Welcome to the ICCHP Clinical Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy Free Training Course. There are over 50 hypnotherapy topics presented here, which make up a complete introductory hypnotherapy training course module. You can use this free online course to complete the equivalent of our first online learning module, free of charge. There are 12 course modules in total, so after completing this free first course module you will be able to decide if you would like to learn more about hypnotherapy and continue your training with the ICCHP.
The introductory hypnotherapy course module is the first step to learning clinical hypnosis and hypnotherapy. It is the first module of the ICCHP´s flagship clinical hypnosis and hypnotherapy twelve module course. The twelve modules make up a complete programme of online open learning, leading to a Diploma in Integrative Evidence- based Clinical Hypnotherapy and Mind Body Health Practice.
Once you complete the introductory level module you can purchase the course and gain access to the more advanced level modules which include
hypno-analysis and psycho-dynamic hypnotherapy
behavioural hypnotherapy
cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy
indirect conversational (Erickson) hypnotherapy
advanced integrative hypno-psychotherapy
evidence-based hypnotherapy
mind body health
other specialist topic areas of hypnosis, hypnotherapy and mind body health practice
There are many definitions for hypnosis and many different theories that attempt to explain hypnosis, what it is, how and why it works. Hypnosis can be defined as a state of mind, and many definitions refer to it being an altered state of mind. This suggests that it is a changed state from a defined normal state.
The ICCHP's basic definition of hypnosis is unique and will help you to understand how we teach complex concepts. Hypnosis is a variety of naturally occurring states of consciousness, that we enter into spontaneously on a daily basis.
Have you ever taken a journey and reached your destination not remembering the journey? Have you ever daydreamed? Have you ever sat in a presentation and you were 100% focused on the presenter and the material being presented? Have you ever sat in a presentation and your mind drifted away from the presenter and the material being presented? Have you ever been doing something you enjoyed to the complete exclusion of anything or anyone around you, like watching a film, listening to music, reading a book or enjoying a hobby or pastime?
Well, these are all hypnotic states that we experience spontaneously every day.
When we practice hypnosis, we allow ourselves to follow instructions, given by ourselves or by someone else (the hypnotist), to enter into these natural states of consciousness with intention and through choice.
Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic interaction between a therapist who uses clinical hypnosis and a patient.
As you have read in the previous lesson the following definition was taken from the Collins Concise Dictionary:
"hypnotherapy (noun) the use of hypnosis in the treatment of mental and emotional problems."
The U.S. (Department of Labor) Directory of Occupational Titles (D.O.T. 079.157.010) supplies the following definition of a hypnotherapist:
"Hypnotherapist - Induces hypnotic states in clients to increase motivation or alter behavior patterns through hypnosis. Consults with client to determine the nature of problem. Prepares client to enter hypnotic states by explaining how hypnosis works and what the client will experience. Tests subject to determine degrees of physical and emotional suggestibility. Induces hypnotic state in client using individualized methods and techniques of hypnosis based on interpretation of test results and analysis of client's problem. May train client in self-hypnosis conditioning.
Hypnosis has traditionally been defined as an altered state of consciousness, a trance like state, where responsiveness to suggestions is heightened and the recall of hidden memories is facilitated (Hilgard, 1986).
The rationale for its use is that in the hypnotised state the conscious mind presents fewer barriers to effective psycho-therapeutic exploration, leading to an increased likelihood of psychological insight (Heap, 1988).
Other opinions have considered the so-called “hypnotic trance” to be a very relaxed mental state attained via guided imagery and meditation (McMaster, 1992, 1996).
Discrepancies in the defining points of hypnosis have arisen due to the large individual differences in “hypnotisability” (Crawford, Brown, & Moon, 1993) and the vast number of competing theoretical models (Kirsch & Lynn,1998; Kihlstrom, 1998).
Further, theoretical explanations for hypnotic phenomenon have been found to be derived from dissociation theories (Hilgard & Hilgard, 1994).
Hypnosis can be traced all the way back in history to the time of Buddha and eastern philosophy.
Its techniques have been practised throughout history.
Many references to the practice of hypnosis start with Franz Anton Mesmer (1734-1815) and his practice of mesmerism and animal magnetism.
Nineteenth century hypnosis is believed to have been established with Scottish surgeon James Esdaile (1808 – 1859), who performed many surgical amputations without anaesthetic and claimed to hypnotise his patients.
Along with Esdaile, James Braid (1795 – 1860), a Scottish surgeon, who is considered one of the fathers of hypnosis, coined the modern term hypnosis (sleep process).
During the 20th century many different medical and psychological practitioners experimented with the use of hypnosis to varying degrees. Emile Coué (1857-1926) was one of the first early 20th century practitioners.
Today, many modern hypnosis practitioners study and use the techniques developed and used by Milton Erickson (1901-1980).
There have been many practitioners of hypnosis throughout history.
Instead of having them all listed here for you to read about, you will need to search the Internet for information on the history of hypnosis and hypnotherapy, along with the major contributing practitioners.
In hypnotherapy we usually recognise the mind functions to work with:
the conscious mind
the subconscious mind (sometimes referred to as the unconscious mind)
the unconscious mind
The term subconscious can be used to differentiate the association with the unconscious state, which denotes being knocked out unconscious. It is good practice to use the term processes instead of mind.
By referring to the conscious and subconscious mind we are assuming that the mind only exists in two concrete states. We cannot prove this to be the case, so the use of the term processes is more exact.
The mind processes information either consciously, subconsciously, or unconsciously.
The conscious processes of the mind contain what we are explicitly aware of at this moment in time. Everything in the conscious processing state must also exist in the subconscious state, so the conscious is limited compared with the subconscious.
Many compare and equate it to the tip of an iceberg, which is visible in the ocean.
The subconscious processes of the mind contain everything that we know but are not explicitly aware of at this point in time. You might not be thinking about what colour your car or your shoes are, but the information is there in your subconscious. Your subconscious stores everything you have ever experienced. However, some memories are easier to extract from your unconscious than others.
Many compare this to the part of the iceberg below the surface, much bigger and deeper than the tip.
Your subconscious contains the skills and knowledge you have learned, as well as your experiences, attitudes, habits and beliefs (subconscious mind.
The conscious and subconscious processes are what the hypnotherapist mainly works with using direct and indirect suggestions and a variety of psychotherapeutic processes.
The hypnotherapist can manipulate the subconscious processes in order to effect the desired change in thoughts, attitudes, behaviours, habits, beliefs and the symptoms these may express.
Another level of processing, which controls automatic functions like breathing, heart beat, etc, at a subconscious level can be referred to as the unconscious mind.
Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries a number of theories of hypnosis have been proposed.
