Your Questions About RTT, Hypnosis & the Healing Process
If you have never experienced hypnosis or RTT before, you may have questions.
You may even feel a little nervous.
Will I lose control? What if I can't be hypnotised? What if I get stuck? Will I remember what happened? What if I discover something painful? Is this actually going to work for me?
These are completely understandable questions.
At Best Life Catalyst, I believe you should understand what you are choosing before you choose it.
Here are some of the questions people commonly ask about RTT, hypnosis, the session experience and the work we do.
ABOUT RTT
What is RTT?
RTT stands for Rapid Transformational Therapy®.
It is a specific therapeutic approach developed by Marisa Peer that incorporates hypnosis alongside other therapeutic techniques to explore beliefs, interpretations, emotional patterns and experiences that may be connected to the way you currently think, feel or behave.
At Best Life Catalyst, RTT is approached through the lens of:
Understanding the mind behind the behaviour.
The aim is not simply to look at what you are doing, but to explore what may be influencing the pattern beneath it.
Is RTT the same as hypnotherapy?
No.
Hypnosis is a state or technique involving focused attention and increased responsiveness to suggestion.
Hypnotherapy is the therapeutic use of hypnosis.
RTT is a specific therapeutic approach that incorporates hypnosis together with other techniques.
So hypnosis is an important part of RTT, but RTT is not simply another word for hypnosis.
Why does RTT talk about the "root cause"?
When we use the phrase root cause, we are not suggesting that every difficulty has one single hidden memory or one event that explains everything.
Sometimes a current pattern can be connected to earlier experiences, beliefs, interpretations, relationships, emotional learning or repeated experiences.
The purpose of exploring these connections is to understand the pattern more deeply and consider whether the meaning attached to those experiences is still influencing you today.
The question is not simply:
"What happened to me?"
It can also be:
"What did I learn from what happened, and is that learning still serving me?"
Do I have to have experienced trauma for RTT to help me?
No.
You do not have to identify as traumatised, broken or damaged to want to understand yourself better.
People seek this kind of work for many different reasons, including confidence, self-worth, procrastination, people pleasing, anxiety and overwhelm, performance anxiety, repeating patterns, emotional responses, self-sabotage and feeling stuck.
You don't have to be broken to want to heal.
What kinds of things can RTT help me explore?
Depending on the individual and the suitability of the approach, RTT may be used to explore patterns such as:
- Anxiety and overwhelm
- People pleasing
- Procrastination
- Imposter syndrome
- Performance anxiety
- Self-doubt
- Self-sabotage
- Repeating patterns
- Confidence difficulties
- Self-worth difficulties
- Fear of visibility
- Difficulty speaking up
- Fear of failure or success
- Emotional patterns around food
- Limiting beliefs
- Feeling stuck in familiar patterns
This does not mean RTT is appropriate for every person or every concern.
Your individual circumstances matter.
ABOUT HYPNOSIS
What exactly is hypnosis?
Hypnosis involves a state of focused attention and increased responsiveness to suggestion, often accompanied by reduced awareness of surrounding distractions.
It is not the mysterious state often portrayed in films.
People can experience hypnosis in different ways. You may feel deeply relaxed, highly focused, absorbed in your thoughts or imagery, or simply notice that your attention has become very inward.
The experience varies from person to person.
Is hypnosis real?
Yes.
Hypnosis is a genuine phenomenon that has been studied in psychological and clinical research for decades.
However, that does not mean that every claim made about hypnosis is scientifically established.
Research has found evidence for hypnosis in a number of areas, but effectiveness varies according to the condition, intervention and individual.
At Best Life Catalyst, I aim to separate what hypnosis is from the myths and exaggerated claims sometimes made about it.
Is hypnosis mind control?
No.
Hypnosis does not mean handing your mind over to another person.
You remain involved in the process. You can communicate, respond, make choices and stop the process.
Therapeutic hypnosis is collaborative rather than someone taking control of your mind.
Can someone make me do something against my will under hypnosis?
Hypnosis should not be understood as giving another person unlimited control over your behaviour.
You are not unconscious or helpless.
You can respond to what is happening, communicate your wishes and choose not to continue.
The purpose of therapeutic hypnosis is to support therapeutic work—not to remove your ability to make decisions.
What if I say something embarrassing?
