When Hypnosis Fails: Two Real Life Case Studies

Hypnosis is powerful, but it has limits—and those limits reveal far more about human nature than most people realise.

Many assume that hypnosis “doesn’t work” when the results are less than stellar, but that's not the real story. Usually, it's because the subconscious is doing exactly what it’s designed to do:

1: Keep us safe.

2: Protect our identity.

The two real cases that follow show what's actually happening when a person consciously says they want change…but their inner mind says, "NO!".

CASE #1 — THE SMOKER WHO “COULDN’T BE HYPNOTISED”

A few years ago, a heavy smoker booked a session to help him quit. His body was in terrible shape—barely able to walk, tied to an oxygen tank.

I asked him, as I always do, whether he was there because he wanted to quit, or because someone else wanted him to—because (contrary to popular belief) no hypnotist can make you do something against your will.

He responded that he "had" to come — which told me everything I needed to know.

Translation: He was pushed, and was only there at someone else's behest.

He told me he doubted it was even possible, because his mind was so strong.

Translation: Only weak-willed people can be hypnotised and if this is successful, that means I am feeble-minded.

He said there was no other option.

Translation: This was simply the next item on the list after he’d exhausted every other option.

He confessed what his doctors had said: “If you don’t quit, you will die — and it’s not going to be pretty.” After listening, I explained the "against your will" limitation and reminded him that he can resist if desired. He holds the power.

He nodded solemnly and "told me" he wanted to quit, even though his body language and his word choice had both said otherwise. He looked at me expectantly, and after a moment or two, we began.

Induction Attempts and Repeated Resistance

During the induction, I deliberately used a soft, soothing tone to guide him into trance—coaxing:

Release, relax…Let go…

Allow your eyes to fall closed.

Eyes closed, focus on my voice.

Just the sound of my voice.

Allowing yourself to focus deeply — just here… just now.

I watched him closely—gauging his breathing, his body language, his muscle tension.

I took note as he began drifting into hypnotic sleep

again,

and again,

and again.

Clear evidence: the trance process was happening.

But every single time, he stopped himself.

• His muscles tensed.

• His head reared back— like a horse resisting a bridle.

• His eyes burst open wide.

• Every time. Again and again.

As my voice flowed, I suggested he just allow his eyes to close. And they did.

They drooped—heavier and heavier— but never, ever, fully closed. Each time they got close, they'd

pop open, wider and wider— his body forcing him up straight— actively resisting.

We continued, trying over and over again, but each time he got close to the edge — whether he realised it or not — he refused.

The Ego’s Last Stand

Eventually, he said, “I guess I can’t be hypnotised. I’m just too strong,” as if that were the issue.

It's curious sometimes, the stories we tell ourselves. Because this wasn’t an inability, and it certainly wasn’t “mental strength.” It was resistance — and resistance is a choice.

I watched him leave that day. I witnessed the exchange as he proudly, almost eagerly— and with an odd note of relief in his voice— announced to his devastated wife that he “couldn’t be hypnotised.”

The real truth was a little different:

His ego — his sense of self — was more important to him than survival.

Sometimes protecting identity feels safer than risking change— even when it’s killing you.

CASE #2: PARENTS (UNINTENTIONALLY) SABOTAGING THE WORK

A Child Highly Receptive to Change

I once had a couple bring in their young daughter to address an eating disorder. She was very young, maybe eight or ten, and unbearably thin. Her arms and legs were nearly bare bone. Before we began, I spent a few minutes alone with the parents, instructing them in their post-session role—coaching them on how best to protect her mind in those vulnerable post-session moments and how to help ensure a positive outcome. It's important that support people understand and follow these specific rules:

• Remain quiet and in a quiet environment.

• No radio.

• No music with lyrics.

• No phone/computer/tablet/electronic interaction.

• No talking or socialising.

Most especially: no talking.

Because even well-meaning questions can plant seeds of doubt and undermine everything.

Is it gone? → Suggests: It might not be gone.

Does it still ___? → Suggests: I expect it is still ____.

Do you feel different? → Suggests: I doubt you feel any different.

Did it work? → Suggests: It’s possible it didn’t work.

In effect, a question about the session’s success (by default) suggests that failure is a possibility.

Good or bad, the subconscious mind—that super-efficient flunky—is always ready to help make something real so mindfulness, especially post-session, is crucial.

The Session: Success, Then Sabotage

Once I’d finished delivering my instructions, they nodded their heads up and down, as if they understood and agreed, and we moved ahead with the session.

With her mother seated beside her, I primed the little one, letting her know that hypnosis works exceedingly well for children (which it does). They don’t have the years and years and years of deeply entrenched, self-reinforcing, repetitive, negative cycles that an adult carries—so things shift faster and more easily.

She was open, and excited about the process— a very good subject. She was more than ready to release the burden, and everything proceeded quickly and easily.

As we finished, her eyes popped open and she sat up straight, grinning broadly. It was like she'd been fully re-charged and invigorated. Every bit of her body screamed:

“VICTORY!”

Then...

completely contrary to the specific instructions the mother had received before the session...

and before I could stop her...

she demanded:

“So, did it work?!”

My heart clenched, fearing the worst, but to the little one’s credit, she came back strong.

“Yes!” she cried. “I feel AWESOME!”

She was absolutely sparkling.

But something in the mother just would not let it be.

“Are you sure?"

"Are you SURE???!!”

And I watched the little one deflate. Literally. Her entire body sagged.

All hope gone. Everything undone.

Reminding the mother of my prior warnings and instructions, I attempted some damage control by once again reinforcing the positive imagery for the child, but knew that there was very little hope at that point. I needed to re-do the entire session. Unfortunately, I did not have time that day.

With deep sadness for the child, I exited my office with them and walked to the waiting room where the father was waiting. He turned to his daughter, opened his mouth, and...

DID THE EXACT SAME THING!

My heart broke for her as I watched her shoulders sag even lower and her head droop forward, as though exhausted by the weight of the world.

Against advice, the parents did not bring her back for a second, reparative session.

But Why Would Loving Parents Hurt Their Child?

It’s important to understand that when a child is struggling, parents are often right there beside them, carrying their own maladaptive coping mechanisms — including layers of fear, anxiety, or “checking” behaviours.

For the parents, these long-established and entirely unconscious patterns

can make it extremely difficult for them to simply trust a process—especially one they don’t fully understand. Then, when something arrives that might actually help, it can trigger a fear response.

Because change is scary.

A new pattern might even force them to question their own long-held coping mechanisms— to confront the most vulnerable parts of themselves — and that can be destabilising.

Thus, without meaning to sabotage,

often without even realising they’re doing so,

they question, they double-check, they verify, they undermine their own child's progress,

all under the guise of being responsible or protective.

ANOTHER BIT OF TRUTH WORTH EXAMINING

Ironically, neither of these sessions actually failed. They delivered exactly what the client came for — whether they were aware of it or not. The bare truth is that sometimes people come for a session not because they want it to work, but instead:

• They want to prove it doesn’t work, like the smoker in the first story.

• They want to prove to themselves that they’ve done everything, and they need to add a check mark to this item on the list — like the parents, above.

• They want to absolve themselves of responsibility or guilt  — also the parents, though it's unlikely they'd admit that.

These are only a few examples, among many. In fairness, the topic deserves its own post — and (when the time is right) it will get one.

CLOSING THOUGHT

In the end, hypnosis doesn’t fail because the technique is unsound. It "fails" when safety or identity overshadows a stated desire.

It “fails”

when the conscious and subconscious mind are in conflict.

Without that alignment, even the most skilled hypnotist can only go so far.