The Transparent Hypnotist

Just ran across this quote about what a trance is, as well as what happens to the hypnotist when trancing with a client. I think it is wonderful!

“…trance is not a state of being asleep, unconscious, or ‘under’…Trance is a state of hypersuggestibility…If the suggestions are designed to focus attention, it will then tend to be focused on a designated object or mode of experiencing or thinking. And, of course, in a trance one can be more in touch than usual with that we call the Unconscious Mind. In fact, Erickson’s last definition of hypnosis was that hypnosis is the evocation and utilization of unconscious leanings.

Hypnosis can make possible intense communication between people, communication on more levels than usual. Many have had the experience, when in trance while working therapeutically, of responding to our patient’s mood and thoughts even before they were verbalized. it seemed like mind reading, but undoubtedly it came from increased sensitivity and increased recollection of past patterns of thinking, as well as increased awareness of minimal sensory and bodily clues.”

This is from Sidney Rosen’s “One Thousand Induction Techniques and Their Application to Therapy and Thinking” from Ericksonian Methods.

Since Michael was kind enough to give me an excellent update on his experience at the NGH conference (I am not kidding, Michael, it feels as if I had been there myself), as well as his permission to blog it, I thought you would enjoy this as well. Pretty interesting stuff and much for us to think about.

Something really interesting happened Sunday morning at a session called “Verbal Impact”. The basic premise was that the old saw about sticks and stones is wrong, that words can really hurt. I’ve always believed that words themselves are neutral — that the power they have is the power we give them when we hear them rather than anything intrinsic to the word itself — so I wasn’t fully buying the premise, but I know the presenter, Gloria Constantas, so I went to sit in the front row and offer her a friendly face and moral support. Very early on she needed a volunteer and she picked me for a quick demonstration.

Gloria had me hold my arm out to the side and instructed me to resist when she pressed down on it. No problem. She had the audience start calling out, “You’re weak!” and, not too surprisingly (it was 8:00am on Sunday, and I was still a little hypnopompic), she was able to push my arm down quite easily. Having the crowd call out, “You’re strong!” reversed the affect and I had no trouble resisting Gloria.

Here’s where it gets really strange (or belief-challenging for me). Gloria gave me a folded piece of paper and had me hold it against my chest over the heart. I had no idea what was on the paper if anything. With the audience silent she did the arm test again and my arm was weak. She took that back, unfolded it, and revealed that it contained one word: FEAR. We repeated the test with a different piece of paper, and this time my arm resisted. The word? LOVE.

Being something of a pragmatist, I can easily imagine my subconscious assuming that the second paper would be designed to produce the opposite effect from the first and responding accordingly. But I had no way of knowing, consciously or not, what was on that first piece of paper. At most my inner mind had a 50/50 chance of guessing based on the pattern of the verbal test — and that would be a deduction, a function of the conscious mind rather than the subconscious. Or maybe because Gloria knew, I was really responding to unconscious signals from her or from her confidence in what the result would be? Very interesting … but it still leaves open the possibility that the word alone, without my knowing what it was, had power. That was spooky.

It is funny, I have never really believed that “words can never hurt me.” Being a sensitive type, I have spent much time trying not to hurt over someone else’s “words” to me and try to be careful about the “words” I use to communicate. And I think it is probably the “words” that attract me to hypnosis and their ability to help someone change their mind. But, this experience that Michael had blows me away, and not just the whole word being used but not shared. The whole thing about his arm and the movements related to positive and negative words is astounding. I had head of a similar experiment where audience members were asked to think negative thoughts about the subject (as this is in experiment terms, I think it is fine usage of the word “subject”). He was asked to hold out as arm and try to resist the experimenter’s pushing it down, as Michael did. The arm went down quickly. Then the audience was asked to think positive thoughts about the subject, and the arm stayed strong against physical resistance. Powerful, indeed.

If anyone else would like to share conference experiences, I would love to hear from you as well. If you do not want to post them to the blog, email me at ellie.blunt@gmail.com.

In yesterday’s sermon about hypnosis as religion, another topic of interest was brought forward. The giggle.

In an email from Michael, who is just now back from the NGH conference, he wrote the following poignant words:

On clients who giggle: This came up a couple of times in various sessions over the weekend. Consensus is that giggling is often a sign that the client is not ready to go into hypnosis yet — either they have a fear/discomfort/uncertainty that hasn’t been addressed yet or there is something else the waking client needs to discuss — so you might want to stop and do some more pre-talk. Sometimes they’re just a little self-conscious, in which case you can usually get past it by weaving something like this into your induction: “And because hypnosis is such a pleasurable state you may even catch yourself giggling a little here and there, and that’s okay; it’s just a sign of your mind releasing tension and can allow you to drift even deeper into relaxation.”