You are not being placed into a state where you suddenly lose your ability to make choices.
You remain able to communicate throughout the session.
And this is not stage hypnosis.
The focus is on your personal therapeutic goal, in a private and respectful environment.
What if I reveal a secret?
Hypnosis is not a truth serum.
There is no magical mechanism that forces someone to reveal information they do not want to disclose.
You remain a participant in the process.
Can hypnosis make me tell the truth?
No.
Hypnosis should not be treated as a truth-detection or truth-recovery tool.
In fact, hypnosis and memory require particular care because a person can experience an image, memory or interpretation very vividly without that experience necessarily being an accurate record of what objectively happened.
That is one reason the purpose of an RTT session is not to prove historical facts or manufacture memories.
Can hypnosis make me remember things I have forgotten?
Hypnosis can sometimes bring memories, images, emotions or associations into awareness.
However, hypnosis should not be treated as a guaranteed method of recovering accurate forgotten memories.
A vivid experience is not automatically proof that something happened exactly as experienced.
At Best Life Catalyst, we do not treat hypnosis as a truth serum or use it to manufacture memories.
What if I remember something painful?
You are not required to force yourself through anything you are not ready to explore.
The session is approached collaboratively and with care.
If something emotionally significant arises, we can slow down, explore what is appropriate and work with the meaning and emotional response rather than simply pushing through for the sake of reaching a particular memory.
"CAN I BE HYPNOTISED?"
Can everyone be hypnotised?
Not everyone responds to hypnosis in exactly the same way.
Hypnotic responsiveness exists on a spectrum, and people differ in how strongly they respond to hypnotic suggestions.
Research has identified people with lower, moderate and higher levels of hypnotic responsiveness.
So I would never promise you that you will experience hypnosis in a particular way.
The important thing is not whether you look "deeply hypnotised."
The important question is whether you can engage with the process.
What if I can't get hypnotised?
This is one of the most common fears—and usually comes from having an unrealistic picture of what hypnosis is supposed to feel like.
You do not need to feel unconscious, completely blank or dramatically "under."
Hypnosis can involve focused attention, absorption and responsiveness to suggestion, and experiences differ between people.
You may even wonder afterwards:
"Was I actually hypnotised?"
That does not necessarily mean the process did not happen.
What if I am too analytical?
Being analytical does not automatically prevent you from participating in hypnosis.
In fact, you do not have to switch your brain off.
You can remain aware while allowing your attention to become more focused.
The goal is not to stop thinking.
It is to change how you are directing your attention.
What if I struggle to relax?
That's okay.
You do not need to be naturally good at meditation or relaxation.
The process is guided.
You can simply follow the instructions and allow yourself to participate at your own pace.
What if I fall asleep?
Some people may become very relaxed or drowsy during hypnosis.
If you become sleepy, we can work with that rather than treating it as a failure.
The goal is not to make you unconscious.
"WHAT IF I GET STUCK?"
Can I get stuck in hypnosis?
No.
Hypnosis is not a trap or a state from which you need another person to rescue you.
You can open your eyes, move, speak and end the process.
You do not become permanently stuck in hypnosis.
What happens if you stop talking to me while I'm hypnotised?
Nothing mysterious happens.
The session is guided, and you remain capable of responding.
If you become distracted, uncomfortable or need to communicate something, you can do so.
Can I wake myself up from hypnosis?
Yes.
You remain capable of bringing your attention back to your surroundings and opening your eyes.
The practitioner is there to guide the process, not to hold you in it.
Will I be unconscious?
No.
Therapeutic hypnosis is not the same thing as being unconscious.
You may experience deep relaxation or a highly absorbed state, but you remain involved in the experience.
"WILL I LOSE CONTROL?"
Will I lose control during an RTT session?
No.
One of the biggest misconceptions about hypnosis is that you hand control of yourself to the hypnotist.
That is not what therapeutic hypnosis is intended to be.
You remain an active participant throughout the session.
Will I be able to hear you?
Generally, yes.
You may experience the session as very internally focused, but you can still communicate and respond.
Will I be able to open my eyes?
Yes.
If you need to open your eyes, move, speak or stop, you can.
What if I don't like what I'm being asked to do?
You can say so.
The work is collaborative.
You do not have to agree with a suggestion simply because you are in hypnosis.
