Foundation In H ypnosis Thinking Outside the Box. Author
Rosemary Owen CHYP.SQHP.GHR.NGH
Foundation in Hypnosis Manual. Index 1. Introduction. 2. Foundation in Hypnosis. 3. Aims and objectives. 4. Brief history of hypnosis. 5. The human brain.
Basic understanding of how the brain works. Conscious mind. Sub-conscious mind. Discipline of the mind (including the 8 rules of the mind). 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Every thought causes a physical reaction. What is expected is usually realised. Imagination is more powerful than reason. Opposing ideas cannot be held at the same time. Emotionally induced symptoms cause physical change. Once an idea has been accepted by the sub-conscious.
7. suggestion acted creates less opposition. 8. Every The sub-conscious mindupon and its functions.
Dominant effect. Reverse effort. Health choices.
How do you view yourself?
5. The human brain ( continued).
Visualisation. How to use creative visualisation. Messaging the sub-conscious. The law of attraction. Using colours. What is focused awareness?
6. The Hypnotic state.
How does hypnosis work? How is it achieved?
What does it feel like?
How do I know hypnosis is present?
Feelings associated with hypnotic state.
The hypnotic state.
Overview of what hypnosis is.
Hypnotic suggestion.
7. Exemplar induction/Observations for exemplar induction.
8. The hypnosis session.
The voice. Preparation for hypnosis. Preparing your client. Consultation. Deepening. Signs to observe. Induction methods.(followed by 3 prepared inductions) Resurfacing your client and aftercare. Clients' observations.
9. Self hypnosis. 10. Stage hypnosis. 11. Stress. 12. Recap. 13. How to obtain your certificate.
1. Introduction
Hello, my name is Rosemary Owen I am based in the United Kingdom. I am a senior member of the GHR (General Hypnotherapy Register) and also a member of the American National Guild of Hypnotists. I have been involved in the fields of stress management and holistic therapies for over 3 decades. As well as my senior qualification in Hypnosis I am also a Reiki Master. E.F.T. practitioner and have many other Holistic qualifications. My ethos is in dedicating my working life to helping clients achieve a balanced and stress free life along with the successful achievement of their individual goals.
I completed an in depth and structured 4 year training course in the Leeds clinic of the eminent Dr. J. Dylan Morgan (deceased) a senior hypnotherapist and prolific author of hypnotherapy related books. My training along with academic studies involved practical experience in treating clients. For the last two years of the training programme I worked throughout the North of England with my own clients while being mentored and monitored by Dr. Morgan. After qualifying I worked for a further three years in Dr Morgan’s clinic before successfully opening my own Hypnotherapy and stress counselling clinic providing services to clients not only in West Yorkshire but Worldwide. In the U.K. my official title is Clinical Hypnotherapist however in the U.S.A. this title can only be used by those with a medical qualification. The correct title in the U.S.A. is Practising Hypnotist, with this in mind I have written this course in line with the American terminology. I have always been committed to ongoing learning and have successfully taken many advanced master classes at venues including the world famous Harley Street.
I became involved in teaching holistic skills many years since when I was regularly invited to go into college and give talks and demonstrations on various holistic therapies. I began writing modules on courses for various people and made the decision to produce my own e.learning courses. My on line Reiki course has now gone into 94 countries around the world, enabling people who would not otherwise have the opportunity, to learn and practise this wonderful therapy. It is my hope that my Foundation in Hypnosis course will extend this same opportunity to those interested in the phenomenal power of the mind.
2. Foundation in Hypnosis "Hypnosis is a state of human consciousness involving focused
attention and reduced peripheral awareness and an enhanced capacity for response to suggestion. Theories' explaining what occurs during hypnosis fall into two groups. Altered state theories see hypnosis as an altered state of mind or trance, marked by a level of awareness different from the ordinary conscious state. In contrast, Non-state theories see hypnosis as a form of imaginative role-enactment. During hypnosis, a person is said to have heightened focus and concentration. The person can concentrate intensely on a specific thought or memory, while blocking out sources of distraction. Hypnotised subjects are said to show an increased response to suggestions Hypnosis is usually induced by a procedure known as a hypnotic induction involving a series of preliminary instructions and suggestions. The use of hypnotism for therapeutic purposes is referred to as "hypnotherapy", while its use as a form of entertainment for an audience is known as "stage hypnosis"". Wikipedia, the free Encyclopaedia.
3. Aims and objectives
The goal of this foundation course is to give all students a firm grounding in their subject. Just as a building requires strong foundations to give it strength so every student, no matter what they are studying, needs to build strong foundations of basic knowledge in their chosen field. During this course we will be covering such topics as, the human brain, the hypnotic state, the hypnosis session, inductions, self hypnosis, stage hypnosis and stress. This course is designed to enable you to learn these skills at your own speed and in your own home. On the successful completion of this course you should be able to competently hypnotise yourself and others. You will have learnt how hypnosis works and how it can help in almost all areas of life. The foundation course is designed to teach you how to perform a successful induction, also giving you an understanding of less commonly used induction techniques.
You will learn how to conduct a therapy session and resurface your client. Understand the nature of stress and the negative effects it has on us. You will learn how to use your voice as a tool to help others. These foundation subjects will give you the necessary information to help you on your way to becoming a hypnosis practioner.
4. Brief history of hypnosis
Modern hypnosis has survived controversies, mistrust and open hostility to reach its present position amongst the healing sciences. Hypnosis has survived because enough determined people have fought on, and because enough people have benefited from it. In the 1990s a trend toward complimentary medicines began, since then it has gathered momentum and today many doctors and other health professionals recommend Hypnosis, it has become accepted as a powerful healing tool, taking its place beside mainstream medicine. This is largely due to the efforts of the people I have already mentioned and many others who have practiced this most effective of therapies dating back over five millennia. Today consulting hypnosis is becoming more and more accepted by orthodox medicine as a natural holistic approach. Hypnosis is often considered as a last resort. Many people who wish to give up smoking will typically try
all other methods first, only to find Hypnosis so effective they regret not having turned to it as their first option. Consulting Hypnosis is used daily to effectively treat many problems and aversions, such as fear of spiders, snakes and many other things, fear of confined spaces or fear of going outdoors, dental fears, fear of flying the list goes on and on. Hypnosis can help with all of these and much more, not because it has magical mystical powers, but because by working with your all powerful sub-conscious mind the healing comes from within. A more comprehensive history of Hypnosis can be found at www.rosemary-owenhypnotherapy.com/library-links/the-history-ofhypnosis/
5. The human brain.
Basic understanding of how the brain works.
Before we can understand Hypnosis we need a basic knowledge of how the brain operates. The human brain is made up of three parts. It has been described as a triangle with the conscious mind at the tip and occupying only 10% of the brains capacity. The middle of the triangle is the part we know as the sub-conscious this area is much larger accounting for around 60% of the brains capability. Below this at the deepest possible level is the unconscious mind which makes up the final 30% of the entire brain. The sub-conscious and the unconscious areas are closely linked and for our purposes we do not need to differentiate between these sections as they work together communicating easily with each other. For Hypnotic practise we generally refer to this entire area as the sub-conscious and throughout this course we will only refer to the conscious and sub-conscious mind.
These areas together control our entire being. The brain is the computer that quite literally programs every thought, action and re-action we ever experience. Without brain activity we cannot exist, our heart beats because our brain instructs it to do so. Our lungs draw in oxygen, every organ, tissue, every sinew of our bodies work only because our brain sends out the messages which activate them. However the conscious and sub-conscious minds have very different duties to perform. An understanding of how each area works is crucial to understanding Hypnosis.
Conscious mind.
The conscious mind is the part of our brain that has the ability to reason. It recognises that situations change and that there is often a need to re-evaluate habits or events in our lives due to changing circumstances. It has the ability to analyse and question, to accept or reject information. One of the tasks of the conscious mind is to edit everything before allowing information to filter through to the sub-conscious mind. Anything which our conscious mind deems to be irrelevant is edited out. It is the gatekeeper of the sub-conscious mind and having analysed the information makes the decision of whether or not to allow it through the gate. This is essential to our wellbeing, imagine if your subconscious mind was entirely open all the time, every tiny detail would go through and be lodged there. Silly, niggling, negative words and deeds would be stored, clogging up and overloading this vitally important area.
