Hypnotic Session
The Hynpotic Session
The first component of the session is the interview.
-Introduce yourself (the hypnotist), give some background information, explain what you’ll be doing.
-Interview the client. This breaks the ice, allaying any anxiety s/he may have. Ask questions to gain insight into the subject’s personality, which will aid in phrasing the script. For example, a “type A” personality may feel uncomfortable with images of calm and tranquility, which s/he may interpret as ‘soft’ or ‘lazy’. Still yet another purpose of the interview is to clarify what the client’s objectives are before getting down to writing the script.
-Develop a script, the actual words that will be said to the subject during hypnosis. The script should contain the suggestions designed to accomplish the client’s stated goal. The wording of the script is very important, as the subconscious takes everything literally. The script can be read out loud or memorized as long as it is delivered in a steady and monotone voice.
-Once the script has been written, the subject is ready to be ‘put under’. This portion of the session is called the induction. The amount of time it takes to induce a subject can range from a couple of minutes to a half-hour depending on the hypnotizability of the subject and the talent of the practitioner.
-There are many, many methods for inducing a subject, and all work well. Here are a few:
-Eye fixation: Although not necessary, it is often more effective with first-time subjects to have them stare at an object. Almost any object will do as long as the subject concentrates on it. Pendulums, coins, even a piece of furniture will serve. The hypnotist should give instructions throughout the process. Generally, the subject will feel sleepy, relaxed; limbs and eyelids will feel heavy – most likely in a light trance.
-Visualization: Ask the subject to close his/her eyes immediately and imagine a pleasant scene. Encourage the subject to go into detail about the scene: ‘what do you see, hear, smell…etc?’
-Progressive muscle relaxation: Have the subject concentrate on his/her body, to be aware of gradual relaxation. First the feet, then legs, hips, hands, and onward; ‘your feet are feel heavy, then up to your legs and hips. Now your hands are feeling heavy, you can hardly lift them.’ By the time we reach the subject’s head, the subject’s eyes are already closed.
-Deepening: The subject is instructed to visualize a stairwell, for example, and to slowly descend it—usually to a count. With each step the subject is instructed to surrender more to the trance.
“Envision yourself walking down a staircase. With each step you take you will go deeper and deeper into the hypnotic state. When you reach the bottom of the stairs you will be deeply hypnotized and ready to respond to the suggestions I offer you. These suggestions will improve your quality of life. Now, slowly descend the stairs, one step at a time. We have plenty of time. Make a sign when you reach the bottom. Thank you.”
-Fantasy: Ask the subject to imagine a pleasant fantasy or memory and describe how s/he feels: ‘What do you see now?’,’Tell me how you feel’, etc. By focusing on the experience, the subject actually lives vicariously through the fantasy and by concentrating on the fantasy, loses him or herself in the trance.
-Silence: Many subjects enjoy the trance state and want to simply focus on the restful and peaceful state.
Now the subject is in a deep, suggestive hypnotic trance. Then comes the most important part of the session: reading the script.
Here’s where the subjects receive the suggestions that will help to accomplish the established goals. Depending on personality, the script will be delivered as either commands or suggestions. Those who respond to group pressure or suffer low self-esteem will prefer to be given firm direction. Strong-willed and independent thinkers need indirect suggestions.
Example of direct suggestion: “Please close your eyes now.”
Indirect: “I don’t know if your eyes will close now, or in 30 seconds… you might close them when you’re ready.”
Once the script has been read, reawaken the subject.
-Reverse the visualization used in the deepening procedure
The purpose of the posthypnotic suggestion is to prolong the effectiveness of the suggestion.
Summary
Steps to hypnotizing someone
• Conduct an interview to break ice and learn about subject
• Write script of suggestions to read to subject during trance state
• Induce the subject into a trance using
o Eye-fixation
o Visualization
o Progressive muscle relaxation
• Deepen the trance by suggesting that the subject
o move further into the trance by visualizing staircase, hallway or any similar metaphor that the subject is comfortable with
o describe a pleasant vision, increasing the subjects concentration on the trance state
o using silence to allow the subject to absorb the trance experience
• Read script
• Reawaken the subject through suggestion
• Place a posthypnotic suggestion to reinforce suggestions read from script
