 Magazine
for Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy
By Alan Birdsell, MACEd, CMHC, NCC, CHT Hypnosis sessions can take several forms. Some sessions are directive or paternal where the hypnotherapist, having predetermined a set of suggestions will deliver these suggestions while the subject is in trance. During this kind of session the subject interacts little, if at all, with the hypnotherapist. Another form of hypnotic session is called "secret process" or "secret therapy." This concept can also be used as a non-trance modality. In secret therapy, the hypnotherapist conducts the session, however the issue the subject is working may or may not be know to the hypnotherapist. The hypnotherapist leads the subject through their issue and elicits feedback about the process using "yes or no" questions. The subject can either respond verbally or by idiomotor response. Because the idiomotor response can access the subconscious mind it is often the preferred method of response. During this process the subject formulates their own post hypnotic suggestions and repeats the suggestions to themselves. This modality is very useful if the subject wishes to work with an issue they are not comfortable talking about out loud. See the section on idiomotor process. In transformational or Alchemical hypnosis the major difference from other forms of hypnotic sessions is that the session is interactive. The hypnotherapist and the subject will converse back and forth. The subject will, during, the session come up with his or her own post-hypnotic suggestions which the hypnotherapist will anchor. The subject is involved the entire time in creating the desired experience or state of being - in the inner world - and is communicating his or her experience to the hypnotherapist. It is this desired state that becomes the suggestion. Mental rehearsal is also part of this interactive intervention INTAKE/PRE-INDUCTION INTERVIEW An intake interview is done on the first visit. At this time demographic information is gathered which includes family and medical history, general life-style information and whatever else the subject or hypnotherapist feels necessary. And important but often overlooked piece of information is what name(s) the subject went by at various phases of their life. It will be much more effective to deal with Robert in a session involving him as a child if you know he went by "Bobby" and call him Bobby rather than Robert. The interview, with the exception of gathering specific information regarding anchors, is similar to any other counseling interview. A complete, in-depth interview may take an entire session. During this interview information about the issue is gathered. Information such as when is the issue a problem, when is it not a problem, when is it worse, when is it better, how does it affect the subject, how would they like it to be, are all gathered at the beginning of a session. It is a good idea to cover this area at the beginning of each session to remain clear on the issue being worked with. As you define the issue be on the look out for any secondary gains that might be present. The subject maybe getting other, more powerful needs met by their issue. For example, someone comes in and their presenting issue is overeating. It seems rather straight forward, but on further questioning about the specifics you find out that one of the times the overeating is worse is when they go to a weekly breakfast with their mother. They go on to describe that their mother likes to eat at a local buffet and that, because of schedules, this is the only time they get to see their mother. The secondary gain from overeating in this case is they getto spend time with their mother. Another secondary gain hypnotherapists come across is where the subject has presented to "change for someone else." The subject may say they are seeking help because if they don't they will experience some consequence such as their spouse leaving them. It is important to explain to the subject that for change or transformation to truly take place it must be self-initiated or self-directed. Next, realistic goals are set. The idea is to help the subject identify a goal that is clear and realistically achievable. For example, if the subject says, "I want to be able to run in a marathon in two weeks," and they haven't trained at all, you will want to probe further. You will want to ask questions that help the subject narrow the goal down to something that is achievable such as, in our example, to be able to go for a walk in their neighborhood three nights a week. Or, upon further questioning, you may find out that the issue the subject initially presented is not the real issue. Again referring to the example, after further questioning you might find out the subject wants to run the marathon because a co-worker the subject is feeling in competition with is also running the marathon . You eventually extract the real issue as the subject's and the subject desire to "one up" his or her co-worker. Keep the issue phrased in terms of what the subject wants, not what they don't want. For example, the subject says, "I don't want to be nervous in front of crowds." You might want to help the subject re-phrase the issue to say something like, "I want to be calm and confident in front of crowds." Remember the sub-conscious mind does not readily recognize negatives and, "I don't want to be nervous," translates to, "I want to be nervous." The pre-induction or intake interview is an excellent time to gather key words, phrases and metaphors. Make note of the words, phrases and the subject uses to talk about their issue and their feelings surrounding the issue. This will be useful during the session when you help the subject formulate their own suggestions. Ask the subject to describe in detail the issue and their emotions, as well as, what it would be like with the desired state or behavior in place. This will allow you to determine appropriate anchors to set during