Smart Sessions give you more control over how your sessions are experienced, while keeping everything simple to use.
They allow you to adjust how a session begins, how it ends, and the background music that plays during the session. These options are completely optional, and the core therapeutic content always remains the same.
In this guide, we’ll explain how Smart Sessions work and the different ways you can adjust them to suit your preference.
You can also use the standard version of any session if you prefer not to change anything.
Smart Sessions Guide
A session is made up of a few simple parts. Smart Sessions allow you to adjust some of these parts, without changing the session itself.
Here’s how a Smart Session is put together:
Background Music
Calming music can play throughout the session, with adjustable volume.
Low
High
The key idea is that while certain elements can be personalised, the main content and purpose of the session remain exactly the same.
What You Can Change
Smart Sessions focus on a small number of elements that shape how the session feels, without changing what it does.
Beginning (Induction Style)
The beginning of the session is designed to help you relax and settle into the experience. This is known as the induction.
Learn more about this stage in Hypnosis Inductions Explained.
With Smart Sessions, you can choose from a range of induction styles, each using a slightly different approach.
Some are more physical, focusing on the body and releasing tension. Others use rhythm, imagery, or gentle mental focus. All are designed to help you relax and become more receptive to the session.
Here is a brief overview of the available styles:
A Calm Thinking-Feeling
A gentle approach where relaxation builds naturally through a connection between mind and body, creating a sense of calm and ease.
A Smooth, Steady Rhythm
A body-awareness style induction that focuses on steady, natural rhythms to help you settle and relax.
Loose, Limp and Relaxed
A classic progressive relaxation approach, where tension is gradually released throughout the body.
The Rainbow of Relaxation
A more imaginative approach that uses colour and visualisation to help relax the body and quiet the mind.
Waves of Deep Relaxation
A flowing, wave-like approach where relaxation moves gradually through the body, deepening over time.
You don’t need to choose a specific induction for it to work. Over time, you may find a certain one suits you better, or you may simply prefer to vary them occasionally.
Opening Length
You can also adjust the length of the opening section (the induction), depending on your experience and preference.
- Regular – the standard version, with a fuller, more gradual lead-in
- Medium – a slightly shorter introduction
- Short – a more direct route into the session
These options are designed to reflect how people tend to use sessions over time.
If you’re newer to self hypnosis, the regular length is usually the best place to start, as it gives you more time to relax and settle into the process.
As you become more familiar with the experience, you may find you need less time to reach the same state. In that case, shorter openings can feel just as effective while allowing you to begin the session more quickly.
Both approaches work equally well. It simply depends on what feels right for you.
Learn more about session length in The Ideal Length for a Self Hypnosis Session.
Ending Options
You can choose how the session finishes, depending on when and how you plan to listen.
Wake Up Ending
Brings you back to full alertness, so you can continue with your day feeling clear and refreshed.
Sleep Ending
Allows you to drift naturally into sleep, making it ideal for listening in the evening or at bedtime.
In standard sessions, most recordings finish with a wake-up ending. This is simply because people may be listening at different times of day, and not everyone wants to fall asleep at the end of a session.
Smart Sessions give you the flexibility to choose the most suitable ending for your situation, whether that’s returning to full awareness or allowing yourself to drift into sleep.
Both options use the same session content. Only the final part is adapted to suit your preference.
Background Music
You can choose from a range of calming background music tracks to play throughout the session.
These are designed to support relaxation and help maintain focus, without distracting from the spoken content.
You can also adjust the volume of the music in relation to the voice:
- High – more noticeable background sound
- Medium – a balanced level
- Low – subtle background support
- Off – no background music
We generally recommend listening with background music, as it helps support relaxation and creates a more immersive experience.
Our sessions are also produced with background music in mind, so listening without it may feel slightly different or less natural.
Learn more in our Background Music Guide.
You also have the option to include gentle binaural beats alongside the background music. These are subtle audio tones designed to support relaxation. Some people find them helpful, while others prefer not to use them, so they are turned off by default.
Learn more in our Binaural Beats Guide.
Naming Your Session Versions
When creating a Smart Session version, you also have the option to add a label to help identify it later.
You can keep things simple by using the default label, such as “My Version”, or you can create your own custom label.
For example, you might use labels such as:
- Sleep Ending
- Low Music Volume
- Short Opening
- Bedtime Version
- Daytime Version
These labels are simply there to help you quickly recognise different versions you have created, especially if you experiment with different settings over time.
The label does not affect the session itself. It is only used for organisation and easier identification within your account.
Do You Need to Change Anything?
No. All of these options are there if you want them, but they are not required.
You can simply use the standard version of any session without making any changes. Many people prefer to keep things simple, while others like having the flexibility to adjust certain elements over time.
A Note on Session Generation
Smart Sessions allow you to create different versions of a session. To keep everything running smoothly, there may be limits on how many versions can be generated within a certain period.
You’ll always be able to access and use the sessions you’ve already created.