Many stage and entertainment hypnosis showman use rapid induction techniques. These are the processes that are used to ‘show off’ the hypnotic effect or power that the hypnotists has over their subject. It is the perception that the hypnotist wants the observers to experience.

From an ethical professional perspective, it is just showy old fashioned entertainment and has little benefit when working as a professional practitioner. In some instances, they have value, but in most instances these are used by unprofessional showman and not serious professional practitioners. In fact, these are the types of processes that have set unrealistic expectations and fears in the public's mind about the use of hypnosis. These techniques were developed and used to overcome resistance in clients entering trance. Nowadays clients come and expect to be hypnotised and close their eyes ready to go into trance, no need for fancy showy techniques to overcome resistance.

Rapid induction techniques can be used to access deep levels of trance very quickly. Two important considerations when using them are:

• A belief in the technique by the practitioner

• The client is properly prepared (or not)

In addition, Rapid induction techniques tend to:

• shift between sensory modalities

• incorporate confusion

• are authoritarian in nature

Rapid induction techniques are valuable to use:

• in medical emergencies or dental situations where time is at a premium

• where there is very little time for prolonged treatment in a session

• when the client is known to be a good hypnotic responder

The Eye-to-Eye Contact Induction is one of the easiest rapid induction techniques.

• Ask your client to look into one of your eyes.

• Look at the bridge of their nose to avoid being hypnotised yourself.

• Make suggestions of eye tiredness and deep sleep. These suggestions must be delivered with great authority.

Contraindications:

• Do not use where it is culturally impolite to look directly into another person’s eyes.

From a professional perspective the most widely used rapid induction technique is the Simple Eye Closure Induction (although very permissive, it can be delivered in an authoritarian fashion).

• The goal of the induction is simply to get your client’s eyes closed.

• As this script demonstrates, it is not always necessary to resort to elaborate means in order to achieve this.

Script:

"… make yourself comfortable … place your feet flat on the floor … and … let your hands rest comfortably on your lap… and when you are ready just close your eyes … allow them close … and … you can relax your eyes now … make them so comfortably relaxed … that they won't bother to open at all … they will remain … comfortably closed … comfortably closed throughout …”

Contraindications:

• There are no contraindications.

Some other well known Rapid Induction techniques are:

• Elman (1984) Handshake Induction

• Tactile Eye Fixation Induction (Based on Myron Teitelbaum’s (1980) rapid induction)

• Outstretched Arms Brief Fractionation

• Permissive Eye Relaxation

Instead of providing scripts for these inductions, we advise you to do a YouTube search and see how these are delivered.

References:

Elman D (1984) Hypnotherapy Westwood Publishing Company

Teitelbaum M (1980) Hypnosis Induction Technics Charles C Thomas Publisher