Another type of patient cannot help analysing everything. This is particularly noticeable in patients who have had a great deal of psycho -analysis. In this case it is often effective to point out that their way of thinking has got them where they are, and that, if they wish to be cured, they had better change to the hypnotist’s way of thinking. As a first step they can stop trying to be smart by analysing and criticizing everything, and concentrate on following the hypnotist’s suggestions. When asked what they think is the wiser thing to do - to resist hypnosis and keep their symptoms, or to be hypnotized and be cured - they usually see the light and are prepared to co-operate.

One should never waste time with people who are openly antagonistic. When challenged by some foolish statement such as, ‘I bet you couldn’t hypnotize me,’ the answer should be something like this: ‘I shouldn’t boast about that, if I were you, because any intelligent person can be hypnotized when you have real need of hypnotism you will be hypnotized easily enough.’

Sometimes it is possible to change an antagonistic patient’s point of view so that he desires hypnosis. One such patient arrived in a very belligerent mood, the appointment having been made by his wife. He did not even know what form of treatment to expect. When told it was hypnosis, he expressed himself in no uncertain terms as to what he thought of this form of therapy. Stating that he had only kept the appointment to please his wife, he added that he had no intention of ever letting anybody try to hypnotize him! Although it was quite obvious that he needed treatment very badly, no effort was made to persuade him to submit to hypnosis. Instead, a friendly tone was adopted and the conversation turned on to general lines.
In the course of time it came round to his wife; and the opinion was expressed that perhaps she was the one who needed treatment. The patient readily agreed, saying she must have something wrong to have thought he needed treatment. It was suggested that she would probably be frightened by hypnosis, but that if he had treatment as well, it would give her confidence. To this he readily agreed and, as the wife thought the plan a good one when informed privately of the little stratagem, it was possible to get the patient to agree to have hypnotic treatment - not for himself, of course, but as an example to his wife. Truly, as the old saying goes - ’there are more ways of killing a cat than choking it with cream!’

Having gained the patient’s confidence and a degree of influence over him already by this preliminary sort of groundwork, the hypnotist is now in a position to consider the best method to use and the actual details of technique. 
Relaxation and reasonable comfort are essential for hypnosis as practised for medical purposes. To this end the consulting room should be as quiet as possible. Although a good subject will ‘go into hypnosis’ quickly and easily under almost any conditions, the great majority of patients met with in hypnotic practice do not come within this category.

During the induction and very early stages, noises such as the ringing of a telephone or the banging of a door may prove extremely distracting.
Another important point is that the room should be comfortably warm, even a little above the average. Cold is a great enemy of hypnosis and, as the patient will be sitting perfectly still for perhaps half an hour, any chill in the air becomes considerably more noticeable than under ordinary conditions. 

Few people could go into even an ordinary sleep while feeling cold, and it is well known that warmth predisposes towards increased drowsiness and sleep. Patients undergoing infra-red ray heat treatment often become drowsy and fall asleep; while it is well known that hypnosis is notoriously easy in warm climates.

In addition to providing warmth and quiet, every effort should be made to exclude draughts. A cold draught can prevent hypnosis where otherwise it would be easily developed. Many of the older mesmerists and hypnotists used to awaken their subjects by ‘blowing cold’.

The patient may either sit in an armchair or recline on a couch. In a few cases hypnosis may be easier to achieve in the standing position. Personally, I prefer an armchair; but the actual choice of position will depend upon many factors and the hypnotist must be prepared to improvise if necessary to suit the patient.
If the sitting position is chosen, the legs should be stretched out straight with the feet on the floor. Sometimes this may be uncomfortable, and if the patient prefers it the feet may be placed flat on the floor with the knees bent.

The arms can rest on the side of the chair or may be placed in the lap. Patients sometimes want to clasp their hands together or cross their legs. As a general rule this is not encouraged, but if the patient really feels more comfortable this way he should be allowed to adopt any position he likes within reason.

The head should rest on the back of the chair and may be supported by a small pillow. As the patient relaxes, the head sometimes rolls to the side, and in this case a pillow is useful to steady it and prevent any sudden jerking which may tend to disturb a patient in the early stages. Any tight clothing which may interfere with the breathing should be loosened and, before starting, the patient should be encouraged to take a few good deep breaths and to relax each time he breathes out. Breathing has an important effect on the circulation in the brain, and by over-breathing, for instance, it is possible to produce unconsciousness. 
Ordinary deep breathing has a calming and sedative effect and prepares the mind for hypnosis.

In order to reduce outside sensory impressions as much as possible, the room should be in semi-darkness and a small tablelamp maybe placed behind the patient’s chair.

Several well-known methods will now be described; but it should be remembered that the actual choice of method depends upon many factors. The patient’s previous experiences and preconceived ideas of hypnosis often provide important clues as to the most suitable method for his particular case.
For instance, if he has seen somebody hypnotised by fixed gazing, then he is quite likely to respond well to this method. On the other hand, if he has seen this fail with others, or tried it himself without success, then another method would probably be more suitable. The hypnotist should be able to improvise and change from one method to another when necessary without raising any doubts or uncertainty in the patient’s mind. 
For example, most people when asked to gaze steadily at some object soon find that their eyes become tired and they wish to close them. In a few cases they merely develop a fixed gaze, and in this case they often do better if the eyes are closed.
Many people respond quickly when asked to fix their eyes on those of the hypnotist. Others ‘appear to find this distressing for various reasons, and will turn their eyes away. In this case they will probably react quite well to another method.