EXAMPLE 1: DISCUSSION

This woman presented one very well-developed skill—that of being

tense. There are those who might argue that tension is not a skill. On reflection, I know that they will recognize that tension, under the appropriate circumstances, would be an appropriate response. This individual, however, had lost her ability to have choice as to when to use this skill. Rather than attempt to make her conform to my blueprint, I decided to use hers. When I made the statement, “Hey, if you knew how to relax that easily, etc.” I was signaling acceptance of her blueprint, being on her side, and establishing rapport all at the same time. Her response indicated that this had been successful.

By asking her to feel the tension, I was utilizing what she was already an expert at, thereby insuring that she would be successful, and beginning the processes of indirect suggestion. By directing her as to which area to “feel”

first, I was helping her to further accept my direction. Having her “see” what the tense muscles looked like was, in fact, the first step in helping her to disassociate: Tension = Kinesthetic = Changing Kinesthetic to Visual = disconnecting or disassociating from the feeling (tension). Asking her to allow “that part” that “remembers” the feelings of relaxation, etc., was a series of unconscious communications (suggestions): 1) There was another part of her than the one she was used to; 2) That somewhere in time she had been relaxed; 3) She could remember that feeling.

When I asked her to close her eyes at the beginning of the second session, she immediately altered her rate of breathing, which indicated that she had “made the connection” and was learning to relax. By asking her to signal by raising her left hand slowly for “yes,” I was setting up ideomotor response, and structuring the beginning of a possible hand levitation.

(Stroking her hand lightly equals kinesthetic reinforcement of the verbal suggestion.) Since she had evidenced her ability to generate visual experiences from kinesthetic experiences, helping her to generate kinesthetic experiences from visual experiences was simply utilizing what she “knew” how to do, but redirecting it. By utilizing her “skills,” “beliefs”

and “systems” (Visual—Kinesthetic—Auditory), she not only achieved what she had been unable to achieve before (the hypnotic state), she also gained the ability to “picture” away her tension. As a result, her jaw clenching “got lost” and she became a much calmer individual in general.

EXAMPLE 2:

During one of the Clinical Hypnosis: Innovative Techniques® training

seminars, I had asked the participants to practice a mirror/feedback induction. This induction method requires the “hypnotist” to copy the physical position and gestures of the “subject” and to verbally feed back to the subject what the subject is doing. Next, the “hypnotist” begins to slowly lead the “subject” to the desired state. As I observed the practice session, I noticed something interesting happening within one group. The “hypnotist”

and the “subject” were in perfect synchronization, and each was staring intently at the other. I walked over to the group and heard the “hypnotist”

saying “and now you can close your eyes.” The “subject” kept staring without blinking, her breathing was very deep and she was totally still. After a few moments, the “hypnotist” said, “Well, whenever you want to you can close your eyes.” The “subject” continued staring. Since they were mirroring each other so well, and since the “subject” was “locked on” to the

“hypnotist,” I could assume that he had done a good job of setting the stage. Yet, the “subject” would not respond to the “hypnotist’s” suggestion of closing her eyes.

I positioned myself so that I was within the subject’s field of vision. (I was standing while the practice group were all seated.) After a few moments, I moved my right hand up slowly, starting at my waist and ending at my cheek. As my hand moved up, the subject’s eyes shifted and followed my hand as it moved up. When her eyes met mine, I nodded twice, very slowly. As she continued to stare at me, I very slowly blinked twice, nodded twice again, and then closed my eyes for three or four seconds. When I opened my eyes, the subject closed hers, and I said, “That’s right! Now take all the time you need to see yourself at some pleasant place, while you continue to more deeply relax. Then go wherever you need to discover some skill or problem-solving ability that will be useful in your life… Now!

When that creative part of you understands how to use those skills in your present and future situations, it will be time to return here. Be sure to bring all those good feelings back to now with you.”

When the subject had first shifted her eyes to mine, the “hypnotist”

looked quickly at me, then back at the subject. After I had given the verbal suggestions to the subject, I said to the hypnotist, “Since you have been watching and following her so carefully, you already know what to do.” With that, I placed my fingers gently on his eyelids. His eyes closed, his body relaxed, and I said, “You heard what I asked her to do, and now you can do the exact same thing differently…in your own way.” After nearly ten

minutes, the man opened his eyes, and a few seconds later the woman opened hers. They looked at each other and both began to giggle. (You might say that they were continuing to mirror each other.)