How to hypnotize people

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Permalink Reply by Susan French on May 14, 2009 at 5:41am

Wow John. REally interesting. I've noticed that exact thing to a much, much lesser extent in regular life. In getting a handle on the tension in my own body, began to notice how I/we sort of push feelings back until they're out of our consciousness. I've noticed that precise thing when I bring 'habit' clients back into touch with their feelings.

In their hypnosis, I give the suggestion to become very aware of how they feel just before they (eat the cookie, smoke cig, etc). I tell them that they will pause just before they take the automatic action that 1) they realize they have a choice and 2) that they check into their body/mind and become aware of the feelings/sensations/emotions.

That process has also made me extremely aware of how often I too don't notice the feelings myself (in the body and in the emotions) (being in hypnosis). I've become more mindful myself.

I guess what you're talking about is that phenomenon in the extreme.

Thanks for sharing it.

John Cleesattel said:

As a side comment. There are people out there who suffer from what I call emotional anesthesia. This appears to be brought on by some negative event in their life that is ever present in their thoughts, and as a defense mechanism, they literally shut down their ability to feel. I have run in to several of these so it is more widespread than I first suspected. It also includes shutting down the ability to feel physiological changes such as relaxation. When ever someone does not go into trance using the above method, there is an assignable cause. The majority of them are because the instructions are not being followed for some reason. (I address the reasons for not following instructions in my book). One of the reasons is ignorance. They don't understand the instructions. I found out about this emotional anesthesia by investigating why a subject was having issues going into trance. They wanted to know why also, so I had the desire and permission necessary to proceed. The end result was that their entire emotional response system was all but incapacitated. This carried over to their ability to sense when muscles were relaxed or not. When I desensitized the trauma and they began to feel again, they were overjoyed. They said they had just been existing for a very long time. After that, they easily went into trance without any problems. Some of the others that I found who suffered from similar issues, did not feel comfortable dealing with it so I naturally deferred. The point here being that while everyone WANTS to relax, some don't know how, and can't tell if they are or not.

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Permalink Reply by bob burns on May 15, 2009 at 5:12am

I used your colour technique within the last hour John. Yes it was lovely. As you suggested they slipped into the state in around 30-40 seconds. I took the trouble to ask them how they felt about it afterwards and they said they actually enjoyed the process. Thankyou. I'll use this again.
I know someone on the first page of this post, 'Art Long' ,talked of methods: [quote] not involving visualising scenes, trees, sky, birds, grass, water, clouds, because all most people are doing is struggling to see scenes, sky, birds, grass, water, clouds etc. and you completely lose them if they can't see these, many people cannot visualise at all
[/quote].
Although that is true Art might I suggest that in the pre-talk you 'ask them' if they're visualisers, or feelers, or hearers (I actually use these words with a smile). They'll tell you how their mind works and in doing so they tell you how to best hypnotise them. Even to the extent of asking: "how do you think a hypnotist would normally hypnotise?" If they say by looking at a flame I may light a candle. If they say swinging watch then out it comes grandads present to me! I actually got it from him on his deathbed. It was quite difficult as rigamortis had set in, bless him.
Anyway, belief and expectancy, as you know, are absolute hypnosis tools. They jump up and down screaming: "use me...use me!"
Bob

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Permalink Reply by Fable Goodman on May 15, 2009 at 5:17am

Athough clients sometimes find their eyes closing whilst I am talking to them during the pre induction period.

I cant remember in thirty years anyone just sitting down and closing their eyes straight away.

If they do close theeir eyes during the pretalk, I would comment on it, as an indication that they are lready starting to respond well, even before we have started the formal induction of hypnosis, an perhaps just lead into deepening from there.

But as the pretalk is really an important part of what I do, and I want them to consciously understand what we are about to do together, I would more often encourage them to stay with me with eyes open until I ask them to close them.

Your clients must be quite exceptional.

