Convincers - what technique do you use?

Comment

Comment by Don on June 6, 2010 at 7:17am

Roy,

Your vwesion makes this procedure a lot more effective -- thanks!

Don

Comment by Roy Hunter on June 4, 2010 at 3:50am

I was just about to post my original comments, and then noticed what Don Gibbons wrote...which is the one I use the most (along with eye catalepsy).

The reason I like the idea of one arm light and the other arm heavy is that it is both permissive AND utilizes an Ericksonian double bind. Although my wording is somewhat different, I ask the client immediately after the session: "What was easier to imagine: the lightness or the heaviness?"

Regardless of whether the client states light, heavy, or both, my next question is: "Was the difference between your two arms slight, moderate, or VERY noticeable?"

In over 25 years, virtually everyone has chosen one of those three responses...to which I say:

"In a light state of hypnosis, there is little or no difference between your two arms. In a medium level, the difference is moderate. In a deep state of hypnosis, there is a very noticeable difference between the two arms that sometimes results in the light arm feeling as though it is lifting up by itself. However, since your conscious mind knows that your arms weigh the same, ANY sensation of difference is proof that you experienced hypnosis."

This convincer, followed by the above talk immediately after the session, has convinced many analytical resisters that they indeed experienced hypnosis.

Roy Hunter

Comment by Antoine Pruyssers on June 2, 2010 at 6:21pm

Comment by Don on June 2, 2010 at 3:02pm

Lynn and I (2010, p. 380-381) describe a “fail-safe” induction first proposed by Lynn, Kirsch, and Rhue (1996) that uses a combination of arm levitation and arm heaviness suggestions as convincers. The suggestions can be given before a more formal induction of hypnosis, in the context of relaxation or “creative imagination, “ or incorporated into an induction.

Therapist: "You may notice that one of your arms is just a bit lighter than the other, and your other arm is heavier. As we talk, your light arm may become even lighter or your heavy arm may become even heavier. And I wonder just how light your lighter arm will feel, and how heavy the other arm will feel. Will your light arm become so light that it lifts up into the air all by itself, or will your heavy arm become so heavy that it stays rooted to the arm of your chair? And I wonder which arm feels lighter. Is it your right arm or your left arm? And where do you feel the lightness most? In your wrist or in your fingers? In all of your fingers or especially in one of them?"

Overt signs of upward movement in one hand or arm provides a signal to focus on suggestions for arm levitation. Otherwise, these are abandoned and suggestions for arm heaviness and immobility are stressed. This method can prevent perceptions of failure, maintain therapeutic rapport, and provide some indication of the patient's level of responsiveness. If the patient is not able to generate responses of either arm lightness of heaviness, it may indicate the presence of recalcitrant negative beliefs and attitudes, which may preclude using hypnosis as a treatment modality (Lynn et al., p. 15). But you are probably not likely to encounter this latter type of client in your practice, because anyone who has that much conflict about hypnosis would probably need a lot more convincing before they are ready to consult a hypnotist in the first place!

Don


www.hyperempiria.com

References

Gibbons, D. E., & Lynn, S. J (2010). Hypnotic inductions: A primer. In S. J. Lynn, J. W. Rhue, & I. Kirsch (Eds.) Handbook of clinical hypnosis. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Lynn, S. J., Kirsch, I., & Ruhe, J. W. (1996). Maximizing treatment gains: Recommendations for the practice of clinical hypnosis. In S. J. Lynn, I. Kirsch, & J. W. Ruhe (Eds.) Casebook of clinical hypnosis (pp. 395-406). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Comment by John Cleesattel on May 30, 2010 at 6:59am

I use arm catalepsy as part of my induction and usually achieve it in less than 2 minutes. I go from there to full body catalepsy (freeze) just to get their attention.

John

Comment by Graham Old on May 30, 2010 at 1:15am

It's interesting that you say that, Anthony. I normally go with something simple like arm levitation, because I like how it can be developed throughout a session from set-piece, to convincer to therapy tool.

However, it always surprises me how amazed people can get with IMR. There's me trying to be clever and Svengali-like and they're satisfied with a simple finger twitch! ;-)

www.forwardtherapy.co.uk

Comment by Anthony Jacquin on May 29, 2010 at 11:42pm

I use ideomotor movement and pump this into the biggest response I can, and if all is well springboard into other phenomena from there.

Another great convincer especially with fear is to symptom scale prior to your work and after it. The moment they have when they cannot find their fear is an emotional one and another good opportunity to give direct suggestions.

Anthony
www.headhacking.com