There are currently two modern theoretical arguments of hypnosis being proposed.
One attempts to explain hypnosis by integrating modern brain activity studies and current understanding of what happens in the brain during hypnosis induced states; believing hypnosis to be a 'special state'.
The other attempts to explain hypnosis by applying current practices of cognitive behavioural psychology to ordinarily accepted states. These researchers propose a cognitive behavioural theory based on socio-cognitive concepts to explain hypnosis.
Neither of these actually support any new innovative thinking in theoretical development. So the debate is whether hypnotic trance is a special state or not; and so, you have state and non-state theoretical debates taking place.
State theorists argue that the effects of hypnosis are explained as a special neuro-psychological state.
Hilgard’s neo-dissociation theory views hypnotic trance as an artificially-induced state of psychological dissociation.
Non-state theorists argue that hypnosis is the application of a number of ordinary psychological states, like focused concentration, expectation, and imagination. They explain hypnosis by comparing it to mainstream psychological concepts. Hence, why some psychologists support the cognitive behavioural theory of hypnosis.
Hypnosis has traditionally been defined as an altered state of consciousness, a trance like state, where responsiveness to suggestions is heightened and the recall of hidden memories is facilitated (Hilgard, 1986).
The rationale for its use is that in the hypnotised state the conscious mind presents fewer barriers to effective psycho-therapeutic exploration, leading to an increased likelihood of psychological insight (Heap, 1988).
Other opinions have considered the so-called “hypnotic trance” to be a very relaxed mental state attained via guided imagery and meditation (McMaster, 1992, 1996).
Discrepancies in the defining points of hypnosis have arisen due to the large individual differences in “hypnotisability” (Crawford, Brown, & Moon, 1993) and the vast number of competing theoretical models (Kirsch & Lynn,1998; Kihlstrom, 1998).
Further, theoretical explanations for hypnotic phenomenon have been found to be derived from dissociation theories (Hilgard & Hilgard, 1994).
Traditional definitions, though containing an element of truth, are very limited in their usefulness. Most tend to describe hypnosis from the client's position in the trance state without accounting for the role of the hypnotherapist. All imply a passive response to suggestions due to the state termed 'trance' (Yapko, 1989).
The hypnotic state and therapeutic change are created by giving suggestions to the client. Many types of suggestions can be given for many different desired responses, either to create the hypnotic state, or to create therapeutic change within the client. These suggestions can be applied at any stage of the therapeutic session and there are many ways to deliver these suggestions. in addition, we can apply the Laws of Suggestion to help create the responses that are required.
There are three main recognised laws of hypnotic suggestion, these are:
The Law of Concentrated Attention - Concentrating your attention on an idea will lead to it spontaneously realising itself.
The Law of Reversed Effect - The harder you consciously try to do something that is governed by the unconscious, the more difficult it becomes.
The Law of Dominant Effect - A stronger emotion will always replace a weaker one.
These are important concepts that are deployed and used in hypnosis and different hypnotherapy approaches.
There is a well used word play phrase used in hypnosis - 'you can remember to forget or forget to remember'!
This section on memory has been included as a resource to help you understand how memory works (or not!) and how you can improve your memory.
There are many studies on memory and memory improvement techniques that you can learn. This is only a basic introduction to help you understand memory in relation to using hypnosis.
From the time you are born, all of your experiences, everything that you have learned, and everything that you have been exposed to during you life is stored in your memory to some extent. You are who you are based on this exposure and experience.
By understanding how memory works you can begin to understand how and why hypnosis works. This will also allow you to understand how to use hypnosis when working with patients in therapy.
The term trance has been given to a type of modern club dance music which is associated with the taking of the recreational drug Ecstasy as well as other so called club recreational drugs. The dancers are usually seen to be moving in a hypnotic fashion to the music with an inward focus on the euphoric feelings being experienced.
This can also be seen with many tribal sounds and dances from around the world.
If we think of any music being played, does it not in some way alter our state?
Are we not placed into some kind of trance when we listen to music?
Music provides an escape from the normal conscious state. If you have seen films of ancient and modern tribes dancing and singing, you must have observed that they were focused on the music and the dancing and the euphoric state it places them in.
Even if one is listening to ballads, blues or sad music, the listener is in a different state then the one they would be in if they were not hearing the music.
Also, if someone is dancing and their mind is focused on the dance movement and the music alone, is this not a trance state?
In fact when someone is said to be 'in the zone', like an athlete, are they not in an altered state and in a trance?
Some people have a fear about being hypnotised and never waking up again. This fear is irrational, as there has never been a case where this has actually happened.
Hypnotic trance states have been defined by 3 levels or stages:
Light Trance
Medium Trance
Deep Trance
Light Trance
It is suggested that out of 100% of people who have never been hypnotised before, 90% to 99% of all people can achieve a light depth of trance. People in a light trance will:
When someone is hypnotised they will demonstrate signs that they are in a trance.
It is important to be able to notice these signs when hypnotising someone.
You will have learned some of these signs in the previous lesson on depth of trance. Depending on the depth of trance some individuals will display phenomena associated with being hypnotised.
These so called hypnotic phenomena can arise spontaneously when working with an individual, or they can be installed by the hypnotist suggesting they occur, in order to be used in the therapeutic process.
Types of Hypnotic Phenomena
Catalepsy - an automatic contraction and apparent paralysis of muscles.
Ideomotor activities - automatic, involuntary movements made in response to thoughts or ideas. The word comes from a combination of 'ideo' from the Greek word meaning 'thought' or 'idea', and 'motor' from the Latin word meaning 'a mover'.
Amnesia - a loss of memory, either partial or total.
Dissociation - a disconnection from full awareness of self, time, or surroundings. There is an element of dissociation in hypnotic catalepsy, analgesia and anaesthesia.
Hypermnesia - is the ability to remember much, and to remember it clearly.
Regression - is the ability to inwardly go back to a past event and experience it in a detached way. A person regressing to a childhood experience would see it through their adult eyes.
Revivification - is reliving a past event as though it were happening now. A person revivifying a childhood experience would have no adult memories.
Pseudo-orientation in time - is also referred to as ‘age progression’, or ´future pacing´, this is like regression or revivification, but for a future event.
There are a number of different approaches that are recognised in the practice of hypnotherapy and hypnotherapy training. Each of these have a role to play in a modern hypnotherapy practice and part of any hypnotherapy course.
Understanding all of these approaches and their associated techniques will arm the hypnotherapist with the knowledge and skills needed to help many different types of clients with different treatment needs
Attempting to treat all clients with just a single approach is limiting for both the therapist and the client.
A client may require a number of these approaches being integrated into their treatment strategy.