It would be like leaving the door to your home permanently open allowing all the dirt and debris to blow in. However in performing this vital job the conscious mind does not always get it right, it often edits out many things which would be beneficial to go through. Remember it is the sub-conscious mind which holds the power to make changes in your life it is therefore important to implant the positive ideas and suggestions deeply within this area. It is for this reason that we use Hypnosis to access the inner brain, whilst bypassing the censorship of the conscious mind in this way the hypnotic suggestions which the practitioner makes in order to help promote the life changes the client is seeking enter directly into the sub-conscious in their entirety.
Sub-conscious mind.
The sub-conscious part of our brain is extremely powerful. It is from here that all our automatic responses srcinate. It is in this area of the brain that all the responses which are vital for our bodies to function as living entities are stored. We do not have to consciously remember to breathe our sub-conscious mind automatically does this for us, it knows the exact rhythm of heartbeat needed to maintain a healthy life. It keeps our normal body temperature at around 37c/98.4f degrees. It sends messages to every cell and organ in our body. It is the job of the subconscious mind to repair and maintain these amazing machines that we call our bodies. All our past memories going back to the time of our conception in the womb are carefully stored here. Indeed those who believe in reincarnation believe that our past life memories are also filed away in this area. One of the few things our sub-conscious mind cannot do is to reason. Because of this it acts only on the information held in these stored memories. This is why breaking an old habit can be so difficult, if it was right for you then it must still be right now, is the way our
sub-conscious mind sees it. Taking no account of changed circumstances or new information. It remains consistent with our past words and deeds. It keeps us in our comfort zones making us reluctant to change our behaviour patterns, even when they are no longer working for us. It is those among us who learn to master the subconscious mind and step out of the restrictions it imposes on us that become the movers and groovers of our times. These people such as Edison, Newton, Da Vinci and many other household names all had to first learn to free themselves stepping out of the comfortable rut their sub-conscious mind had created, and embrace the potential of the unknown. The entire world owes them a debt of thanks for this and we can all follow their wonderful example by mastering and harnessing the vast power of our own sub-conscious mind we can reach for the stars and achieve our dreams.
Discipline of the mind.
In the late eighteen hundreds many of the psychologists of the day were taking an interest in Hypnosis, the work they did laid the foundation for "The Eight Rules of the Mind" a concept that we still use today and is taught in almost all Hypnosis courses. We will now explore the "Eight rules" and give more depth as to what they outline and the effect they can have on an individual. These eight rules cover:
Every Thought Causes a Physical Reaction. What is expected is usually realized. Imagination is more powerful than reason. Opposing ideas cannot be held at the same time. Emotionally induced symptoms cause physical change. Once an idea has been accepted by the subconscious. Every suggestion acted upon creates less opposition. The sub-conscious mind and its functions.
Let’s start off by looking into the Rule of ‘Every thought causes a physical reaction’.
Rule 1. Every Thought Causes a Physical Reaction. Stressful, worried thoughts often have a detrimental effect on our health. Every thought we have has an effect on our entire being. Irritable bowel syndrome, stomach ulcers, heart problems are just some of the health problems which can be the result of stressful thinking. When we become angry we produce more adrenalin which then surges through our blood stream increasing the heart rate and causing high blood pressure. Fear and distress can increase the pulse rate. Any thought that has strong emotion attached to it lodges deeply within the sub-conscious mind, once integrated into this part of the brain it will continue to trigger the same negative reaction until the sub-conscious is directly reached and the thought released and replaced with a positive one. This can be accomplished with the help of Hypnosis. In the same way positive, happy thoughts produce good reactions in the body.
Rule 2. What is expected is usually realized. The mind reacts to images and words, if we constantly carry around a negative image of our lives the subconscious mind will go all outintothe fulfil what it sees our desire. Negative words work same way whenaswe tell ourselves we cannot do something, it is too hard, the sub-conscious will find reasons why it cannot be done, it is after all carrying out our orders. Next time you are struggling to do a job and getting frustrated try re-phrasing your words instead of "I can't do this" try saying "HOW CAN I DO THIS", it's only a subtle change to the sentence but the end result will surprise you. Our health is also affected by our thoughts. If we constantly talk of ill health and expect to be unwell then our sub-conscious will produce that result for us. People who expect to enjoy good health tend to be healthier and fitter. We often attract weight gain in the same way, we all know someone who tells you they eat whatever they like and never gain weight, then there are those who say I dare not eat that, I put weight on so easily. They are both examples of this law "what is expected is usually realized".
By changing the way we think it is possible to change our lives. Hypnosis can be a powerful aid to achieving this.
Rule 3. Imagination is more powerful than reason. When dealing with the mind the imagination is always more powerful than reason. The brain accepts imagined events as reality and overrules any reasoning which argues against the imagined situation. For this reason sports colleges and coaches throughout the world use positive visualisation in training the top athletes. If they have lost a big event they will be trained to imagine that event over and over with them not only winning but giving a perfect performance. These images record themselves into the athletes neurology and physiology and the body and mind comes to believe it has already achieved this and can do it again. Emotional responses are often caused by this rule. A perfect example of this is jealousy, this destructive emotion can lead us to imagine our partner is unfaithful and even though all the evidence proves them to be faithful, relationships are often destroyed because reason is disregarded and imagination wins the day.
Rule 4. Opposing ideas cannot be held at the same time. When we indulge in behaviour which is contrary to a core belief our mind, body and emotions are subjected to tremendous levels of stress which affect us deeply, frequently causing illness. For example a person who fundamentally believes in honesty yet becomes involved in even a mildly dishonest business practise will try to find justification telling themselves everybody's doing it, it's an accepted part of business, what harm can it do? They cannot however escape the tension and stress which this opposition of thoughts creates within them.
Rule 5. Emotionally induced symptoms cause physical change. The medical profession has long been in agreement that a large percentage of physical illness is psychosomatic in srcin. This happens when a negative emotion triggers a physical reaction within the body. Constant talk of ill health, or expecting to be ill, does in time create ill health. Changing the way we think can indeed change our physical being.
Rule 6. Once an idea has been accepted by the subconscious. Once an idea has been accepted by the sub-conscious it will remain there until replaced by another. This is where habits both good and bad srcinate. An idea once imbedded in the sub-conscious mind is very powerful and not easily removed. The longer the idea has been held the more deep rooted it becomes and the harder it is to let go of it. Hypnotic intervention is invaluable in this area as during Hypnosis can communicate directly with the the outdated subconscious we implanting suggestions to remove idea’s and thinking, leaving in their place positive thoughts and suggestions concerning the life style change the client is working toward.
Rule 7. Every suggestion acted upon creates less opposition. Once a suggestion has been accepted it becomes easier for follow up suggestions to be accepted. Every suggestion acted upon creates less opposition to successive suggestions. This rule has been widely used in POW camps to brain wash prisoners. The captors would spend a great deal of time talking with the prisoner about their home country. Eventually they would find a small point which seemed insignificant to the prisoner and get them to agree that it was wrong. The prisoner seeing no significance to such a small point would agree. The next day another point would be raised and having agreed to the previous one it was much easier to agree to this one. The captors would build the suggestions in this way and eventually the prisoner would be brain washed accepting the beliefs of the captor and rejecting their own country.
Rule 8. The sub-conscious mind and its functions. If you have ever tried to break a bad habit you will know that the more conscious effort you put into it the harder it becomes When dealing with the sub-conscious mind and its functions, the greater the conscious effort the less the sub-conscious response. This is because your sub-conscious has not accepted the changes and is holding on to the habit. People who find it difficult to relax or suffer from insomnia have learnt these traits and they have become deeply rooted in the sub-conscious mind. They cannot force themselves to relax this only makes them more tense, and to tell yourself "you will sleep" makes sleep even more elusive. A more effective way would be to give you positive messages such as "I always sleep well" and "relaxation comes easily". Remember speaking and thinking positively will ultimately bring positive results.
Dominant effect.
A suggestion linked to an emotion is very powerful and will have strong influence on the mind, overriding other ideas and suggestions which may have been there. In order for us to be successful we have to believe in ourselves. The idea or suggestion that is linked to the strongest emotion will win. If for example we are afraid to try something we would like to do because of the chance of failure then that fear which is a negative emotion is stronger than our desire to do it. The fear will then win the day because it is the stronger emotion. Successful people in our world such as Richard Branson succeed because they have learnt to control their thinking, ensuring that the positive emotion is always stronger than the negative emotion. Put simply if our fear is stronger than our will to be successful, then the fear will win keeping us from reaching our true potential.