This is wonderful advice and I thought it would be helpful, especially to those of you who are new to this or even those of you who are clients (or thinking about becoming clients). My very first paid client was a giggler. It was someone I had known a long time before that and it was a little disheartening. I had been told that clients might feel like laughing and to just tell them it was okay to laugh and get it out of their system. Hence to say that took quite a while but eventually the giggling stopped. The above approach is easier to work with and makes a lot of sense.

So thanks, Michael!

Hypnosis as religion. This thought went through my mind during a recent session and it occurred to me that hypnosis and the belief in hypnosis can be really similar to religion. For those of us “believers,” it is a powerful concept, one that transcends reality. It can make possible all sorts of things and transform one’s reality. That is just how it is. And we proselytize about it or perhaps we are more subtle and carry it within, a faith that shines outwards.

Our archangels and saints are people like Erickson (perhaps Gabriel or St. Joan), Mesmer (perhaps the Archangel Michael), and Orman McGill (perhaps Mother Theresa). We read and study it. We utilize it in our daily life. And it brings us together.

This occurred to me while I was dealing with a resistive client, who informed me that he has the urge to giggle whenever thinking about being hypnotized. And so, I found myself listening to my internal dialog as he was saying this and I realized how foreign his point of view was from mine. Why, he was a non-believer. How was that possible? How could he not see how value of this tool?

And then I remembered back to my school days, when I was just a wee pup. I had a friend whose parents were devote Christians. How incensed I was even at that young age, when they told me time and again the only way I could save myself from the torments of Hell was to see their way, see their light.

Never would I have believed myself to have anything in common with these people (and I am sure you see the irony of my comparing hypnosis to religion), but apparently I really do. I have my “way,” I have seen the light. And though I do not condemn others to Hell for not believing in the power of hypnosis, I see how easy it is to get immersed in belief and wonder why everyone else does not see your religion as you do.

Good morning. Notice no exclamation point. Too little sleep and no Earl Grey and I have an insane craving for a cup happening at this very moment.

Morning came easily, but coherency is not. Did any one else stay awake trying to watch the Perseid meteor shower? If so, what did you think? This was the first year I actively tried to watch it. What I saw was a succession of what looked like shooting stars, but usually several minutes apart. Interestingly enough, before I gave into sleep, I suppose I was in that wonderful light hypnotic state. So, when a bright meteor hit the atmosphere, it was just like the momentary jarring of sound during a hypnotic session, the type used for deepening a trance. Has anyone used visuals for this sort of thing before to help deepen the level of hypnosis?

So, here I am, with little sleep, but my ever present loyalty to this blog habit dictates that I try to write something readable.

Yes, I am still hung up on the NGH Conference, as you can tell from this weeks poll. Paul and I discussed it at the end of last week and he mentioned another conference happening in February. So, if you go to other conventions or conferences, please feel free to mention them here.

And a while back, I mentioned I was trying a copper bracelet with magnets to see if it could help lessen my head aches. I still do not know if it has helped this as I have changed allergy medication, increased meditation, and there has been a season change. However, it does seem to be helping my wrist. I still notice that when I do wear it and spend the day on the computer, my wrist feels nimble. When I do not wear it and work long hours on the computer, it starts to feel stiff and sore.

Oh, and we are in the process of scheduling a time for me to try paintball.

There, I think I have caught up a few lose ends. Hope everyone’s week is starting out well.

Good morning all! I am back among the cyber-living today, hoping you all are doing well. For those leaving Marlborough, Mass., I hope your travels are safe and uncomplicated (especially for those flying to other destinations).

So, the Sunday question this week is all about the NGH conference. For those who have experienced this year’s or for those who have attended in the past, what was the most valuable thing (tip or tool or idea) that you learned at the conference?

I have to answer this based on last years, but I think the most valuable thing I experienced (and there was much), was the method behind Robert Otto’s confusion technique (induction). I have dissected that induction for a while and the more I think about it, the more brilliant it becomes. I know he makes a living based on that practice, so if you get a chance to experience any of his workshops or recordings, they are worth the money.

When I had my not-so-great Tuesday, I wrote several things down after my client left and thought I would share some of it with you, granted it has been spruced up.

