Properly administered VR hypnosis presents little-to-no risks when conducted by qualified practitioners, contrary to a popular belief. The most noteworthy concerns in these situations would be the following:
- Appropriate boundary maintenance between physical and virtual realities.
- Unexpected emotional response management in virtual scenarios.
- Potential disorientation treatment upon returning to regular consciousness.
An emphasis on informed consent and client autonomy is what distinguishes safe practices from potentially problematic applications. The most effective VR hypnosis practice would be able to maintain a delicate balance between preserving client awareness of the artificial nature of the environment while creating virtual experiences that are immersive enough to have a therapeutic effect.
Some researchers even suggest that VR hypnosis might be safer than traditional approaches due to the precise control over environment variables that VR can provide, opening up possibilities for immediate adjustment whenever necessary (if a client shows signs of distress, for example).