Magazine
For Hypnosis and
Hypnotherapy
Am
I Really Hypnotised?
By
Matthew Favaloro Dip C.H., M.A.S.C.H.
Sometimes
you will discover that an induction may not work and more than that,
the client may not tell you that it is not working and pretend
to be in trance. The client leaves your office thinking you are a bad
hypnotherapist, and more than that, that they can't be hypnotised.
What hypnotherapists most want to do, is to create change within the
client. To work towards a positive outcome.
Many people have a misconception about hypnosis, especially new Hypnotherapists.
Sometimes you may try several induction's and still find the person
not entering trance and this at first can be most frustrating, as you,
the therapist may think "oh God, what do I do now" The more you fail
at inducing trance the less likelihood of them in believing that you
are a competent hypnotherapist and consequently, your suggestions are
measurably weakened as you appear to possibly stumble and find other
ways to hypnotise.
Usually, you have
an hour or so to work with the client. Some of the mistakes that new
Hypnotherapists make are to:
- Rush into
an induction… first, always build rapport. What does rapport mean?
: Affinity, agreement, understanding, harmony, empathy, compatibility,
partiality, unity. Take your time with the client, listen and set
the ground rules of hypnosis (what it can or can't do).
- Fail to observe.
You must observe the client. Some that know the techniques of N.L.P.
can build rapport by matching breathing, pacing and leading (for those
unfamiliar with these terms, a good NLP book will explain).
Read the clients body language, around 70% of all communication is
non verbal. Notice their breathing, if they sigh when talking about
an issue. If their communication is contradictory to body language.
Notice and observe.
- Fail to test
the hypnotic induction. You know what hypnosis is, and maybe what
a hypnotised person looks like. But the client does not. Once you
are satisfied that the client is hypnotised, test it. ALWAYS test
it. You're not proving to yourself that they are hypnotised, you are
proving it to them. A good test is : "Your eyes are so relaxed you
can't open them, when I say open, they will remain shut” ---“if you
open them, I will just click my fingers, and you will close your eyes
and relax deeper”.
- Failure to
deepen the trance. Use everything to deepen. Take the above command.
“Your eyes are so relaxed you can't open them, when I say open, they
will remain shut” ---“if you open them, I will just click my fingers,
and you will close your eyes”: then add, “and as you close your
eyes, you will triple your level of trance, going deeper and deeper.
“Notice that I use the word “Trance”, Trance is specific, relaxation
is not hypnosis, if you say “and you will go deeper and deeper into
hypnosis, or the hypnotic state” you lose them as they do NOT
know what that is or feels like.
- Failure to
utilise. When taking a case history and listening to the clients
problems, jot down the words and phraseology they use. You can utilise
them in subsequent suggestions. This creates a bio-feedback loop to
them, and easily targets the problem. An example: say the client said
(in history taking) “well he went bananas and trashed the place”.
If you said to her in trance, “Notice your boyfriend wrecking the
place as he went berserk’ it does not fully connect with how they
have mentally stored the experience or memory. If, however you said
” as you notice that when we went bananas and trashed the place” it
more specifically targets. If the person's phraseology for “warm
and good” is the word “special” then say “you can now feel “special
“ and as you do so you feel warm and good on every level.
- Failure to
utilise Non Specifics / Specifics. When you want information from
them, ask specifically. When you give therapy commands, use non specifics
example: How specifically did it affect you?” When giving therapy,
not always but when necessary, non specific suggestions such as. “
now make all the changes within yourself that you know you need
to make to create the healing that you need"
- Failure to
be professional. A trend I have noticed lately is how new hypnotherapists
'de-value' what they do. They say to the client “all hypnosis is self
hypnosis, I am only your guide, you do it all”. Well, the client might
then think “what the bloody hell am I seeing you for then?”
They don't want a guide, they want a professional. Now you can't do
it for them but you can build “expectation power “ and you lead them
to the results that they want. Sometimes, you have to avoid the word
“Suggestion” and replace it with the word "command" If I suggested
that you wear a blue outfit on Thursday, it does not mean that you
will. But if I said “As you hear my voice, obeying my positive
healing commands at all times” You find that you have a willingness
and motivation to dress well” it has more power to help create
the change needed.
- Failure to
use post hypnotics. Post hypnotic commands are necessary when
you work with a client. A simple post hypnotic, "And each and
every time you are in my presence, you will instantly and automatically
feel safe and secure. The moment you sit in the chair and I direct
the words “deep asleep” to you; your eyes will close over lightly
and you will drift to an even deeper state of trance than you are
now in.”
I hope that these guidelines
help you remember and maintain the level of professionalism that is expected
from a Hypnotherapist.
Matthew Favaloro
Dip C.H., M.A.S.C.H.
Matthew Favaloro is a full time practicing Hypnotherapist in Sydney Australia
and is a full member of the Australian Society of Clinical Hypnotherapists.
In practice since 1986. E-mail eagle1@flex.com.au
Web: http://www.alternatives.com.au/hyp.htm
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