One of the most common claims I hear from hypnosis “experts” is that the depth of hypnosis doesn’t matter. According to them, you can achieve excellent therapeutic results even in a light hypnotic state.
After nearly 20,000 hypnosis sessions, my experience tells a different story.
Where Does Hypnosis Actually Begin?
When a client comes into my office, the first goal is to guide them into hypnosis.
As they relax, they gradually move deeper until they cross what we could call the hypnotic threshold. This is the point where hypnosis begins.
Every motivated client can reach this point.
However, this is only the beginning.
The Problem with Light Hypnosis
Many clients initially reach only a light or medium hypnotic state.
At this level, it is still possible to give simple suggestions. However, there is one important limitation:
The client’s conscious mind and critical faculty are still highly active.
Because of this, some suggestions are questioned, analyzed, or even rejected. This limits the effectiveness of hypnotherapy, especially when working with more complex issues.
Our goal as hypnotists is not simply to hypnotize the client.
Our goal is to guide them deeper.
The Ideal Working State: Somnambulism
The hypnotic state known as somnambulism is often surrounded by mystery.
In reality, it is simply the ideal depth for therapeutic work.
At this level, the conscious mind interferes very little with the therapeutic process. Suggestions are accepted much more naturally because the critical faculty no longer blocks them to the same extent.
This makes somnambulism the practical working state for professional hypnotherapy.
Why Depth Matters
For simple positive suggestions, lighter levels of hypnosis may sometimes be sufficient.
However, when working with deeper emotional issues such as:
- phobias,
- anxiety,
- depression,
- fears,
- or therapeutic regression,
a light hypnotic state is often not enough.
Regression work, in particular, requires a deeper hypnotic level. This is where somnambulism becomes extremely important.
Can Every Client Reach This State?
Not always during the first session.
In my experience, around half of all clients initially reach only a lighter hypnotic level.
This is completely normal.
An experienced hypnotherapist observes the client carefully, performs hypnotic tests, and gradually deepens the trance. Sometimes one additional session is enough for the client to comfortably reach somnambulism.
Don’t Be Misled by the Mystery
Some people present somnambulism as if it were a mysterious or extraordinary state.
It isn’t.
It is simply a deeper level of hypnosis where the client’s conscious mind and critical faculty interfere very little with the therapeutic process.
That is why it is the preferred working state for professional hypnotherapists.
The Bottom Line
If you want to achieve the best possible therapeutic results, learning how to guide clients into somnambulism is an essential skill.
Hypnosis is not simply about getting someone into a trance.
It is about reaching the right depth where meaningful therapeutic change can take place.