The session begins when you close your eyes. What opens is something much older than memory.
If you’ve been curious about past life regression but aren’t sure what to expect, you’re not alone. Many people approach their first session with a mix of curiosity and uncertainty. Understanding what actually happens — step by step — can make the experience feel more accessible and ease any anxiety about the unknown.
Before the Session: The Consultation
Most experienced regression therapists begin with a consultation — either in person, by phone, or via video call — before the session itself. This conversation allows the therapist to understand your background and intentions, explain their approach, and answer your questions. You may be asked about your reasons for seeking regression, any relevant medical or mental health history, and what you hope to gain from the experience.
Research suggests that clients who come with clear intentions and realistic expectations tend to have more meaningful sessions. This preparation phase is worth taking seriously.
Setting and Duration
Sessions typically take place in a quiet, comfortable room — either in the therapist’s office or, increasingly, via video call. You’ll be seated in a reclining chair or lying on a couch. Some therapists use soft background music; others work in silence.
A typical session lasts between 90 minutes and three hours, depending on the practitioner’s approach and how the session unfolds. QHHT sessions (developed by Dolores Cannon) tend to run longer — three to five hours — because they include an extended dialogue with what practitioners call the Higher Self.
The Induction
The therapist will guide you into a relaxed, hypnotic state using an induction process. This typically involves:
- Breathing exercises — slow, deep breaths to help the body relax
- Progressive relaxation — mentally releasing tension from each part of the body in sequence
- Visualization — imagining a peaceful, safe place in vivid sensory detail
The resulting state is sometimes called a “trance,” but that word can be misleading. You won’t be unconscious, and you won’t lose control. Most people describe it as similar to the relaxed, drifting state just before sleep — deeply calm but mentally aware. You can speak, respond to questions, and end the session at any time.
Regression to Childhood (Optional)
Many therapists begin by regressing the client back through their current life — to a happy childhood memory, then perhaps to birth — before moving into what practitioners describe as past life territory. This serves as a warm-up, helping the client trust the process and practice accessing earlier states before going further back.
Entering the Past Life
The therapist will then guide you further back, using language like “allow yourself to drift back to another time and place” or “let an image come to you.” There’s no pressure to see anything specific, and clients are typically reassured that whatever arises is valid — even if it’s subtle.
What people experience varies widely:
- Visual impressions — scenes, landscapes, clothing, faces
- Emotional memories — feelings of love, fear, grief, or joy
- Bodily sensations — warmth, cold, a sense of physical form
- Knowing — a sudden understanding of who you are or where you are without visual imagery
The therapist will ask gentle, open questions to explore the experience: “What do you notice around you?” “Is it day or night?” “What are you wearing?” These questions help deepen the experience without leading you toward specific content.
The Death Scene and Review
Most regression protocols include moving toward the end of the past life — including the moment of death. While this might sound alarming, practitioners report that clients typically experience it with a sense of peace or detachment. After the death experience, many therapists guide clients into a “between lives” state — a period of reflection where insights about the past life’s themes and lessons often emerge naturally.
Return and Integration
The therapist will gently bring you back to full waking awareness, usually through counting or a verbal anchor. You’ll be encouraged to rest briefly and absorb what you experienced before discussing it.
Most practitioners recommend journaling after a session while the impressions are fresh. Some clients feel emotional; others feel calm and reflective. Integration — making sense of what arose and how it connects to your current life — is considered an essential part of the process.
Scheduling Follow-Up
One session is often just the beginning. Many clients return for multiple sessions to explore different themes or deepen the material that arose. A skilled therapist will help you understand what you experienced and how it might relate to current life challenges.
To find a qualified practitioner, explore Reincarnatiopedia’s therapist directory — profiles include training backgrounds, session formats, and specialties to help you find the right fit.
✨ Develop Your Reincarnation Intelligence (RQ)
Reincarnation Intelligence (RQ) — developed by Maris Dresmanis — is your soul’s capacity to access and integrate the wisdom of past lives in your present one.
The Academy of Reincarnatiology has certified 1,134 practitioners across 40+ countries in developing this capacity.