Introvert or extrovert: How does this work with hypnotherapy?

Do you prefer 1-on-1 conversations with someone or do you enjoy partying with a group of friends? Do you like to be the center of attention or are you the person who just looks admiringly at the extroverted artist? In this blog article we take a closer look at the effects of being introverted or extroverted and what effect this can have on hypnotherapy, a must-read for (aspiring) hypnotherapists.

Am I introverted or extroverted?

Introvert or extrovert are two different character traits that deal with your need for human contact. People who are extroverts enjoy being with people more because those people can "reward" them back with attention, social recognition and fun activities.

In general, extroverts are happier than introverts and are better at holding positive feelings. However, are they in a bad mood? Then they are no better than introverts at getting themselves back out of such a mood.

One way to improve your mood is by exhibiting extroverted behavior, even if you're introverted it works.

In addition, you can also be a kind of mix of introvert and extrovert, in which case you are called ambivert[1].

A few characteristics you can recognize extroverts by are:

1. Just a little bolder.
2. Assertive.
3. Active.
4. Merry.

This is them to a greater extent than introverts.

Extraverts seem better, and that hinders introverts

In Western culture, you may have gotten the idea that you have to be extroverted because you get all kinds of signals from television and social media, for example, that that is what is socially appealing or rewarding.

The interesting thing is that in a survey from Australia in which about 350 people participated most of the people said they wanted to be more extroverted. In fact, their belief was that that's better, but it doesn't have to be that way at all.

So it's also quite normal to be more introverted, than extroverted. You are far from being the only introvert, if you do not recognize the characteristics of being extroverted. The research also shows that if you can simply be your authentic self as an introvert, it contributes to your feelings of happiness.

So do you prefer to meet with 1 friend, or want to relax with a book in the evening, because that's just your preference. Then do that, because it will make you happier than meeting up with more people and going to parties because you think that's how it should be[2].

What kind of clients can you expect as a therapist?

Based on this information, you might think that as a therapist you'll get mostly introverts on your couch or chair, but that's not quite the case. You can have a nice group of friends, but if that still just doesn't bring you what makes you completely happy, this can also cause extroverts to be less satisfied with their lives.

For introverts and extroverts in particular, it is the question "Am I satisfied with my life?" that causes them to seek or not seek help to improve their lives[3]. So you can count on both "types" of people as therapists.

Introvert or extrovert and therapy

Because introverts and extroverts are energized by different activities, this can also influence what kinds of therapies help better and less well.

What is interesting, for example, is that autogenic training (a workout that provides relaxation for the body and mind), helps introverts better than extroverts.

After all, you basically just have to "do nothing," and that is difficult if you are extroverted. Introverts suffered less bad mood after autogenic training than extroverts.

If someone is introverted as well as neurotic, then autogenic training is totally something useful[4].

When it comes to hypnosis, things work a little differently. For example, research shows that people who are extroverted in mind are easier to put into hypnosis with rapid inductions than introverts.

But hypnotizability becomes the same again when interest in hypnosis is also considered. So for a hypnotherapist, it does not matter whether someone is introverted or extroverted, because people really only go to a hypnotherapist when they are interested in it anyway, and so hypnosis is easy to achieve in both cases[5].

Health Problems

What is interesting is that in our "extroverted" society, people who are more introverted may suffer more from depression. The interesting thing is that during the corona period, so when you simply could not really be expected to be social, people who were introverts suffered from depression just as much as extroverts.

This also shows that how society is can affect how you think you "should" be. If that does not match being introverted, it can cause depression problems[6].

This is then mainly due to introverts feeling that they cannot be themselves.

Introverts are also more susceptible to developing an addiction to alcohol. Perhaps because alcohol is used to be more extroverted. Recovery from alcohol addiction may also be more difficult for introverts[7].

Other research shows that introverts are more likely to suffer from low self-esteem and experience less social support[8].

And because introverts often have less social support and like to solve their problems themselves, they can suffer more trauma. In extroverts, if social support does not provide a solution, trauma can still be problematic[9].

It's not that people who are more extroverted can never suffer from problems. For example, are you both extroverted and neurotic? Then you may suffer more from anxiety[10].

Problems that you as a hypnotherapist can therefore tackle where introversion may play a role are,

1. Low self-esteem.
2. Addictions.
3. Impeding beliefs to be themselves.

For extroverts, anxiety and being overly neurotic can be a problem you may help clients with.

So in both cases, trauma can occur, but with extroverts, it can really become a problem if their normal mechanism of interacting with people does not help them process the trauma.

Introverts try to process their trauma on their own, but not having the knowledge on how to do so can cause additional problems.

Encouraging Creativity

In hypnotherapy, some level of creativity is also expected from the client. Naturally, you take into account your client's way of thinking. Is it someone who thinks in images? In language? In sound? This is what you as therapist make use of.

But overall, what can you say about fostering creativity?

People who are extroverts, or who are open to new experiences, are generally more creative than other people. Is someone more introverted? Then relaxation helps[11].

In that sense, the hypnotic state also helps introverts get nice and creative with the hypnotherapist's suggestions.

Background noise can also make a difference; for example, extroverts are more creative when music is on in the background, while introverts do not necessarily need it[12].

Giving Hypnotherapy

For hypnotherapy itself, it does not matter whether a person is introverted or extroverted. Because there is interest in hypnosis, inducing hypnosis will already be easier.

You can use either technique to help people regain their power, live according to their own terms, and process unpleasant experiences.

In case the social environment in someone who is extroverted has not helped with the problems, conducting a social panorama can be important to put people in the right place.

For introverts, this can also be important, precisely to encourage them to take advantage of the people in their social network. Especially the people with whom they have a good click.

So too can boosting self-confidence, this can be done with the technique of the dream, among other things.

And beyond that, of course, it's looking at the techniques you learn in our training and selecting the right one for that for your client's problem.

Learn Hypnosis

Would you like to become a hypnosis practitioner to help people? Then come to a free master class for an introduction.

Or register directly for one of our events and trainings. There you'll also get demonstrations of the techniques. You will then see immediately how quickly people can change, which is just magical to see.

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