The Finger Marks Were Still There The Next Day…
My first introduction to hypnosis
by Kate Beaven-Marks
Photograph by net_efekt
How a work colleague brought hypnosis into the conversation, I cannot remember, but, at some point, whilst chatting and drinking coffee, he said he “did hypnotherapy” and that it was good for relaxation…
Relaxation sounded ideal, as I was facing some oral surgery (bone graft) and was a little ‘concerned’ (okay, getting really nervous!) in the days leading up to it.
So, two days later, at 8pm on a cold rainy Thursday night, I arrived at his consulting room. I don’t know quite what I was expecting. All I knew about hypnosis was what I had seen on TV, which was Paul McKenna (stage hypnotist in the UK in the 1990’s) and I SO was not the type of person to be doing silly things (think ‘tense, reserved and highly analytical’ and that was me). I was beginning to wonder what on earth I was doing there.
Well, the consulting room was about 10ft x 10ft, cream painted walls, with an oak bookcase, filled with odds and ends, photos and a couple of candles, three chairs (one a recliner), a blue rug and a pine cupboard (containing case files – I found out later). There were several hypnotherapy qualification certificates and a couple of pictures, one of a candle (yes, great for eye fixation inductions) and one of a beach scene (good for ‘seeding the imagination’). It has changed since, but I can still picture it as clearly today as I saw it then. I guess that was my first example that images laid down at times of great stress are often very vivid to recall!
A detailed case history took about 40 minutes, and then he started to talk about hypnosis, and talk, and talk…I think by the time he finished I had a great overview from the history of hypnosis to the techniques of the current day. Looking back, I think he was waiting for me to relax, but my right hand was still firmly gripping my left wrist and I was just as tense as when I had walked in. I still didn’t know exactly what to expect…..
Anyway, he gave me the option of ending the session or ‘doing some work’. Surprising myself, I said we would carry on. So, I was asked to recline back in the chair, uncross my ankles and rest my hands on my legs… and then he said I could keep my hands crossed if I wanted (so I did) and then close my eyes….
About forty minutes, one classic permissive induction and staircase deepener down marble stairs into a sunken garden and two metaphorical stories later, I opened my eyes when I was told to and proceeded to indignantly argue that he wrong about one of his stories. About three minutes later than that, I paid my money and was ushered out of the door.
I can still remember driving home feeling ‘spaced out’. I know now that if I go into deep hypnosis I tend not to wake up fully unless there is lots of energy in the awakening.
As to the finger marks on my arm the next day… well the rest of me may have relaxed beautifully, but that death-grip hold on my wrist had stayed throughout and left me with some clear finger marks on my wrist and forearm… The spaced out feeling also stayed with me, all of the next day and gradually disappearing over the weekend.
Fortunately, the relaxation also stayed with me. On the Monday my blood pressure and pulse were the best they had ever been. Amazing really as it was the morning of my surgery!
The surgery went well and I spent my recovery time reading all about hypnosis. That first session and every subsequent session I have experienced, have been great learning experiences. All the good and useful techniques and tips enhance my own practice. Anything that doesn’t work as well is also worth experiencing to know how to avoid potential pitfalls with my clients.
From the very first session, I can reflect and know:
- If your client has a body position going into hypnosis then it can stay like that throughout. So the classic feet uncrossed, flat on the floor (if not reclined), hands relaxed and apart all have a sensible basis.
- Make sure your clients know what to expect if they have never experienced hypnosis before.
- ALWAYS make sure they are fully, fully wide awake if they are going to drive home.
What still surprises me, having been hypnotized hundreds of times during classes when training and later when ‘playing’, is that I never got that ‘spaced out feeling’ for three days again and no two hypnotic experiences have ever been exactly the same, even with the same hypnotist and pretty much the same words.
That first session was the start of a fascinating journey which has not only improved my health and well-being and changed the way I think and act, but has given me the ability to help others every day.
Please visit Kate’s web sites at www.affinityhypnosis.com and www.alterjective.com.
October 29th, 2008 at 11:23 am
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