The Transparent Hypnotist

It has been a really long time since I have experienced an alcoholic hangover. But I learned this weekend that pulling an all-nighter at my age produces similar results. Though I have caught up on sleep, as I sit here typing this, several cups of Darjeeling later, it feels just like I have over indulged.First let me thank Josh for the wonderful posting yesterday, who managed to get out the posting even when he had his own things of which to deal. In honor of his question about rapid inductions, I thought I would actually center today’s post around it a little more and perhaps clear up the question of why anyone like me would pull an all-nighter. LOL.

Hiking - I have a certain affinity for it. I love it - the feel of the world around you, a sense of balance with nature, and the quietness of the soul. But, I am also often open to adventure. A friend suggested that we try night hiking in the mountains (an easy hike, no real climbing or need to belay). Our guide was experienced in night orienteering, so I am not sure I would recommend newbies to try this on their own.

Now you maybe saying to yourself, I am reading this post because I want to hear about hypnosis, not hiking. Good point. So here is the twist in the story. Around 3 am, one of my other friends who had come along developed blisters (for God’s sake, when you hike, take the time to invest in a decent pair of well-fitting hiking boots), really gruesome and seemingly painful blisters. I hung back with him on a down hill, and offered to try to help him with the pain until we could get back to civilization to properly care for his feet. Now this is no stranger to me, and someone who has helped me a few times when I have needed help.

It was as though he had not even heard my offer. He continued talking about what he would do once we were done with the hike. So, I left the subject for a little while.

Enter the real dilemma. At 5:30 am, we arrived at a junction. Most of us had chosen this hike for the idea of watching the sunrise off a particular ridge. We had time it to get there about twenty minutes before the anticipated event. At 5:30 am, we could continue to that point or take a short route back to our vehicles. Needless to say my blistered friend was all in favor of aborting our plans (I cannot blame him). But…the question was to go on anyway, leave him at the junction (he would have had trouble navigating the short cut), or throw away our hours of dark meandering and head home.

Another friend suggested that I do a quick induction and a little pain relief hypnosis at this point, as the caterwauling about the blisters was reaching a peak. I smiled and stepped forward. I had pretty much decided even with the hypnosis, though, walking a lot more might not be smart for him.

He was still a no go, totally ignoring the idea. Others in the group have used me for various things so they prodded him. And yes, he and I had discussed the reality of hypnosis many times. So, I finally stopped the whole thing by telling everyone to just leave him be. If he did not want to use hypnosis, that was fine (I resisted the passive aggressive urge to add in that if he wanted to be in excruciating pain, so be it). I was about to agree to hang back with him while the others went ahead, but then a kind soul, who was a paramedic, came forward and offered to stay with him. He had a few supplies he thought would help. And so, I continued to my sun rise, a little miffed at my friend’s resistance. I take it for granted now that hypnosis is a fabulous tool and forget that others may feel differently (insane, though they are…LOL).

As I watched the subtle tones of the sun beginning its ascent, another friend sat down beside me and said, “Remember last year when we were on holiday and I got that horrible rash? Well, when you did that funny little hypnotic thing (rapid induction and suggestions to decrease the itch until again, we were back in civilization), it was really great. Buddy is just trying to be macho and impress you with his forbearance of manliness.” We both laughed and I felt better.

Upon returning to the junction, we found the paramedic reading and Mr. Manly sound asleep under a tree. Apparently, the paramedic had used progressive relaxation to help my friend stop obsessing over the pain (the paramedic had taken an emergency hypnosis class, and had used the pain tranced-state to just relax my friend). The paramedic said it was one thing to miss the sunrise; it was another to listen to the constant complaints.

As hypnotists our jobs are to help people with everyday problems they are having within their life. This could be anything from Smoking Cessations, Weight Loss, Sports Improvement, etc. Usually we are the last ones our clients visit as they haven’t been able to be helped by their doctors or other licensed professions. So when a client comes to us they are hoping we can help them when no one else can. They have come to us as a final solution for their problems. So when they book an appointment with us and pay the price we are asking they have now committed to the process. So when they come to our office we talk to them a little, give them a good pre-talk and begin our progressive relaxation inductions.