It is recommended that any serious student of hypnotherapy aim to learn and become proficient in all of these different approaches.
A professional hypnotherapist should ideally become competent and skilled in each of these approaches.
Many non-professional, as well as professional hypnotherapy training courses may teach only a single approach, or a few of these approaches.
Poorly trained hypnotherapists, unable to integrate these different approaches, are unable to offer clients the best quality care and treatment.
Direct Suggestion Hypnotherapy is associated with authoritarian techniques, which tend to employ direct suggestions, or explicit instructions with which the subject must comply.
They make use of hypnosis ritual, and of the expectation of success.
Stage hypnotists use direct suggestion techniques in their performances.
Historically, hypnosis on subjects/patients was experimental and in some instances a last attempt to try and change the patient's disturbed behaviour. Also, many of these patients were in psychiatric hospitals and did not voluntarily seek hypnosis as a means of treatment. So they tended to be resistant in many cases. The hypnotist would have to display an authoritarian and powerful voice when dealing with these patients.
Nowadays, direct suggestion and authoritarian approaches can be deployed if they are deemed necessary to help the patient/client enter trance, or if it forms part of the hypnotherapeutic intervention.
Deep trance direct suggestion approaches are still very effective in treating smokers and other habitual conditioned response behavioural conditions.
Indirect and Conversational Hypnotherapy is associated with a more permissive style of delivering suggestions to the patient. Dr Milton Erickson used direct approaches, but also was a master of a more indirect conversational style of hypnotherapy. Indirect approaches are sometimes refereed to as Ericksonian hypnosis.
Milton Erickson was a well known doctor who pioneered the use of permissive and indirect approaches when working with patients.
Some students often assume that because Erickson and indirect approaches are associated, Erickson didn't use direct suggestion approaches, this is a misconception.
Erickson deployed both direct and indirect techniques when working with his patients; in fact, he could be very direct with patients if it was required.
Milton Erickson believed in the wisdom of the patient’s unconscious and phrased his suggestions to express what he wanted to accomplish, but not the exact means for going about it.
Nowadays, therapists try to be more indirect and demonstrate empathy with their patients, wanting to build and maintain rapport with the patient. This is important for the success of the therapy.
Also, patients today volunteer to come and see a hypnotherapist, so there isn't so much resistance and patients have an expectation to close their eyes and be hypnotised. So they can said to already be in a state of trance to some extent when they come to see you.
Indirect suggestions do not explicitly state the ideas they convey.
Psycho-dynamic Hypnotherapy integrates hypnosis with the practice of psycho dynamic psycho-therapeutic approaches.
These psycho-dynamic approaches focus on maladaptive functioning within the subconscious, believed to be caused by childhood developmental related issues.
These subconscious conflicts are seen as the cause of symptoms and are addressed by therapeutic intervention through techniques such as regression, free association, recognizing resistance and transference, working through painful memories and difficult issues, catharsis, and building a strong therapeutic alliance.
Psychoanalytical hypnotherapy integrates hypnosis with the practice of Freudian psychoanalytical psycho-therapeutic approaches similar to those mentioned above.
These approaches are supported by the concepts associated with Freudian psychology.
Psycho-dynamic hypnotherapy approaches are a much briefer therapy than traditional long term psychoanalytical approaches.
Modern psycho-dynamic hypnotherapy uses techniques/processes, such as parts and staged dissociation psychotherapeutic interventions which are more ethical and safer than old fashioned problem based interventions, which do not have any solid evidence base to support their use, yet many dated practitioners are still using these out-dated interventions, such as problem based regression.
Modern, dynamic, positive psychotherapy approaches are much more empowering, safer and more ethical than the old fashioned analytical interventions. They are useful to help clients gain insight to their problem, but more importantly to gain insight into other possible solutions and the inner resources available to the client, which will help them achieve their preferred outcomes.
The ICCHP training takes a solution focused approach to psycho-dynamic and psychoanalytical hypnotherapy.
Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy (CBH) combines hypnotherapy with techniques and concepts from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
Pure Behavioural Therapy approaches are associated with the techniques defined by behavioural psychology and not Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
Cognitive components were later explored and considered by behaviour psychologists, due to the fact that behavioural psychology did not provide all of the answers to human psychology.
CBT as an effective approach to therapy was established by Aaron Beck and Albert Ellis, who developed Cognitive Therapy (CT) and Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy (REBT), respectively.
CBT addresses a direct symptom and normally requires about six sessions of therapy. It puts a lot of emphasis on client homework and changing unhelpful thinking habits.
REBT is more of a process and methodology applied to one's way of thinking and can be used to address more than just one problem. In its most effective form it allows the patient to become their own therapist, teaching them how to address their problems by applying the REBT process. Usually, REBT takes 6 to 12 sessions.
The combination of hypnosis and CBT has shown promise as an evidence based effective treatment strategy.
Kirsch (1993), suggests that the average client receiving cognitive behaviour hypnotherapy was better off than 80% of clients receiving cognitive behaviour therapy only.
Kirsch (1995), in a meta analysis on 18 studies comparing cognitive behaviour therapy with and without hypnosis found the average client receiving cognitive behaviour therapy with hypnosis showed some improvement over 70% of cognitive behaviour therapy clients.
The ICCHP teaches Integrative Rational Emotive Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy (RECBH), based on the more elegant and empowering Ellis model, focusing on changing unhelpful beliefs.
Psychotherapeutic Hypnotherapy is the use of any psychotherapeutic process on someone, who is experiencing some sort of hypnotic state, even the alert state.
Hypnotherapy is mistakenly perceived as a therapeutic approach on its own, but it is actually therapeutic processes delivered whilst a person is experiencing a hypnotic state. This is why some professionals will not use the term hypnotherapy and instead refer to it as therapeutic hypnosis.
A fully trained hypnotherapist is a psychotherapist, who uses hypnosis. So if your training has not taught you psychotherapy, then you are not a hypnotherapist. You may be calling yourself a hypnotherapist, but you are not a therapist.
On its own, hypnosis as a process has no intrinsic therapeutic or beneficial value, however a natural relaxed physiological state, i.e. the parasympathetic response state created by some types of relaxation hypnosis, on its own is of intrinsic therapeutic and beneficial value (similar to some meditative practices).
When hypnosis is used and combined with therapeutic suggestions or processes, then it has therapeutic value. One can be hypnotised by a hypnotist but not undergo any therapy, in contrast to this, a hypnotherapist or therapeutic hypnosis practitioner or self hypnosis practitioner integrates therapeutic suggestions or processes with the hypnosis process to effect change in the individual. Some practitioners of hypnosis and hypnotherapy may call themselves hypnotism practitioners, this is mainly to avoid breaching regional legislation and licensing laws regarding using the term therapist – the term hypnotism is popular in the USA because of their strict state laws regarding medical, psychological and dental licensing.
