1. Find a comfortable position. Usually it is best to lie down and obtain a relaxing position.

2. Take the time to relax each part of your body. It is usually best to start with the head then work down the body until all muscle groups have completely relaxed. Once the body is completely relaxed the biological clock can be set to how long the session will be.

An additional timer may want to be set as well but this should be done with caution since being jolted out of a meditative trance, which is what is used for hypnosis, can leave the mind in a slightly disconnected state creating feelings of dizziness or lightheadedness as well as drowsiness.

3. Some people may wish to give a small prayer for protection or surround themselves in protective white light. The process is optional and for peace of mind. Some people may find they are unable to relax if they do not feel safe and this can provide a sense of safety.

4. Once a state of relaxation has been reached count from 10 down to 1. It is important to do this slowly. Some people envision drifting down levels, going down floors in an elevator or walking down stairs. This can be repeated if necessary. The idea is to place the mind in a place where it becomes open to input.

5. Imagine a special place, it can be a place that is created completely from the imagination or can be a place that is a fond memory from childhood. The important thing is that it is somewhere that promotes a sense of peace and safety. Visualize sights, smells and touch to promote a sense of substance. This allows the place being visualized to become real for the mind.

6. The next step is to imagine the goal. This can be a visualization of the goal, or an affirmation but it must incorporate all senses and create a sense that the goal has already been accomplished. This creates a set of discrepancies in the mind. What currently is active and what is being visualized.

Promote the image enough and it becomes the minds reality, which in turn causes the body to produce that reality in the physical world. Positive wording is essential since this will become reality, negative thinking will promote a negative reaction.

7. Repeat this several times in order to assist in creating a solid feel to the image and goal for the mind.

8. Count up from 1 through 7 in order to end the session. Suggestions to increase alertness, peacefulness and a feeling of being refreshed should be made at this point. Some individuals set up a tape recording to assist them with weight loss self hypnosis. This works as a guided form of self hypnosis and can provide assistance for individuals who are in need of assistance when first starting out with self hypnosis.