However the reverse is also true so if we build on our desire to succeed, feel good about it, allow the positive, good and happy feelings about our success to grow and build within us then this will be the strongest emotion, opening the door for your success. This is not to say that everything you do will be a resounding triumph however it opens our potential for success. “Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts”. 'Winston Churchill'. Remember Edison with that light bulb he tried so many different combinations to make it work yet he continued to believe in himself and his idea, when asked if he would now give up on this seemingly doomed project he replied, “I have not failed, I have found 10,000 ways that don’t work. As we all know he continued to believe in his dream and thanks to him and his tenacity everyone of us can light our homes and work places.
Reverse effort.
The law of reverse effect or effort means that frequently the more we try to do something the harder it becomes. It was brought to our attention by Aldous Huxley who observed that often in life the harder we tr y to do something the less likely we are to succeed. This is because to tr y is sending a negative message to our sub-conscious brain. Our inner mind perceives that if we have totry then the task must be a difficult one and creates a sort of mental block where we cannot find a way of achieving this hard task. This is also true of the way we think, if we tell our self we cannot do something, it’s going to be hard then that is exactly what happens. It is however very easy to change things, instead of telling yourself how difficult this is, tell yourself how simple it is, how good you are at this, how much you enjoy it. At first this will seem like a lie and that little voice inside your head will be contradicting these positive
affirmations, simply overrule that negative voice and re-affirm your positive statements. You will be surprised how quickly that negative voice begins to agree with you, telling you that yes, it is easy. Once your sub-conscious mind receives positive messages it will begin to work with them in making things happen as quickly and easily as possible. This is how positive thinking works, the brain re-acts to and works with the messages we put in, once we learn to control our thinking we can un-leash the power of the sub-conscious mind.
Health choices.
In much the same way we can generally speaking choose to be fit and healthy or constantly ailing. The person who frequently speaks of ill health, aches and pains, general ailments is in effect instructing their sub-conscious mind that this is their chosen path. The sub-conscious will reward them by giving them the outcome they have chosen. The medical profession recognises that illness is frequently caused by negative thoughts. Some medical estimates suggest that as much as 70% of illness srcinates in this way. The patient however should not be disregarded their symptoms and suffering are very real, more and more doctors are in agreement that the treatment should be to teach the patient to alter their thought patterns. Those of us who consider ourselves to be healthy people tend to be just that. The person who tells us "I never catch a cold" rarely does. They are instructing their sub-conscious mind that their body is not susceptible to this illness, the sub-
conscious responds by increasing the immunity to the cold virus. By far the most effective and easiest way to change the negative thought process is Hypnosis.
How do you view yourself?
The way in which we perceive ourselves shapes the person we become. We should always be on good terms with ourselves, after all if we do not like ourselves how can we expect others to like us? As you have learnt earlier in this course our subconscious mind is easily programmed. It is our job to see that this is done correctly. We will often have clients whose minds have been programmed with negative views of themselves. This frequently stems from childhood. Children’s minds are very pliable, so when an adult puts them down, telling them they are worthless or stupid the child accepts this and their sub-conscious mind registers and acts upon what it sees as fact, this internal negative view of themselves will stay with them throughout their life causing detrimental effects. It is a form of abuse which is very damaging to the child and the adult they will become. A competent Hypnotist is able to neutralize these images and replace them with positive feelings of self
worth and value enabling the client to realize their true potential in life.
Visualisation.
Many people will tell you they cannot visualise and yet if you were to ask them to tell you the colour of their front door they would be able to answer without hesitation. Take it a step further and ask what their kitchen is like and you will again get an immediate response. We all have the ability to visualise things which are familiar to us but from childhood we are taught to suppress this valuable ability. When we learn to harness our imagination we can make a positive difference not only in our own life but in the world around us. Day dreaming and creative visualisation is essentially the same thing you are centring your attention on the visualization and excluding the outside world. Once the conscious mind interrupts the day dream is over. It is totally a sub-conscious frame of mind which makes it a state of natural hypnosis it is a time when the power of the sub-conscious is unleashed and new ideas and situations can be conceived. So often we hear children rebuked for day dreaming and yet the idea for many of the world's great
inventions came about whilst their creator was in this trance like state. Today we all know about steam energy and how powerfully it changed the world heralding the onset of the Industrial Revolution. Have you ever wondered how the concept of using steam to drive machinery came about? You may be surprised to learn it did not happen in a university or any other kind of learning institution. The idea came to a twelve year old boy in his aunt’s kitchen. In the year 1748 young James Watt was sitting with his aunt when his attention was drawn to the kettle bubbling away on the hearth. He was mesmerised by the way the lid of the kettle was jumping up and down as it boiled. Despite his aunt rebuking him, telling him to stop daydreaming, James continued to stare the state kettlethe and as he remained in this tranceatlike idea of the steam fixated engine was born. The power of his sub-conscious mind had latched onto an event that happened unnoticed many times every day in every household and had released the
amazing potential of this seemingly mundane event into his imagination. Hypnosis works in this way bringing to our conscious attention possibilities and ideas for change which we can then consciously work on to bring about change and improvement in our lives.
How to use creative visual isation.
The first step is to decide what you would most like to change in your life. It may be that you are looking for a new relationship or wish to improve the one you have, or it could be related to your career or home, maybe you want to get fitter and exercise more or it could just be you want to be more confident, the list is endless, it is advisable to start with something fairly easy and as you become more adept with the process move on to the more difficult issues. Once you have decided on the subject of your visualization begin to weave a story around it of how things will be once you have achieved your desired outcome. Create an image of how you will look, how you will feel, who is with you, make these images as clear and vibrant as you possibly can, (you will find that the more you visualize the clearer and more vibrant the images will become). Imagine it all as if it is happening now, not at some time in the future. Creating your own vision board is an excellent addition, I would not use it instead of the visualization process but as well as.
All you need is to get a large piece of card and put images and pictures of your desired outcome onto it. You can cut pictures from magazines and if you want them to represent a new look you, glue a picture of your face onto their body. If it's a new house you want put an image of your perfect house on the board, whatever it is you are aiming for put something on the board to represent it. Then place the board where you will see it daily. These images will then encode themselves deeply into your sub-conscious mind. The more you think of the positive outcome as if it is already reality the sooner you achieve your desired outcome. Use positive affirmations e.g. "I love my new job", this again implants the positive outcome within your sub-conscious, that part of you that works to fulfil your wishes, but be careful this works with negative thoughts too!!!
Messaging the sub-conscious mind.
In Hypnosis we recognise the power of the subconscious mind. We realize the importance of sending positive messages to this area. It is a natural state of deep relaxation where the conscious mind can drift freely allowing the subconscious mind to come to the fore. In order to get the un-edited message through we have to bypass the conscious and speak directly to the sub-conscious mind. This is achieved by lulling the conscious mind to a sleep like state thereby allowing the sub-conscious to come to the fore. Whilst in this deeply relaxed state positive ideas and affirmations can be introduced directly into this extremely powerful area. Old and outdated habits can be released and replaced with positive new ones. New life patterns can be introduced and re-enforced making it much easier to steer your life in a new and beneficial direction.
The therapist guides the client into this trance like state by means of an induction which is usually achieved through speech, the words chosen and the inflections and intonations placed on key words leads the client gently into hypnosis. Whilst in this state the lifestyle changes, promoting of healing and general re-programming which will have been discussed and clarified prior to the induction can be easily introduced to the sub-conscious and these seeds can become firmly imbedded and rooted becoming a valuable positive resource for our future life patterns.
The law of attraction.
It is important that we act and think in a positive way. The law of attraction ensures that what we put out we get back. So if we are in the habit of thinking and acting in a negative way we will attract negatives back into our lives. If on the other hand we think and act in a positive manner we will attract positive, good things into our lives. Negative emotions can have a devastating effect on our lives, making us dissatisfied and unhappy, they can affect our physical, emotional and mental health. A fearful, nervous person tends to attract hostile unfriendly people into their environment whereas an outgoing, loving person will attract warm friendly people to them. If we tell ourselves we cannot do something it becomes nearly impossible to achieve that thing, whereas when we tell ourselves it is easy and we can do it, the task is easily completed. These universal laws are true of all aspects of life.
When we are expecting the worse we draw it to us and everything seems to go wrong but it does not have to be so. If the day starts out badly do not expect that it will continue in the same way. You can change your day by changing your mood. So take a moment to step back from the negativity, take a deep breath and be thankful for such a wonderful day. Try it, it really does work.
Using colours.
