How Long Should a Typical Hypnosis Session Last?

I get asked “how long the hypnosis session will last?” so often I tell clients before they ask now, in many respects it doesn’t matter – but the outcome does.

While I’m always respectful of my client’s time it’s important my clients get the very best outcome I can give them for every session they attend. This means if I need to spend some extra time to achieve what was agreed in the session then I’ll give it.

But that’s not really a lot of help to you is it? So let me be more specific.

Private Sessions with a Hypnotist:

First, I don’t subscribe to the one-hour guaranteed quit-smoking session hysteria. This smacks of  a “factory-assembly-line-take-a-number” practice. While I do group sessions for smoking and weight loss that can last a few hours most of my private one-on-one sessions are 90-minutes. My one session “Stop Smoking Program”  lasts between 2 – 2 and 1/2 hours because there is an interview and fact-gathering exercise at the front-end to ensure I can customize the session for the client’s specific circumstances and history. Bottom line is I tell them to plan on setting aside a larger chunk of their day for the  first session.

Expect to spend about 60-90 minutes for each session beyond the first if you take a multi-session program such as a weight loss hypnosis program.

For some of the other specialized programs such stress and anxiety or specific phobias then it’s not easy to define how long a typical hypnosis session will last because often there is nothing typical about them. Everyone who visits a hypnotist comes with a different life experience and challenges and so quantifying the sessions is no simple task but it will mostly be in the 60-90 minute range again beyond the first session.

Except for the smoking cessation program the majority of clients will require a series of sessions to help them but there may be some individuals who are helped along enough during the first session and by the post-hypnotic suggestions that one session is all that is required.

Time Flies When You’re Relaxing:

While 90 minutes or 2 hours may seem like a long time for a session you’ll be amazed at how quickly it passes, especially during the hypnotic component. It will be so relaxing to you that you’ll lose track of time and be staggered when you come out of the hypnotic state and realize how long you’ve been focused in the hypnotic state.

For more details about what to expect in a hypnosis session see my post on “What a Hypnosis Session Looks Like.”

Self-Hypnosis Sessions:

If you’ve bought a self-hypnosis product then you’ll have pre-recorded sessions anyway and these typically last for 30 minutes at the most, some are shorter. However, these are usually prescribed to have repeat listening. Finding a quiet 30-40 minutes is usually not an issue for most people. The point is follow the program and don’t over do it either – you want to look forward to your sessions rather than dread them as a time-sucking commitment.

Erika Slater, CH
Director
Free At Last Hypnosis
http://www.freeatlasthypnosis.com
http://www.smoke-free-at-last.com