Hypnotherapy, what to expect
Discussion
Interested to understand people's opinions on this.
My wife recently went to see a hypnotherapist for fear of flying and what happened on the day was not what she was expecting. We were both thinking it would be similar to a stage show where you are hypnotised and should the therapist say sleep, you appear to nod forward and then awake when told as you are spoken to. During this phase you would be told statements to help your situation such as, "you love flying" etc. What happened was a lie on the couch and relax, this is a trance of questionable depth and she remembered the words spoken during the event. What about being able to remember nothing or the time that has passed?
My wife recently went to see a hypnotherapist for fear of flying and what happened on the day was not what she was expecting. We were both thinking it would be similar to a stage show where you are hypnotised and should the therapist say sleep, you appear to nod forward and then awake when told as you are spoken to. During this phase you would be told statements to help your situation such as, "you love flying" etc. What happened was a lie on the couch and relax, this is a trance of questionable depth and she remembered the words spoken during the event. What about being able to remember nothing or the time that has passed?
I found it a bit like a relaxing chat and thought I was only there for half an hour or so - so I was very surprised when I left and it was 5 hours later!
You are essentially able to access your sub conscious during hypnosis and they are able to help change how you feel / find out how you feel on this level.
I found it very useful but as you say - nothing like I was expecting.
You are essentially able to access your sub conscious during hypnosis and they are able to help change how you feel / find out how you feel on this level.
I found it very useful but as you say - nothing like I was expecting.
What she experienced is normal. You should be fully in control during a trance, even if you can't remember parts of a particularly deep trance. It usually takes more than one session to get used to the therapy and for it to be useful.
Paul McKenna was the worst thing to happen for Hypnotherapy.
Paul McKenna was the worst thing to happen for Hypnotherapy.
My only experience with Hypnotherapy was a stage show, where I was picked with about 6 people to go on to stage.
(Obviously this was a show and a few years back, not the professional stuff they do. The experience may be similar though).
Basically we were all told to sit on some chairs on stage and we went through this 15 minute process of talking to us and getting us to relax. Lots of stuff like 'you're on a desert island, listen to the waves etc'.
After a while he started running through these little tests, such as raising your hand or gently tapping a song out on your leg etc. I guess this is how he picks his one or two victims, as he is able to tell who is more susceptible to the hypnosis.
Long story short; he had two of us doing these very stupid things for about an hour (wearing a tutu and dancing or running to the loo everytime somebody used a particular word). To get us to do this, he literally just whispered in our ear what to do while we were sat in this semi-docile state.
I was awake through the whole thing, but almost dozing; a bit like when you wake up on a Sunday, but just snooze in bed for another hour. I remember him telling me what to do, but it was almost like I didn't care (if you know what I mean).
A very odd experience.
Again, not a professional hypnotist but the experience sounds similar.
(Obviously this was a show and a few years back, not the professional stuff they do. The experience may be similar though).
Basically we were all told to sit on some chairs on stage and we went through this 15 minute process of talking to us and getting us to relax. Lots of stuff like 'you're on a desert island, listen to the waves etc'.
After a while he started running through these little tests, such as raising your hand or gently tapping a song out on your leg etc. I guess this is how he picks his one or two victims, as he is able to tell who is more susceptible to the hypnosis.
Long story short; he had two of us doing these very stupid things for about an hour (wearing a tutu and dancing or running to the loo everytime somebody used a particular word). To get us to do this, he literally just whispered in our ear what to do while we were sat in this semi-docile state.
I was awake through the whole thing, but almost dozing; a bit like when you wake up on a Sunday, but just snooze in bed for another hour. I remember him telling me what to do, but it was almost like I didn't care (if you know what I mean).
A very odd experience.
Again, not a professional hypnotist but the experience sounds similar.
The Beaver King said:
My only experience with Hypnotherapy was a stage show, where I was picked with about 6 people to go on to stage.
(Obviously this was a show and a few years back, not the professional stuff they do. The experience may be similar though).
Basically we were all told to sit on some chairs on stage and we went through this 15 minute process of talking to us and getting us to relax. Lots of stuff like 'you're on a desert island, listen to the waves etc'.
After a while he started running through these little tests, such as raising your hand or gently tapping a song out on your leg etc. I guess this is how he picks his one or two victims, as he is able to tell who is more susceptible to the hypnosis.
Long story short; he had two of us doing these very stupid things for about an hour (wearing a tutu and dancing or running to the loo everytime somebody used a particular word). To get us to do this, he literally just whispered in our ear what to do while we were sat in this semi-docile state.
I was awake through the whole thing, but almost dozing; a bit like when you wake up on a Sunday, but just snooze in bed for another hour. I remember him telling me what to do, but it was almost like I didn't care (if you know what I mean).
A very odd experience.
Again, not a professional hypnotist but the experience sounds similar.
I don't think it is. A hypnotherapist cannot make you do anything you don't want to do. Even in a trance you remain in a state of control. Perhaps you were given drugs beforehand?? (Obviously this was a show and a few years back, not the professional stuff they do. The experience may be similar though).