Love and hugs,

Fable

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Permalink Reply by the grumpy hypnotist on May 15, 2009 at 5:33am

Hello Susan,

If I may interject here... in my office, if a client sits in "the chair" and on their own closes their eyes without instruction, I ask them to open their eyes and politely remind them that they just need to follow my simple instructions, and that I did not ask them to close their eyes yet. This happens rarely, but if it did happen regularly, I might take that as an indication that my pre-talk somehow still left them thinking that hypnosis involves "going to sleep", or that they are not primed to be compliant yet, for some reason.

Please note: I am not saying that you are doing anything wrong, this is just a report from my experience and how I approach it, that maybe could be something to consider. In fact, perhaps your clients are so comfortable with you that they are just happily willing to close their eyes in your presence.

Susan Barker said:

John;

My clients usually close their eyes as soon as they sit in my chair, even on their first experience with hypnosis. Do you find you have to instruct them not to close their eyes at first?
Susan

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Permalink Reply by Susan French on May 15, 2009 at 6:02am

I'll post it. I loved it. It created a "click" in my understanding that has been invaluable. It's "Nature of Trance." I think John's website is WizardofTrance but bc I am of approaching senile age, I wouldn't swear to it.

Thanks again John for your always logical and substantiated contributions, and for having my back when a flame war started.

Susan

John Cleesattel said:

Thank you for your kind words. Due to the non-advertising statement I agreed to, I won't post a link to my e-book here. But it is easily found on my website.

John

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Permalink Reply by John Cleesattel on May 15, 2009 at 6:35am

Susan Barker said:

John;
My clients usually close their eyes as soon as they sit in my chair, even on their first experience with hypnosis. Do you find you have to instruct them not to close their eyes at first? Susan

Susan,

The answer is, it really doesn't matter. It is more important that you understand the concept of the induction so you can extrapolate to customize it for each individual, than it is to be able to parrot it word for word.

If they have already closed their eyes, you can do something like tell them when you say a color they will notice the relaxation that is surrounding the eye muscles that gets so strong their eyelids don't work, or they will feel their arms get really heavy, or light etc.

The concept is that you tell them what they will experience, and when you say the color is when it will start. The exact details are not important, as long as it is something that they understand how to feel. These are just suggestions anchored to verbal triggers, thats all.

I hope that helps your understanding
John
www.wizardoftrance.com

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Permalink Reply by Allan Doane on May 15, 2009 at 8:21am

Susan Barker said:

John;

My clients usually close their eyes as soon as they sit in my chair, even on their first experience with hypnosis. Do you find you have to instruct them not to close their eyes at first?
Susan

I have had similar experiences with clients wanting to close their eyes upon sitting in my "magic" chair. While that may be an indication of their willingness to participate, I believe that it is an attempt to control the situation. I've heard both Mark Cunningham and Jerry Kein say that every session should have exactly one hypnotist. It's important for the hypnotist to be the hypnotist.

When they do close their eyes, I simply ask them to open them until the appropriate time (which may be only seconds later by which time they will have accepted two direct suggestions - opening and closing - the compliance with which re-establishes my role as hypnotist.)

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Permalink Reply by the grumpy hypnotist on May 15, 2009 at 1:43pm

"As you can see there are others who have different concerns about this. While I have found it makes no difference and don't feel threatened about who is in charge, you should follow your own feelings and take more positive control of the subject if you feel you need to."

John,

speaking only for myself, it is not a petty matter of feeling threatened or wanting to be in charge, it is a matter of detecting a subtle sign that the client may be operating from a script of their own preconceived notions about the work. I think it'd be good to address that as early as possible in the process. You're certainly aware of the importance of a client understanding that they need to follow the simple instructions you provide. When a client appears to be taking the initiative and "helping out", that indicates that perhaps they think they need to follow their own set of instructions based on preconceptions about how things are supposed to go, which may include ideas such as "going under", being asleep, not remembering what the hypnotist said, etc. etc.