Different types of hypnosis practitioners, depending on their background, training, clients and practice environment, will use different hypnosis techniques, delivery styles and therapeutic processes and approaches. A practitioner who is helping a client improve their career prospects or performance abilities (like coaches) may not use processes and approaches that may be classified as therapeutic – they are helpful and beneficial, but not therapeutic, one can argue. A psychologist or medical practitioner who is using hypnosis to treat a condition or symptom of a condition is working therapeutically. Unlike a stage hypnotist, who is a hypnosis practitioner, but not a therapeutic hypnosis practitioner.
So if you really want to practice hypnotherapy, then you should ensure that you are going to be taught modern psychotherapy and the clinical skills that are required to practice competently and ethically.
Many hypnotherapists today use Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) concepts and techniques in their therapeutic practice.
NLP was originally developed in the early 1970's to model excellence.
It's founders Richard Bandler and John Grinder set out to study how top people in different fields obtain their outstanding results (Bodenhamer and Hall 2000).
Richard Bandler (with a background in psychology) and John Grinder (with a background in linguistics), studied the language and behaviour patterns of many successful sports and business people, as well as three successful therapists:
Fritz Perls – Gestalt Therapy
Virginia Satir – Family Therapy
Milton Erickson – Hypnotherapy
In addition, they were also influenced by the ideas of Gregory Bateson, an anthropologist who helped to found the sciences of cybernetics and systems theory.
Bandler and Grinder modelled the therapists’ behaviour patterns, then refined and developed these through experimentation and insight. They then established a new discipline which they referred to as Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP).
It is worthwhile to break down the name’s three components:
Neuro refers to the nervous system, including the brain where we process our sensory experiences; visual, auditory, kin-aesthetic, olfactory or gustatory.
Linguistic refers to human language and non-verbal communications. These govern the way we encode, order and give meaning to our experiences; pictures, symbols, sounds, feelings, tastes, smells and words.
Programming refers to the pattern of ways in which the previous two components interact.
It is recognised that there are six distinct stages to a hypnotherapy session.
Introduction
Induction
Deepening
Therapeutic Intervention
Awakening
Homework/Practice
Each stage has an important part to play in the overall process of a hypnotherapy session.
Within each stage there are a number of things that are done to ensure a smooth and effective delivery of the process.
The Introduction is where:
you build rapport with your client.
answer their questions about hypnosis.
find out what they want to achieve and explore goals.
it is also good ethical practice to take a client case history and build a picture up of the client and their issue, so you have adequate information to tailor the therapy to the individual client.
When you first see a client there are a number of things you need to do before you treat them.
You may have had a conversation with them on the telephone when they made the appointment with you or maybe you have no information or idea what they want to see you about.
Some clients may tell you on the phone that they want to see you for a particular issue, however, when they see you face to face they may tell you something totally different.
Some clients may not be able to be hypnotised because of a contraindication, or you may need to understand specific issues a client has, so that you can determine if a particular induction, deepening or therapeutic intervention needs to be avoided or altered in order to compensate for any potential contraindication or safety issue identified.
You will need to explain hypnosis and how you work with the client.
You will need to understand and discuss their goals for therapy and assess their reality of achieving these goals.
Wherever you are working, there will be occasional distractions and you will have to deal with these without disturbing your client's level of trance.
As your client has their eyes closed, they may be particularly sensitive to sounds, especially during the early part of the session.
It is vital that you prepare your client for distractions, and that when they occur; you work with the distraction, incorporating it into the trance.
Remember that anything that disturbs you is likely to disturb your client.
After you have induced trance and before you begin to deepen the trance you should make suggestions to the client that any distractions during the trance session will not disturb them.
You can use a general script at this stage and then be prepared to address specific distractions when they arise.
Also, if some distraction does arise at any time during the trance process, you will need to be able to manipulate these so as not to interfere in the trance depth of the client.
A general script can be used in any situation and may mention sounds normally heard inside and outside the room, and if they hear any they can just ignore them and go deeper in to trance.
A post hypnotic suggestion is a suggestion you give to the client during the hypnotic experience that you want the client to perform outside of the hypnotic experience; sometime after they have been brought out of hypnotic state. The post hypnotic suggestions are usually part of the therapeutic intervention.
Post-hypnotic suggestions are given while your client is in trance in order to affect their behaviour out of trance.
These suggestions are perhaps the most important tool that clinical hypnotherapists have at their disposal.
You will learn more about these in the ICCHP course modules; and how to deliver post hypnotic suggestions in a therapeutic context.
The purpose of post hypnotic suggestions are to:
Eliminate unwanted thoughts, feelings, behaviours - Suggestions for stopping behaviour should always be positive rather than negative; that is, they should focus on what is to be done rather than what is not to be done. So instead of ‘stop smoking’, you suggest ‘become a non-smoker’.
Installing a new, desirable thought, feeling, behaviour - Suggestions for installing new behaviour should also be positive. They should focus on what your client wants to achieve.
Once the client has reached the required level of trance you will begin to deliver the specific therapeutic intervention; that which is going to help the client improve and change.
The work that you do with the client at this stage will depend on the information that you gathered, the nature of the problem and the goal for treatment.
There are a variety of ways in which symptoms can be altered for the client’s benefit.
When it is not advisable to remove the symptom altogether – for example, when there is a physical cause that the client needs to know about, you can use symptom substitution. Substitute the symptom for something that the client finds more acceptable.
Removal by symptom transformation is a gradual approach to removing the symptom. First transform the symptom into something that is more acceptable to the client. Once the client has been able to do this and accepts that they have some control over the symptom, it can be removed.
Symptom Utilisation encourages the client to accept and redefine the symptom in order to control it. The symptom is retained but is made to work in a positive way for them.
With symptom intensification, the symptom’s expression is intensified in order to exhaust it. Once the symptom has been exhausted, it is no longer expressed.
Symptom amelioration can be used to show the client that they have control over their symptom, their perception of the symptom is increased and then decreased. Once the client has accepted that they have an element of control over their symptom, the symptom will be easier to remove.
Be Aware of Contra-indications
All practitioners should be aware of the following:
There are dangers associated with removing symptoms.
If a symptom is simply removed, the space it leaves may be filled with something worse.
Whenever you remove a symptom, replace it with something positive.
Look out for whether the symptom is doing anything that helps the client (a secondary gain), and make sure your replacement does the same thing.
Some misconceptions about hypnosis are related to people believing that they may not awaken when they are hypnotised. This has never happened and if it had it would be public knowledge, so it is an irrational belief.
