If we're as good as we think we are, why is bottled water more popular than hypnotherapy?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Wandering Hypnotist on September 28, 2009 at 7:09am

It's called the power of marketing and perception ...

I know someone here in Switzerland (where I am currently resident) who works for the UN Environmental program who was raging at the bottled water industry. She was part of a study that tested over 100 brands in Europe against tap water. In almost all instances the tap water was of better quality. This is because the purity standards and additive standards are much higher for domestically supplied water than for bottled water.

Yet I go into an 'eco-conscious' family house the other day in London and the Mother and Child swear that bottled mineral water is 'better' for you.

The lesson that can be drawn from this for hypnotherapy is quite simple - good marketing (and perhaps the convenience/packaging factor).

Permalink Reply by Iain Anderson on February 19, 2010 at 1:41am

I think we need to take a leaf from the tobacco industries book, they don't seem to have any difficulty with recruiting the youth of our nation. "Lets make hypnosis sexy"

We need to have university based Hypnotherapist providing services focused on student needs.

The only problem I see is the age old student cash-flow issues. But once established, I'm certain it would take off.
Would need to have lots of testimonials and a (sexy) poster campaign supported by some successful graduates.

The graduates entering the business world would then... carry the message and be open to the benefits and see it's potential application in industry.

Success breeds success.

Permalink Reply by AJ on February 22, 2010 at 11:11am

In theory, mastering self hypnosis leads to mastery of self. If this becomes a worldwide phenomenon, then everyone becomes self-empowered. If everyone becomes self-empowered, then who will need to visit a hypnotherapist? All joking aside, this type of training could become a means to an ends for securing a utopian-like society. Procuring worldwide awareness, however, will take a lot of amazing publicity, promotion and marketing. Perhaps some great works can be made readily available online.

Regal Hypnosis in Atlanta, GA

Permalink Reply by Ed Lester on February 22, 2010 at 11:16am

"If everyone becomes self-empowered, then who will need to visit a hypnotherapist?"

This for me, highlights the biggest misperception of all. Namely, that therapy and coaching are only for people with something wrong.

In my experience, the better someone is doing and the more successful they are, the more likely they search out expert help to get even better. It becomes more about "optimization" and not "fixing".

This reframe, enthuses people to search out hypnotherapists and takes a lot of the stigma away.

My hypnotherapy clients are mostly intelligent and successful people with an obstacle to overcome or a goal to hit.

I think the majority of people out there just don't get this.

However empowered and successful you are, there will always be something else to work on and you will always look for an expert to facilitate.

Permalink Reply by AJ on April 28, 2010 at 5:53am

Hypnotherapy is needed because people do not feel self empowered. To "heal the world" is not the same frame as "selling services". Somehow I got inspired to take this topic to a new level. Anyways, carry on as you were about sales and marketing. I must have been in an altered state the day I posted at 11:11 on a master number 22.

Permalink Reply by Charlene J Black on June 28, 2010 at 4:01am

I think Ed's comment is on the right track.


Ed Lester said:

"If everyone becomes self-empowered, then who will need to visit a hypnotherapist?"

This for me, highlights the biggest misperception of all. Namely, that therapy and coaching are only for people with something wrong.

In my experience, the better someone is doing and the more successful they are, the more likely they search out expert help to get even better. It becomes more about "optimization" and not "fixing".

This reframe, enthuses people to search out hypnotherapists and takes a lot of the stigma away.

My hypnotherapy clients are mostly intelligent and successful people with an obstacle to overcome or a goal to hit.

I think the majority of people out there just don't get this.

However empowered and successful you are, there will always be something else to work on and you will always look for an expert to facilitate.

Permalink Reply by AJ on June 28, 2010 at 6:40am

@ Charlene: All hypnosis is self hypnosis as all healing is self healing. Optimization is a process that makes the best or most effective use of a particular subject matter. If we truly optimize the awareness of the general populace, then great things are bound to happen.

Permalink Reply by James Malone on June 28, 2010 at 4:04pm

I really like the term "optimization" it has a lot of potential.

