Can You, as a Hypnotist, be hypnotized

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Permalink Reply by Kerry on September 15, 2009 at 10:15am

I find that it's a matter of what the other hypnotist does with their induction and script on me. I do NOT hypnotize well with a long induction. In fact, that's how i decided I had better start learning rapid and instant inductions a while back...because I had a collegue "try" to hypnotize me and I was so dang bored with his induction that I kept snapping out...and every time I snapped out I got more "antsy". In the end I just sat up and said, "sorry man...maybe another time...I'm just too antsy right now". But in reality he made me antsy.

When the hypnotist uses a quick induction I can go under pretty easily...but I'm not sure whether they did it so easily to me or whether I helped out...I can put myself under into a light trance in about one second flat.

I have found though...that when I went to a hypnotherapist BEFORE I became one I could be hypnotized much more easily than I can now that I'm a hypnotherapist myself. I figure it's because I understand the process now...and can pick out the really good hypnotists from the not so good ones. I don't seem to have much patience for being hypnotized by the not so good ones.

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Permalink Reply by Wandering Hypnotist on September 15, 2009 at 10:57am

Hmmmm,

What a superb discussion and a variety of viewpoints. I'll have to of course share mine ;-) ...

Now, I suppose my definition of hypnosis has changed over the years ... at first I believed that it was all about relaxation and 'dropping' away and all that 'letting go' stuff. And as I've continued to explore the whole field of effecting change my opinion has shifted ... someone doesn't have to be 'relaxed' in order for effective suggestion to occur - in fact a whole frame of change can be introduced (in my experience) without needing the cooperation of the 'traditional good hypnosis subject'.

This is not to say that the 'letting go' and 'deep trance' thingy isn't a great journey to go on! I am more aligned to the posters who suggest everyone is hypnotisable ... and I would add that in recent years I've begun to realize that we may have suggested to ourselves our own 'boundaries' ... because if we believe that we have to 'let go' and we polarity respond suggestions to do that ... hmmm how do you overcome that ... (we've already been in trance ... the one that gave us the post-hypnotic suggestion about what is possible)

Let me tell you a story ... a good friend of mine ... someone I would consider to be in the top dozen hypnotists in the world (you won't have ever heard of him - he stays out of the public eye) ... was trained years ago in all forms of effecting state shifts in people ... and as a demonstration one day to a rather opinionated 'I can't be hypnotised' hypnotherapist proceeded to put him into a waking trance without even looking at him, or talking to him directly, or touching him ... and this guy couldn't stand up from his chair ... sort-of freaked me out a bit and blew away all my ideas about the person having to 'let go'.

It's about bypassing the critical faculty which is an internal verbal circuit. Think on this for a moment ... if someone has been conditioned to believe that hypnosis can only occur on the verbal channel (i.e. listening to an induction) then what happens if you do an induction on the visual channel ... or the motor channel ... or on the 'energy' channel (I used to train in Judo and Aikido and once watched an 80 year-old demonstrate some energy techniques) ... or some combination of these ... the possibilities are endless ...

Anyway enough of my rambling ... let's just say that I believe that almost everyone can be hypnotised ... especially if the definition of how it must occur is widened!

Keep up the great discussion!

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Permalink Reply by Pat Sonnenstuhl on September 20, 2009 at 4:48pm

I would allow it....but the trick for me is finding just the right combination.
Sometimes its a technique...thinking what would work, and the person doing something else.
Or, not feeling it was adequate.
I feel I could be hypnotized by a good hypnotherapist, but I am kinesthetic, and sometimes it is challenging for me to go deep enough. Even when I trust the person, going deep enough is important.
Also, as a hypnotherapist, I know the techniques...so it might be more difficult to be relaxed.
So there is some truth to your comments.
But, with the right circumstances, it could happen...
Pat

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Permalink Reply by John R. Brochu on September 20, 2009 at 5:14pm

Release, Relax and Enjoy.....

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Permalink Reply by Dennis Atkinson on September 20, 2009 at 5:23pm

How can one be an effective hypnotist if you cannot participate in the experience yourself? I am definitely a hypnojunkie!

