Cornwall Hypnotherapy Resource : Who Is In Control In Hypnosis?
Who Is In Control In Hypnosis?
As a hypnotist you are a GUIDE along side of THEIR desire to go into hypnosis. Without their agreement to be hypnotised (the hypnotic contract) it becomes much more difficult to by-pass their conscious mind and achieve trance. Without consent, covert hypnosis skills are required, though in my opinion and that of other professionals, once in trance, the subject still chooses to remain there, though there are exceptions. More on that in a moment. Consent, intention, belief, timing, a knowledge of hypnosis techniques and skill, are the widely recognised methods to consistently bring about trance in a subject, though all are not necessary to achieve this.
There are many opinions on what is and what isn’t hypnosis and many discussions as to who is in control, the hypnotist or the subject? If you told a person to jump off a cliff in hypnosis, they would refuse, unless they actually WANTED to do it (it’s the subjects ability to override negative suggestion coming into play). Think of it this way…If the hypnotist had ultimate control, hypnotist’s would rule the world, as people would do whatever they asked without question.
Experiments using hypnosis, drugs and torture techniques have apparently created separate identities in subjects. They then accept commands, when the new separate identity is accessed and carry them out, without the recipients conscious awareness. So, unless a hypnotist throws drugs and torture into the mix, the last say or outcome lies with the individual choosing to remain in trance and to follow acceptable suggestion. If someone hypnotises you and offers you a pill or injection, while attaching electrodes to you and then applies elements of torture… Ask for your money back, unless of course you wish to give up the control, that you would have, under hypnosis on its own.
People in positions of power, do exhibit a degree of subtle control using Psychology, Hypnosis and NLP. Governments and the media for example use the power of suggestion to manipulate people every day. This can be subtle or blatant and very apparent when you are aware of the techniques used. Politicians use different forms of persuasion to get the vote or legislation passed, as do sale persons to get the sale and the media to sway opinion. It’s just psychology.
Before you start to worry about this. We all naturally use conscious and unconscious behaviour/suggestion to get what WE want every day. Humans are predictable and tend to follow set patterns of behaviour and therefore are willing to follow those that push the right psychological buttons.
My view is that both the hypnotist and the subject have a degree of control over the trance experience. It is a compliant natural state, where the mind is open to suggestion, that may be either accepted or rejected by the individual. Entering or exiting the state of hypnosis is down to the subject. The Individuals, known as somnambulists, are known to be very susceptible to hypnosis and are therefore more likely to follow suggestion. These people are the hypnotists dream and are the stage hypnotists bread and butter.
The somnambulist is established through conversation and suggestibility or concentration tests. tests. Though oddly enough those on a hypnosis stage shows are not necessarily in trance. they are merely following waking suggestion or complying with what is expected of them. All that we see and hear is not necessarily true. It all ultimately comes down to direct experience. Then we can draw our own conclusions on the experience of others. We all have different levels of knowledge and understanding. We all agree or disagree depending on our current experience or beliefs. One could be a hypnotist with thirty years experience, yet be limited in ability, if one chose to stick with just one technique. Though one could still be successful, just limited in the field of hypnosis without being aware of it.
In reality hypnosis is a natural co-operative state, for which there are many ways to achieve it, once the basics are understood. It is as simple or complicated a process as the hypnotist wishes. What with instant, rapid, slow or confusion inductions. Utilising pattern interrupts, language patterns, hypnotic phenomena, deepening, depth of trance, anchoring, visualisation, therapy or change work, etc. We all respond to different people and techniques, and as a friend of mine put, it not everybody likes Madonna (the singer). There will never be the perfect induction or hypnotist for this reason. Success comes from modelling what works on the majority of people and to adapting to the situation presented t0 you.
Have positive intentions using hypnosis and don’t do to others what you wouldn’t have done to yourself, as a general rule. Treat people with respect. Hypnosis on its own is safe and natural, as we go into trance every 90-120 minutes throughout the day, known as Ultradian rhythms. It is the inexperienced hypnotist that is potentially harmful and NOT hypnosis. Always remove suggestions on emerging individuals from trance, unless there is a beneficial reason for them to remain. For safety reasons do not undertake therapy or change work without professional training.
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