The use of colour in Hypnosis can be beneficial. In holistic therapy we believe it is a powerful aid to healing. Each colour has its own significance and areas in which it can help. RED
This is the colour of strength and energy. It can also represent anger. In therapy we can use it as a means of releasing anger or to energise and strengthen a person depending on the suggestions we put with the image. Red is not conducive to relaxation. ORANGE
This represents physical, emotional and mental wellbeing. In Hypnosis we ask the client to be aware of being bathed in an orange light in order to promote healing.
YELLOW
We can use suggestions of yellow to empower a client. GREEN
A nervous, anxious client would benefit from imaging greenness around them as this promotes peace and calmness bringing relaxation. BLUE
This represents great healing throughout the clients being. It induces feelings of safety and wellbeing. PURPLE
This is a colour of spiritual awareness it opens you to universal energies. WHITE
The white light contains all the colours of the spectrum making it the most powerful to use as it incorporates the power of all colours.
With all colours we would ask the client to be aware of that colour. You could suggest a light of the specific colour you are using entering through the crown of the clients head, flowing down through the body, bathing every area in its light. An alternative way is for the client to imagine bathing in a pool of the relevant colour or just that colour surrounding them. A wonderful addition to any therapy room is a mood lighting system with which you can shine the relevant light onto your client so that while you are making the suggestions the colour is actually encompassing them.
What is focused awareness?
In Hypnosis our aim is to guide the client into a state of focussed awareness. The dictionary describes awareness as “knowledge or perception of a situation or fact” while the definition of focussed is “a point upon which attention, activity etc. is directed or concentrated”. So when we put the two words together we are looking at a situation of which we have prior knowledge and concentrating our complete attention on that issue. When used in a consulting session it enables us to guide the client toward the issue which needs to be re-dressed, enabling them to view only the core situation without the negative thoughts and feelings which surround it. In this way they can see the situation dispassionately and without undue stress and anxiety, making it easier to see things in their true perspective and become aware of ways in which they can successfully resolve the situation.
The subject was extensively researched in the early 1950’s by Eugene Gendlin at the University of Chicago.
“Focusing is a psychotherapeutic process developed by psychotherapist Eugene Gendlin. It can be used in any kind of therapeutic situation, including peer-topeer sessions. It involves holding a kind of open, nonjudging attention to an internal knowing which is directly experienced but is not yet in words. Focusing can, among other things, be used to become clear on what one feels or wants, to obtain new insights about one's situation, and to stimulate change or healing of the situation.]Focusing is set apart from other methods of inner awareness by three qualities: something called the "felt sense", a quality of engaged accepting attention, and a researched-based technique that facilitates change”. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia As an example of focussed awareness think of a bride or groom planning their wedding day. Typically they become so immersed in the planning of the day that they become stressed and anxious, asking themselves what if this goes wrong, what if I make a mistake in
my speech etc. etc. they become so engrossed in these worries they forget about the joy of the day. When guided into a state of focussed awareness they can focus their attention on the true meaning of the day and suggestions can be implanted about the joy and pleasure of their wedding. By focussing on the happiness of the occasion in this way the worries become peripheral and they can realise that it would not matter if there was a mistake in the speech or somebody sat in the wrong place. The strongest emotion is that of joy and happiness.
6. The hypnotic state.
How does hypnosis work?
The explanation as to how Hypnosis works falls into two categories, one theory suggests that Hypnosis promotes an altered mind state which is open to suggestion whilst the second theory argues that it is in fact a non-state of mind in which the imagination becomes all powerful. In my experience I have found that both the Altered State and Non-state theories are correct. The Altered state is the state of mind we aim to achieve through Induction, during this altered mind state the client can easily focus on the issue that the therapist guides them toward. Peripheral thoughts and distractions diminish, in some cases disappearing altogether. The client is open to suggestions and concepts which, once accepted by the sub-conscious mind, become a powerful influence in assisting the individual in making the life changes they desire.
It is worth mentioning here that the main purpose of the sub-conscious is to protect you, should any unscrupulous practitioner try to implant suggestions which would be detrimental the sub-conscious mind would be able to reject them. The non-state theory is also utilised in Hypnosis sessions. Imagination is very powerful, and the non-state theory is for example used in letting go of people who no longer have a role in your life, such as ex partners and deceased loved ones. It can be used to neutralise bad memories and childhood traumas. It is powerfully used to help create a state of mind where you can visualise yourself as a successful person creating a better future. These are just some examples of the way in which the non-state theory can be used. You would be guided through a visualisation process of being happy without that person, for public speaking you would be guided through the presentation. A smoker would be able to imagine a happy future without cigarettes. The list goes on and on.
This is effective because the sub-conscious mind cannot tell the difference between a vividly imagined event and reality. By imagining something in this way you are imprinting an image in your mind that you are successful in this area. World class athletes train with this technique visualising winning their events. Hypnosis is a powerful tool which can help change lives for the better. It has an amazingly high success rate for helping to eliminate unwanted habits such as smoking, it can help you improve yourself image, eliminate fears and stress, assist in the healing process, improve your confidence, the list is almost endless. But notice I say "help", Hypnosis is not a magic wand that can be waved and everything changes. The client has to be prepared to work with the changes. I always tell my stop smoking clients, Hypnosis can make this easy, but you do have to be prepared to put some effort in. However when you stop by will power alone it requires 100% effort which makes it extremely difficult. When you stop smoking using Hypnosis you must be prepared to put the effort in but it usually only
requires 15 or maybe 25% effort, making it so much easier to let go of the habit. Many times you will find that your clients will report that they just never thought of smoking again and did not require any effort, you should however always prepare your client to work with the changes. Never confuse Consulting Hypnosis with Stage Hypnosis, they are completely different. Stage Hypnosis is purely for entertainment the Hypnotist will take their chosen candidate into a much deeper level of Hypnosis than that required by a consulting Hypnotist. Consulting Hypnotism is used purely as a tool to aid and assist people in improving their lives.
How is it achieved?
The first step is to induce complete relaxation throughout the clients' entire being. Muscles, fibres, tissues and organs are guided into this state of deep relaxation and as it impossible to be relaxed and anxious at the same time the body automatically releases any stress or tension it has been storing allowing the client to focus on the feelings of comfort and peace which are developing. As the body drifts deeper into relaxation so the brain becomes quite and a peaceful stillness of mind develops. In this condition the conscious mind can drift into a sleep like state, (not sleep), allowing the subconscious to come to the fore. It is whilst this state is present that ideas and suggestions can be implanted to assist the client in making the life style changes they desire. Initially the depth of trance may be quite light but I find that in subsequent sessions the client begins to go much deeper as they gain a sense of trust in the process.
It is not unusual for clients to ask if they were really hypnotised as although they enjoyed the feelings of calmness and relaxation, they were aware of what was happening and were not in a zombie like state. I believe these ideas stem from the stage hypnosis which most of us have seen. However Consulting Hypnosis is not meant to take control away from the individual, it is a method of empowering and enabling the client to assist them in reaching their true potential.
What does it feel like?
Hypnosis is a state of deep relaxation of mind, body and emotions during which you are conscious of your surroundings and what is happening around you but it holds no interest for you as you simply let go and focus on your inner being. It typically invokes feelings of peace and security, well being and contentment as stress and tension evaporate leaving you with a deep sense of calmness and inner peace.
How do I know hypnosis is present?
When conducting a hypnosis session I always sit opposite my client this allows me to observe them closely for signs of hypnosis. Below you will find some of the signs to watch for; • The muscles begin to sag as the client becomes more relaxed. • The head will drop as the neck muscles soften and relax. • The posture may slump as the client drifts deeper. • You may observe rapid eye movement. (Even though the eyes are closed the movement can be seen behind the lids). Fluttering of the eye lids is also common. • The client may make jerking movements, small spasms similar to those that can be observed in a sleeping person.
By monitoring your client in this way you can deepen the hypnotic state should they begin to drift toward the surface.
There are several effective methods to deepen the trance; • Counting backwards as we have done in the inductions. • Ask your client to breathe deeply, long slow breaths in, hold for a second and then slowly breathe all the way out. • Give your client suggestions of floating and drifting on a fluffy white cloud. • Suggest they imagine a leaf/feather slowly drifting down.
Feelings associated with hypnotic state.
There are no known negative side affects to Hypnosis. Typically the calmness and relaxation which is induced during the session will remain with the client once they have been re-surfaced. Many clients tell me that after a Hypnosis session they enjoy the best night's sleep they have experienced for a long time. Hypnosis can promote feelings of tranquillity and wellbeing within the client, with mind, body and emotions peacefully in harmony. There are signs that Hypnosis is present in a person and for this reason the practitioner should sit facing their client in order to observe these signs, if during the session the client begins to re-surface the practitioner will become aware of this through their observation and can then add deepening techniques in order to send the client into a deeper state of Hypnosis.
