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Hypnosis & Hypnotherapy Articles for Professionals
The Four Cornerstones of
Successful Hypnotherapy
by C. Roy Hunter, PhD, FAPHP
©2000, revised ©2010
Occasionally professionals ask me my opinion regarding a
flier promoting a workshop, and claiming to offer a unique technique that is
“so effective” that it will work for almost everyone. I personally have
received numerous such fliers over the years, and perhaps you have too. How can
you evaluate the efficacy of such techniques?
Overview
With a little research
on the internet, you can find thousands of scripts containing suggestion and
imagery to help clients with myriads of various goals. Numerous script books
are offered for sale at virtually every major hypnosis convention. How
effective are these scripts?
Certainly suggestion
and imagery have proven their ability to help some of the people some
of the time. Thousands of hypnotists purchase and use these various hypnotic
script books, and/or write their own scripts. The downside of relying on suggestion
and imagery is when either the hypnotist or the client expects the scripts to
be sufficient by themselves. They can help some of the people some of the time,
but I believe that a competent hypnotherapist can help most of the people most
of the time. We can accomplish this by building the therapeutic approach on a
foundation of four primary hypnotherapy objectives, discussed in this article.
Charles Tebbetts referred to
these objectives as four main therapeutic steps to facilitate change (helping a
client remove problems), and he described them in the very first chapter of Miracles
on Demand (2nd Edition). I discussed them briefly in both The Art of
Hypnosis and The Art of Hypnotherapy
(Crown House Publishing, 2010). I expanded on them in Hypnosis for Inner
Conflict Resolution (Crown House Publishing, 2005).
What
Are They?
These four
cornerstones are at the foundation of client-centered hypnosis. Building your
hypnotism practice on a solid foundation with these cornerstones will increase
the probability of permanent client success:
1. Suggestion
and imagery
2. Discover
the cause
3. Release
4.
Subconscious relearning
Refer to the diagram:
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
1. Post‑hypnotic Suggestion and Imagery
With either a minimal amount of subconscious resistance
or a strong motivating desire to change, post‑hypnotic suggestion (direct
or indirect) may be sufficient for some
of the clients some of the time. This
is because emotion is the motivating power (or energy) of the inner mind. Many
hypnotists who excel at marketing skills often gather great testimonials from
the few who require only suggestion and imagery in order to achieve goals.
Without a strong emotional desire to accept the
suggestions, either the conscious or the subconscious may easily block hypnotic
suggestions and/or affirmations. (This is further evidence that the person in
hypnosis is not under the control of the hypnotist!) This is what Charles Tebbetts called band-aid therapy, because often the
improvement is only temporary. Our 19th Century pioneers of hypnosis called it
prestige suggestion. Hypnosis
script books abound; but without a strong emotional desire to accept the
suggestions, either the conscious or the subconscious may easily block hypnotic
suggestions and/or affirmations.
That being said, my first
session normally begins with suggestion and imagery. Even when I believe there is a high probability of
subconscious blocks, I begin the first session with suggestion and imagery in
order to enhance the client’s desire to achieve the desired goal. For example,
we can induce positive feelings associated with the fulfillment of a desired
goal by using a hypnotic progression: progressing a person forward in time in
the imagination. I ask the client to imagine his/her emotional satisfaction
while fantasizing the benefits of achieving the desired goal…and to imagine the
attitude of gratitude while enjoying the most important benefit. This enjoyable
first trance trip also increases the probability of the client returning for
the important follow-up sessions.
Appropriate
Techniques:
Both direct and
indirect suggestions and/or imagery may be employed. Countless scripts abound.
Cautions:
a. Remember the importance of proper suggestion structure.
b. Suggest the desired result rather than avoidance of the problem.
c. Avoid aversion suggestions.
d. One person’s peaceful place is another person’s phobia.
e. No script is good enough to help all the people all the time.
If using printed
scripts, remember that the scripts serve you (not vice versa). Be sure to edit
the scripts according to both your personality as well as the client’s needs.
Also remember that imagination is the
language of the subconscious, so be aware of how the wording will impact
the client’s imagination.
