Originally Posted by
Hechosedrugs 
I tried hypnosis to get rid of my social anxiety. Didn't work for me, and I think I really believed it would. I actually asked for my money back immediately after the session, because I was never "under", though the hypnotist insisted I was.
So I think on top of the patient believing , it also takes some real skill on the part of the practitioner in order for it to be effective.
I had my doubts about it whether I was really under as well. He did a test to get me to raise my arm (it was supposed to feel heavy) and I did it easily. He denied it was a test to see if I was under, but it was.