The hypnotic state.
Most people imagine the Hypnotic state as one of deep sleep where the subject is completely unaware of their surroundings or what is happening to them. I have heard people say they imagine it to be a zombie like state. In reality nothing could be further from the truth. Hypnosis is a state of deep relaxation during which the subject is aware of their surroundings and what is going on, they are however so deeply relaxed that these things hold no significance and their focus takes them deeply within themselves. This state enables them to block out peripheral thoughts and sources of distraction and concentrate all of their attention on the particular issue they wish to deal with. The best description I have ever heard is to liken Hypnosis to that semi-aware state we experience just before waking, when we could open our eyes if we wanted but can we really be bothered to do it. Whilst in this very pleasant state the practitioner directs the focus of the client to the issues that are to be addressed, implanting positive ideas and
suggestions deeply into the client's sub-conscious mind. Once the sub-conscious mind accepts a new idea it becomes very powerful and the sub-conscious will find ways to implement the desired changes quickly and easily. The practitioner is a tool to guide you to the required state of mind. It is not mind control or giving power to another person. In fact in Hypnosis you are always in control, your sub-conscious can accept or reject any suggestions which are offered. Our understanding of Hypnosis is that it works by altering our state of consciousness in such a way that the analytical left hand side of the brain is turned off, while the non-analytical right hand side is made more alert. The conscious control of the mind is inhibited and the sub-conscious mind activated. Dr. Hilary Jones. Author of 'What's the Alternative', said: "Si nce th e sub-conscious mi nd is a deeper seated mor e insti ncti ve for ce than th e consciou s mi nd th is is th e par t wh ich h as to chan ge f or th e patient' s behaviou r and physical state to al ter .
F or exampl e, a pati ent wh o consciously want s to over come th eir f ear of spider s may tr y ever ythi ng th ey consciou sl y can to do th is, but wi ll sti l l fai l as long as th eir sub consciou s mi nd r etain s thi s ter r or and pr events the pati ent f r om succeeding. Pr ogr ess can onl y be made by r e-pr ogr ammi ng th e sub-con scious so that deep seated i nsti ncts and belief s ar e aboli shed or alter ed ."
Hypnosis can be used as an intervention in an amazingly wide variety of complaints. We use it to change behavioural patterns, release negative thoughts and beliefs, let go of old habits, fears and distressing situations. It is widely used to relax and de-stress clients. Expectant mothers can benefit throughout their pregnancy but particularly during labour from these relaxing techniques. Hypnosis has been successfully used to help with physical and psychological problems it is used universally for performance enhancement in all areas and improves confidence and self image. It can help with weight loss and life style changes.
It has been said that if Hypnosis could be bottled it would be mankind’s wonder drug.
Overview of what hypnosis is.
What is hypnosis?
Hypnosis is a natural state of altered awareness which can be likened to day dreaming. The closest description of a Hypnotic state is to describe it as akin to that relaxed, sleepy feeling we enter just before falling asleep or just after waking, when we could open our eyes if we wanted, but can we really be bothered, almost a dream like state where mind and body can drift and float in peaceful relaxation and calmness. Whilst in this state the subconscious mind comes to the fore and ideas and suggestions for making life changes can be implanted into this very powerful area making it much easier to implement the life changes desired.
Hypnotic suggestion.
Hypnotic suggestion is extremely powerful when used correctly. All suggestions given must be positive a negative suggestion lodged deeply in the sub-conscious mind could cause the client many problems. Our sub-conscious mind reacts to the thoughts and ideas we put in. If we fill it with negative words it will respond negatively resulting in failure and disappointment. However the reverse is also true. If we use positive self talk our sub-conscious brain will respond in a positive way allowing our dreams and desires to come to fruition. Becoming a positive thinker is easier than you would imagine. All we have to do is learn to re-phrase things into a positive rather than a negative thought. Let me give you some examples; WRONG; I do not struggle to sleep I do not lie awake for hours.
RIGHT; I sleep easily, deep relaxing sleep. WRONG; I am not afraid of public speaking. RIGHT; I am calm and relaxed, I deliver a good presentation. The words flow effortlessly from me. Words such as TRY and COULD have a negative impact upon us. Replacing them with CAN turns the sentence into a positive statement. For example “I will try to do this” implies that something will be difficult and your inner mind will respond by making it difficult. When however you change the wording slightly “I can do this” you have made a positive statement and your sub-conscious reacts in a positive way. WRONG; I could help you. RIGHT; I can help you.
When making hypnotic suggestions always use the present tense. Referring to some unspecified future suggests that some time in the future these changes will take place. The problem there is that it is always going to happen in the future, not the here and now. If your client wants something for a certain date then you must specify that time in your suggestions. WRONG; I will be confident and calm when I meet new people. RIGHT; I am calm and confident as I meet new people. Using positive affirmations is a powerful motivator. WRONG; I am a nervous driver, I lack confidence. RIGHT; I enjoy driving, I am calm and relaxed, I am a good driver. These positive affirmations can and should be used in your daily life, not only as hypnotic suggestions.
At first you may hear a contradictory voice in your head opposing the positive sentence; all you need to do is overrule it, simply by reaffirming your positive intention. You will find that very soon that inner voice is agreeing with you, re-enforcing your positive words. Do not try to deal with several issues in one go, concentrate on successfully dealing with each problem before moving on to the next. Make your suggestions personal to your client and there situation. Do not try to make one solution fit everybody in a similar circumstance. For example one person may choose to lose weight for the sake of their health with little interest in looking good in a swimsuit. It would be foolish and not very productive to spend time making suggestions of how good they will look in their bikini. Yet for the client who has no health concerns and just wants that fantastic beach body these are the very suggestions needed to achieve their goal. For this reason it is important to know what your client’s goals and expectations are.
7. Exemplar induction/Observation of exemplar induction.
Exemplar induction
One of the first things you need to do is to experience Hypnosis for yourself. This will give you insight into the subject and knowledge of the feelings associated with Hypnosis. I have therefore prepared the following sample induction for you to experience. Find a quite place where you are not likely to be disturbed, once you are in a comfortable position you can just relax and enjoy the recording. It is by experiencing things for yourself that you will gain the ability and insight that you will need to practice Hypnosis and answer any questions your client may pose.
The Induction
And now, as you relax there, you can feel your eyelids, becoming heavier, heavier, as you continue to relax, deeper, deeper, more and more relaxed, and you don’t know just when those eyelids will close, all by themselves, as you continue to drift, drift deeply, calmly, peacefully into relaxation and calmness, you can become aware of your breathing, notice the rhythm of your breathing, notice the breath, cooler as you breathe in, breathe in calmness, relaxation, peace. If you have not already done so, slowly, peacefully, allow your eyelids to flutter and close, as you continue to breathe in peace and tranquillity. Notice how calm and relaxed you are beginning to feel, as your breathing becomes deeper, deeper, more calm more peaceful and more relaxed, as your breathing continues slowly, peacefully, deeply, naturally, more and more relaxed. Let go, let go of all cares and worries as you drift ever deeper in this timeless relaxation. Every breath that you take now, taking you deeper, ever deeper into calmness, relaxation.
Now, focus all of your attention, upon your breathing, notice your breath a little bit warmer as you breath out. Be aware of the different sensations in your body, as you take deep calming breaths in, hold for a few seconds and then breathe all the way out. As you continue to focus on your breathing in this way, every breath that you take, takes you deeper and deeper into calmness and relaxation. So just allow yourself, gently easily to float, to drift and float, easily, effortlessly, comfortably into a deeper and deeper level of perfect relaxation. You feel calm now, you feel peaceful, safe, as you just float and drift, drift and float, easily, effortlessly, in time and space, nothing hurried, nothing rushed, just peaceful, calm relaxation and tranquillity. Follow the sound of my voice now, let it guide you, let it lead you. Every I say nowinto is guiding you,relaxation. leading you, deeply,word ever that more deeply peace and And now as you continue to relax in this very special way I would like your mind and your imagination to take a tour throughout every part of your being.