THE RTT SESSION
How long is an RTT session?
A full RTT session at Best Life Catalyst is generally structured around approximately two hours, allowing time for the conversation, therapeutic work and integration.
The exact flow can vary depending on what we are working on.
What happens before hypnosis?
We begin with a conversation.
We explore what brought you in, what you want to change, the pattern you have been experiencing and what you would like to be different.
This conversation helps create a clear focus for the session.
Do I have to tell you everything?
No.
You should share what is relevant and what you are comfortable sharing.
The purpose of the session is not to force you to disclose every detail of your life.
Do I need to know exactly what my problem is?
No.
Sometimes you know exactly what you want to work on.
Sometimes you simply know:
"I keep doing this and I don't understand why."
That is enough of a starting point for exploration.
What happens during the hypnosis part?
I guide you into a relaxed, focused state and use therapeutic techniques to help you explore relevant experiences, associations, beliefs and emotional responses.
The aim is to understand the pattern and work with the meaning attached to it.
You remain involved throughout.
Will I have to relive my trauma?
No.
There is no requirement to dramatically relive an experience.
The purpose of the session is not to make you suffer again.
Where difficult experiences are explored, the focus is on understanding, processing and changing the relationship with the pattern in a way that is appropriate for you.
Will I remember my RTT session?
Many people remember their sessions.
Hypnosis does not automatically erase your memory.
You may remember particular conversations, insights, images, emotions or suggestions—or experience the session as a more fluid memory.
There is no requirement to forget anything for the session to be meaningful.
What does hypnosis feel like?
There is no single "correct" feeling.
You may experience:
- Deep relaxation
- A sense of heaviness or lightness
- Focused attention
- Increased inner imagery
- A feeling of being absorbed in your thoughts
- Changes in your perception of time
- Emotional responses
- Physical sensations
- A very ordinary feeling of simply being focused and relaxed
Some people experience a profound shift.
Others experience something subtle.
Both experiences are valid.
What if I don't feel anything?
You do not have to feel a dramatic sensation for the session to be worthwhile.
There is no hypnosis performance you need to pass.
Simply follow the guidance and participate in the process.
What if I cry?
Emotions can arise during therapeutic work.
If you become emotional, you are not doing anything wrong.
We can slow down, allow the emotion to be acknowledged and work with what is appropriate for you.
What if I laugh?
That's okay too.
People respond to emotional material in different ways.
There is no single correct emotional response.
What if I become very emotional?
We do not measure the success of a session by how emotional you become.
The goal is understanding and meaningful change—not creating an intense emotional experience for its own sake.
MEMORY, REGRESSION & THE "ROOT"
Will you take me back to my childhood?
Possibly, if earlier experiences are relevant to the pattern we are exploring.
But there is no assumption that every current issue began in childhood.
The focus is on understanding the pattern rather than forcing a particular explanation.
What if I can't remember where my pattern started?
That's okay.
You do not need to arrive with the answer.
We can work with what you are aware of and explore the associations and meanings that emerge.
What if I remember something that I don't know is accurate?
Treat it as an experience—not automatically as historical fact.
Memory is complex, and hypnosis is not a forensic method for establishing exactly what happened.
The therapeutic focus can instead be on what the experience means to you and how it relates to the pattern you are experiencing now.
Will you tell me what happened to me?
No.
I do not decide your history for you.
The process is exploratory rather than about imposing an explanation onto your life.
THE PERSONAL RECORDING
What is the personalised recording?
Where included in your RTT journey, I create a personalised recording based on the work we have done together.
It is designed to give you an opportunity to repeatedly engage with intentional, supportive messages after the session.
Why do I listen to the recording after the session?
Change is not simply about what happens during a single conversation.
Repetition, awareness, practice and new experiences can all play a role in developing different patterns.
The recording gives you an ongoing practice to support the work we have begun.
Do I have to listen every day?
If your programme includes a personalised recording, I will explain how I recommend using it.
Consistency can be useful, but your individual circumstances matter.
What if I don't like the recording?
Tell me.
The recording is intended to support you, not become another source of pressure.
RESULTS & EXPECTATIONS
How many RTT sessions will I need?
There is no honest universal number.
Some people choose to work on a focused issue in one session. Others may benefit from additional sessions or a broader support journey.