The client has paid us to work on their situation and they are expecting to get their money worth for each session. Yet, some hypnotists waste a good potion of time that could be committed to helping the client on the Progressive Relaxation Induction. We as hypnotists should know that hypnosis isn’t relaxation. The induction doesn’t do anything, but help a person to get to hypnosis. Technically the moment the person enters our office they are in hypnosis. So in reality, the only real important parts of the process are the intake, pre-talk and the actual work. So why are we as hypnotists wasting the client’s money and time with these long inductions?

We have the ability to get people into hypnosis within 4 seconds to 4 minutes and I’m talking about a deep level of hypnosis where the work we do becomes much more powerful. Now don’t get me wrong Progressive Relaxation Inductions work well for stuff such as relaxation, stress management and a few other items and they can serve a purpose. Yet, when it comes to dealing with the issues that require deep work and time why are we not using instant and rapid inductions. Why are we not spending more time on the parts that actual help the client. I believe in giving the client’s what they paid for and for that to happen we must have the time needed to deal with the situation.

Some of you may respond that they can come back for multiple sessions. I stick to a goal of one to two sessions at the most. These people have already spent everything they have in their prior attempts for help. So what is better for profession? Getting paid more money or affecting serious change within the person in the least amount of time? Imagine the word of mouth referrals from people who have stopped smoking in one session or whatever the situation may be. When dealing with issues that require basic direct suggestion remember the law of compounding. Imagine if your induction was only 10 seconds long. Imagine how many more positive suggestions you could give your client within that extra time. Understand that if you use Progressive Relaxation Inductions and they work for you that’s fine, but I’m just trying to give you something to think about here.

So my question I pose to you is the following: What is your view on using instant and rapid inductions in a professional practice?

Joshua Houghton

www.whatsonmybrain.com

Last week Michael blogged about hypnosis in the media, so I think I will continue today’s Esoteric Saturday with that in mind. The idea of hypnosis received a nice little pat on the shoulder a few weeks ago on one of America’s most watch television shows - American Idol. I cannot say I actually watch this show, but the hypnosis reference still made it into my consciousness.

Apparently contestant Kristy Lee Cook gave a performance of the Beatles You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away. And thought the comment was negative for her (or helpful if you want to give it a spin), it was positive for the hypnosis community.

Simon says, “Kristy I think you need something like hypnosis or something because the problem is - is that you are not a good performer.” (5:03 on the video time).

Anyway, I would have hated to be Kristy (I dislike the negativity that the show inspires), but yes, hypnosis would be a worthy tool for performers to consider.

Thank you, Simon!

If you have trouble viewing this video, click here for the link.

Location: Camano Island, Washington

Cyber Locations:
www.ronstubbs.com
www.hypnodude.com
www.rockandrollhypnotist.com

1. Are you a full time hypnotist, part-time or hobbyist?

Full-time…actually - VERY full time. I am a stage hypnotist that performs an average of 200+ shows per year worldwide, runs a very successful clinic specializing in Tinnitus, Fibromyalgia, Depression and SIV and am the Hypnotherapy Instructor at Everett Community College in Everett WA. In my “spare” time I have produced over 50 audio programs including “The Hearts Journey” in 2003, which was considered for seven Grammy awards. I have six books and about 10 DVD’s (not including the shows DVD’s).

2. Do you specialize in any type of hypnosis?

Please see above…Hypnoanalysis is my main tool. In my scope of practice/teaching I combine hypnosis with NLP, Body Language, Counseling, and Hypnoanalysis.

3. Is there any type of hypnosis you do not do? Why?

Aversion therapy because I consider it totally unnecessary to put a client thru that.