the session. Using the above example, you will anchor, "I want to be calm and confident" to whenever the subject speaks in front of crowds Building the subject's sense of positive expectation and correcting any misconceptions. Many people who come to a hypnotherapist for the first time do not know what happens during a hypnosis session and may bring with them misconceptions and myths about the process. This is the time to alleviate their concerns and educate them to the process. You may wish to tell them that while they may feel very relaxed they may also feel very alert and not feel as if they had been hypnotized. You can also describe how you will build the trance together (all hypnosis is self hypnosis). Let them know that their sub-conscious will lead them to just the right place, and the right place may be different from the issue that they initially present. This is also the time to find out if the subject has any favorite types of inductions or inductions they do not like. The initial interview is the time to do any suggestibility testing. This is not always necessary but if someone is still unsure about the process suggestibility testing can be beneficial. During the initial interview you are building rapport and setting your intention with the subject. The success or failure of sessions is often determine in this stage. It the subject does not feel trust and rapport with you they will not be able to do the work they need to. Conversely, if you have not taken the time to identify their representational system, etc. you may not be as effective in facilitating the session as you might have been. Building rapport is the responsibility of the hypnotherapist. At the beginning of each session you will conduct a pre-induction interview to determine the goal for that particular session. INDUCTION Inductions for various kinds of hypnosis are essentially the same. The major difference in transformational or Alchemical hypnotherapy is it is desirable to anchor the relaxed state reached during induction and using it as part of the post-hypnotic suggestion. Choose an induction from the inductions section. Inductions can be instantaneous or shortened because over several sessions, positive expectation for trance can be established. However, a typical induction lasts from 15-30 minutes and incorporates several induction styles. INTERVENTION PROCESS The intervention process is what makes transformational or Alchemical hypnotherapy different from many other types of hypnosis and what makes it such a powerful, rapid, and long lasting modality. The subject processes and reprocesses old beliefs, emotions and patterns of behavior. The result is a shift is in the structure of the subconscious. When a subject processes, using the various protocols listed below, he or she actually experiences a new state of being with the experience becoming a part of the subject's being and is stored at a cellular level. Because this in an interactive process, the hypnotherapist is aware of the subject's experiences at all times. When new information or "mocking up" of a resource is needed, the hypnotherapist can intervene, giving new information and permission that the subject may not be able to access on their own. If you have never experienced being held by a loving, nurturing, soft mother, it is difficult if not impossible for your subconscious mind to "conjure" one up. With the help of the hypnotherapist, describing the qualities of such a mother, the subject's subconscious mind can create a new image, and the subject can then experience that image. Post-hypnotic suggestions are created from these new experiences so they are tailor made for the subject, by the subject. In most forms of hypnosis, post-hypnotic suggestions are formulated by the hypnotherapist and may not address the deeper needs of the subject. The following are the potential protocols that would take place during the session(s): EPC Run and Change Inner child, family, mate, guides or higher self Alternate Lives Sub-personality/Conference Room REVIEW/SUGGESTIONS The post-hypnotic suggestions used in a transformational or Alchemical hypnotherapy session are formulated in the intervention/process portion of the session. The suggestions are created by the subject themselves rather than predetermined by the hypnotherapist before the session. The purpose of the post-hypnotic suggestion is to enable the subject to use solutions discovered and experienced during the session to change responses and behaviors during the waking, conscious state. Connecting with their inner resources and using their suggestions to bring this connection into the outer world, empowers the subject to access these resources without the need for a hypnotherapist. The hypnotherapist's primary role is to facilitate the initial connection and to bridge the gaps in information. It is during this section the hypnotherapist will use the subjects metaphors to review and to set anchors. MENTAL REHEARSAL Mental rehearsal is simply a way of checking out the efficacy of the post-hypnotic suggestions and to determine if the processes were completed. Basically, you find out if the work was at a deep enough level - did it address the real issue? Have the subject imagine themselves prepare to enter a situation that previously triggered the undesirable response or state and just prior to entering that situation the subject invokes the new anchored response. If successful the subject should be able to imagine themselves entering the situation and be able to actually experience the new response. RETURNING FROM TRANCE Use the 3-R's (Return, Remember, Refreshed), remove any suggestions used in the induction (if you used the room sounds in the induction suggest those sounds are now a tool for awakening). Use anchoring statements, "Knowing that every time you_____ you can______."Count the subject back and raising the energy in your voice return them to full waking consciousness.
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