QUESTION

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Permalink Reply by bob burns on April 9, 2010 at 2:50am

No, although you might entrance yourself. In fact many hypnotherapists absolutely believe that you (the therapist) should go in there (to hypnosis) with them (the client). Although NOT in hypnosis I do feel entranced whilst taking someone through a relaxation process. Hope this helps.

Bob

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Permalink Reply by Antonio on April 9, 2010 at 2:58am

I don't about know about accidentally, but on purpose yes...and sometimes it can be a great thing. Your sense of time may slow down, allowing you to pick up on even more things that you might not have noticed other wise.

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Permalink Reply by James Malone on April 9, 2010 at 3:49am

Its been my experience that going into a light state of hypnosis when working with a client allows me to be that much more effective. It allows for greater creativity and empathy. Years back at an NGH convention I remember Ormond McGill saying something to the effect that you had to be able to imagine your client's success before they could.

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Permalink Reply by Graham Old on April 9, 2010 at 8:06am

It's essential!

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Permalink Reply by James Hazlerig - HypnosisAustin on April 9, 2010 at 8:41am

I often go into trance while working with my clients. I have occasionally had to pull myself out of a deep trance so that I could keep steering the session. But I've also had times when I simply opened my mouth and let my unconscious mind direct the metaphors--it led to an amazing session for my client. Personally, I suspect that is part of what Erickson did when he was coming up with brilliant interventions; he just trusted his unconscious mind (and his client's) to provide a solution.

Nick, based on this question and your other, I suspect you're laboring under a Hollywood-based impression of hypnosis. While most of us don't feel that Dave Elman was 100% right when he said that "All hypnosis is self-hypnosis," it can be useful to spend a little time viewing hypnotic interactions through that lens. I see myself as more of an instructor who teaches clients self-hypnosis than a practitioner who does something to my clients.

In all fairness, I should add that it can be useful to take on the Hollywood model for a while as well--to view yourself as a powerful hypnotist who *will* make people do what he wants at the snap of a finger.

Just be careful to remember that neither model accurately describes the whole truth.

Have I confused you enough yet? SLEEP!

Grin,

James

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Permalink Reply by Richard Nongard - NLPBoard.com on April 9, 2010 at 8:42am

Hopefully you will. Rossi calls it "bellybutton to bellybutton communication."

Graham Old said:

It's essential!

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Permalink Reply by Pete & Lorraine on April 9, 2010 at 10:45am

I like it when clients turn up during a stressful time as it calms me down when doing the induction especially if I use a progressive induction and of course working on their issue I can step back from mine.

Pete

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