Hypnotic CDs/mp3s Effective?

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Permalink Reply by Dennis Atkinson on November 12, 2009 at 6:03am

This is actually a conflicting subject for me. As business people, we market a product to make money ... selling CD's over the internet to people is one avenue. Individuals who need help, purchase the CD's because they are looking for an easy and less expensive way to go.

I think we would all agree that when you work with a hypnotist, there is a bond that is built ... one that allows the person to go into trance, and accept the suggestions given.

When you purchase a CD from just anyone off the internet, you most likely purchase the CD without the benefit of having created this bond with the hypnotist. If you do not have a point of reference, how are you supposed to recognize if the CD is or is not helping?

I know from personal experience that when I work directly with someone in hypnosis, experience a trance, and then follow up the session with a personalized CD made specifically for me, the changes are dramatic.

When I merely listen to a CD off the internet, there is a certain resistance whether consciously or subconsciously because I have not built that trust beforehand.

So the basic problem I see with selling CD products as a generic product is that if someone purchases the CD, and fails to get the help they wanted, they now may be of the opinion that hypnosis is not useful; whereas, had they worked with a therapist on a one on one basis, and then followed up the session by listening to a CD, they would have experienced (and been able to recognise) the changes.

That's my two cents.

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Permalink Reply by James Hazlerig on November 12, 2009 at 6:34am

I think mileage will vary. I've heard of some people who made powerful changes (including smoking cessation, the source of a recent thread about frustration) with purchased recordings. It's true that you don't get all the benefits of individual attention with a generic recording, but I think most people recognize the difference between a fifteen-dollar download and hundred-dollar session.

Personally, I find that I'm leery about buying recorded sessions simply because there is little way to know what's good and what isn't. So I have to be fairly desperate to risk it.

Several years ago, during a very painful bout of gout, I crawled over to my computer and paypalled ten bucks for an anti-gout session download. I then received an email saying that the session had not been recorded, and I could either wait a week or get a refund. I asked for a refund, set up my microphone and recorded my own session, which I then immediately used. Within three hours, all pain was gone, and it hasn't come back.

It does seem to me that free mp3s could be a good marketing tool--especially when the quality is there.

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Permalink Reply by Kathleen Hanover on November 12, 2009 at 8:27am

I've been buying and using hypnosis recordings for about 10 years. (I've never tried a free one from the Internet, though. I suspect you get what you pay for.)

Like hypnotherapists, these recordings have varied in quality and effectiveness. I've had good results with recordings by Paul McKenna and Shirley McNeal in particular.

Then in February I started seeing a hypnotherapist in person. After a couple of months, I got copies of all his hypnosis MP3s and found them to be wildly effective. I think there are several reasons--I anchored deep relaxation with his voice in person first; he makes GREAT MP3s; and a couple of the metaphors he uses are particularly meaningful to me.

I also found that other people's MP3s (the good ones) have become more effective, because I'm better at getting into trance state myself. The not-so-effective ones are even less effective because my brain has started to analyze them and compare them to my hypno's recordings instead of just listening to them!

My hypno's MP3s have made a huge difference in my quality of life. HUGE. One of his MP3s got rid of the mold/pollen/dust allergies I had suffered from for YEARS. Another one gave me an ironclad immune system (I've only been sick 3 times all year, when previously I was on antibiotics 4-6 times a year.) Another one has repaired the nerve damage I had in my back that I suffered from since I was 25.

In other words, I'm a true believer!

Kathleen
"The Pretty Goodest Public Relations, Copywriting & Marketing Lady on the Planet"
Click @KathleenHanover to follow me on Twitter

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Permalink Reply by Amanda Irvine on November 12, 2009 at 11:10am

I feel that the effectivness is based on the individual's expectation, and comitment going into listening to MP3. While it is true that there are some CD's that are more effective, and like James mentioned it's hard to really know what your getting, I think that well done cd's can help individuals. It all really comes down to the need of the person. Thats why it works for some but not for all. You really have to find what works for you... I personally collect Hypnosis cd's. Usually from some stage hypnotist that I have seen and been hypnotized by. While they vary in style, methods, and quality. It can work! But if it is something that you want to be specific to you! You may want to go see a hypnotherapist...

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