Every fibre and sinew, every muscle, sinew and tendon, every molecule and atom. I would like you now to allow peacefulness and relaxation to flow through every part of your being. So take a moment now, to become aware of the peaceful relaxation flowing through and around you. As you continue to focus on your breathing, feelings of comfort and relaxation continue to fill your entire being, from the top of your head, to the tips of your toes, peace, calm, relaxation. Breathe out any tension, stress or anxiety which may be stored anywhere in your being, and breath in calmness, relaxation and peace. For a moment now, think of the top of your head, your forehead, face, eyes, nose, mouth and jaw, running down now into your neck, calmness, peace, feel a wonderful sense of relaxation, flowing into these areas. Filling your head, face and neck with complete relaxation. Now allow your mind and your imagination to drift into your shoulders, running down your back, every vertebrae of your spine, spreading into all of the muscles of your back and down now, way on down into
your lower back, that sense of perfect relaxation, of peace, of complete comfort and ease. Now, for a moment concentrate on your arms, elbows, wrists and hands, and now into your chest area, down into your abdomen, filling flowing with peaceful relaxation. And now as you continue in this cocoon of peace and relaxation your mind and imagination drift into your legs feel that amazing flow of peaceful relaxation as it travels down, down through your thighs and into your knees, swirling around your kneecaps and then continuing on down, way on down into your lower leg, down through your shins and calves into your ankles, running along the soles of your feet now and out, out to the very tips of your toes. Your body, mind, emotions, your entire being now, is bathed and luxuriating, in a peace and calmness such as you have not felt in a long, long time. A relaxation which comforts and empowers you. Refreshing, nurturing, fortifying, your entire being. Take a little time now to enjoy, really enjoy, this wonderful feeling.
In a few moments it will be time to return to the here and now, to today, tomorrow, and all the other good days, which are just around the corner. And you can come back feeling peaceful, calm and serene in your new found peace and tranquillity. I am going to count now from one all the way up to five. When I reach five you can open your eyes, stretch and return to the here and now. ONE TWO THREE FOUR AND ALL THE WAY UP NOW TO FIVE, WHENEVER YOU FEEL READY, COME BACK TO THE HERE AND NOW.
Observation of exemplar induction.
Now that you have experienced Hypnosis for yourself, I would like you to give some thought to the contents of the session. Read through the script and notice the different aspects of it. Notice how many times the words peace and relaxation are used, other calming words to induce deep relaxation are frequently mentioned. The sub-conscious mind responds well to things being repeated. The more often we repeat a suggestion the more powerfully the sub-conscious will respond to it. Suggestions that the eyes are feeling heavier encourage the client to want to close their eyes. Yet we have still added that sentence a little later about the eyes becoming closed. It is possible to be Hypnotised and the eyes to remain open, but I always encourage my clients to close them as this takes their focus deeper within themselves. Linking relaxation to the clients breathing is highly effective as the sub-conscious is being asked to connect breathing with automatic relaxation. As every one of us breaths continually we are setting up
suggestions of continually being in a more relaxed state, certainly throughout the Hypnosis session. We also link breathing with releasing anxiety and negative emotions, whilst replacing them with calmness, peace and many other positive emotions. Notice the suggestions of timelessness, in our busy lives we have so many demands on our time we often feel to be in a state of stress trying to fit everything in. We are through these suggestions easing that pressure which is often always there and by doing this we are giving the client a little time just for themselves. Asking the client to follow your voice was famously frequently used by Milton H. Erickson. Many consider him to be the founder of modern day Hypnosis. He had a long and distinguished career and Ericksonian methods are widely used today. You can read how he overcame tremendous obstacles in his early life and against all the odds forge a hugely successful career in helping others in my “History of Hypnosis”. Finally the full body relaxation takes the client even deeper.
By naming each area of the body and directing relaxation to it we can typically take the client into a very deep level of relaxation. Mentioning each particular area and making suggestions of comfort, relaxation etc. we are implanting ideas in the sub-conscious that each of these areas be filled with the positive feelings and emotions we are promoting. The sub-conscious can then respond to these ideas and fill each area with peace, relaxation etc. All the aspects we have looked at here go toward creating a good basic Hypnosis Induction. We have not addressed any particular issues in this script as that comes later. The first thing you need to learn is how to successfully guide your client into a Hypnotic state.
8. The hypnosis session.
The Voice.
In Hypnosis you are using your voice as a tool to promote positive change, it is important therefore that you learn how to use it correctly. • You should speak in a calm and soothing voice. • Speak slowly emphasising key words such as calmness and relaxation. • All good inductions are spoken in a slow monotonous voice, with constant mentions of drifting into relaxation and calmness and other similar phrases. • Pause frequently during the session, you may like to add suggestions such as “nothing rushed, nothing hurried”. • Do not be afraid to repeat key phrases many times throughout the session, repetition is a valuable part of hypnosis.
Listen to the videos that accompany this course and imitate the way in which I use my voice. As you become more experienced you will find your own techniques along similar lines to those I use.
Preparation for hypnosis.
It is important to be well prepared for any hypnosis session. The first thing you need is a quite, warm room where you are not likely to be disturbed. Turn off your phone and ask your client to do the same. Calm, relaxing background music compliments the therapy, but do make certain the volume is low and your voice can be clearly heard. Ensure a comfortable place for your client to sit or lay down. Subdued lighting is ideal you should not use bright lighting as this can hinder relaxation. If you are carrying out the session in the clients home ask them to be sure there are no pets in the room, a dog barking or a cat jumping onto the client’s knee would be very distracting. A consultation is always necessary at the start of the session. You need to learn what issue your client needs help with. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the situation. The more information you gather the more you can tailor the session to their needs. Ask
what they would like to achieve from the session. Be careful not to pre-judge a situation, listen to what your client tells you, for example if they are claustrophobic do not use an elevator in your induction, if they are afraid of water do not use references to water.
Preparing your client.
It is important to establish a good rapport with your client. Your first priority therefore should be to put them at ease. In this section I have laid out a format which is easy to follow and should re-assure the client. 1. People usually have pre-conceived ideas about Hypnosis, when asked they will usually say they imagine it to be a sleep like state during which they are completely un-aware of what is happening. This “myth” should be dispelled at the very outset of the session. Assure the client they will be aware of what is going on around them but it will not distract or detract from the wonderfully relaxed feeling which is the Hypnotic state. Do not use the word sleep instead use words such as calmness, peace, relaxation, tranquillity. 2. Many people having seen stage Hypnosis are afraid they will be made to do things against their will.
You need to explain that should you say or do anything of this nature they would be aware of it and could bring themselves out of the trance like state. Emphasize that they are in control at all times and can accept or reject any suggestion which is made. 3. Talk your client through the entire process (this is great for putting them at ease). Explain that Hypnosis is a natural state of mind which we automatically slip into many times each day, slipping into a daydream or letting our mind wander are times of natural hypnosis however the most noticeable times are just before sleep or just after waking when we could open our eyes if we wanted but can we really be bothered. 4. The state of deep relaxation which is induced during Hypnosis brings calmness and peace to the client. The morethe relaxed becomes the better feel and better your they client feel the more relaxed theythey become. 5. As a practising Hypnotist you are there to guide the client toward the issues they wish to address and offer positive reinforcement and suggestions for their well being.
You should be able to give your client a feeling of trust, they should be aware that you are interested in helping them and that you are listening to and hearing what they are saying. The client should begin to feel that you are a good friend in whom they can confide. You should always be sincere and open with them. Having discussed your client's problem and discovered their needs you should have the information needed to begin your session, however should you feel you need more information do not be afraid to ask questions until you have a better understanding of the issues troubling the client. Do be sure to ask any questions in a gentle and empathic way, we do not want the client to feel interrogated rather that you are concerned and engaged in their well being. When with your client be sure to use words which talking they understand. It is no good blinding them with science they need to be able to connect with your words. After this pre-hypnotic talk, your client should be at ease and feeling relaxed with you.
Once they have gained confidence and trust in you they can become more receptive to the Hypnotic state which you are about to induce. A.
Induction
This is the term used for the process of guiding someone into a Hypnotic state. B. Relaxation
Directing the clients attention to their own body and as they focus they can become aware of feelings of peace and relaxation which develop. The entire body from head to toe can then become deeply relaxed in this way. C. Deepening
Use creative visualization and imagery to take the clients focus within themselves.
D. Suggestions
Using suggestions to bring about change which is advantageous to the client.
E. Future Projections
Instructing the sub-conscious mind to take the beneficial and positive learning and feelings created in the Hypnotic session into future situations thus empowering the client allowing them to take control of their life. Remember the sub-conscious mind has the ability to change negative emotion into positive feelings.
Consultation.