It depends on the concern, its complexity, your goals and what emerges through the work.
I would rather give you an honest recommendation than promise that everything will change in one session.
Will RTT work after just one session?
It can be meaningful after one session, but there is no guarantee that every concern will be resolved in one session.
Some patterns are straightforward.
Others are layered and may require additional therapeutic work, coaching, behavioural change or other appropriate support.
How quickly will I notice a difference?
Everyone responds differently.
Some people notice a shift in perspective or behaviour relatively quickly.
Other changes may become clearer over time as you practise new responses and notice how you relate differently to familiar situations.
There is no guaranteed timeline.
What if RTT doesn't work for me?
That possibility should be acknowledged honestly.
No therapeutic approach works for every person or every concern.
If the approach does not appear to be appropriate or sufficient for what you need, the right next step may involve another form of support, additional professional care or referral.
The goal is not to keep you in a process simply because you started it.
Do I need to believe in hypnosis for it to work?
You do not need to believe that hypnosis is magical.
What matters is your willingness to participate in the process.
Hypnosis involves attention and responsiveness to suggestion, and people differ in how they respond.
Is RTT a quick fix?
No.
Even when an insight happens quickly, meaningful change still involves what happens afterwards.
Awareness, repetition, new choices, behavioural practice and supportive environments can all matter.
RTT can be one part of that process.
Is RTT magic?
No.
It may feel powerful or surprising at times, but it is not magic.
The work involves attention, therapeutic techniques, reflection, emotional processing, meaning-making and intentional change.
SAFETY & SUITABILITY
Is hypnosis safe?
Hypnosis is generally considered a safe technique when appropriately practised, but "safe" does not mean that every approach is suitable for every person or every situation.
Individual circumstances matter.
If you have a significant medical or mental-health condition, are receiving treatment, take medication, or have concerns about whether hypnosis is appropriate for you, it is important to disclose relevant information and seek appropriate professional guidance where necessary.
Can hypnosis make things worse?
Most people tolerate hypnosis well, but no therapeutic approach should be described as completely risk-free.
People can sometimes experience uncomfortable emotions or reactions during psychological or relaxation-based practices.
That is why suitability, practitioner training, informed participation and appropriate boundaries matter.
Is RTT a replacement for medical treatment?
No.
RTT and hypnosis should not be presented as a replacement for necessary medical care.
If you have a medical condition or are receiving treatment, continue working with your appropriate healthcare professionals.
Where another form of professional care is more appropriate for your needs, that should be respected.
Can RTT replace psychotherapy or psychiatric care?
Not necessarily.
RTT is a specific approach and is not a substitute for every form of mental-health treatment.
Some concerns require assessment and treatment from appropriately qualified healthcare professionals.
If your situation falls outside the scope of the work I provide, I will encourage you to seek the appropriate support.
Can RTT treat a mental-health diagnosis?
RTT should not be presented as a universal treatment for mental-health diagnoses.
A diagnosis can require assessment, monitoring and treatment by appropriately qualified healthcare professionals.
If you have a diagnosed condition or are under the care of a mental-health professional, please disclose this before beginning any complementary or therapeutic work so that suitability can be considered appropriately.
ONLINE RTT
Can RTT be done online?
Yes.
RTT sessions can be conducted online, provided you have an appropriate private environment and a reliable connection.
The session is still guided in real time.
Is online hypnosis different from in-person hypnosis?
The environment is different, but the underlying process of guided focused attention can still be conducted online.
What matters is that you have a private, quiet and comfortable space where you can participate without interruption.
What do I need for an online session?
Ideally:
- A private room
- A comfortable chair or place to sit
- Reliable internet
- Headphones if you prefer them
- Your phone on silent
- Enough uninterrupted time
- A willingness to participate
Please do not participate while driving or doing anything that requires your attention.
Can someone else be in the room?
Ideally, you should have privacy unless another arrangement has been discussed beforehand.
This allows you to speak freely and remain focused on your own experience.
AFTER YOUR SESSION
What should I expect after RTT?
People can experience different responses.
You may notice:
- A new perspective
- Greater awareness of a familiar pattern
- Changes in your self-talk
- Emotional shifts
- A greater ability to pause before reacting
- A sense that an old belief has less power
- New questions about yourself
- Or simply a period of reflection
You may not experience an immediate dramatic change.