4. Do you use self-hypnosis regularly in your life? If so, how?

That’s like asking a chef if he cooks…yes I do…everyday…in all areas of my life.

5. Describe your hypnosis office or work setting.

I am lucky enough to have a total of a 15 step commute to my office. I live on an island and my office is a separate building in the rear of my property. It has a waterfall and pond next to the entry with views of Puget Sound. One area is a therapy setting, another my working office where I do all my show booking, still another is a small, well provided 148 track recording studio.

6. Describe a typical day in your life.

Wake up…breakfast with my lovely wife, a short workout, then to work… If no clients, we are booking shows, contacting agents, prepping for class, recording, writing…enjoying our boat…could be any number of things…We always try to have lunch together and work no more than 4-6 hours a day…Our motto is to live life and each moment to the fullest…As John Lennon once said…”This isn’t no dress rehearsal.”

7. Where did you get your training in hypnosis and are you certified?

Originally I trained at Everett, where I now teach…that was my first exposure…Then I trained with my good friend Kevin Hogan and with a number of great teachers worldwide…all of whom I now count as friends…Yes, I am certified as high as you can go…I also hold a Master NLP cert, Master Mind Body cert among others…

8. Most fabulous hypnosis technique you use?

My heart and my ears…Listen don’t hear…don’t second guess and work clean…I am not a big proponent of using scripts…they are a good place to learn from but people’s issues don’t come from a book…In the words of Milton Erikson…”Trust your heart to say the right words”…The real technique comes from your heart…we all have that capability.

9. Worse moment ever in a hypnosis setting that ended up being a valuable learning experience.

If you learned something from it how could it be the worst moment?
Every experience I have had, good and bad has taught me something…The day I quit learning or think I know it all is the day I give up this wonderful business…

10. Any words of advice to potential clients or other hypnotist.

Listen twice as much as you speak…good rule of thumb that I teach my students is this “He who speaks the most…writes the check”
Speak from the heart…Get as MUCH education for as many different people as you can…One person cannot know everything…Be humble…you’re just a hollow bone…just the conduit. Take your time…be VERY thorough…remember it’s NOT your journey…it’s the person sitting in your chair.

Yesterday I posted about the media’s notion that hypnosis is responsible for a new brand of thievery. Several hypnotists went to bat for the noble hypnotic profession and lobbied that the thefts were not done using hypnosis.

Well enter Derren Brown into the consciousness of this blog. Thanks to Breki Tomsason who passed along a video and his opinion, we can see how this type of thievery may work.

For those who do not read the comments, here is the Derren Brown video:

I understand the Derren can be a bit controversial, but let’s stay on topic. In the name of clearing the notion that such thievery is not hypnosis, what would you say this is? NLP? Distraction? Confusion? In other words, what would you tell others (when they ask, and ask they do) is the method of the crime? How would you say it is different from hypnosis? (Please note I am not saying it was hypnosis, I just want to know your thoughts).

Maybe it is the day after the day after the return that is the hardest. Yesterday was peaceful and leisurely. Today the pace picks up. Maybe knowing this has me a bit grumpier than most days (or maybe it has something to do with getting my taxes done soon).

Now that I have had time to read the papers, I am appalled that yet another hypnotic robbery is in the media. Perhaps you have already heard about it, but the basics are that it happened ain Italy (and just for the record, I did not go anywhere near Italy on my last holiday - nor do I ever pose as a man). The robber used the handy-dandy line -”Look into my eyes.” So, more than £600 was handed over and the clerk remembers nothing. To read more about it, visit the Telegraph.co.uk’s story.

Whenever these things hit the media, I inevitably have a new client or two who ask me about the incident. Usually, the questions come in the form of statements such as “But you said, you cannot be hypnotized to do something against your will.” And after suppressing the urge to personally find the robber and hit him with cold, wet rags for the negative publicity he has wrought for the good name of hypnosis, I ponder the whole thing. I know I have covered it couple of times, but here it is again.

