These days, many people wanting to experience the benefits of therapeutic hypnosis, but that cannot afford the costs of seeing a hypnotherapist regularly, are joining the fast-growing, self-help hypnosis community. The internet is replete with sites offering free and paid downloadable recorded sessions of different types of hypnotherapy. Unlike the majority of such recorded sessions everyone can download or purchase, however, custom self hypnosis recordings offer more advantages for personal development and improvement.

All induction into a hypnotic trance involves self-hypnosis. Whether a hypnotherapist assists with the process, or whether it is self-generated, it involves the willingness to be hypnotized. Given the right frame of mind, coupled with the appropriate environment and the necessary resources, it is perfectly possible to enter a hypnotic mental state through one's own efforts.

Before proceeding with listening to self-created hypnotherapy sessions, it would be wise to do so after having spent time with a hypnotherapist. One would gain a better sense of what to expect when going the solo route. Moreover, a hypnotherapist can also advise what to do, and what to avoid, to derive the maximum benefits from doing it by oneself.

The main advantage of using personalized recordings for solo hypnotic trance sessions is that these will contain suggestions and instructions peculiar to one's unique situation and circumstances. No other such voice records will be found anywhere else. These will be highly personal, and include suggestions that fit the personality, and address issues that directly affect the individual's interests, issues, and preferences.

The cost effectiveness, and ease of availability, of downloadable hypnotherapy sessions, specifically crafted by a professional for the individual, are big draw cards for many self-help consumers. It saves lots of time and money to browse on the internet for a qualified professional hypnotherapist - of whom there are many - and request a personalized session that can be transferred onto an mp3, and then downloaded. The sheer convenience of the arrangement beats the cost of consulting with a therapist in person over a period of time.

The audio recording on a customized mp3 is a highly particular, condensed record of the listener's life experiences, and individual circumstances. Hence, the guided imagery, suggestions and instructions would be so much more meaningful. Compared to a generic audio hypnotherapy session, the listener should thus obtain personal goals much faster.

It's not that generic hypnosis audios are not useful. Customized ones are simply better. From the perspective of achieving rapid results, and speaking to issues that are unique to the person that requested it, personalized recordings are bound to be more effective.

Having said the above, it does not mean that generic hypnotherapy sessions recorded an on mp3 or similar electronic device is useless. It's just that the uniqueness and specificity of personalized ones tend to be more effective, and in a shorter time period. However, the important thing to remember, and this is something which newcomers to this mode of personal development often do not get, is that though therapeutic hypnotic sessions are generally effective, it requires time, patience, and consistent application. One, or a few sessions of these, with or without a therapist, won't be enough to bring about desired outcomes. Achieving the kind and quality of deep relaxation of alertness that makes the process work takes time.