It is important to work in a safe and ethical way with clients and therefore when you terminate the trance session you should make sure that they are fully wide awake and that all normal body sensations are restored back to normal.
Also as they may have dissociated it is important to remind them that all parts are back in the present as they may have regressed to a past time.
Most practitioners will use a count up technique to bring a client out of trance. However, it is possible to use other more natural approaches to the awakening process.
An awakening script may contain the following:
Prepare the client by telling them what you are going to do, for example "and now I am going to awaken you by counting up from 1 to 10".
Reinforce the therapeutic goal.
Tell the client that when they wake up they will feel better and feel good about what they have experienced.
For safety remove any suggestions of numbness, heaviness, drowsiness, etc so that their limbs and body sensations are back to normal and every part of them is back in the present, so they are no longer dissociated or regressed.
Count the client up out of trance.
Some practitioners use a signal, such as counting or snapping their fingers. Some clients may be shocked by the finger snapping sound so it is best avoided. Finger snapping tends to be used by unprofessional practitioners and is more for show and used in entertainment settings.
If your client’s eyes open in trance.
If your client opens their eyes during the session it is possible that they are in a somnambulist state.
If this happens, you should always have them close their eyes again, continue with therapy and then awaken them in the usual way.
If, as you are counting your client awake, their eyes open before you finish, continue counting to the end and then tell them that they are fully wide awake.
Many individuals questions the reality of hypnosis and do not believe it is possible to be hypnotised.
This is purely down to their lack of knowledge and understanding of what is hypnosis.
Also, many people have preconceived ideas about hypnosis and may also have a fear of the unknown, or a fear that they may loss control and reveal their darkest secrets under hypnosis, therefore preventing them from entering trance.
You will find that some people are very open to being hypnotised and others are not.
Also many people are curious, and some sceptical that they cannot be hypnotised.
Open minded, creative and intelligent people tend to be the best hypnotic subjects.
A number of factors will influence the success of an induction, these include:
Communication skills are fundamental to human interaction.
Developing and refining these skills are vitally important in your developing role as a professional in the therapeutic field (Rogers 1976) and particularly in the application of hypnosis in a clinical setting.
Many hypnosis practitioners realise that much of how indirect hypnosis works is through persuasive communications.
Making suggestions to the client without them actually being aware that they are having suggestions made to them demonstrates the skill of a good indirect hypnosis practitioner.
If you can get the client to believe that they came up with their own ideas and suggestions and acted on them, then you have achieved the skill of a proficient hypnotherapy practitioner.
By paying close attention and listening actively to your client you establish rapport (Rogers 1976).
Attention also comes from actively communicating with your client and showing them empathy by choosing their words, tones of voice and body language (see Mirroring, Pacing and Leading lesson) (Brounstein 2001).
Using our imagination to re-create our sensory modalities allows us to produce some very powerful and convincing physical sensations.
These are some of the easiest to produce:
Heavy or light hands
Suggest to the other person that their hands are becoming very heavy or very light – or that one is becoming heavy and the other light.
Sour lemon
Suggest to the other person that they have a sour, lemony taste in their mouth.
Hot or heavy coin
Put a coin in the person's hand and suggest that the coin is becoming hotter and hotter, or heavier and heavier.
Tell them that when it becomes too hot or heavy, they can drop it.
Miscellaneous
The possibilities are endless.
Anything that produces an internal change (response) without the presence of an external trigger (stimulus) can be used to demonstrate the power of the mind.
Mirroring, pacing and leading are techniques taken from Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) which you can use to enhance rapport while encouraging the client towards more positive patterns of behaviour and thought.
It is also a powerful technique you can integrate in to your deepening and use it to take a client deeper into trance.
Mirroring refers to the copying of various characteristics used by another (words, tonality, behaviours, etc.) as a means of enhancing rapport.
Pacing refers to the gaining and maintenance of rapport with another by matching their language, beliefs, values, current experience, etc.
Leading refers to changing your own characteristics after having obtained rapport so that another follows and adopts these characteristics.
Being able to lead is indicative of good rapport.
Some uses:
To help a nervous client relax you can mirror and pace their tense posture.
Then lead the client by slowly beginning to relax your posture.
If you have built good rapport, then your client will follow you.
An abreaction is something that can occur whilst a client is in trance.
Understanding what an abreaction is and how to effectively deal with in an ethical and safe way it is a very important part of working as a practitioner.
An abreaction can be defined as "the weakening or elimination of anxiety by the 'reliving' of the original tension-evoking experience.
'Reliving' can refer to an imaginable or emotional re-experience as well as to an actual one" (Reher 1995).
Emotions expressed can include tears, laughter, shouting, contorted facial expressions or shaking.
There are two points to remember:
Always acknowledge an abreaction by saying something like:
“… it’s fine to feel whatever you are feeling …”
Always have a box of tissues available just in case.
Ego-strengthening is an essential part of clinical hypnosis, and it can be very effective even when used alone as a treatment.
Here is an example section of a script taken from Hartland’s Medical and Dental Hypnosis. It is a very old fashioned direct suggestion approach with a lot of authoritarian and negative language used. You will find many of these types of scripts being presented and used by poorly trained hypnosis practitioners.
“… you will continue to experience these same feelings … every day … just as strongly … just as surely … just as powerfully … when you are back home … or at work … as when you are with me in this room …”
“… during this deep sleep … you are going to feel physically stronger and fitter in every way … you will feel more alert … more wide awake … more energetic … you will become much less easily tired … much less easily fatigued … much less easily discouraged … much less easily depressed …every day … you will become so deeply interested in whatever you are doing … in whatever is going on around you … that your mind will become completely distracted away from yourself …”
“… you will no longer think nearly so much about yourself … you will no longer dwell nearly so much upon yourself and your difficulties … and you will become much less conscious of yourself … much less pre-occupied with yourself … and with your own feelings …”
“… every day … your nerves will become stronger and steadier … your mind calmer and clearer … more composed … more placid … more tranquil … you will become much less easily worried … much less easily agitated … much less easily fearful and apprehensive … much less easily upset …”
This ego-strengthening script is short enough to be used in any session.
