With this in mind it would appear that there is virtually no distinction to be made in definition, except for their uses as therapeutic tools.

1. It is possible to therapeutically utilize hypnosis to manipulate and monitor responses from patients. This making it possible to apply direct, and instantly adaptable mental therapy in a controlled environment. This offers therapists an opportunity to treat more severe mental ailments for which meditation would not be suitable. Essentially this is achieved by the creation of externalized control through hypnosis, which is conducive to safe mental healing, of fairly severely ill patients. This also offers a fairly simple alternative to meditation for those who do not possess the inner ability and strength, to self hypnotize / meditate.
2. Whilst meditation can also be used as a therapeutic tool, it requires more practitioner internalized ability. Considering the nature of meditation, and the significant similarities that exist between meditation and hypnosis, meditation can be used as efficiently as most self hypnosis techniques, and even some therapeutic uses like regression and other forms of related hypnotherapies, are available to advanced meditators. It is possible for a practitioner to achieve similar result with meditation as with hypnotherapy, on things like say "helping you quit smoking". However when it comes to more severe mental ailments / conditions hypnotheraphy is without a doubt better for dealing with the issues that may come forth, due to the externalized ability of the therapist to monitor and improvise a session as needed.

Accepting this I would suggest that meditators should not be afraid to explore their own minds and abilities using meditation as a platform, and expanding it to include what would traditionally be considered selfhypnosis techniques. Noting that if this is done with care, one can achieve a lot more from your meditation, in a lot less time. Especially when combining techniques from both genres when focus is placed on inner self ability, rather than the traditional hypnosis requirement for externalized control. Applying this, one is also offered a unique opportunity to set your own hypnosis / meditative goals, which is not normally possible with hypnotherapists, as they usually want to decide what is best for you.

Of course there will always remain room for externalized hypnosis / meditation, and if the therapist can be trusted, this can also come with amazing benefit, and probably somewhat quicker results, than expected from attempts to do it on your own.

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