I am a sinner, I must confess. No, I do not mean in the biblical sense, but in professionalism. And I even had the perfect excuse. I over slept.

Yep, and so it happened, the one day I let my hair down, I got caught in my sin. And that was my sin –letting my hair down. I ran late the other morning. Rather than doing full make-up, putting in the contacts, ironing my dress, putting on stockings and fishing the heels out from under the bed (from kicking them off the night before), I merely brushed my hair, powdered my face, found my glasses in the blur of the world, and dressed in capris and a turtleneck. Now I did not quite go for flip-flops, but did go for comfortable slip ons. Okay, and I admit, I have waited too long between manicures.

Well, I thought it was professional enough, at least it was not the ripped jeans I wore the night before or the t-shirt (featuring Marlyn Mansion). And I did brush my hair. I was wrong. I think it all made me look much too casual. Though I tell perspective clients to come to the appointment in their most comfortable clothes, I guess it does not apply to me.

And, I think I was judged by this new client. I think I lost rapport and the session did not go as well as it could have. Perhaps this is more about me than the poor client, though. It may have been my own self-image that caused the barrier. I had over slept and my allergies were going to town, so did not feel my best going into it

Moral to the story – there is no excuse for relaxing on the professionalism. A wise person once said, “it is at the times you do not feel like throwing a party, that you need to clean yourself up, put on a smile, and throw a party.” I think that is exactly right.

Yes, a little sadness. Not a huge sadness, but one that is tempering my morning. Last year at this time, I was on a plane to Marlborough, Mass. for the NGH Conference. It was the day the airlines implemented the “no liquid” rule. It was crazy.

This year, it is just another day. No conference for me (sniff).

So, for all of you lucky dogs who get to attend, have a double super time (double ’cause someone needs to do it for me). For those flying in, I hope it is smooth going. I cannot wait to hear all about it.

Is there anyone left who isn’t going?

Wow. Last night was my 101th post on this blog. How quickly time flies. Wish you were all here to celebrate, oh, but wait, you are. Mimosas for all (I wish, but it is a work day after all).

If you read my post from last night, you will then be aware that yesterday was not a stellar day for me. But now that morning has come yet again, the light illuminates much. I believe that life does imitate art. As I was cleaning out my files, I found some old negatives from past advertising I had done. What a wonderful thing. Out of every negative a positive can be made. Hence life. Hence this blog.

As humans, I think we are fairly loath to talk about failures - so I will not. Rather I will talk about a tough session and the positive aspects about it. It has been a while since I have worked with a resistant client, so I fear the theme for the next few days will be tainted with this subject. In fact, this one had to be the most resistive person I have ever worked with in my career. For the first time in a long while, I came home exhausted from it. I know, poor me.

But rather than wallowing in misery, even as it was happening, I realized the session was not a failure. The client still made many connections that hopefully will prove helpful. The rationalization and censor processes were still full on, but it did ebb enough to let some moments of discovery happen.

For those of you who believe in the Laws of Attraction and the more New Agey stuff out there, I am a believer, too (for those of you who are not, feel free to skip this paragraph, though I think it may be the apex of this post). Here is what I really believe. I believe that those who come to me for help, have been sent to me for a reason. Yes, I know, they want me to hypnotize them, but it more than that. They are there because there is something I can offer them, help them learn, and there is probably something I am suppose to learn from them. Yesterday is probably more of the latter. I learned why it is good to have many options available in one’s personal tool box (why one must learn how to work with analytical, permissive, authoritative, resistant options). It is also good to learn how to combine them. I learned that my intuition is worth listening, too. It was dead on. And I learned sometimes it is good to just let things be. You cannot force someone to be somewhere that they are not. At some point it really is all up to them. And that is okay.

Perhaps scripts is not the correct word. Notes, maybe.

When I get a new client, as they make the appointment, I immediately start jotting notes and putting together potential ideas (I suspect most of us work this way). And then I go to my other client notes and look at what I did in the past for similar situations. Most of the time it becomes a search for metaphors that were helpful in the past or stories to embed. Once found, these are inevitably tossed out and new ones come to mind. It is as though the voice of my intuition says, “No, that will never do for this client.” Then new ideas come to mind, and most of the time they are a lot more fitting.

With that in mind, it seems like scripts become obscure directly after they are written. There are some that are truly brilliant and may do well most of the time, but it really makes me queasy when I see courses out there that are nothing more than teaching students how to use an index to find the right script.