What Does a Hypnotist Actually Do? The Truth About Modern Hypnosis

Ted Lawlor
Oct 7
3 min read

When most people hear the word hypnotist, they picture someone swinging a pocket watch and making people cluck like chickens. But modern hypnosis is a world away from stage tricks — and a growing number of athletes, entrepreneurs and everyday people are turning to it to sharpen focus, break habits and build mental resilience.

So, what does a hypnotist actually do? And can hypnosis really rewire your mind for success?

Understanding the Role of a Hypnotist

A hypnotist is trained to help you access the subconscious mind — the deeper layer of the mind that stores beliefs, habits, emotions and automatic responses.

Through relaxation, focused attention and suggestion, a hypnotist guides you into a state of heightened awareness — often called a trance. It’s not sleep, and it’s not mind control. It’s a state of calm focus where your subconscious becomes more open to positive change.

Think of it as mental training for your inner world.Your conscious mind takes a back seat, and your subconscious — the part that drives 95% of your daily thoughts and behaviours — becomes receptive to new ideas and perspectives.

What Happens in a Hypnosis Session

Every hypnotist has their own approach, but most sessions include:

A Consultation or Chat – to understand what you’d like to work on, such as performance anxiety, confidence, motivation or breaking a habit.
Relaxation and Induction – the hypnotist helps you slow down your breathing and focus your attention, guiding you into a deeply relaxed yet alert state.
Suggestion and Visualisation – once your subconscious is more open, the hypnotist uses positive suggestions and imagery to reprogramme limiting patterns or beliefs.
Awakening and Reflection – you’re gently brought back to full awareness, usually feeling calm, clear and refreshed.

Most people describe hypnosis as similar to meditation — but with a specific goal in mind.

How Hypnosis Helps Mental Fitness

A hypnotist doesn’t do something to you — they help you work with yourself more effectively.That’s why hypnosis has become such a powerful tool in mental fitness and performance psychology.

Here’s how it supports mental wellbeing and performance:

Releases old conditioning that causes fear, procrastination or self-doubt.
Builds new automatic habits of focus, calm and confidence.
Improves motivation by aligning your subconscious beliefs with your goals.
Enhances recovery and relaxation, reducing stress and mental fatigue.

For athletes, entrepreneurs or anyone under pressure, working with a hypnotist can feel like training the mind the same way you train your body.

The Science Behind Hypnosis

Hypnosis isn’t magic — it’s measurable.During hypnosis, your brain enters an alpha-theta state — a natural state between wakefulness and sleep where your subconscious is most active.

In this state, the brain becomes more plastic, meaning it’s easier to change neural pathways and emotional associations. This is why hypnosis can be so effective for things like performance anxiety, sleep, confidence, or even pain management.

Choosing the Right Hypnotist

If you’re thinking about working with a hypnotist, look for someone who:

Has accredited training and experience.
Creates a safe, supportive environment.
Combines hypnosis with other evidence-based tools like breathwork, NLP or coaching.

A good hypnotist won’t claim to “fix” you — they’ll teach you how to unlock your own potential.

Final Thoughts

A hypnotist doesn’t control your mind — they help you understand and train it. Through guided relaxation and subconscious reprogramming, hypnosis allows you to access the part of yourself that already knows how to perform, recover and thrive.

Whether your goal is to overcome fear, improve focus or strengthen your mindset, hypnosis offers a practical path to mental fitness and peak performance — one session at a time.

Want to find a hypnotist you can trust? Book a 1:1 session with the UK's leading Hypnotherapist and Mental Fitness Trainer, Ted Lawlor here.