After employing the next three steps at a subsequent
session, I return to this first step. In other words, when any subconscious
resistance (or blocks) are discovered and removed, we can (and should) employ suggestion
and imagery techniques to help clients believe they can achieve the desired
goal(s). This enhances subconscious re-learning, which is the fourth step. Now
let’s discuss Steps 2, 3 and 4.
2. Discover the Cause
If subconscious resistance exists, there is a reason,
whether from the past or the present, and we must somehow discover the core
cause.
Note that I use the word “discover” rather than diagnose.
First, a hypnotherapist does NOT diagnose unless licensed to do so. Second,
when facilitating client-centered hypnosis, my approach is based on the concept
that the client’s inner mind can
reveal the core cause of a problem by employing appropriate hypnotic
techniques. If we take it upon ourselves to form our own opinions as to the
causes of our clients’ problems, our preconceived opinions could easily result
in inappropriate leading – which may take many clients down the wrong path.
This is therapist-directed trance work, which often leads to wrong conclusions.
Many hypnotic techniques may help uncover the cause(s) of
resistance, whether the cause lies in the client's past or in the present.
Sometimes the subconscious can discover and release a cause without emotional
discharges, such as with an overweight client of mine whose subconscious
indicated that she would keep snacking until she started creating some “fun
time” for herself. She had to make an agreement with herself in order to be
released from the problem.
Although certain hypnotherapy techniques may sometimes
gain release without the client ever consciously knowing the causes, Tebbetts taught that if the problem (or symptoms) resulted
from a childhood perception of a past
event, we should guide the client back to the past in his (or her)
imagination. This is called a hypnotic regression. Recall of an event during
hypnosis can provoke the emotions associated with the event, resulting
in an emotional discharge. This is called an abreaction, and is easily accomplished in hypnosis, because we are
dealing with the emotional mind rather than the intellectual mind. Once the
emotional energy comes into awareness, it can be redirected and/or released in
a positive way.
Parts therapy is another advanced hypnotic technique that
a trained facilitator may employ to discover the cause(s) of a problem,
especially when a client has inner conflicts.
Appropriate
Techniques:
The three most
effective techniques are: regression, parts therapy (or variations), and ideomotor responses. Refer to the ideomotor
response handouts. Sometimes a client may be deep enough in hypnosis to simply
discover and release the core cause with suggestions to do so.
Techniques abound that
allegedly “release” a symptom (phobia, etc.); but if the core cause remains,
there is risk that the subconscious may either replace the removed symptom with
another one, or the original one may return. Sometimes the subconscious may
spontaneously discover and release the cause(s) with these releasing
techniques; but it is better to be sure. Verify that the subconscious has
discovered the core cause.
Cautions:
If the cause
is an unresolved issue from the client's present, then the client may
have to make some decisions at a conscious level. We may need to refer that
client to cognitive counseling or other professional help.
Also be
certain you have received competent training in any techniques employed to
discover the cause of a problem. For example, use regression therapy only after
receiving competent training in the technique. The same holds true for parts
therapy (or any variations of parts therapy, such as voice dialogue or ego
state therapy).
3. Release
After the relationship of the symptom to the cause is
established emotionally as well as intellectually, we may use one or more
hypnotherapy techniques to facilitate forgiveness and/or release from the cause(s) of a problem.
If the cause(s) resulted from perceptions of past
events, not only does this involve forgiving (without condoning), or at
least releasing others who might have victimized the client, it
also includes forgiving one's self for participating and/or carrying grudges,
etc. If we hold a grudge against someone who hurt us, we are the ones in
bondage to that grudge. We can still protect ourselves without staying angry.
Whether the client's memories are real memories, false perceptions, or a
combination of both, the client can still release them in a therapeutic way
without the necessity of “confronting” another relative for what might not have
been an accurate perception in the first place.
Appropriate
Techniques:
According to Tebbetts, the client must release his/her emotional
attachment to the subconscious cause of the problem. This requires that the
subconscious discover the core cause, whether or not the actual cause is
revealed to the conscious mind. If you employ EFT, NLP, and/or other modern
techniques, be certain to verify that the subconscious has actually discovered
and released the core cause; otherwise the client’s success may only be
temporary.