"… and … in a few moments I am going to wake you, but before I do … I would like you to know that … as each day goes by … you are going to become … a little more mentally calm … a little more clear in your mind … each day … which means that … you are going to be able to … think more clearly … see things more clearly … so that nothing … and no-one … will ever be able to worry you … or upset you in quite the same way …”
“… your mind becomes … more and more clear … crystal clear … allowing you to feel … physically more relaxed too … not only in your body … but you will feel more relaxed … about yourself … about the world around you …”
“… and as the days … and weeks … and months go by … and you become … ever more calm and clear in your mind … ever more relaxed in your body … it will be perfectly natural … that you are going to be able to cope better … with anything and anybody … and any situation you have to handle in your daily life … “
“… because you are coping more calmly … more … and more confidently too … more confidently … because you will have greater self-control … greater control over the way you think … greater control over the way you feel … and greater control over the way you do things … the way you behave … every day …”
“… you are going to experience … a greater feeling of well-being … physical as well as mental well-being … a greater feeling of safety and security too …more than you have experienced in a long … long time … altogether … you will feel as if a weight … a burden has been lifted off you … allowing you to live your life … in a way that will be so much more satisfying … satisfying to you …"
Very Important Contraindications:
Do not use with depressed clients as they will not accept the suggestions, or worse case, if they are suicidal, they may actually carry out their wishes because you gave them the strength to do so.
This is a demonstration of a complete therapeutic hypnosis session using an Eye Fixation on Hand Induction, with Favourite Place of Relaxation deepening process and the Full Ego Boosting process.
This allows you to see how a complete hypnotic process is put together. It is for demonstration purposes only and you should not use this on anyone, as it is a generic demonstration and may cause contraindications if used on someone.
Ego boosting needs to be tailored to the client’s goals and a generic approach is not an effective process. On the ICCHP diploma course you are taught many different ego boosting approaches that can be used effectively with different types of clients with different needs. Hypnosis practitioners using generic scripts tend to be poorly trained and ineffective in helping clients.
You will be learning about hypnotic inductions and trance deepening processes in subsequent lessons and how to use these with a variety of different types of clients.
The purpose of an induction is to achieve eye closure in the client.
Once the client closes their eyes you can begin to deepen the level of trance.
When inducing trance it is important to use all modalities/senses:
Visual - for example, 'see the arm lifting'
Auditory - 'listen to the sound of my voice'
Tactile (kin-aesthetic) - 'feel your arm lifting'
Inductions can be delivered in any of the following ways or in combination:
Permissive
Authoritarian
Non-traditional
The induction you select and modalities used will depend on your assessment of the individual in terms of whether they are kinaesthetic, visual and/or auditory and whether they will respond better to a permissive or authoritarian delivery. Also, suggestions should be given depending on their preferred response - physical or emotional.
Many of the reasons why some individuals cannot be hypnotised is down to the hypnotist not making an accurate assessment of the individual being hypnotised and delivering the wrong type of suggestions for the individual. Hypnotic inductions have to be customised and tailored to each individual in order to be most effective.
Authoritarian inductions can be split into four main types:
Eye to eye inductions
These are when you have the client look directly into one of your eyes.
Some clients will have preconceptions about hypnosis and may expect and respond to this type of induction.
Fixed spot inductions
Are when the client fixes their eyes on a single, static point, such as the back of their hand or a spot on the wall.
Moving spot inductions
Are similar to those above, but the client’s eyes are fixed on a point that moves, often rhythmically, such as a swinging pendulum, rotating wheel, moving finger or flickering light (although not if the client is epileptic).
Miscellaneous inductions
These are other inductions that use direct suggestions, including the hand-clasp technique.
Authoritarian Inductions are always delivered in a quick authoritarian voice and the practitioner stands up when delivering these.
The practitioner can sit down after the client has closed their eyes and entered a light trance.
When using authoritarian inductions the practitioner gives direct commands and instructions/suggestions to 'close your eyes' and to 'sleep', which are always used with authoritarian approaches.
Repetition of the word “sleep” narrows the client’s focus of attention down to one idea.
The practitioner also uses words such as you 'will' as opposed to you 'can' or 'may', which are more permissive in approach.
Permissive Inductions are characterised by the way they are delivered.
These tend to be delivered sitting down and in a much softer tone of voice and at slower speeds than an authoritarian delivery.
When using Permissive Inductions the practitioner gives indirect suggestions such as 'your may close your eyes when you are ready' and to 'relax', as opposed to sleep.
Types of permissive inductions are:
fractionation inductions.
simple eye closure.
relaxation techniques.
Phrases often used in indirect inductions include:
“perhaps you can find”
“if you can”
“I wonder which hand”
The use of indirect suggestions are less likely to arouse conscious attention or resistance.
It is important to distinguish between the terms post hypnotic induction and post hypnotic suggestion.
A post-hypnotic induction is when you make a post hypnotic suggestion to the client in trance that suggests they will easily go in to trance at a later time or in their next treatment session.
A post hypnotic suggestion is a suggestion you give to the client during trance that you want the client to perform outside of trance; sometime after they have been brought out of trance (the treatment).
How it is applied:
While your client is hypnotised, suggest that when they next visit you they will resume their trance at a given signal, a finger snap for example.
An example script:
First induce as deep a trance as possible.
Then give the following suggestions:
"… and I will wake you in a few moments’ time … and when you are awake … we will talk for a little while … then you will hear me click my fingers like this … "
Ask your client to sit comfortably with their hands resting on their thighs and both feet flat on the floor.
Introduction,
“… make yourself comfortable … and gently allow your eyelids to close … and as you sit there … with your eyes comfortably closed … I want you to think of something pleasant … maybe a peaceful … tranquil scene … and I want you to let all the muscles of your body go quite relaxed …”
The legs,
“… first … the muscles of your feet and ankles … let them relax … let them go … fully relaxed … now … the muscles of your calves … let them go … fully relaxed … allow them to relax … now … the muscles of your thighs … let them relax … let them go … fully relaxed … and already … you can feel a heaviness in your legs … your legs are beginning to feel as heavy as lead … let your legs go … as heavy as lead … let them relax completely …”
The feeling is spreading,
“… and as you do so … you are becoming drowsier and drowsier … you feel completely at peace … your mind calm and contented … you are really enjoying this very pleasant … drowsy feeling … and now … that feeling of relaxation is spreading upwards over your whole body …”
The body,
“… let your stomach muscles relax … let them go … fully relaxed … now … the muscles of your chest … your body … and your back … let them go fully relaxed … allow them to relax … and you can feel a heaviness in your body … as though your body is feeling just as heavy as lead … as if it is wanting to sink down … deeper and deeper into the chair … just let your body go … heavy as lead … let it sink comfortably into the chair … and as it does so … you are feeling drowsier and drowsier … just let yourself relax … more and more completely … you are feeling warm and comfortable … completely at peace …
Continue with suggestions as you work up through the muscle groups in the body”
This method of inducing and deepening a trance was first described by a German hypnotist called Oskar Vogt (1895). His name, in case you are wondering, is pronounced ‘faug-t’, with the first syllable rhyming with ‘rogue’.
Fractionation is a very informal and permissive way of guiding someone into trance, and it is especially good with those who are nervous of hypnosis.
