The process of interaction between a hypnotist and the sub conscious mind of a patient is defined as clinical hypnosis. This process actually plays a crucial role in the treatment of a patient. The majority of clinical hypnosis are conducted only qualified physicians as only they have the requisite knowledge about the mental health of a patient.

Of late, clinical hypnosis has assumed tremendous importance in view of the fact that people visit trained hypnotists to tackle their problems like smoking, drinking and various others. This method of hypnosis at a clinic is proved to be successful to control obesity as well.

Most of us believe that hypnosis is a process in which the hypnotist whitewashes the patient's brain and gives the brain a kind of a new beginning. It is not so. Hypnosis involves a huge time to show effects, and requires total co-ordination and co-operation from the person who is being treated. It is for this why the attitude of the patient is very important for proper treatment. In many cases, quite some sittings are required to achieve what the hypnotist had set out for. It all depends on the patient's willingness to co-operate and accept the various positive suggestions that the hypnotist may recommend, and more positive the patient's attitude, more sooner can the goal be achieved. For patients who wish to get rid of bad habits like smoking and drinking, extreme patience from the side of the patient is required for the result to be achieved.

Therapeutic hypnosis is the name given to such a treatment involving a hypnotist for the purpose. In comparison, self hypnosis involves the hypnosis of the subject on his own, by reading materials provided on a CD or on the internet. In case of clinical hypnosis, on the other hand, the hypnotist completely understands the patients mental status and works on it. Remember to select an expert hypnotist for the purpose of treatment, as because the involvement of an inexperienced hypnotist may lead to extreme kind of reactions. So an expert in the field is always beneficial for the patient.

Consulting a trained hypnotist for treatment to stop smoking and drinking has become a widely accepted practice so much so that the bulk of the trained hypnotist income is derived from this category of patients. For the treatment of serious diseases like cancer or diabetes, there has not been enough knowledge yet to enable such treatments. But hypnosis have been successfully been used to alleviate the pain suffered by cancer patients.