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No. This is the most common misconception about hypnosis, and it’s understandable given how the entertainment industry portrays it — but it doesn’t hold up against what we actually know about how hypnosis works.

Hypnosis is a state of focused attention and heightened suggestibility, not a state of mind control. Think of it less like flipping an “off switch” for your judgment and more like turning down background noise so you can focus more directly. You remain aware of your surroundings, you can hear everything being said, and you retain your values and judgment throughout the entire session. I explain to clients, you can accept my suggestion, alter my suggestion, or imagine something completely different that best benefits you. In essence, all hypnosis is self-hypnosis, as the client is in control of the process.

This is also why stage hypnosis creates so much of the misunderstanding. What looks like “mind control” on stage is actually the result of careful volunteer selection — performers choose highly responsive, extroverted people from the audience who are already motivated to participate and entertain. The willingness was there before the hypnosis started.

In a clinical setting, hypnosis is collaborative, not something done to you. You’re an active participant the entire time, and you’re always free to speak, move, or end the session whenever you choose.

A helpful comparison: hypnosis feels a lot like being absorbed in a good movie or book. You’re still fully yourself — just less distracted by the usual mental chatter.