If You Could Share One Tip With Others What Would it be?

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Permalink Reply by Scott Sandland on March 8, 2008 at 4:11pm

Mine is intentionally offbeat a little bit, but more experienced hypnotists will understand my reasoning:

Learn how to tell a joke. A script works very much like a joke: Setup, hook, punchline. We do something similar with our scripts: Induction, create a construct, manipulate it.

Watch good stand up comedians and learn how effective story telling evokes powerful emotions. Understand the dynamics of pitch, tone, timing, and delivery. The movie, "The Aristocrats" (not the Disney cartoon) has some of the most offensive language in it I've ever heard in a movie, but if you can handle that it is an amazing case study in the art of what we do.

Great hypnosis intstructors recommend taking an acting class, and while I absolutely agree with them, I think this can take elements of that to the next level.

Looking forward to everyone's contributions on this,
Scott

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Permalink Reply by Brian David Phillips on March 9, 2008 at 7:05am

I really believe folks can't go wrong with learning how to use their voices well. If not a formal acting course (which is great, especially when supplemented with some experience doing improvisational theatre work) then even a short workshop on oral interpretation of literature or story theatre can do WONDERS for learning how to deliver patter for processes or suggestions. While the really great hypnotists are comfortable with their voices and how to vary tempo, rhythm, tone, and more to more effectively create intensified imaginary landscapes for their trance partners, there are folks who are less comfortable expressing a full range of emotion or who could use some help learning to use their voices with more variety. A hypnotist certainly does not need to be a fully trained actor (although I've found my training in that area to be extremely helpful) but some rudimentary training and experience can do wonders as making one more effective with clients.

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Permalink Reply by Ayelet Melany Cohen on March 9, 2008 at 12:17pm

Remember to use sensory acuity. Paying attention to the minute shift in your client’s skin coloration, skin tone, breathing, eye focus (from focus to de-focus) and pupil dilation, can be incredibly useful. Not only does it allow you to see if your message is getting through; it also lets you know if there’s been an internal state change inside a person. When a client is talking and all of sudden their eyes shift from focused to de-focused, I know it’s time to pay attention!

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Permalink Reply by Gail Robinson on March 9, 2008 at 9:24pm

I suggest guiding clients to make use of a pendulum. I learn a great deal of useful information during this process. I find this tool remarkable! I enjoy witnessing the initial reaction of the moment they discover how to tap into their subconscious minds for deeper issues. I like to suggest clients even use their physical body as a pendulum. While demonstrating the proper method of using this tool; I have found transitioning into an induction is a very natural and comfortable way to induce hypnosis.

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Permalink Reply by Joshua Johnston on March 10, 2008 at 7:29am

Jokes are good for putting people at ease, too, Scott. ;)

My tip, I guess, is to act confident and project the sense that you know what you're doing, even if you feel unconfident on the inside. If you had good training and know what you're doing, you know what you're doing, so you might as well be confident in your skills.

And clients can sense a lack of confidence, which can undermine the session.

Joshua

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Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Rose Dye on March 10, 2008 at 12:42pm

Certainly agreeing with Joshua... Confidence is very important. The Client will know if you can't project that forward.... especially if things aren't going according to plan. I know that recently with a client who came in to the office.. we had discussed over the phone and when making the appointment it would be a session for smoking cessation... he get's to the appt and said can we work in some stress relief for something that had happened at work... and I could just smile and say Sure .. I know exactly what we need to do to help you .. inside I was thinking very quickly .. how am I going to incorportate this .. but I did it and did very very well... with the client We were both very happy and he will be back now for de-stressing.
Beth

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Permalink Reply by Richard Nongard - NLPBoard.com on March 14, 2008 at 6:33am

These are all great responses - the more education you have behind you, and the more confidence you convey, the better results you will have.

But another key ingrediant to clinical success is ASSESSMENT. No matter the issue they client brings to have you address (fix), there are sub-issues behind them, and taking 5-10 extra minutes to explore these can make all the difference in your ability to create the appropriate suggestive script for each client for long-term positive results.

The reason for this is that everything we do is for a reason. And the 'negative' things we do, while they may have long-term consequences - we do them because they bring us immediate short-term rewards.

Take smoking for example. We know it's bad for us, and we want to quit. But, why do we smoke in the first place? Everyone smokes for different reasons at different times - not just because they are addicted.

Some people smoke to fit in socially (at a bar, or break at work), to be able to hide socially by escaping outside to smoke, to 'calm their nerves' or to 'have something to do with their hands' or because wanted to 'appear glamorous' back in the 50s and now they just can't quit.

