3/16/2017 HowHypnotherapyWorksTheProcessinFourSteps

HypnosisArticlesHypnosisMotivationInstitute

HowHypnotherapyWorks
Author:MarcGravelle,CertifiedHypnotherapistandInstructor

DatePublished:Fri,Aug3,2007
Publisher:HypnosisMotivationInstitute

TheProcessinFourSteps
Thetypicalclientwhocomestoahypnotherapistisawell
functioningpersonwhowantstochangeorimprovesomethingin
theirlife,buthasn'tbeenabletoaffectthatchangeontheirown.
Therearehundreds(andcounting)ofapplicationsoftheprocess
ofhypnotherapy.

Let'suseprocrastination(ofdoingpaperwork)asanexampleofa
commonhypnotherapyclient.Theprocessisbasicallyfoursteps:

1.Thehypnotherapistexplainstheirbehaviorto
them.
Whatthisreallymeansisthatthehypnotherapistexposesthesubconsciousmotivatorsoftheclient's
behavior.Inthecaseofprocrastination(ofpaperwork),thesubconsciousexplanationwouldbeto
recognizethatweall(ashumans)operateonwhat'sknownasthePain/PleasurePrinciple.Freudwas
thefirsttorecognizethis.Thisprincipalisthatweall(ashumans)seekthingsthatarepleasurableand
weavoidthingswefindpainful(orfearful).Especiallyififtheperceptionoftheactivityispainful.Soa
behavioral,orsubconscious,definitionofprocrastinationisthatitisAVOIDANCE,duetosomeperceived
painorfear.It'shumannaturetoprocrastinate.

2.Thehypnotherapistthencreatesordescribesastrategyforchange.
Thismeansarealplaninwhichtheclientisanactiveparticipant.InobservationofEinstein'sdefinitionof
insanity(doingthesamethingoverandoverandexpectingdifferentresults)thisplanistodosomething
differently.

Inthecaseofprocrastination,anewstrategywouldbetoalterorchangetheperceptionofthepain(or
drudgeryofpaperwork).Wecoulddothisbyagreeingtolimittheamountoftimetheclientactuallydoes
thepaperwork.Forinstance,iftheclientusedasimplekitchentimer,setsit,(sayfor20minutes),and
thentakesabreak,theirperceptionofthedrudgerywouldchangeandtheywouldmorelikelytoactually
dosomepaperwork.Thestrategybecomes"chipawayatit,youdon'thavetodoitallatonce."

3.Thethirdstepinvolvesthehypnotherapisthelpingtheclientbecome
suggestible,orreceptivetothenewstrategy.

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Hypnosisissomethingthatislittleunderstoodbythegeneralpublic.Thatitismisrepresentedinfilm,
mediaandbystagehypnotistsfurtherdistortsthegeneralpublic'sunderstandingofwhatitreallyis.An
accuratewaytothinkofwhathypnosisis,isthatitisastateofmindofincreasedsuggestibility,or
receptivitytotheverbalsuggestiongivenbythehypnotherapist.Theclientremainsconsciouslyaware.
Hypnosisisalsoaverynaturalstateofmind.Forinstance,anyonewhofallsasleephastoenteralight
stateofhypnosisinordertoattainunconscioussleep(wedriftintosleep).

Thehypnotherapistguidestheclientintothisstateofmindbysuggestingthattheclientexperiencea
seriesofbodychanges(suchasthebreathinggrowingdeeper,alittledrynessforminginthemouthand
throat,andalittleflutteringoftheclosedeyelids).Oncetheclientexperiencesthosebodychanges,the
hypnotherapistwillthenhelptheclientrelaxthemusclegroupsoftheirbody(stillveryconscious).When
theclientisrelaxedintheirbodyyetstillalertintheirmindtheyenterthatstateofmindofincreased
suggestibility.Atthispointthehypnotherapistwillverballyrepeattheimportantpartsofthenewstrategy,
suchas"wewantyoutomakeshortperiodsofpaperworkapriorityinyou'relife.Knowingthatyouwill
limittheseperiodstojust20minutes,makesiteasierandmoredoablethaninthepast."

Visualizationisanothersuggestivetechnique.Thehypnotherapistmayhavetheclientvisualizedoingthe
paperworkwhilefeelingrelaxed,hearingthetimerding,andfeelingalittlegrinorsmilebeginningtoform
ontheirface.Thattypeofsuggestioniscalledaninference.Itimplies(orinfers)thattheclientwillfollow
throughandgetsomepaperworkdone.

4.Evaluation
Inasubsequentsession,theclientandhypnotherapistevaluatewhatchangehasoccurred.Wasthe
clientsuccessfulbydoingsomepaperwork?Ifso,thestrategybecomesreinforcingthechange(ornew
behavior),andmakingitstrongerandstronger.Theultimategoal(inthiscase)istocreateanew
automatichabitofdoingpaperwork.Thismodality,orprocess,hashundredsofapplications.Justafew
arebetterstudyhabits,testanxiety,fearsandphobias,salestechniques,assertivecommunication,
preparationforchildbirth,preparationforsurgery,relationshipenhancement,happiness,anger
management,thelistgoesonandon,includingprocrastination.

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