for them.
If you’ve tried hypnosis and feel like it isn’t working, it’s fundamentally important to know that hypnosis basically works for everyone.
The only question is which type and how much of it is needed for a change.
“Which hypnosis doesn’t work” already suggests that hypnosis is not all the same. Because communication with the subconscious can take so many different forms, it’s also clear that there are different types of hypnosis.
If someone thinks “Hypnosis doesn’t work for me,” it naturally depends on whether they listened to a run-of-the-mill self-hypnosis video on YouTube or did a personalized hypnosis session with a hypnotherapist. The different forms of hypnosis also bring us different effects, and not everything works for everyone.
What to do if hypnosis hasn’t worked yet?
The first important thing is to take stock. We need to be clear about what we expect from the hypnosis and, above all, how we will notice when it has worked. The more precisely we know this, the more accurately we can judge its effect.
I’ve had clients in my hypnosis practice in Zurich who said, “The hypnosis didn’t work, I’m still smoking.” Upon closer questioning, it turned out that their consumption had dropped from 40 a day to 3 a day. So the hypnotherapy had already shown an effect, without it really being perceived as a success.
Subconscious effect
The effect of hypnosis happens in the subconscious. Often, it therefore goes unnoticed by the conscious mind. That’s why it pays off to look back and actively think about whether you are still operating the same way as before the hypnosis. Because often, it actually does work. Especially when it comes to therapy with hypnosis, the changes happen subconsciously.
The Subconscious Secondary Gain (Sekundärgewinn)
A frequent reason why hypnosis initially appears ineffective is what psychologists and hypnotherapists call secondary gain (in German known as Sekundärgewinn or sekundärer Krankheitsgewinn).
Our subconscious mind is constantly protecting us — even from changes that we consciously crave with all our heart. A cigarette is never just nicotine; it might be the only undisturbed 5-minute break in a stressful workday where no one asks for favors. An anxiety symptom might be keeping you safe from taking a terrifying professional risk.
If your subconscious perceives that positive change will eliminate this hidden secondary gain (such as losing your only guaranteed break), it will quietly block the hypnotic suggestion. In professional hypnotherapy, it is vital to uncover this Sekundärgewinn and replace it with a healthy, equal alternative so your subconscious can accept the change safely.
The 4-Step Diagnostic Checklist: What to Do When You Feel No Effect
If you feel hypnosis hasn’t worked for you yet, run through these four steps:
- Check Your Expectations: Were you expecting a dramatic Hollywood trance or an instant light-switch moment? Most hypnotic changes feel completely natural — as if you had simply always felt or acted this way.
- Look for Subtle Partial Successes: Pay close attention to smaller shifts. Did you go from 40 cigarettes down to 3? Are you no longer panicking before a presentation, but just slightly nervous? These are clear indicators that the neural repatterning is active.
- Question the Secondary Gain (Sekundärgewinn): What hidden benefit or protective function did the old behavior or symptom provide? What burden was it protecting you from carrying?
- Adjust Your Approach or Therapist: If after 2 to 3 sessions and honest reflection you see zero movement, change the method. If you relied solely on pre-recorded audio, book a tailored session with a qualified hypnotherapist. If the personal rapport with your current practitioner felt off, switch practices.
So much for my tips when hypnosis doesn’t seem to be working.
Conclusion on “Hypnosis doesn’t work (for me)”
Hypnosis generally works for everyone. That’s why you should know that there are different forms of hypnosis that are effective in different ways for different people.
Experienced hypnotherapists and hypnotists adapt the hypnosis to the characteristics of the person being hypnotized. For example, for someone who prefers the mountains over the ocean, an induction like “you dive into the ocean and go deeper and deeper” might not be as effective as perhaps “weightless flying in the updraft of the mountains.” This small example shows how important it is to use personalized hypnosis. Because what works and what doesn’t depends on your own personality.
That’s why I advise, even if your first attempts with hypnosis didn’t work out: Stick with it, hypnosis can help you move forward too.