As to the bottled water concept, what do I think we can grab from it?

As many mentioned it comes to clever marketing.

It stands as a contrast to other "convenient" on the go drinks which are usually laden with sugar and/or other unhealthy chemicals.

It is an image of purity and clarity.

It makes a statement that you are health-conscious, but not necessarily sick and recovering from something.

For hypnosis/hypnotherapy to become such a "statement" perhaps we need to get the message across that it carries none of the stigma of conventional psychotherapy or psychiatry, but it is more of a tool used by successful people in their to become more successful and healthy?

Permalink Reply by Charlene J Black on June 29, 2010 at 3:13am

Indeed, Doc. One of the comments that Ed made that I really liked had to do with removing the stigma, and I see James expanded on that very nicely. I feel like hypnotherapy is where massage therapy was 20 years ago...on the cusp of becoming a household word and seen as a part of ones health regime.

Doc Regal said:

@ Charlene: All hypnosis is self hypnosis as all healing is self healing. Optimization is a process that makes the best or most effective use of a particular subject matter. If we truly optimize the awareness of the general populace, then great things are bound to happen.

Permalink Reply by Michael Ellner on June 29, 2010 at 3:53am

Hi Lester,

No matter if we offer our hypnotic services as a supplement to medical care or if we offer our hypnotic services as a "wellnes therapy" -- We still have an image problem - The Hypnosis meme taps into a fear of losing control that is deeply programmed into the public mind...

Hello Charlene,

Massage therapists are seriously under-utilized in modern conventional medical practice. Massage therapists (and chiropractors) are second class citizens in their health care communities in terms of insurance reimbursement and participation in the armed forces.


Michael E,

Charlene J Black said:

Indeed, Doc. One of the comments that Ed made that I really liked had to do with removing the stigma, and I see James expanded on that very nicely. I feel like hypnotherapy is where massage therapy was 20 years ago...on the cusp of becoming a household word and seen as a part of ones health regime.

Doc Regal said:

@ Charlene: All hypnosis is self hypnosis as all healing is self healing. Optimization is a process that makes the best or most effective use of a particular subject matter. If we truly optimize the awareness of the general populace, then great things are bound to happen.

Permalink Reply by Jason Keen on July 28, 2010 at 3:23am

I think Michael has a good point about the fear of losing control, Ed has a good point about optimization, and Iain has a good point about making it "sexy".

Part of the problem is the very word therapy . It's loaded with negative connotations and cultural contamination from the fallout of Freud and paralysis by psychoanalysis, along with images of prison-like clinics and white coats and blue meanies conjured by the use of the word psycho - in combo with just about anything.

On a side note, I've also found that quite a few people are just afraid of what they might find if they actually open the door to their own psychological basement. So, regardless of what we call it (hypnosis) - it calls one to introspect and many folks want anything but that.

So, to connect those dots, I suggest that we might have to let go of the word therapy and lean much more heavily on terms such as optimization, achievement, personal development, coaching and personal empowerment through self-hypnosis.

And we could also do a much better job of propping up icons of those who have used hypnosis and self hypnosis to do amazing things with their own lives. That's who we follow in the financial scene - self-made millionaires and the like - what if people just want to see more of us talk about how we have helped ourselves and achieved amazing things for ourselves with hypnosis?

That's a lot more sexy, I think.

Permalink Reply by Allan Nelson on September 5, 2011 at 8:59am

I think the Brand name "Hypnotherapy" is fairly toxic to the general public in mass. That is why we are not inundated with 100s of calls every day by over eager clients. Self Hypnosis Coaching with ample emphasis on how the client has all the control with privacy of thoughts and personal control in their Hypnosis session. To the client, us Hypnotists are Guides and Coaches suggesting to a participant to lead the hypnotic process while we monitor their positive progress. Or something of the sort I typed just there.

Another thing: word of mouth is not forthcoming as in  other trades and professions. Why is that? Stigma of needing Mental help perceptions I think prevails. There are 100s of things that can be done to stimulate greater demand for Self Hypnotherapy, so lets do it.

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