Basically we were all told to sit on some chairs on stage and we went through this 15 minute process of talking to us and getting us to relax. Lots of stuff like 'you're on a desert island, listen to the waves etc'.
After a while he started running through these little tests, such as raising your hand or gently tapping a song out on your leg etc. I guess this is how he picks his one or two victims, as he is able to tell who is more susceptible to the hypnosis.
Long story short; he had two of us doing these very stupid things for about an hour (wearing a tutu and dancing or running to the loo everytime somebody used a particular word). To get us to do this, he literally just whispered in our ear what to do while we were sat in this semi-docile state.
I was awake through the whole thing, but almost dozing; a bit like when you wake up on a Sunday, but just snooze in bed for another hour. I remember him telling me what to do, but it was almost like I didn't care (if you know what I mean).
A very odd experience.
Again, not a professional hypnotist but the experience sounds similar.
Liquid Tuna said:
I don't think it is. A hypnotherapist cannot make you do anything you don't want to do. Even in a trance you remain in a state of control. Perhaps you were given drugs beforehand??
I was a little pissed
I didn't mean he could make me doing anything he wanted, more he could make me do harmless (slightly embarrassing) stuff. I knew what I was doing, but I seemed to lack inhibition....
...actually reading this back, I'm starting to think I was just pissed
I trained as a clinical hypnotherapist when leaving the RAF.
What your wife experienced is pretty much all hypnosis is. You can work really hard to achieve a deep trance but, realistically, all you need is a relaxed mental state. All that happens is that the normal 'white noise' of your conscious mind (what time is it? I wonder what the traffic is like on the way home, how much did he say this is costing me?) is turned down, allowing deeper rooted and perhaps more difficult thoughts and emotions to be expressed.
The deeper the trance the less likely anything you say as a therapist will have an effect.
I got such a ribbing from friends an family asking if I would make them turn into a chicken etc etc. Quite a good ice-breaker now when conducting sales meetings
What your wife experienced is pretty much all hypnosis is. You can work really hard to achieve a deep trance but, realistically, all you need is a relaxed mental state. All that happens is that the normal 'white noise' of your conscious mind (what time is it? I wonder what the traffic is like on the way home, how much did he say this is costing me?) is turned down, allowing deeper rooted and perhaps more difficult thoughts and emotions to be expressed.
The deeper the trance the less likely anything you say as a therapist will have an effect.
I got such a ribbing from friends an family asking if I would make them turn into a chicken etc etc. Quite a good ice-breaker now when conducting sales meetings
The Beaver King said:
I was a little pissed
I didn't mean he could make me doing anything he wanted, more he could make me do harmless (slightly embarrassing) stuff. I knew what I was doing, but I seemed to lack inhibition....
...actually reading this back, I'm starting to think I was just pissed
Being on stage and having an expectant audience means you are much more willing to do what you're told providing you have a certain level of trust in the hypnotist. It's against human nature to be in that situation and not play along to some extent as to do so would potentially ruin the evening for 500 drunk students.
Then your own expectations of hypnosis align with what's happening on stage, plus a bit of bravery juice, and you're more likely to go with it than upset the evening for everyone.
I guess that's what they're looking out for - anyone showing signs they're a smart arse would be sent back to their seat pretty sharpish.
The early days of Mesmer are fascinating to read about. Apparently there was a period when posh ladies would have hypnosis parties where they'd get hypnotised then have fits and throw up. There was no real reason for it, it's just what they thought was supposed to happen and was the fashionable thing to do.
Interesting topic, i was going to seek some help with my ruining as i find it hard to stay focused on doing it
I find if i am in the right mood i can sometimes zone out which is a nice feeling to be honest, but this has only happen a few times.
I did look at a few but never took the plunge, any one used it to help them in this way ?
I find if i am in the right mood i can sometimes zone out which is a nice feeling to be honest, but this has only happen a few times.
I did look at a few but never took the plunge, any one used it to help them in this way ?
softtop said:
Interested to understand people's opinions on this.
My wife recently went to see a hypnotherapist for fear of flying and what happened on the day was not what she was expecting. We were both thinking it would be similar to a stage show where you are hypnotised and should the therapist say sleep, you appear to nod forward and then awake when told as you are spoken to. During this phase you would be told statements to help your situation such as, "you love flying" etc. What happened was a lie on the couch and relax, this is a trance of questionable depth and she remembered the words spoken during the event. What about being able to remember nothing or the time that has passed?
So have you booked up yet? or are you hitching up the caravan again?My wife recently went to see a hypnotherapist for fear of flying and what happened on the day was not what she was expecting. We were both thinking it would be similar to a stage show where you are hypnotised and should the therapist say sleep, you appear to nod forward and then awake when told as you are spoken to. During this phase you would be told statements to help your situation such as, "you love flying" etc. What happened was a lie on the couch and relax, this is a trance of questionable depth and she remembered the words spoken during the event. What about being able to remember nothing or the time that has passed?
I used to do some medical hypnosis. In its simplest terms I'd explain it as a form of relaxation, with distraction and a little suggestion. A small number of people are circumstantially very susceptible and these tend to be the folk identified by stage hypnotists (and magicians etc).
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