When you first started hypno......

When you first started hypnosis, brand new beginner, if you could go back and give yourself some advice that you know now, something you think you should have known or been told back in the day (assuming you been here in the business for ages), What would you say? what advice would you give yourself?

Eternal Smiles
Leo Gopal,

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Permalink Reply by Connie Popp on January 14, 2010 at 11:05am

Adapt the session to the client. Not everyone will respond to the same type of hypnosis session. A fairly involved interview process helps me to design a specialized session for the client involved. This interview begins when the client first calls for their appt. I also like to make sure that the client does not have any misconceptions about hypnosis.

Keep studying, reading, and more studying. Have a lot of tools on hand to draw from when you are a new hypnotist. Trust your intuition. Often times there is more involved, or another issue involved than the one they present you with. Your interview process will help bring things to light.

Use pacing; use the same terms that your client uses. Speak in their language. Work with the client where they are.

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Permalink Reply by Sharon Stiles on January 14, 2010 at 1:35pm

When I look back at how little I knew when I started it amazes me that I got results. If someone took away all the knowledge I have gained since I don't think I would have the confidence to hypnotise anyone. But it worked without that knowledge so my advice would be get on with it, using the knowledge you have but keep learning from as many different people as possible.

Best Wishes
Sharon

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Permalink Reply by David Mason on January 14, 2010 at 2:49pm

To answer this question you have to deal with two different issues.

What we go to instructors for is to learn hypnosis, but learning 'hypnosis' is actually two different skills.
The one that beginners worry about is hypnotic induction, how to get people into trance. The skill that clients are interested in and actually makes you money is hypnotherapy.
You can learn everthing you need to know about induction in an hour or so. The rest is just confidence and practice.
You can spend a lifetime learning how to do hypnotherapy.

My advice to myself about hypnotic induction would be to test. Every time, every client. Test to make sure they are in trance. If there is any doubt there is no doubt. Deepen and test again. Test and deepen until you are certain beyond doubt that they are in trance. That way you will quickly learn what works and what doesn't work.

My advice to myself about hypnotherapy would be two things.
One, listen to the client. Listen to exactly what they say. Do not assume anything. Listen intently to how they describe their problem.
Two, talk to the client. Do not be afraid to have a conversation with someone in trance. If you tested properly you know they are in trance. Since I originally trained the most valuable thing I learned outside the classroom is to talk to the client while they are in trance. That way you know how they are reacting to your suggestions, what they are experiening, what is working for them, and what they still need.

Dave Mason
www.hypknowsis.com

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Permalink Reply by mary on January 14, 2010 at 4:15pm

This has been good for me to read some of the replies. I am brand new at this and am just starting to practice now. I have 2 sessions tomorrow and one Monday, and 2 more people I need to call to set up times. I cant wait until I can take some more workshops and classes too! Before I turn this into a business, I want to know I can do the best I can for clients. I am concentrating on the pre-talk, getting info as to what to include once I got them all relaxed down, and timing. I want to practice using different kinds of inductions too. I figure the people I am practicing on now, hopefully will help be some free advertising and maybe even clients themselves, in the future, right?
Thank you for asking this question in here. I feel I am on the right track!

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Permalink Reply by Donald Pelles on January 14, 2010 at 7:32pm

Actually, I don't think I would have any advice. I was somewhat amazed that the person sitting in front of me was actually in a trance state, or appeared to be. I went ahead and gave her some direct suggestions, which was all I knew how to do at the time, and that helped her considerably.

Some of those first times with clients (and my fellow students) are still among my best memories of doing hypnosis!

"First DO IT" is my motto -- "then DO IT BETTER!"

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Permalink Reply by Greg M on January 14, 2010 at 9:10pm

Hypnotize everyone who will allow you and ask them what their impressions were. Listen to what they say, and remember that each person is different from all others. One size never ever fits all, and each 'tist/subject combination is its own dynamic; therefore be ready for a different pattern each time.

Never use a script if you have an original idea of your own; you're the only one suited to carry it out. The most improbable ideas may often turn out to be the most powerful.

Above all, Do it with PASSION!

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Permalink Reply by Jill Semonin PhD- CHt on January 14, 2010 at 10:47pm

It's important to know what your dealing with 'prior' to the induction. Hypnosis is more than just an induction. Most beginners, will almost crap their pants when their first subject actually goes under.
I know years ago I once said "Holy Cow it worked.... what now?" 0.o

So it's good to understand different types of modalities, so that one can really help many different issues.
Inductions are easy.... getting good responses and creating positive change is a whole different ball game.

I will add that along with practice... is study, study, study. One can never stop learning in this field.
Cheers~

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Permalink Reply by John Keith on January 15, 2010 at 12:21am

Two pieces of advice that I would give to ANY beginnner is:

1)Record yourself giving an induction and confidence booster...to a cushion. Listen to how you sound and be critical. If you sound nervous and unsure to the client, you will be less successful. The more times you practice your hypno-speach, the more fluent you become.

2) The pre-talk is SO, SO important. Don't rush it. I've seen a quote saying that 70% of the success of a session is reliant on a good pre-talk. I don't know if 70% is accurate, but it's certainly very important.

John K.

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Permalink Reply by Leo Gopal on September 2, 2010 at 10:36pm

I have to say over time this has gotten to be quite an inspiring discussion for me, mainly since I first got introduced to hypnosis I began following advice from here and constantly making myself a better hypnotist in everyway I can.

The Advice I would give to someone is this:

1. Do NOT Procrastinate, just do it!
2. Failure is not bad, it allows you a new opportunity to learn!
3. ASK ASK ASK
4. be Open to advice, even from your own students
5. You can Learn from anybody, anytime, anywhere!

Eternal Smiles,
Leo Gopal

John Keith said:

Two pieces of advice that I would give to ANY beginnner is:

1)Record yourself giving an induction and confidence booster...to a cushion. Listen to how you sound and be critical. If you sound nervous and unsure to the client, you will be less successful. The more times you practice your hypno-speach, the more fluent you become.

2) The pre-talk is SO, SO important. Don't rush it. I've seen a quote saying that 70% of the success of a session is reliant on a good pre-talk. I don't know if 70% is accurate, but it's certainly very important.

John K.

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Permalink Reply by Jenny Lynn on September 14, 2010 at 6:49am

With you on this Ed. Clearing your own doubts and focussing on your clients issues means you're more present in the therapists chair, more available to be with them in their trance, and more able to lead them to a place that will help them heal. Clearing doubts takes a bit of personal work but alot of schools will help with this.

And my advice to anyone going fresh into training? Find a school that allows you to practice your skills on your fellow students as often as you can, with direct tutor/trainer supervision. This way you're not cut loose on the general public without any direct experience, and you've experimented with people who are also training. The supervision will ensure that any challenging outcomes to interventions can be dealt with straight away.
Best
Jenny
www.readyourclient.com

Ed Lester said:

Get over your doubts and personal confidence issues asap and start to value yourself very highly in terms of what you can do to help people.

Understand that you can be a catalyst for people to achieve incredible changes and growth and worrying about your own abilities and worthiness is an out and out distraction. Stop thinking about yourself and focus 100% on your clients and their outcomes.

Just work with issues you're confident you understand and enjoy growing and flourishing.

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Permalink Reply by Karena on September 14, 2010 at 7:55am

Really listen to what the client is telling you about themselves it is all 'in there' ( learning when not to talk!)

Do not get hung up about the induction the technique does not produce the result.

Learn to deal with what emerges so as not to lead your client and do not let theory get in the way.

Always be yourself.

Good luck.

Regards Karena.