Hypnosis or Trance?

By Alan Jones Principal of Empowerment Trainings
C.Hyp. Dip.Hyp. NLP Trainer

Some traditionalists believe that in order to be an effective hypnotherapist clients need to be in the state of somnambulism which is easily tested for. Some modern Ericksonian style hypnotherapists and NLP therapists believe that the conscious mind can be bypassed using vague language and be as, if not more, effective than traditional Hypnosis. Personally I think they are both right, in that the effectiveness of any therapy is, in part, down to the expectations of the client; consciously and unconsciously.

One operating principle of NLP is, “If what you are doing is not working do anything else.” So if you are using a traditional method to induce trance and it is not working as well as you would like, switch to an Ericksonain style trance and vice a versa. To hold on to a particular style, as Erickson might have said is “Too ridged.”

Some people may be aware of the work of Dave Elman, who for me is in between traditional and Ericksonian hypnosis. There are many, I’m sure who will disagree and that’s fine. Opinions are like bodies, everyone has one. I think that too many therapists get caught up in defending their therapy. Carl Jung told his students to learn all the skills of therapy then forget them and be with their client, who after all is the most important person in the therapeutic relationship, aren’t they?

The comments and articles on this blog can only ever be someone’s opinion, be it based on their experience or their understanding and both will always be limited to their knowledge and their experience. In my opinion there is no such thing as “The Truth,” we all have our on truths which can only be based on our experience and our knowledge; academic knowledge is someone else’s opinion’s, it cannot not be.

This blog is open to all styles of hypnosis and therapies, personally I use both direct and indirect inductions; traditional and modern and will happily mix and match my style to suit the client.

Some hypnotherapists speed up their speech tempo, I usually slow mine down to about 25% of my normal speaking voice and pace my phrases to the out breath of my client.

Whilst anyone can buy a book or download scripts from the internet, anyone not qualified as a hypnotherapist should be aware of the following contra indications to the use of trance:

If your client or person you intend to hypnotise is being treated by any other practitioner, including their GP, for the condition they are consulting you; it is good etiquette to get your client to check with them, that they have no objections to you treating the client at the same time. You may wish to refuse to treat a client if they have not sought the other practitioner’s agreement, even though the client insists it’s OK. One reason is, that having two therapies together for the same thing, will mean that the client cannot be sure which treatment is benefiting them.

Prescribed medication.

It is illegal to suggest or recommend that someone on prescribed medication stops taking it or changes the amount being taken unless you are a qualified and practicing Medical Doctor treating the client.

Treatment of Pain

Pain is a signal from the body that something is wrong. If you are not a medical doctor, it is imperative you have your client seek medical advice before using pain control.

Psychiatric Disorders

If a client has received psychiatric treatment for a clinically diagnosed condition such as bipolar disorder (manic depression), schizophrenia or psychotic behaviour etc. you must refer them back to their psychiatrist or GP, unless you are a qualified medical psychiatrist and have access to their medical records.

A client who is likely to cause harm to themselves or others

This is a matter of personal choice. However, if I did consider such a case, I would insist that the person sign an agreement that they do not harm themselves or anyone else whilst they are being treated.

On drugs that cause an altered state

Anti-depressants etc, seek written medical confirmation that hypnosis is in order. Always check out any drug you are not sure of, prior to treatment.

This includes someone who has been drinking alcohol or is currently high on so called recreational drugs.

Any condition you feel you are not confident about treating

Refer the client.


For those new to or interested in hypnosis what follows is a traditional basic progressive induction script, using presuppositions and embedded commands for added effectiveness, to relax and unwind; also known technically as a Fractional Induction. This is a no content induction and therapist wishing to effect change would use their own style of intervention.

Script

You may feel more comfortable if you just allow your eyes to close and turn your attention inwards now… and focus on your breathing…become aware of the air as it flows into your body and as you breath out notice how you can relax more now…and the next breath….as it were finds itself…without any effort on your part…in your imagination I’d like you to see a light…this may be a large or small light…your light may be colour…just know that the colour of your light is the right colour for you…and if by any chance you have not noticed the light yet that’s alright too…Sometimes we know things before we notice them and other times we notice them before we are aware of them haven’t you…and as you become more aware of the light…or know that it’s there before you see it…mores closer to you and down towards your toes…feel the sensation of the light entering your toes…I wonder if that is a tingling feeling, a warm feeling or another sensation…whatever feeling you may notice is right for you…no two times…you allow yourself to relax…are the same…each time you begin to enter this state of relaxation will be unique and sensations may change or be similar…that’s right…as the light continues to enter your toes feel it filling your feet up to the ankles now…releasing, releasing and letting go now…as the light moves up through your calves up to your knees and on to your hips, filling you thighs and buttocks as you continue to relax, release and just let go now…as the light moves on up through your stomach…I wonder whether the sensations are changing as you relax deeper now…or if they are becoming more familiar to your conscious mind…while your unconscious mind…enjoys these feelings of relaxation…as the light continues to spread up through your back…relaxing your back muscles now…you may go back, right back to a time when you felt really relaxed haven’t you…as the light and those feelings spread through your neck up over the back of your head and down across your forehead, over your eyes, nose and down your chin…and I wonder if you’ve even bothered to noticed that your breathing has changed to a more relaxing and gentle rhythm…let the light relax the small muscles above your eyes…behind your eyes…relax the space at the back of your eyes…relax…give yourself the permission to enjoy the luxury…of letting go…completely…allow the light to continue to relax the space behind your eyes as those relaxing feelings gently float down through the roof of your mouth into your tongue…and as your tongue relaxes even more… just allow your jaw… to relax so your tongue can just float in your mouth, go deeper….go deeper…let it happen…let it happen…now simply follow the trance…your unconscious….mind is leading you on…follow your trance…into deep peaceful relaxation…

If you would like information about training to be a Clinical Hypnotherapist with Empowerment Trainings please click here or email alan@empowerment-trainings.org.uk