Each of these 'reasons' meets a short-term need - for social acceptance, avoidance of difficulties, peace, retreat, or a sense of beauty and respect.

The trick, in creating your therapeutic suggestions is to not only help them quit smoking, but to also teach them (suggest) other ways that they could meet these short-term needs in the future - so they don't 'panic' and fall back on bad habits / relapse.

That is why it is also so important to be flexible, adaptable and well-versed with creating suggestive scripts - and why assessment is so valuable to success.

If you only have one Quit Smoking script - that you use with every client - and it focuses only on creating negative associations with cigarettes - nasty smell, horrible taste, etc - the client who is terribly uncomfortable in social situations and uses smoking as a comfort tool may decide next week or next month that the nasty taste is worth the risk, so they can remain calm and in control when they're at a party.

So take the extra few minutes to get more details from the client about the specific issue they bring to the table. Ask casual common-sense questions, and take key point notes, so you can integrate them into your therapeutic suggestions.

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Permalink Reply by James Hayashi on March 14, 2008 at 10:14am

As a new hypnotist, we are overloaded with scripts. What I have learned over my first year of practice is to make the scripts my own. What I mean is to take a script know it so well that you are able to adjust it and modify it for the specific client. Remember scripts are a great baseline, but its all about adjusting the script to meet the needs of your client.

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Permalink Reply by Ze'ev Evgeni N on March 14, 2008 at 10:50am

Somewhat off topic, but I feel this is relevant: are many of you guys actually still using scripts, and finding this approach useful? I've thrown out in-session script reading after my first few months of practice, except some really specialized patter for very specific unusual cases. I now read scripts for fun on my own time, to refresh and expand my understanding of the principles behind them. In actual session, I found an organic, customized approach to be much more effortless and effective. Usually I'll make a small list of points to cover and/or the overall strategy before the session, and just jump in and let the rest be dictated by the mutual trance journey of the client and myself. This goes for most methodologies used, be it NLP, parts, regression, direct suggestion, forgiveness therapy, visual modalities such as G.Kein's grey room, etc etc. In most cases, it has been my experience that sticking to a script is unnecessarily restrictive and is more of a hindrance (in terms of sensory acuity and communication with client) than help (with direction and as memory aid). I rather not phrase things perfectly (something that I find matters little as long as the points are conveyed and suggestions compounded) but be completely on the same page with the client and notice everything that is happening so that I can address it immediately.

Now then, I would love feedback on this :)

Best,
Ze'ev

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Permalink Reply by Walter Martindale on March 14, 2008 at 11:02am

Here's my tip. actually, it's not so much a tip as it is the way i like to work. Some may not agree with it, but it works best for me. My sessions range from 2-3 hours and my clients walk out satisfied with their results. In fact, I tell them before we begin, "if after we are done, if you're not 100% thrilled... don't pay me a dime". - that said, i've never not gotten paid. But back to the long sessions. My approach is this: 1 hour consultation where I learn about what they need and tell them what they need to know... after that hour is up, we are both too ready to send them home till next week, so I put them in trance. Trance lasts about 1 hour and when they're done, I spend about 30 minutes reinforcing the work i did with waking hypnosis. Smokers take a little longer than most other cases, but I tell you, I have amazing referrals and happy clients. My smoking cessions all report that they remain smoke free.

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Permalink Reply by Walter Martindale on March 14, 2008 at 11:07am

I agree 100% - I do the same thing. I have my own short-hand script that I work off of so that I'm sure I cover all the points I want to make (mostly I only use it for smoking cessation) but otherwise, I'm fast and steady with a client making the session about them and doing what is needed, when it is needed. Scripts are too antiquated and rigid for my practice.

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Permalink Reply by Richard Nongard - NLPBoard.com on March 14, 2008 at 11:38am

Also agree 100%. Scripts do have their uses - but once you are familar with the general process of giving therapeutic suggestions, they CAN be a hinderance.

When you are starting out - and even as a responsible refresher now and then - it is great to read and study many different scripts - to absorbe different induction styles, deepening techniques, metaphores and stories that might be applicable in different situations, and so forth.

But one size does NOT generally fit all with your clients, and so it is essential to develop the confidence and ability to adapt and create on the fly.

Take notes during the inital assessment, and pay attention to your clients responses during the session - and then adjust your technique, add new approaches and amend suggestions as necessary, as you go.

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