Dr. David Loewenstein, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Miami School of Medicine, also has pondered this to the media. His premise, according to CBS4.com, is that it was not hypnosis, but that the clerk was distracted rather than hypnotized. Hypnotist Bert Tannen, also agrees, though I got a kick out of his quote:

If it (hypnosis) was this easy robbing banks…wouldn’t I be doing it…work is too hard.

That’s great, Bert. Ummm. No. You would not be doing it because it is …WRONG! Two slaps from the wet rag for you. LOL.

But in all seriousness, I agree with these two that it was not straight hypnosis. But I suspect it may have been more towards some sort of mental manipulation other than just plain distraction. You know, Mr. Thief, if you are reading this, please comment anonymously about your procedure. We would all like to know.

I once had a conversation with an NLP believer about this - thievery through hypnosis. I was not so game on his answer because it was unpleasant. His thought was that it involved a complex manipulation - gaining the trust of the clerk (which may have taken several visits to the bank), perhaps convincing the clerk to give the money to him through ideas that the money was something other than money or that it was for a good cause? Then were there suggestions to forget doing so? Or was it simple misdirection?

Any thoughts?

Photo by Jane M. Sawyer

The path has led me back to my door. The suitcase is yet unpacked, email unanswered, and the Irish Breakfast tea is still steeping in my mug. But I must say what a pleasure it is to return here and find the blog running strong. During my first few days away it was a little disconcerting to be totally away from the cyber-world, but the closer it came to my return the more it has felt like Christmas. The anticipation of seeing what had transpired since my departure was very exhilarating.

First, many thanks to Josh Houghton for his words on pre-talk. Many of us can totally relate to his beginnings in hypnosis - the thrill of the idea and the occasional disappointment when one finds it is a little more complex than the books and videos would have you believe. But Josh has made a very good point - most of the success one finds in the hypnotic arts and sciences (for all you pro-science people out there :)) is due to the pre-talk that happens before the session.

And now we come to Michael. Here is a huge monster thanks to all his hard work on keeping the blog consistent and interesting in my absence. I knew I had left it in good hands! The post about the best-laid plans, though harrowing, is really refreshing. I think we all have those moments when sessions, shows or what have you turn out a little different than we might have liked. So from Josh’s adding a pre-talk and Michael’s wisdom in being able to adapt quickly, they are two very good lessons.

About being a Jedi Master - that is too much fun. I have actually used the idea of the “force” with a few clients who seem receptive. But the whole idea of using it as a way to create success when the client feels hypnosis is the last resort is just brilliant.

For the Sunday Question of What do you do differently, if anything, with a highly religious client (great question), please still feel free to comment (Debbie left a great one, by the by). I hope to answer it soon, myself.

We have also been kept up-to-date with the latest news about hypnosis used to help focus groups.

So bravo Michael - feel free to take a sit in the big chair anytime. I also hope Debbie and Josh will consider guest posting again. In fact, Josh will do this coming Sunday Question.

As for the Poll, I am keeping last week’s going another week. It is in the right column, if you have not answered it yet.

And with this, I must adjust to this time zone again and get back to life in the pond.

(Oops — a glance back at my email reminded me that I owe Ellie a blog entry for today, too.)

From Brian David Phillips’s blog comes a reference to a new trend in advertising research: hypnotized focus groups.

Focus groups have been around for a long time, of course. A company or ad agency will assemble a group of strangers and ask for their perceptions and opinions about a product, service, or even political candidate. The ad agency then uses that data to refine their strategy.

According to this article in BRANDWEEK, though, there is a problem with the focus group concept: sometimes all the group yields are superficial impressions that really aren’t that helpful in targeting marketing.

To get past the surface impressions to what focus group members are really thinking, large companies and their ad agencies have taken to hypnotizing the focus group members before asking for their impressions. A quote from the article says, “Hypnosis helped get past the cliches. We needed the conversation to get to a deeper, more emotional place.”