Regression and/or parts
therapy (or its variations) are valuable for helping clients release the causes
of problems. Any appropriate technique may be employed as long as the
subconscious also confirms that the core cause was discovered and released.
4. Subconscious
relearning
We might also refer to this as subconscious
reprogramming. We may choose from among numerous client‑centered
techniques in order to facilitate adult understanding at a subconscious
level, where it gets results. The goal is to help a client create a more
mature understanding (or new perception) of the problem, including its cause(s)
and solution(s). Sometimes it is sufficient simply to have the subconscious
relearn; however, the client‑centered techniques taught by Tebbetts often result in total conscious recall of the
entire hypnotic process.
Note that many qualified and trained counselors employ
hypnosis to discover causes; but instead of completing the vital third and
fourth hypnotherapeutic steps with a client in hypnosis, they often try to deal
with those causes at a conscious level - and sometimes needlessly keep clients
in therapy for months or years!
Appropriate
Techniques:
The client must believe that his/her success will be
permanent; otherwise there is a risk of backsliding. For example, a smoker was
regressed back to the original cause of his smoking habit, and discovered that
his strong emotional attachment to cigarettes originated when his father
disciplined him for smoking with a friend. His father said: “Do as I say, not
as I do!” He smoked for years as a statement of his own freedom. Although he
released his father and forgave himself, his success was temporary because he believed that he would backslide again
just as with other previous attempts to quit.
After a successful
hypnotic regression, we may ask the client: “As a result of what was discovered
and released, how will you best benefit in the here
and now?” We may then paraphrase the client’s response in the form of
suggestions and imagery…adding additional suggestions as appropriate. If parts
therapy (or a variation of parts therapy) is employed, be certain that you
understand the technique thoroughly, including possible detours and potential
pitfalls.
After
accomplishing the third objective, I often ask a client to verbalize his or her
own relearning. Then I paraphrase their words back in the form of suggestions
and imagery, which help to accomplish subconscious relearning. Notice the arrow
going both directions between #1 and #4 on the diagram. Suggestions and imagery
enhance subconscious relearning, and become much more powerful once the
subconscious has discovered and released the cause(s) of a problem.
As you learn other hypnotic techniques from various
places, consider how each technique you learn can help accomplish one or more
of these four steps. In my opinion, all hypnotic techniques should accomplish
one or more of these four very important objectives. I suggest that you memorize
them and make them an integral part of your therapy.
Additional
Comments
Each of these four therapy objectives serves as a
stepping-stone towards the next step. Although the first step may be sufficient
for some of the people some of the time, if the problem remains, consider the
accomplishment of ALL FOUR steps as your prime hypnotherapeutic goal.
The numbers of various
hypnotic techniques keep growing as new ones are invented and old ones are
updated or modified. While it is not necessary to know every technique ever
invented, the competent master of the art of hypnotherapy should have width and
depth of training, as there is NO technique that is effective enough to work
for all the people all the time.
Some years back, a
businessman told me that his employer wanted to send him to
Over the years I’ve
heard presentations from trainers who get very fond of a particular technique
and become experts, making broad claims. It is quite possible that many of
these techniques work alone with some of the people some of the time because
all four hypnotherapy objectives are accomplished spontaneously by the inner
mind. Here is my professional opinion: let’s
accomplish these hypnotherapy objectives on purpose. Why leave them to
chance?
******************
NOTE:
The above article is based on information covered in Roy’s book, The Art of Hypnotherapy (4th Ed., 2010,
Crown House Publishing).
Click Here to Order your copy now!
******************
Roy
Hunter practices hypnotherapy near Seattle, in the Pacific Northwest region of
the USA. He also worked part time for the Franciscan Hospice facilitating
hypnotherapy for terminal patients for seven years, and teaches a 9-month
professional hypnotherapy training course based on the teachings of Charles Tebbetts. Roy is the recipient of numerous awards, including
awards from three different organizations for lifetime achievement in the
hypnosis profession. You may see Roy’s numerous awards at: http://www.royhunter.com/hunter.htm
Roy
is available for mentoring and coaching.
For more info, visit: http://www.royhunter.com/consulting.htm
You
may purchase
http://www.royhunter.com/hypnosis_books.htm
Last
updated: February 9, 2011
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Originally Posted December 4, 2007