One of its benefits is that it builds the client’s sensitivity to the depth of their trance.
Using this method, you repeatedly hypnotise and awaken your client, and they go a little deeper into trance each time.
Every time you awaken your client, ask them to tell you about the thoughts, feelings and physical sensations they had.
Then repeat back all those pleasant experiences to take your client back into trance, at the same time giving the suggestion that they are becoming twice as deeply relaxed.
This is an authoritarian induction, so remember to stand and deliver your suggestions in a firm manner and tone.
You must ask your client’s permission before touching them.
Choose your client’s non-dominant hand.
In this induction you gently take hold of the client's wrist and suggest movement gently guiding the hand upwards.
When you feel that catalepsy has been achieved and the client is ready to enter trance you let go of the hand and it will remain cataleptic and suspended in the air.
You then deepen the trance by returning the hand to the client’s lap.
Remember to remove all suggestions for lightness etc. at the end of the trance.
Contraindications:
Do not use if your client experiences pain when moving their shoulder, arm or back.
This induction gets the client to focus their attention on the back of their hand.
Suggestions of eye heaviness and tiredness are given and then ask them to close their eyes and relax.
No Contraindications. Induction Script “… make yourself comfortable … place your feet flat on the ground … and … your hands on your thighs …and I would like you to look at one of your hands … it doesn't matter which hand …just look at it … and continue to look at it …and … there is nothing of importance for you to do … except to … listen … to the sound of my voice … the sound of my voice … that will help you to relax … all the way through relax … irrespective of what I say … the sound of my voice … will relax you … all the way through relax you …” “… and already … your breathing has changed … and the changing focus of your eyes …produced some tremendous alterations in your visual field … some people … can actually … see the aura of the hand … and … watch the colours change … and all that time …your eyes … were growing ever more tired … and the eyelids … became heavier and heavier… and … as they continue to become more and more … heavy and tired … heavy and tired … [say your client’s name] … so they are wanting to close … and … you can still see the hand … and … I want you to continue to see that hand … after you … close your eyes … let them close … and … allow them to remain … comfortably closed …” “… and you can relax the eyes now … that's right … and … they will remain so comfortably closed … that they won't bother to open at all … until I wake you …”
(Based on Spiegel's Hypnotic Induction Profile - HIP is demonstrated in above video by David Spiegel)
The eye-roll induction is a component of the HIP (Spiegel 1974). Developed by Herbert and David Spiegel, the HIP is a hypnotisability test that takes about five or ten minutes to carry out. There are ten items in the test, but the three major components are:
Biological measurement - the eye-roll induction
Ideo-motor measurement - the arm levitation
Subjective capacity experience - during the arm levitation, this is the client’s subjective experience of the difference – in terms of sensation and degree of control – between the levitated arm and the other one.
Important Contraindications:
Do not use if your client has eye problems, or if your client wears contact lenses.
Induction Script
“… look towards me … and with your head remaining level … look up towards your
eyebrows …”
Pause for five seconds.
“… now look up towards the top of your head …”
Pause for five seconds.
“… as you continue to look upward … close your eyelids slowly … that’s right … close …
close … close … keep your eyelids closed and continue to look up …”
Pause for five seconds.
. “… take a deep breath and hold it …”
Wait for your client to take a breath.
“… hold … hold … hold … now, with your eyelids remaining closed, breathe out and let your eyes relax … let your eyes relax … and allow your body to sink more and more comfortably into the chair …”
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.
There are a number of ways to deepen a client’s level of trance.
With some therapeutic interventions an alert state is required, sometimes a light trance state is needed, but then there are other interventions which require a deeper level of trance to be achieved.
Direct suggestion hypnosis tends to require deeper trance levels.
Some of the deepening processes used are countdown techniques, where you count the patient down say from ten to one, or you count down in 3s say from 100, or even give the client the job to count themselves down.
You can replace the numbers with steps or floors going down in a lift for example.
Other deepening processes take clients on a journey somewhere, say a walk through a garden, park or any other type of journey.
A journey to their favourite place of relaxation, maybe on a beach or fishing.
It all depends on what the client’s likes and dislikes are.
You wouldn't suggest a beach to someone who doesn't like sun, sea and sand.
Nor would you want to take someone through a park or garden on a nice spring or summer day if they suffer from hay fever.
So you have to give the deepening process some thought.
You can easily break rapport and trance if you get it wrong.
Deepening techniques can be combined to reinforce the deepening, or prepare the client for specific post hypnotic suggestions or therapeutic interventions, such as age regression.
As the name suggests, countdown techniques involve counting backwards, often from ten to one.
This can be a very effective way of deepening trance, especially if you link it to an imagined activity, such as travelling in a lift or using an escalator or flight of stairs.
It is recommended that you allow your client to choose where they end up: where they are when they step from the lift or alight from the stairs.
This makes good use of your client’s imagination.
Countdown techniques can also be made part of the therapy itself, by using phrases such as: “with each step down you will become more deeply relaxed” or “you will feel more confident”.
You can also use them for regressions or pseudo-orientating to a future time.
You might, for example, say “when you step out of the lift … you step out into the future”.
This deepening process requires an expressive use of your voice.
There are contraindications associated with countdown techniques that you should be aware of and avoid with some clients.
Contraindications:
If your client is experiencing depression, avoid using the word ‘down’.
Some clients will have phobias with stairs and lifts.
Taking clients on a journey to their favourite place of relaxation is a good way to deepen trance and promote dissociation.
There are a number of possible ways of using the favourite place so it can and should be tailored to the individual client.
You can use a simple countdown method taking someone down stairs, down a lift, a walk along a path, as long as it is congruent with the client’s own perception and beliefs.
The Favourite Place of Relaxation is an approach that can not only be used as a deepening technique, but it can also be used to create a safe place that the client can visit during the trance session, if necessary.
Be aware that some people have negative associations with things like stairs and lifts.
And it is contraindicated for some clients.
Contraindications:
Do not use if your client experiences vertigo (however, the script can be adapted to avoid this contraindication).
This deepening process requires the expressive use of your voice.
The word ‘NOWwww’ becomes a cue for the client to relax, so your voice must suggest relaxation.
The word ‘NOWwww’ must always be delivered on the client’s out-breath. This type of deepening technique can be alter to suit the patient and their circumstance by using other words instead of NOW, such as CALM, RE-LAX, IN-OUT, RIGHT NOW, etc.
It is useful to use as a deepening technique if you want to be able to control a persons depth of their trance state during the hypnotic process, and also it is useful to use when doing subsequent trance work with a client, as once the cue word is established in can be used in later sessions.
