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Sylvana Neme Scheij Rose MFT - PCC

Meditation VS Hypnosis

Here I present you with two beautiful states of mind that, for some people, often comes in a cloud of confusion. Let us talk about meditation, hypnosis, self-hypnosis, and clinical hypnotherapy.

Are these different titles for the same thing? Or are they completely different? Yes, and no. Please keep reading to get an explanation of this dichotomic answer and a better understanding of both elements of your extraordinary mind :)

Luckily, there is not a straight answer. There are so many meditation styles that it is not uncommon to get into gray areas or become confused about where you are. While some of them are quite similar to self-hypnosis, others are certainly not.

However, both are unique and excellent tools when used correctly and consistently.

When you think about meditation, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Do you imagine a monk or a yogi sitting quietly in solitude? Fortunately, you do not need any specialized training, several hours, or a particular circumstance. You may begin by just breathing and becoming aware of your body and breath and progress from there. As you practice meditation daily, you will discover that your wonderful mind is precisely that, wonderful, and full of magic!

Now, what comes to mind when you consider hypnosis? Did you think of a psychologist? Or perhaps you remember that time when a stage hypnotist you saw in high school made some of the students cluck like chickens...? Therein, the first challenge.

Stage hypnosis (entertainment) is not clinical hypnotherapy (therapeutic). While the first one might be a lot of fun, Clinical Hypnotherapy has the potential to, literally, change your life if done accurately and by a trained professional. We at Beyond Conventional Therapy have been doing this for our clients, with excellent results.


Consider the following differences and similarities.

1. Purpose

Even though it is possible to meditate with a particular intention, meditation often has a more general goal:

  • Understanding the nature of the mind

  • Learning to and practicing mindfulness

  • Reducing the appearance and weight of random thoughts

Have you heard of "the monkey mind" concept?...

● Hypnosis has a specific purpose, such as improving sports performance, quitting smoking, or becoming more confident in public speaking. We use hypnosis as a means of becoming more open to suggestions or affirmations.

● We can use hypnosis to overcome phobias, change our attitude about wealth, defeat procrastination, or reduce weight.

● Hypnosis is a great tool that lets you find original solutions to everyday problems. For instance, you might want to determine the most suitable plot twist for a novel or find a solution to a problem or even a complex dilemma in your real life.


2. Attention

To meditate, we focus our awareness on a mental or a material object, usually the breath, a candle flame, and often a mantra. The idea is to keep your attention on this focal point. When your thoughts stray, and they might, your objective will be to refocus your attention. As you continue practicing, you will slowly learn (and feel) how your mind operates, and you will be able to focus more efficiently.

● A characteristic of hypnosis is, it frequently involves following a story. For instance, choose a problematic relational or social situation, and during hypnosis, re-navigate it with confidence. The experience is the target of your focus. You lead yourself through a specific problem (while in hypnosis), "change the outcomes," and benefit from that change. object

● With hypnosis, you can change the perceptions and perspectives you call normal. You can experience something new and intentionally bring it to your life, something that might not be available to you under "regular" circumstances.

3. With or without a guide?

We can meditate by ourselves or with the help of a person that serves as our guide. We can try self-hypnosis also. Although, by definition, self-hypnosis is non-guided, many people consider the use of hypnosis audio recordings to do self-hypnosis. The help of a live hypnotherapist is not self-hypnosis of course. Clinical Hypnotherapy, in the way we offer it at Beyond Conventional Therapy, comes with a great bonus. If you wish, we teach you the accurate way to do self-hypnosis as part of the session.

● If you would like to try, there are many audio programs available to help you learn how to meditate or use self-hypnosis. However, know that those recordings' quality varies greatly, as numerous amateur practitioners are now placing their ideas into the world.


Meditation and Hypnosis can bring you great physical and mental benefits.

You can use these incredible (healing) techniques in all areas of your life.


Meditation is perfect for quieting your mind, enhancing your ability to focus, and reducing the inclinations to rumble (the "monkey mind" at play). It existed before religions; it has been around for millennia and it is a very effective method to help you become friends with your mind. Remember, your mind always does what you want it to do.


Hypnotherapy is a more operational element, and it helps you in dealing with most challenges in life. Whether you want to raise your confidence, lose weight, quit smoking, or get over your fears, clinical hypnotherapy can be a powerful tool.


Both techniques can work very quickly, depending on the case at hand. However, few people find that they need weeks or sometimes months to see real benefits, and there is a reason for that. Nonetheless, it still works. If either technique appeals to you, and you think it might be to your benefit, when would now be a perfect time to try? Begin practicing, measure your results, and then proceed accordingly.


Although hypnosis and meditation are not the same things, they are indeed connected.

Certainly, there are many types of meditation, and some are more similar to hypnosis than others.

Depending on your needs and desires you may choose one, the other, or both, since one does not exclude the other. We at Beyond Conventional Therapy will help you decide which path is the best for you, depending on your particular needs and desires.

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