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Permalink Reply by Ricky Strode on October 31, 2009 at 7:33pm

depends on what you think hypnosis is. yes theyre are different depth, but you are constant moving from one trance to another are you not ? Hypnosis to me goes allittle broader than some. I think anything that alters a state of someone is a form of hypnosis because it is from one state to another that has brought on a change. It really doesn't matter how strong of a will you have you are influnced wether you want to be, or not. And all in all thats what hypnosis is sugesstions that cause change in ones stated and influences change. Sure the deeper someone is the more willing to just act on the sugesstion than thinking about it, but have you ever heard of milton erickson. Not just that. I think the best way to hypnotize people even very very resistant ppl is to go into a nice trance yourself, because ppl respond wether they like it, or not.

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Permalink Reply by Jill Semonin PhD- CHt on October 31, 2009 at 9:30pm

At first I thought I couldn' t be hypnotized.... but I was expecting magic. Like some uncontrollable magic that took over control that is.... BUT, instead I found myself wanting to just participate and follow along easily. Which is what I feel hypnosis is all about. An easy way to follow along and have it happen easily, with subconscious reminders of what I am supposed to think about. Ever since I realized what hypnosis really is... I never had another issue about going under.

So yes... I am hypnotizable .....if........ the hypnotist is good and believable. ;) after all, I have to 'think" the hypnotist is good and knows what he/she is doing... or I will reject it.

Blessings~
Jill

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Permalink Reply by Michael Ellner on November 1, 2009 at 5:00am

How sad -- Some of us have been trained rather than educated --

But, hey that's just my opinion

Michael E.

Karen Lockman said:

It's not trust in the industry or the technique of hypnosis..... it's trust in the individual and in their abiilities. Many self-proclaimed hypnotists have not had the training to really do the essential transforming work of regression to cause and changing the perception. They just read pretty scripts and do lovely visualizations and attempt to help with copiing techniques, which doesn't really find the cause and change perception which then changes the response. I guess I know tooooo much. Karen

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Permalink Reply by Michael Ellner on November 1, 2009 at 5:08am

Although I basially agree with Fable, Don, Bob, and James, I believe that any hypnosis professional who claims that they can not be hypnotized should be tarred and feathered and driven out of the profession --

But, hey, that's just my opinion...

Warmest regards,

Michael E.

Fable Goodman said:

Thanks Don,

I agree with what you say, and also Bob, and James.

an overweight hypnotist can works with weight clients, a smoking hypnotist can help others become non smokers. a hypnotist who has not expereienced hypnosis can still have enough understanding to hypnotise others.

Experience with being in hypnosis, I feel is a great advantage, but not a pre requisite.

The Blind men and the elephant has long been one of my favourite poems, and It applies to many situations in life.
thanks for quoting it in full.


Here in England whe have an expression, 'there is an elephant in the room' Perhaps you have the same expression in america? It is applied to a situation where there is something so obvious, that you would think anyone could see it, and yet everyone acts as if it were not there. (this is common in situations of say, abuse in a family, where there is a tacit aggrement not to mention the unmentionable.)

For those who want to see an 'elephant in the room', feel free to attend my hypnosummit presentation. If you are the first person to succesfully spot the (rather obvious) elephant in the room, there is a prize!

Love and hugs,

Fable

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Permalink Reply by Jake Shannon The-Hypnotist.com on November 1, 2009 at 7:13am

The best hypnotists enter into a trance with their subject IMO...

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Permalink Reply by Craig R. Lang on January 14, 2010 at 8:01pm

Actually, I think I go into a light trance during nearly every hypnotherapy session.
Most HTs I know describe that they become extremely focused,and tend to synch with the client.

To me, the trance experience is extremely pleasant, so I can't understand why any hypnotist would feel they couldn't be hypnotized. Basically, I subscribe to the theory that all hypnosis is really self hypnosis, and that you really have control of anything you think,feel and do during hypnosis.

Also, hypnosis is not the same thing as relaxation. While it helps alot in allowing the client to achieve bypass of the critical faculty, I don't think it's absolutely necessary. I've had several clients who were in deep trance but were not relaxed. The key thing is whether or not they trust you as the hypnotist.

That's my $0.02
Thanx,
-Craig Lang

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Permalink Reply by Jackie Spencer on January 14, 2010 at 9:58pm

Hypno-junkie, Trance addict...I love to go under. I can put myself down really well, but go faster and deeper with someone I trust. I enjoy working with students, too, but tend to stay lighter unless they're talented. Understanding that I can come out of trance at any time or stay and reject any unwanted suggestions allows me the control I need to be able to let go.

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