Less hypno-lingo and more hypnotherapy, please

One of the single most influential hypno-stories to have gripped the pubic imagination in recent months, is Lily Allen’s transformation, dropping two dress sizes from a very pretty size 12 to a toned size 8, which she attributes to hypnotherapy sessions.

It’s interesting to see media all over the world picking up on this story. Here’s a link to the Ahlan! Live in the United Arab Emirates version of the story. They also mention other recent celeb stories:

"Mel B, last week revealed she sought hypnotherapy in a bid to boost her body-confidence, Fergie to quit biting her nails, and nicotine addicts Charlize Theron and Drew Barrymore to kick the habit by being “put under.” "

And there’s the annoying thing. It seems that hypno-lingo is pretty universal too. Phrases such as being “put under” - even with the inverted commas - or the headline of this article ‘Look into our eyes..’ seem to be getting far too ubiquitous for my liking.

Maybe I should announce a campaign, right here and now on this blog, for better and more accurate reporting of hypnosis and hypnotherapy stories.

I mean, harrumph! Using words like ‘going under’ or ‘look into my eyes’ is not only tired and unimaginative but also very misleading. Hypnosis is not like being ‘under’ as in anaesthetised; and we hypnoptherapists do not ask people to look into our eyes or at our swinging pendulums and watches.

I had a client a while ago who opened his eyes and said ‘But I was aware of everything you said to me…’ He felt cheated and a little disappointed about his first experience of hypnosis, even though we did some great work together, got a great result and I had explained to him at length beforehand that hypnosis would not feel like being asleep.

Now, I happen to think that the natural trance state is pretty magical and powerful in and of itself. Being able to access your subconscious and allow it to find solutions to your problems is rather awe-inspiring when you think about it. I don’t know about you but, when I’m entering hypnosis, I like to know that I am fully focused and in control while this amazing process is happening. I don’t want anyone putting me ‘under.’ 8-)

One popular application of hypnosis that I have, however, been enjoying recently is the TV show, ‘The Mentalist’. If you haven’t yet seen it, the show stars Simon Baker as Patrick Jane, an independent consultant with the
California Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Jane (and I must admit that it is a little disconcerting when his colleagues call him that) has a remarkable track
record for solving serious crimes by using his razor sharp skills of
observation. Within the Bureau, Jane is notorious for his dapper dressing and his blatant lack
of boundaries and protocol. His semi-celebrity past as a psychic medium also adds a whiff of scandal because he now admits that he feigned his paranormal abilities. I just love spotting his use of hypnotic language patterns and they way that he ‘enables’ suspects, crime victims or witnesses to recall or reveal things about themselves.

I think that, most of all, I like his wearing of waistcoats on California beaches. I think you can catch it in the UK at 9pm on Thursdays.

So less tired old miselading hypnosis lingo and more hypno substnce, please. Or at the very least, can we have more amusing hypno crime-solving programmes? If anyone is asking, I wouldn’t mind playing a crime-solving hypno-cop… and I wouldn’t even need a waistcoat.

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Comment by Michael Ellner on May 13, 2009 at 4:33am: Okay - Fable-- I'm passing the you know what to ya - just remember it comes from you know who and it's the best skunk in the world...

how's this for scripting:
Sophie - remebers burying the victim in the sand and she swears that he was alive when she took a dip to cool off = When she came back the tide was high and so was fable- and the victim was ....

Comment by Fable Goodman on May 13, 2009 at 4:27am: If you click on "show info" (top right ) you will get a commentary on the pictures. it is essentially a strytelling henge. The participants of the storytelling workshop, have to find their way through the labrynth first, and then enter the central henge in a clockwise direction, (as per native american tradition) sit down in a circle, and take turns telling stories, whilst drawing their story in the sand. the next person takes the stick, and continues ther story and the picture.

Re sand assasin...
Let's hope you can act Sophie, as I don't believe you have agenuine evil cell in your body.

Cut to image of an old hour glass, with the sands of time running out, as we put together the clues to solve the murder.

Comment by Sophie Nicholls on May 13, 2009 at 3:54am: Beautiful! I love the hypnotic flow and spiralling of it... The only 'spade work' I have ever done on beaches involved burying people in the sand. I did leave their heads sticking out though. And they were still ALIVE, I hasten to add. Maybe I could play the evil hypnotist sand assassin... ?

Comment by Fable Goodman on May 13, 2009 at 3:40am: Yes, I doo look good in white,
I have a whole range of outfits in my dressing up room.
I am happy to work on a hot beach, in swimsuit,

I would like at least one scene in each episode, where I get to play the musical saw, on a hawain beach, wearing a beautiful hawain shirt.

I can always come out with the classic line from Holmes " Sophie this looks like a three pipe problem!... pass me my old stradavarious Elner..."

My artwork on beaches is legendary see:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lawrie-shaw/sets/72157600419908229/show/
but have no interest in ' Baywatch babes'
I thought I could be the 'eye Candy' For the men (and women) distracting people's attention whilst Sophie does the spadework.
I see you Michael dressed in a Columbo-esque shabby mac, dropping cigar ash, left right and centre, over the evidence trail. and in the process, stumbling upon he deep underlying motives of the criminals.

More thought needed... Pass the bong Elner...

Love and hugs,

Fable

Comment by Sophie Nicholls on May 13, 2009 at 3:09am: Ha hahaha.... you two. You have really made me giggle today.

Let's get our ideas together and make a pitch to the studios :-)

I think you are being a bit tough on yourselves, though. 'Bumbling'...? I don't think so.

I am thinking suave, sophisticated gentlemen of experience... :-)

Fable, you could even wear your naval uniform as in your YouTube video and Michael, I am thinking that the white jacket would be a good look.

So, let's get writing!

Warmest wishes to both of you. x

Comment by Michael Ellner on May 13, 2009 at 2:59am: Hi Sophie,

1. Every day is World Hypnotism Day -- We must educate the public, media and our health care communities every chance we get...

2 Stop! Stop right there! . I think you have a great idea for a winning "Prime-time" comdram - However, a winning show along the lines of "Sophie and the Hypno-Dicks" suggests a threesome, at least, to me.

- ©¿©¬

Fable and I could be two bumbling retired "Hypno-Dicks*" who assist and guide you... Mentors who specialize in spotting "Hypno-crimes" and who live to help Sophie, a life-guard/dective solve these cases and expose beach related scams that involve the ABUSE of suggestion and trance...

BTW - I agree, "ix-nay on waistcoat" -- but, I highly recommend keeping the beach in your "treatment"

Question for Sophie: If you consider the huge, world wide success of "Bay Watch" -- my question is this: Is solving cases in a bathing suit out of the question? Just checking.... What about you-- Fable?

=^..^=

(Note: *Dick is American slange for seasoned detectives)

Comment by Fable Goodman on May 13, 2009 at 1:38am: Great post Sophie,

If you get cast as the crime solving hypno cop, I would like to be considered for the role of your bumbling, clowning assistant, who appears to understand nothing, but somehow keeps coming up with the vital clue at just the right time.
Working title: 'The Sophisticats'?

I am sure that after the first few series, there will be a spin-off series. 'Fable's Follies'

LOve and hugs,

Fable