It is important to carry out an in-depth consultation prior to the Hypnotherapy session. Ask your client about the issues which they are seeking help for. Allow them to explain in their own words how they feel and what they hope to gain from Hypnotherapy. Do not be afraid to ask questions and make notes. Listen in an empathic, non-judgemental way it is important that your client is comfortable with you and that you gain a good rapport. Many clients will feel a little apprehensive on their first visit so it is advisable to talk them through what will happen in the session. This will help to alleviate any anxiety they may be feeling. Explain that they will not be asleep and they will be aware of their surroundings and the sound of your voice. Re-assure them that other thoughts and ideas may well come into their mind during the session, this is perfectly normal and does not detract from the Hypnotic state. They should not try to stop these
thoughts or hang onto them. Just allow them to drift through the conscious mind and drift away. Assure your client that nothing will be done against their will; the sub-conscious would in fact reject such suggestions. In Hypnosis the client is not giving up control they are allowing the therapist to guide them throughout the session. Explain that Hypnosis is a natural state which we enter automatically several times each day without realizing what we are doing. E.g. simple everyday tasks such as washing the pots do not need a level of concentration. Our conscious mind therefore drifts of leaving the sub-conscious to perform the task. Automatically stopping at a red light and moving forward on a green one are all examples of natural Hypnotic states. Having established this connection yoursituation client and obtained an authentic overviewwith of their you are now ready to proceed with the induction.
Deepening techniques.
There are many techniques which can be used to deepen a trance. They can be incorporated into the induction to ensure you begin your Hypnosis session with a deep level of trance, you can also use them throughout the session should you feel your client is beginning to re-surface. They should be spoken in a quite calm and slow voice. • Ask the client to focus on their breathing, taking long deep breaths, holding for a moment and then slowly exhaling. As they focus on their breathing in this way they will find themselves becoming very calm and very relaxed. • Ask the client to imagine a feather or a leaf floating gently down. • Ask the client to imagine they are floating effortlessly on a white fluffy cloud. • Ask the client to breathe relaxation into every part of their body. You can suggest they pay particular attention to any areas in which they may be feeling discomfort.
• Ask the client to be aware of a beautiful warm light flowing into them, wrapping around them filling them with peace and tranquillity. • Begin counting backwards from 10 all the way down to 1, tell your client that each number you count will be a step and each step is taking them deeper and deeper into calmness and relaxation.
Signs to observe.
You may notice the muscles of the clients face begin to sag as the muscle tone reduces as Hypnosis deepens. • The breathing becomes slow and regular. • You may observe rapid eye movement (REM) behind the closed lids. • The eye lids may begin to flutter and you may see watering of the eyes. • The client may noticeably experience spasms and jerks. • The body posture often slumps and the head falls forward.
Induction Methods
There are numerous methods which can be used to induce the hypnotic state. It is important to learn these from an experienced therapist. The induction is not hard to perform but must be presented in a confident, relaxed manner. If the therapist feels anxious or stressed the client can pick up on this exasperating their own situation. I’m sure we have all watched an old film where the hypnotist would swing a watch in a pendulum like fashion before his client’s eyes and all though little used today this is still an effective method of induction however let’s take a look at just some of the other methods available to us. We will start with eye fixation this does not have to be a watch or any other form of pendulum, just something for the client to fix their gaze upon. A hypnodisc is ideal for this purpose. This is typically a black and white spiral which spins around as we fix our eyes on this we have the sensation of being drawn into the disc and hypnosis can easily be achieved through this method.
Gazing into the flames of a fire can also be an effective method as the mesmerising effect of the flames holds our focus we drift effortlessly into the desired state. Perhaps the most commonly used eye fixation induction is the following; • Ensure your client is seated comfortably in a quiet room where you are not likely to be disturbed. • Ask your client to find a spot on the ceiling on which to fix their eyes. Instruct them to continue to focus on that one part of the ceiling and in their mind begin to count backwards from one hundred. If they lose count of where they are just start again from a number in the area they think they had reached. • Tell them that as they continue to look at that one spot their eyes become very tired, they now find it hard to keep them open. •become The eyes begin to heavier. close all by themselves as they heavier and • As they try to keep their eyes open and fixed on that one spot, their eyes just continue to grow heavier and heavier until they close all by themselves and the client feels unable to open them. Now just allow this
to happen as you slide deeper and deeper into calmness and relaxation. • You should now explain to your client that you are going to count backwards from ten all the way down to one, that with each number you count they can imagine themselves safely and easily floating down a stairway of peace and tranquillity drifting deeper and deeper into relaxation and calmness.
At this stage your client should be in a hypnotic state and you are ready to begin your session however you can if you consider it necessary continue making suggestions of calmness and relaxation until you feel your client is in a deep enough state for the session to begin. Physical sensation is another excellent method of induction. Once begin byplace. ensuring your clients comfort in a quiteagain undisturbed • In a calm and comfortable voice ask your client to gently close their eyes and be aware of sensations in their body, the gentle rhythm of their breathing. They breathe a little cooler as they breathe in, a little
warmer as they breathe out, the heaviness of their arms and legs. • Ask them to follow the sound of your voice as it guides and leads them. • Suggest feelings of peace and comfort entering their bodies from the top of their head and drifting down through the face and into the body, incorporating every muscle, cell fibre and organ of their being and going all the way down to their feet. Suggest feelings of well being and comfort radiating in every part of their being. • Once you feel you have sufficiently induced these feelings of well being you can then count backwards from ten as you did in the previous induction. In a later tutorial you can find a variety of induction scripts that you can use to practise with, however I would advise you to study them and begin to write your own using my scripts as a guide line for you to work from. It is advisable to record your own induction scripts and play them back using them as a form of self hypnosis. In this way you gain firsthand knowledge of how effective your scripts are and can tweak or re-write them as you feel necessary.
Prepared inductions
The audio inductions have been prepared using the correct tonality and voice inflections, (the rise and fall of your voice, and the stress and emphasis you place on certain words), you will also notice the words are spoken slowly and gently, there is nothing rushed or hurried in the process. Do listen to the audios and imitate the presentation of them, you will in time develop your own methods based on these principles.
Induction 1.
Lie back and relax now Allow your eyes to close gently in their own time Notice the gentle motion of your breathing As you Slowly inhale And slowly exhale For the next little while you don’t have to do anything Except To breathe Deeply Calmly Peacefully More and more relaxed And as you continue to relax in this way You can become aware Of a sense of peaceful relaxation creeping over you Feel a wonderful sense of peace and relaxation Entering through the top of your head Be aware of the sensations Can you feel a tingling on your scalp Now that amazing feeling of beautiful relaxation
Is moving down Down your forehead Down into your face Relaxing All of the muscles relaxing Letting go now That flow of peaceful relaxation Softening and easing the muscles of your face Let go, relax Now those feelings of calm Peace Serenity Running down your neck And into your shoulders Such a feeling of perfect relaxation And all tension and stress easing out of your shoulders now Even as I speak my voice comforts you Relaxes you All tension and stress is leaving you Leaving you with feelings of comfort Well being Peace and tranquillity
This slowly moves down your spine One vertebra at a time Reaching into all the muscles Fibres and sinews of your back Notice these wonderful feelings Moving down your arms Your upper arms Into your elbows Down through your lower arms Your wrists Into your hands Slowly running along the palms of your hands And out Out to the very tips of your fingers Now these feelings of comfort and peace Move down through your chest area Through your diaphragm Into your stomach Easing away any tension or stress That may have been stored there Leaving in its place Feelings Of calmness
Peace Relaxation And these wonderful feelings continue on down Into your legs Down your thighs Into your knees Slowly moving down your lower legs Into your ankles Feet To the very tips of your toes Only feelings of well being Calmness, peace Total relaxation Every part of your being Every organ Every muscle Relaxed, peaceful Every tissue and every fibre More relaxed than you have felt in a long Long time Peace Calm Tranquillity.
Induction 2.
With your eyes gently closed Focus only on the sound of my voice My voice is soothing Peaceful And as you listen You begin to drift Slowly Effortlessly Drifting, deeply, deeply Ever more deeply into calmness, relaxation Follow the sound of my voice as it guides you Leads you You are drifting now Drifting along on a fluffy white cloud Soft, tender This cloud of peaceful relaxation Supporting you Embracing you As you drift and float Float and drift Tranquil
Peaceful Calm As you continue drifting, floating I’m going to count I’m going to count from ten All the way down to one And with each number that I count You can imagine yourself Safely and easily Drifting down a stairway Of peace and tranquillity Each number I count will be a step Each step Taking you ever more deeply Into calmness and relaxation Ten, your body is relaxed, peaceful, calm Nine, the more relaxed your body becomes The more your mind drifts, deeply, deeply into peaceful relaxation Eight, floating down now, ever more deeply Seven, follow the sound of my voice as it guides you, leads you Six, outside sounds and noises will not trouble you
Five, you even find that whatever you do hear will only deepen your level of relaxation Four, almost all the way down now Three, every word that I say now, taking you deeper and deeper into relaxation and calmness Two, every breath that you draw now increasing those feelings of peaceful wellbeing All the way down now to One, so relaxed So peaceful and calm My voice is penetrating to the very depths of your being To that place where all change begins And because you are so relaxed now Your mind is very receptive to the ideas for change I am about to suggest.