You are right, that if this kind of thing isn't currently a problem for Susan B., no big deal. But it is still something worth being aware of, at least for troubleshooting or optimization purposes, don't you think?

regards,
herr grumpy

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Permalink Reply by John Cleesattel on May 15, 2009 at 2:51pm

the grumpy hypnotist said:

speaking only for myself, it is not a petty matter of feeling threatened or wanting to be in charge, it is a matter of detecting a subtle sign that the client may be operating from a script of their own preconceived notions about the work. I think it'd be good to address that as early as possible in the process. You're certainly aware of the importance of a client understanding that they need to follow the simple instructions you provide. When a client appears to be taking the initiative and "helping out", that indicates that perhaps they think they need to follow their own set of instructions based on preconceptions about how things are supposed to go, which may include ideas such as "going under", being asleep, not remembering what the hypnotist said, etc. etc.
You are right, that if this kind of thing isn't currently a problem for Susan B., no big deal. But it is still something worth being aware of, at least for troubleshooting or optimization purposes, don't you think?

regards,
herr grumpy

herr grumpy,

I personally view the idea of a client closing their eyes before I ask them to, a sign of their willingness to be hypnotized. They already know what to expect (because I told them) so if they choose to set their own mood for it, so be it. If I need them to open them again I just say the word, if not, I don't. If they close their eyes without my prompting I usually make a comment to the effect of, "You really want this.. don't you." thus further sinking the hook.

I have had (as we all have) those clients that do have control issues. I personally do not view, and have not found, that voluntary eye closure is an indicator of such behavior.

When dealing with newcomers to this field, they are ever eager to find out "what to watch out for". Thus they overkill the potential for things like "abreactions" and "signs that the client is trying to take control!!!" (GASP!).

There will be no doubt if they run into a client like that, or if they run into an abreaction, so I just figure "why elevate their expectancy of it for them and give them something else to needlessly worry about?"

John

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Permalink Reply by the grumpy hypnotist on May 15, 2009 at 3:14pm

John,

Yeah, that is a reasonable viewpoint, I can see where you're coming from with it and even better your use of the "you really want this" to utilize it. I just wanted to make clear that the "other" viewpoint was not necessarily driven by some silly feeling of being threatened by the client taking charge, as you seemed to be implying in people besides yourself, but rather that there is a fairly rational reason for taking that other view which may be useful to consider.

Perhaps you did not intend to make that implication, but generally, when people make statements which basically follow the structure "Others have different viewpoints, but [unlike them] I don't feel threatened by my clients", that is kind of a passive little attack, would ye not agree?

- herr grumpy

"I personally view the idea of a client closing their eyes before I ask them to, a sign of their willingness to be hypnotized. They already know what to expect (because I told them) so if they choose to set their own mood for it, so be it. If I need them to open them again I just say the word, if not, I don't. If they close their eyes without my prompting I usually make a comment to the effect of, "You really want this.. don't you." thus further sinking the hook."

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Permalink Reply by Ty on May 15, 2009 at 4:00pm

Very Nice

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Permalink Reply by Susan French on May 15, 2009 at 4:44pm

Your Emperorness,

Perhaps if it were anyone but John, and maybe Fable.

Respectfully,

the grumpy hypnotist said:

John,

Yeah, that is a reasonable viewpoint, I can see where you're coming from with it and even better your use of the "you really want this" to utilize it. I just wanted to make clear that the "other" viewpoint was not necessarily driven by some silly feeling of being threatened by the client taking charge, as you seemed to be implying in people besides yourself, but rather that there is a fairly rational reason for taking that other view which may be useful to consider.

Perhaps you did not intend to make that implication, but generally, when people make statements which basically follow the structure "Others have different viewpoints, but [unlike them] I don't feel threatened by my clients", that is kind of a passive little attack, would ye not agree?

- herr grumpy

"I personally view the idea of a client closing their eyes before I ask them to, a sign of their willingness to be hypnotized. They already know what to expect (because I told them) so if they choose to set their own mood for it, so be it. If I need them to open them again I just say the word, if not, I don't. If they close their eyes without my prompting I usually make a comment to the effect of, "You really want this.. don't you." thus further sinking the hook."

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