By using hypnosis to delve deeper into the focus group’s perceptions, for example, Volvo learned that while they have a near-universal reputation for building dependable cars, on a deeper level many of the focus group members also equate driving a Volvo with being middle-aged. That sounds like good data to me, even if it’s not what Volvo would have preferred to hear.

The use of hypnotized focus groups is not universally accepted, though. The article goes on to include quotes and perspectives from opponents of focus group hypnosis, too. It’s an interesting Monday afternoon read, both informative and thought-provoking.

<MR>

Today millions of Christians are celebrating their faith’s seminal holiday, Easter. While it has been largely secularized by the odd concept of egg-laying bunnies, thanks to my Catholic upbringing I still tend to think of Easter as primarily a religious holiday, so my last guest post this Easter weekend will touch on religion as it relates to hypnosis.

Some religious sects to this day teach that hypnosis is a tool of the devil — that by clearing your mind to enter a trance, you allow Satan access to corrupt your heart and soul. Born-again Christians seem prone to this view, at least from what I’ve heard and experienced, though I doubt the attitude is limited to that group and I don’t have a good citation for you.

But someone who believes that being hypnotized will jeopardize their immortal soul is unlikely to show up in a hypnotist’s office anyway, so as a practical matter that belief isn’t all that relevant to client interactions. What I have found on occasion are clients who draw strength or pride from their religious faith and for whom it is an important component of their lives.

Not all religious people are Christian, of course. There are devout Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, pagan, and every other persuasion everywhere and inevitably some will seek out a hypnotist. When I encounter such a person I try to incorporate that faith when formulating suggestions because I believe that it helps if the client perceives that I understand and respect their religion even if I don’t share it (and of course I don’t bring up my own religious background at all). That requires a certain amount of caution, though, because if I misstate something important to their faith it breaks rapport.

Having said that, my Easter Sunday Question for you is:

What do you do differently, if anything, with a highly religious client?

<MR>

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This brings my run as guest blogger to an end. Ellie will be back tomorrow, hopefully refreshed and energized by her time away. I look forward to her return, and I thank all of you for reading and commenting on my posts. And thank you, Ellie, for lending me the big chair. ;^)

For this Esoteric Saturday (and yes, it’s Saturday in my time zone) I’d like to draw your attention to the vast and fascinating topic of hypnosis in the media.

As hypnotists, of course, we often cringe at the way hypnosis is portrayed in movies such as Curse of the Jade Scorpion and Office Space. Or we can appreciate the effort that goes into the (very) occasional more realistic portrayal, such as Derek Jacobi in Dead Again or Goran Visnjic in Close Your Eyes. It’s sort of an occupational hazard, just as those in any other profession can cheer or jeer at how that profession comes off in a movie or TV show. (Don’t even get my sister Connie started on the medical fidelity of House!)

I bring this up because a few weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting and talking with Terry O’Brien, owner and architect of the Hypnosis In Media Wiki. Terry has spent years chronicling, documenting, and studying the portrayal of hypnosis in movies, television, and print media. The wiki is a work in progress, with only a fraction of Terry’s collection of material actually posted to this point, but what he has is fascinating. This is scholarly website, organized to be easy to search through, and it’s very easy to spend more time than you ever intended clicking through the pages.

As an example: the photo at the top of this entry is a still taken during production of the 1960 horror film The Hypnotic Eye. The man in the photo is Gil Boyne, one of the best known hypnotists of the 20th century. Terry learned in his research that Gil Boyne actually hypnotized the people who were to be part of the stage hypnosis shows in the movie, so that they would truly look and seem hypnotized during the filming of those scenes. So while the movie’s portrayal of the power of hypnosis is as hokey as we tend to expect, that one aspect of the film is surprisingly, intriguingly real.

So if you’re in the habit of sipping your morning coffee at the keyboard, why not pay a visit and see what you can learn about hypnosis in the media?

<MR>