That does not automatically mean the session was unsuccessful.
Can I feel tired afterwards?
You may feel relaxed, reflective or emotionally tired after an intensive session.
Give yourself some space afterwards where possible rather than immediately rushing into a demanding environment.
Should I make major life decisions immediately after my session?
It is generally sensible to give yourself time to integrate significant emotional insights before making major decisions.
A powerful realisation can be meaningful without requiring an immediate life overhaul.
What if I feel emotional after the session?
Allow yourself space to process what came up.
If something feels concerning, overwhelming or outside what you can comfortably manage, reach out for appropriate professional support.
ABOUT DESIREE & BEST LIFE CATALYST
What happens if I'm not sure RTT is right for me?
You don't have to arrive knowing exactly what you need.
At Best Life Catalyst, the first step is about understanding what is troubling you, what you want support with and what kind of journey may be appropriate.
Sometimes that may lead to RTT.
Sometimes another form of support may make more sense.
The goal is not to fit you into a modality.
The goal is to understand what you need.
Do I need to know exactly what to book?
No.
If you are unsure, start with the Safe Space Session.
It gives us an opportunity to sit together, explore what is troubling you and understand what kind of support may be appropriate before deciding on the next step.
Is the Safe Space Session the same as an RTT session?
No.
The Safe Space Session is a dedicated space to talk, explore and understand what you are experiencing.
RTT is a structured therapeutic approach involving hypnosis and other techniques.
The two serve different purposes.
Can I book RTT immediately?
Yes, where RTT is appropriate and available for your needs.
If you are unsure what you need, the Safe Space Session can be a useful starting point.
Do you only work with people who have serious problems?
No.
You do not need to be in crisis to seek support.
You may simply recognise that you keep shrinking, holding yourself back, repeating a pattern or living according to beliefs that no longer fit who you are becoming.
You don't have to be broken to want to heal.
What if my issue isn't listed on the website?
The patterns listed on the website are not an exhaustive list.
Human behaviour is complex, and people rarely arrive with a neat label.
If you are experiencing a pattern you do not see listed, you are welcome to explore whether the work may be appropriate for your situation.
THE BIG QUESTIONS
What if I've tried everything before?
That is important information—not a reason to assume nothing can change.
We can look at what you have already tried, what helped, what did not and what you feel is still missing.
Sometimes the next step is not "try harder."
Sometimes it is understanding the pattern differently.
What if I already understand why I do what I do?
That is actually a valuable starting point.
But understanding something intellectually does not always mean your automatic emotional response has changed.
You may know:
"I shouldn't be afraid."
and still feel afraid.
You may know:
"I am worthy."
and still struggle to receive recognition.
You may know:
"I need to speak up."
and still find yourself shrinking.
That space between what you consciously know and what you repeatedly experience is one of the places this work explores.
What if I know what to do but still can't seem to do it?
This is one of the most important questions behind the work at Best Life Catalyst.
Sometimes the challenge is not a lack of information.
You already know.
The question becomes:
What is happening between knowing and doing?
That is where we begin looking at the mind behind the behaviour.
Do I have to be "broken" to need this kind of support?
Absolutely not.
You can be successful, functioning, productive, loving your life in many ways—and still recognise that something inside you is asking for attention.
Healing does not have to begin with collapse.
Sometimes it begins with curiosity.
You don't have to be broken to want to heal.
What is the most important thing to know before booking?
You do not have to come to Best Life Catalyst with all the answers.
You do not have to know exactly where your pattern started.
You do not have to know how hypnosis works.
You do not have to be "good" at meditation.
You do not have to know what to say.
And you do not have to pretend that you are fine when you are not.
You simply need to be willing to explore.
Because sometimes the behaviour isn't the problem.
The behaviour is the clue.
And when we understand the mind behind the behaviour, we create more space for choice.
Heal. Rise. Shine.
IMPORTANT NOTE
Best Life Catalyst provides educational, therapeutic and coaching-informed support within the scope of the services offered.
RTT and hypnosis are not presented as a replacement for necessary medical or mental-health treatment.
Where a person's needs fall outside the scope of the work provided, referral to an appropriately qualified healthcare professional may be recommended.
The information on this website is educational and should not be interpreted as a diagnosis or a substitute for individual medical or mental-health advice.