For example, you may be working in trance with a client and they may have abreacted and so their trance state may have been disturbed, by using the NOWwwww.... cue word on the client’s out breath you can easily guide them back down in to trance depth to where they were before the abreaction.
Any time the client starts to fluctuate too far from the deeper level of trance you want to be working in, you can invoke the cue word NOWwwwww.... to take them back down deeper into trance.
Developing a nice soothing tone of voice on delivering the NOWwww.. is very important.
It should be congruent and natural for you and your voice.
Too exaggerated and it may sound silly.
Practice by saying it and breathing out your self.
Here is a video demonstration of hypnotherapy training - Arm Levitation
This induction leads naturally into deepening, and is a very effective means of convincing a client that they are entering trance.
Ask your client to look at their non-dominant hand as it rests on their lap. You then give suggestions of their arm becoming lighter and lifting/floating up.
Always give suggestions for lifting and lightness on your client’s in-breath.
Repeat the suggestions for lifting until the hand has lifted all the way off your client’s lap, then continue with suggestions of relaxation and sleep.
Repeat the suggestions for lifting until your client’s hand touches their face and their eyes close.
Then continue with the deepening as you give deep relaxation suggestions and the hand lowering back to their lap.
This technique is a great induction process to use as a convincer, or ratifier to demonstrate to someone sceptical of hypnosis that it actually works. it works well with kinaesthetic individuals. It is a great induction process to use when treating nail biting, smoking and eating disorders.
Arm Levitation Induction & Deepening Process
• This induction leads naturally into deepening, and is a very effective means of convincing a client that they are entering trance.
Contraindications:
• Do not use if your client experiences pain when moving their shoulder, arm or back.
• It's useful for kin-aesthetic patients, children, teenagers, smokers, binge eaters, etc.
Induction Script
• Ask your client to look at their non-dominant hand as it rests on their lap.
• When positioning the clinet for a hand levitation technique you can arrange their hand by raising their wrist very slightly so that only the fingertips are in contact with the surface below – or suggest that they can position themselves so they can feel the fabric beneath their fingertips. Demonstrate this by doing it yourself. Some practitioners touch the client's wrist to adjust it, but it can just be shown.
• Research has shown that if the practitioner assists the arm to rise it helps to get a levitation (Burkhard et al 2013). This requires gaining permission to touch the client before trance is initiated.
“… as you continue to look at that hand … it is perfectly natural … for your vision to distort … but what I really want you to pay attention to … are the feelings … the physical sensations in the hand … in any part of the hand … you may notice a slight tremor in one of the fingers … or the thumb … there may be a slight movement of the whole hand … as an elbow muscle contracts … you may experience a numb … wooden sensation in the back of the hand … and it really doesn't matter just what feelings develop in the hand … the important thing for you to do … is to sense fully … whatever sensations develop … and in a few moments’ time … I will ask your unconscious mind … to make your hand feel … very … very light … and … for your unconscious mind to lift that hand off your lap … and the hand will feel lighter and lighter all the time … and the lifting … will occur slowly … hesitantly … jerkily … the movement will be uncertain … and I want you to notice … how with each breath you are taking … your hand is lifting … lifting just a little bit … lifting higher and higher … becoming lighter and lighter all the time … lifting … lifting …”
Always give suggestions for lifting and lightness on your client’s in-breath.
• You can use imagery suggestions of balloons, air cushions, etc. to help the hand lift.
• Keep repeating the suggestions for lifting until the hand has lifted all the way off your clinets’s lap, then continue.
Optional (if the hand is lifting well)
“… as your hand continues to lift … you will notice … that the hand … is beginning to move towards your face … lifting … lifting … (repeat as necessary) … and soon … your hand will touch your face … and then … your eyes will close … and you will go into a deep … very deep state of relaxation … but your hand … will not touch your face … before you are ready … lifting … lifting …”
• Repeat the suggestions for lifting until your clinets’s hand touches their face and their eyes close.
• If the hand only lifted a little off of the lap, it is still a levitation and just continue with the deepening, lowing the hand.
• If the hand does not appear to lift and you are out of time then you can either assist the lift (if you have permission to touch) or you can just continue with the deepening.
Deepening:
“… and your hand can now slowly return to your lap … and with every inch or centimetre it drops … you are going deeper and deeper … more and more relaxed … all the way deep down relaxed … and when your hand reaches your lap … it will rest there (use your clinet's name here) … comfortably rest there …”
• You could use any additional deepening process to further deepen the trance if necessary.
This is a demonstration of hypnotherapy training, teaching self hypnosis. This is part of the ICCHP hypnotherapy course.
The practice of self hypnosis brings numerous benefits and is an important part of being a hypnotherapist; it should, in some form, become a daily practice in your own personal life.In addition, in the professional setting, it will form part of your therapeutic intervention with patients; you will need to teach some of your patients how to practice self hypnosis themselves.
There are a number of reasons why we as hypnotherapists should practice it regularly, but also why it will form part of your patient's hypnotherapy training.
•Like the practice of meditation or other relaxation techniques, self hypnosis allows you to relax your body free of stress.
•It relaxes and calms your mind and also helps to maintain a clear and focused mind.
•This in turn gives you more control over your thinking, more control over the way you behave and interact with others.
•This control in turn will promote and support a more confident mind and person.•It will train your mind to focus and concentrate.
•As you practice on a regular basis this develops into a virtuous circle.
•As you become more relaxed, clear thinking in control and confident, you become even more relaxed about yourself and clear in your mind.
•It alters your being and puts you in tune with yourself and the natural energy of existence.
•So, you can see that self hypnosis is a means to: reduce stress.clear the mind of negative thoughts.focus the mind on solutions.Improve concentration.improve personal interaction with others.give control over many aspects of one's life.create and support confidence.
•It can be a therapy on its own or form part of a planned therapeutic intervention witha patient. It can set a patient up for future therapy. You may give the patient therapeutic things to do when they do their self hypnosis.
There are many self hypnosis books and internet resources available. It is suggested that students explore and experiment with different approaches to self hypnosis, so that they can find what works best for them and their patients, should they become therapists.
We hope that you enjoyed this free introductory training course. We are regularly adding more lessons to this training blog, so keep checking back on this page for the new lessons.
If you are intersted in furthering your training and becoming a registered practitioner then join one of our courses. You have 3 options:
If you would like to receive a Certificate for completing this Introductory Course, then register/pay for the first course module (200), complete the 8 quizzes and 8 discussion forum tasks on our online learning portal.
By registering and purchasing the first course module you will receive lifetime access to additional course material, including more videos, hypnotic scripts and other learning resources. No repeating subscription fees.
If you enjoyed this free introductory training course, then say thank you with a review.
