Do not hypnotize someone with a history of mental or psychotic disorders, as this can lead to unintended and dangerous consequences or even worse. [2] X Research source
Turn off all cell phones and music or any devices that could cause noise. Close the windows if there is noise outside. Let other people you live with know that they shouldn’t bother you until you both come out.
You are not asleep or unconscious, ever. You are not under a spell or someone’s control. You will not do anything you don’t want to do. [4] X Research source
People who have been hypnotized before usually have an easier time being hypnotized again.
“Let my words wash over you, and take the suggestions as you desire them. " “Everything here is safe, calm, and peaceful. Let yourself sink into the couch/chair as your relax deeply. " “Your eyes may feel heavy and want to close. Let your body sink naturally down as your muscles relax. Listen to your body and my voice as you begin to feel calm. " “You are in complete control of this time. You will only accept those suggestions which are for your benefit and that you are willing to accept. "
Focused breathing gets oxygen to the brain and gives the person something to think about other than hypnosis, stress, or their environment.
Pay attention to their eyes from time to time. If they seem like they are darting around, give them some guidance. “I want you to pay attention to that poster on the wall,” or “try and focus on the space right between my eyebrows. " Tell them to “Let their eyes and eyelids relax, growing heavy. " If you want them to focus on you, you need to stay relatively still.
Take your time and keep your voice slow and calm. If they seem twitchy or tense, slow down and re-do the process in reverse. “Relax your feet and ankles. Feel the muscles lighten and loosen in your feet, as if they require no effort to maintain. "
“You can feel your eyelids getting heavy. Let them drift and fall. " “You are letting yourself slip deeper and deeper into a calm, peaceful trance. “You can feel yourself relaxing now. You can feel a heavy, relaxed feeling coming over you. And as I continue to talk, that heavy relaxed feeling will get stronger and stronger, until it carries you into a deep, peaceful state of relaxation. "
“Every word that I utter is putting you faster and deeper, and faster and deeper, into a calm, peaceful state of relaxation. " “Sinking down, and shutting down. Sinking down, and shutting down. Sinking down, and shutting down, shutting down completely. " “And the deeper you go, the deeper you are able to go. And the deeper you go, the deeper you want to go, and the more enjoyable the experience becomes. "
“Take the first step down and feel yourself sinking deeper into relaxation. Each step is a step further into your subconscious. You step down the second step and feel yourself getting calmer and calmer. When you reach the third step, your body feels as if it is floating blissfully away. . . etc. " It can help to envision a door at the bottom as well, leading them to a state of pure relaxation.
“Take the first step down and feel yourself sinking deeper into relaxation. Each step is a step further into your subconscious. You step down the second step and feel yourself getting calmer and calmer. When you reach the third step, your body feels as if it is floating blissfully away. . . etc. " It can help to envision a door at the bottom as well, leading them to a state of pure relaxation.
Even well-intentioned suggestions can have bad results if you don’t know what you are doing. This is why licensed hypnotherapists usually help the patient determine the right course of action instead of trying to give it to them as a suggestion.
What is their preferred future? What has changed to get them there?
Help them envision the world beyond their problems – imagine them going through a day without smoking, or visualize a moment they are proud of to raise self-esteem. Healing through hypnosis is always easier if they person wants to work on the issue before they enter the trance state.
Begin by saying, “I’m going to count from one to five, and at the count of five you will be feeling wide awake, fully alert, and completely refreshed. "
Don’t pressure anyone to talk immediately. Simply open a conversation, and wait to talk until later if they seem relaxed and want some time to stay quiet.
What are you going to do? I will ask you to visualize some pleasant scenes, while I talk about how to use your own mental abilities more effectively. You can always refuse to do anything that you don’t want to do, and you can always come out of the experience yourself if an emergency should come up. What does it feel like to be in hypnosis? Most of us experience changes in our conscious awareness several times a day without realizing it. Any time you let your imagination go and just flow along with a piece of music or a verse of poetry, or get so involved in watching a movie or a television drama that you feel like you’re part of the action instead of a part of the audience, you are experiencing a form of trance. Hypnosis is just a way of helping you to focus and define these changes in consciousness, in order to use your mental abilities more effectively. Is it safe? Hypnosis is not an altered state of consciousness (as sleep is, for example), but an altered experience of consciousness. You will never do something you don’t want to do or be forced into thoughts against your will. If it’s all just your imagination, then, what good is it? Don’t be confused by the tendency in English and many other languages to use the word “imaginary” as opposite in meaning to the word “real” – and neither should it be confused with the term “image. " The imagination is a very real group of mental abilities, whose potential we are just now beginning to explore, and which extends far beyond our ability to form mental images! Can you make me do anything I don’t want to do? When you’re using hypnosis, you still have your own personality, and you’re still you – so you won’t say or do anything that you wouldn’t do in the very same situation without hypnosis, and you can easily refuse any suggestion that you don’t want to accept. (That’s why we call them “suggestions. “) What can I do in order to respond better? Hypnosis is very similar to letting yourself become absorbed in watching a sunset or the embers of a campfire, letting yourself flow with a piece of music or poetry, or feeling like you are part of the action instead of part of the audience when you are watching a movie. It all depends on your ability and willingness to go along with the instructions and suggestions that are provided. What if I enjoy it so much that I don’t want to come back? Hypnotic suggestions are basically an exercise for the mind and the imagination, just like a movie script is. But you still come back to everyday life when the session is over, just like you come back at the end of a movie. However, the hypnotist might need to try a couple times to pull you out. It is enjoyable being completely relaxed, but you can’t do much when hypnotized. What if it doesn’t work? Did you ever become so absorbed in your play as a child that you didn’t hear your mother’s voice calling you in for dinner? Or are you one of the many people who are able to wake up at a certain time each morning, just by deciding the night before that you are going to do so? We all have the ability to use our minds in ways we are not usually aware of, and some of us have developed these abilities more than others. If you just allow your thoughts to respond freely and naturally to the words and images as your guide, you’ll be able to go wherever your mind can take you
