If you’re feeling curious and want to have a bit of fun, try Googling “hands-free orgasm”. You’ll find a smattering of articles, but within each you’ll find a common theme: the use of erotic hypnosis.

Now, we know you may hear the word “hypnosis” and think, “Well, that’s probably not real, it sounds pretty woo-woo,” but, you’d find yourself surprised if you took your curiosity a bit further and actually delved into this practice. From many accounts, this actually seems to work to provide both greater sexual pleasure and yes, hands-free orgasms.

Are you wondering what the hell erotic hypnosis even is? Not to worry. We asked a professional hypnotist all about erotic hypnosis. This is everything you need to know.

Email Newsletter

Join thousands receiving hot new sex related articles, goodies, and great deals.

First Things First, What is Erotic Hypnosis?

Erotic hypnosis is the personal or partnered (depending on your preferences) use of hypnotic trance states to have more pleasurable, fun, and exciting sexual experiences. It’s using your mind to create pleasure in the body. After all, we know that the brain is the biggest sex organ we have.

“Hypnosis creates real physical effects using specific suggestions and the power of the mind,” says Amy Marsh, Ed.D., DHS, CH, CI, a sexologist, AASECT-certified sexuality counselor, and professional hypnotist. You’re literally hypnotizing someone into an erotic state with the purpose of dolling out sexual pleasure.

Read: A Sexologist Explains How Full-Body Orgasms Come from the Sympathetic Nervous System

What Happens When You’re in an Erotically-Focused Trance State?

While you are in a trance state, it is important to emphasize that you are still capable of saying no at anytime. You aren’t, like, a zombie. Consent is sexy, always.

A trance state is defined by how our brain-waves are waving. “Our brain waves are always slowing down or speeding up,” Marsh explains. “When they slow down, we call this a trance state. When they are really, really slow, we call this sleep or unconsciousness.”

In erotic hypnosis, the subject is “coaxed” into the trance state by the person (or YouTube video) that is leading the exercise, slowing their brainwaves and relaxing them. “If a partner is playing the role of ‘hypnotist,’” Marsh says, “[They] usually give the suggestions [of] creating and deepening relaxation, as well as conducting what happens in the hypnotic ‘scene’”.

The scenes are a story, fantasy, or erotic journey on which you embark. These will look different for every person or couple (or group).

Read: Hypnokink: A Peek Inside the Sexy World of Erotic Hypnosis

How to Try Erotic Hypnosis

Before you go and “hypnotize” someone (or get hypnotized), look up everything you can on hypnosis before trying it. “Learn basic hypnosis skills and practice them for completely non-erotic purposes first,” Marsh says. “People need to develop confidence as well as skills, and ‘performance anxiety’ about having good ‘hypnotic sex’ will not create relaxation.”

Marsh says that it’s best to go to a professional hypnotist if you’re really serious about trying erotic hypnosis. That being said, there are plenty of online videos to try it alone or with a partner.

Trust is absolutely essential before giving this a try. You and your partner need to have a thorough conversation about the experience you want to have and the boundaries you’d like to set.

Read: BDSM 101 Tutorial - The Importance of Communication

“Know soft and hard limits, boundaries, triggers, and consent issues. Talk about why you want to explore erotic hypnosis, what will make it fun. Talk about what will ruin enjoyment and destroy trust,” Marsh explains.

Write scripts for the scenes you want to explore so that both of you are on the same page. Keep your sessions short so as to not overdo it while you’re becoming more skilled. Everyone should feel safe and comfortable throughout the experience. Be willing to stop anytime someone wants to stop.

Marsh says that it’s key to remember that hypnosis is a learned skill that takes practice. You probably won’t slip into an erotic state the first time you try it. “You need to learn and practice how to create a hypnosis experience for someone and you need to learn and practice how to experience it yourself,” she says.

But Wait, What About the Hands-Free Orgasm Stuff?

You definitely can have an orgasm through your mind alone if you commit to this practice. If you don’t experience orgasm, that’s OK. You can also find yourself experiencing erotic pleasure and relaxation.

“Many erotic hypnotists enjoy creating and experiencing hands-free orgasm through the power of suggestion,” Marsh says.

Throughout the erotic scene, your brain connects to the rest of your body, sending waves of pleasure through you. Just like in physical sexual play, you’re taken through an erotic scene that culminates with orgasm.

It won’t happen with everyone, as every person's body is different, but it’s a practice that can increase sexual excitement. And, if we’re being completely honest, it’s just plain fun.

Additionally, knowing more about erotic hypnosis makes it accessible for everyone. Marsh says that sex educators and sexologists could really benefit in their work with clients by educating themselves on the power of hypnosis in sexuality.

“I don't advocate that we DO erotic hypnosis with our clients ourselves. This would be unethical,” she says. “But without informed sexologists and sex therapists to talk about this as an option, erotic hypnosis stays pretty much in the realm of kinkdom”.

Read: These 31 Facts About Orgasm Are Fascinating!

Do you need ideas for your next steamy scene? Take our quiz to get a personalized scene built just for you!

If you're just tipping your toe into the world of BDSM, you may be unsure where to even start when it comes to planning out a scene.

We made this quiz to provide you with your next, or first, BDSM scene based on your own tastes and desires!