Induction 3.
As you relax into your chair now You begin to notice feelings of comfort Relaxation Letting go, more and more And as you continue To relax there I would like you to find a spot On the ceiling Choose that spot And Fix your gaze upon it All of your attention All of your focus Is fixed upon that one spot As you continue To gaze at that spot I would like you to start Counting backwards From one hundred So begin counting now One hundred
Ninety nine Ninety eight Ninety seven That’s right Just continue to count backwards It doesn’t matter if you lose your place You can easily pick up again Around the number You think you had reached And all this while you continue To focus On that one tiny spot As you continue to gaze Your eyes Begin to feel very heavy So heavy they begin to close All by themselves As you blink Trying to hold them open They once again close, all by themselves As they become Heavier, heavier Briefly you open them once again
To gaze at your spot But the urge to let them Close gently, peacefully Cannot be resisted Once again they close All by themselves This time you allow them to remain closed And you drift Deeper and deeper More and more relaxed Peace, calm, tranquillity As you allow my voice to take you deeper Ever deeper into Calmness, peace, relaxation And I am going to count now From ten All the way down To one And as I count you can simply drift Easily, deeply, deeply Ten, drifting down now Nine, peace, calm, tranquillity Eight, aware only of the sound of my voice
Seven, as it guides and leads you Ever deeper Into peace and tranquillity Six, drifting, floating Five, letting go now Four, at one with the world Three, at one with the universe Two, peaceful, calm And all the way down now One, you are wonderfully relaxed Calm and peaceful, And you inner mind Is willing to accept the suggestions which I am about to make Suggestions which will beneficial In making the life changes That you desire.
Resurfacing your client and aftercare
Once the Hypnotic session is over you need to know how to re-surface your client. I have had clients ask if it is possible for them to get stuck in Hypnosis and the answer is no. If for any reason the practitioner was unable to complete the session the worst that would happen is that the client would drift into a peaceful sleep and awaken naturally. Once you reach this point in your session begin to prepare your client with words such as “soon it will be time to return to the here and now”. I always resurface them by counting to five. Notice when taking them into Hypnosis I count backward from ten down to one, by only counting to five in the re-surfacing we are leaving the client more relaxed than they were initially. Listen to the audios I have recorded for you which all have a re-surfacing section for you to learn from.
Aftercare
Hypnosis has no known side effects, typically after a Hypnotic session the client will be able to continue with their day but in a more relaxed frame of mind. I like to give an audio recording to my clients which they can play daily between our sessions re-enforcing the positive work we have done. It is not essential to do this but you may find clients appreciate this gesture. Re-assure your client by telling them if they have any concerns they can contact you.
Clients observations
Most clients' report that they do not wish to leave the state as they feel so contented. • They often speak of heaviness in the limbs as they sink deeper into the chair, bed etc. • Or alternatively they may feel light and floating. • Some lose feeling in the toes and fingers. • They are aware of outside sounds and noises but are in no way distracted by them.
9. Self hypnosis
Hypnosis is a natural state of consciousness which we enter many times each day without understanding that we are in a form of hypnosis. Getting out of bed when our alarm clock rings, automatically stopping at a red light these and many more automatic responses have been encoded into our sub-conscious brain so that we do not consciously have to think, our reaction is spontaneous, this is a hypnotic reaction. We can also induce a Hypnotic state in ourselves. Decide what you would like your session to cover then lie back in a comfortable place and in your own mind run through an induction as you would for a client. Once you have completed your induction you can begin work on your issue using plenty of positive suggestions. Alternatively, and I believe this to be a more effective way, set out your session writing down the changes you would like to make. Next write a script encompassing all the items you have listed. Choose an induction you are happy with and record the session. You can then
play it back to yourself whenever you choose and by using headphones you are cutting out any distractions.
10. Stage hypnosis
Stage Hypnosis should not be confused with Practising Hypnosis. A Practising Hypnotist works purely for the benefit of their client while stage Hypnosis is for entertainment purposes only. There is much debate about the ethics of stage Hypnosis with many of its detractors calling for it to be banned. It is typically a comic show in which members of the audience will be selected to be Hypnotised whilst in this state they will be directed to behave in bizarre ways, two common depictions are for them to behave like a dog or a chicken. I find many people considering Hypnosis for the first time to be concerned about this aspect. Therefore one of the first things I do is to explain to the client that Practising Hypnosis is not connected with stage Hypnosis, they are two completely different things.
Personally I have no quarrel with stage Hypnosis, the people who attend the shows know in advance the type of venue they are attending and realise it is purely for entertainment. In the same way as Practising Hypnotists it is up to us to dispel the fears of would be clients and assure them that our Hypnosis is carried out purely for their well being.
11. Stress
Modern life is full of demands, hassles, deadlines, and frustrations, for many people, stress are so commonplace that it has become a way of life. However stress isn’t always bad. In small doses, it helps you perform under pressure and motivates you to do your best. But when you’re constantly running in emergency mode, your mind and body pay the price.
If you frequently find yourself feeling under pressure, overwhelmed and unable to cope, it’s time to take action to bring your nervous system back into balance. It is essential at this time you seek help. The symptoms of stress will not just go away if ignored, they will increase spiralling you toward ill health and maybe even complete breakdown.
Effects of chronic stress
When you’re stressed over a busy schedule, an argument with someone close, a traffic jam, or a pile of bills, your body reacts as it would if you were facing a life-or-death situation. If you have a lot of pressures and responsibilities, commitments and worries, your emergency stress response may be “on” most of the time. The more stressed you are, and the more frequent this is, the harder it becomes for you to shut off and your body’s stress system is permanently activated. Long-term exposure to stress can lead to serious health problems. Chronic stress affects nearly every system in your body. It can raise blood pressure, suppress the immune system, increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, contribute to infertility, and speed up the aging process. Long-term stress can even rewire the brain, leaving you more vulnerable to anxiety and depression.
Many health problems are caused or exacerbated by stress, including:
Pain of any kind Heart disease Digestive problems Sleep problems Depression Obesity Autoimmune diseases Skin conditions such as eczema
All these and many more problems can be caused by stress. Some types of cancer have even been linked to stress
Steps need to be taken to r educe the harmful effects.
By learning to recognize the early signs and symptoms, it is possible to avoid an escalation into stress overload. By seeking help in the early stages the harmful effects, and awful symptoms, can be greatly reduced and very often completely avoided. Hypnosis is an effective method of relaxing and finding an inner peace.
As it is impossible to be relaxed and anxious at the same time our bodies release the stress and anxiety which we have been carrying around with us.
12. Recap
To conclude this course we are going to do a detailed re-cap of the full Hypnotic session. 1. Ensure the clients comfort, are they sitting/laying in a comfortable position. Are they warm enough? 2. Talk your client through what they can expect during the session 3. Ask your client to tell you about the problems they wish to work through in the session. Gather as much information as possible do not be afraid to ask questions. Listen to what your client is saying, do not assume anything. Feel free to make notes on the key issues as you will refer to these throughout the session. Once you have gathered as much relevant information as possible you can begin the Hypnosis session. 4. Begin your induction in the way described previously.
5. Look for signs of Hypnosis in your client using deepening techniques should you feel your client is drifting toward the surface. 6. Build your therapy around the problem your client wishes to address, using the information gained from the consultation you have just completed with them to personalise their Hypnotherapy session. 7. Use plenty of positive affirmations which are relevant to your client throughout the session. 8. Implant Post Hypnotic suggestions which the subconscious will store and act upon in the future. 9. Once you have completed your session re-surface your client.
13. How to obtain your certificate.
Congratulations on completing the Foundation course. Please email me at
[email protected] giving me your full name and email address and I will be delighted to send you your Foundation in Hypnosis certificate. Please make sure that your email is titled “Foundation in Hypnosis”. Thank you for taking my course and may I wish you every success in the future.
