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BeginnersGuidetoHypnosis
YourQuestionsAnswered
EditedandDistributedbyCalvin(Cal)Banyan,MA,CH,BCH,CI,MCPHI,FNGH
DerivedfromapreviouslypublishedbookwrittenbyDr.BrianKnight,nowownedbyCalvinD.Banyan.

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Note:Youmaygiveawaythisebook.However,itcannotbedistributedaspartofanyforprofit
enterprisewithoutwrittenpermissionfromCalBanyan.
YouareNOTallowedtomakeanychanges.Allhyperlinksandcontactinformationmustbeleftinthis
publication.
Nor,areyoupermittedtopublishanypartofthiseBookortheeBookasawholeinanyform
whatsoever,withouttheexpresswrittenpermissionfromCalBanyan.
CalBanyanpurchasedthisbookfromtheoriginalauthorsothatitcouldbesharedfreelywiththe
hypnosiscommunity.TheopinionoftheoriginalauthorisnotnecessarilytheopinionofCalBanyan.
Ihopeyouwillenjoythisbookandshareitwithyourfriends.

PublishedbytheBanyanHypnosisCenterforTraining&Services,Inc.
www.HypnosisCenter.com

CopyrightCalvinD.Banyan2010.


Contents
Introduction3
Definitions6
Hypnotizability8
Science9
Control10
Dangers11
Hypnotherapy13
Religion17
StageHypnosis17
The#1Question18

Introduction
Thiswasanebookthatwaswrittenbyanotherauthor,whichIboughtfromhimalongwithawebsite.
NowthatIhavethisbook,Ithoughtthebestthingtodowithitistogiveitawaytothoseinterestedin
learningabouthypnosis.Iespeciallythoughtitwouldbeagoodresourceforthosewhoarelookingat
learningbasichypnosis.
Theanonymousauthorwroteinhisintroductiontotheoriginalversionofthisebook,Everypersonnew
tohypnosisasksthesamequestions.DecadesagoIalsoaskedthem.Lately,asagrumpyoldman,Ive
growntiredofhavingtogivethesameanswersoverandover.SoIdecidedtocompilethequestionsand
answersintooneebookwhichisintotal,averygoodguideforbeginnerswantingtolearnabout
hypnosis.
Withthat,Ihopeyouwilllearnalotfromthisbookanditwillkindleyourdesiretolearnmoreabout
hypnosis,andhopefullyoneday,Iwilleitherseeyouinclassorfindthatyouareanewgraduateofone
ofourdistancelearningcourses.
Sincerely,
CalBanyan
BanyanHypnosisCenterforTraining&Services,Incorporated
1431WarnerAvenue,SuiteE
Tustin,California92780


Therestofthisbookiswritteninaquestionandanswerformatwiththeauthorscomments
interspersed.Tohelpyoufurther,fromtimetotimeyouwillrunacrosshyperlinksinthetextthatwill
takeyoutoadditionalinformation.Thishasbeendoneinorderforyoutohaveaccesstonewand
updatedmaterial.Alas,everybookbecomesdatedassoonasitispublished,butbyprovidingyouwith
theembeddedlinks,weexpectthattheinformationprovidedwillbeupdatedregularly.
Sonow,onwiththequestions:
1.Isittruethatcan'tbehypnotizedunlessyouarewillingtobehypnotized?(Inotherwords,if
we'resittingandtalking,Icouldn'tbeputunderhypnosisunlessIwantedtobeputunder.Many
yearsbackwehadahypnotistatschoolandthatiswhathesaidtoo.)
Dependsonwhatyoumeanby"willing".Peopleareswayedbyapoliticianorasalesmanusinghypnotic
techniques,dittowithTVads.But,yousee,noamountofhamburgeradswouldpersuademetobuya
hamburgerbecausejustthethoughtofeatingsomethingwithallthosechemicals,animalcrueltyand
environmentaldevastation,makesmefeelsick.So,I'm"notwillingtobehypnotizedtoeatredmeat.

2.Isittruethatyoucan'tbehypnotizedandnotknowyou'rebeinghypnotized?Example:We're
talkingandwithouthavingaclue,youcouldhypnotizeme.(Surehopenot.)
Controversial.Hypnosisislikedaydreaming.Soifyou'reinaweofsomeoneorsay,fallinginlovewitha
guy,youmightnotrealizethatyouareinasortoftrancelikestate.
Basically,allthisiswords.Youprobablyhaveanerroneousideaofwhathypnosisisfrombadmovies,
booksandstageshowsthatdeliberatelymakeyouthinkthehypnotizedpersonisinsomekindofother
worldlystate,underthecontrolofthehypnotist.Notso.
3.Ifyouwillinglyarehypnotized,canyoubemadetoforgetwhathappenedwhileyouwere
hypnotized?Andthen,whenyou'rebroughtoutofthehypnosis,youhavenoideayouwereeven
hypnotizedinthefirstplace?
NoonecanMAKEyoudoorthinkanything,unlessyouwantit.Soyoumayaskthehypnotisttosuggest
amnesia.Andyou'llforget.Butrecallisalwayspossiblewithalittleverbalnudging.
The"hiddenobserver"inyourmindiswatchingcontinuouslytokeepyousafe.
Manypeoplethinkthatpeoplewhoarehypnotizeddontrememberit.Andtheyhavethaterroneous
beliefpreciselybecausetheyhaveatotallywrongconceptofhypnosistobeginwith.Inhypnosis,you
areawake,aware,andconscious.Youcaneventellliesifyouchoose,youdon't"wakeup"becauseyou
werenotasleep.Timeisverysubjective.Inhypnotherapy,thesubjectivepassageoftimecanbeslowed
downorspeededup.Thisisveryusefulfortherapy.
Thatwasn'tenoughfortheenquirer.Shewroteafollowup:
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4.Thankyouforyourpromptreply.Ithinkyou'reprobablyright.Idon'treallyknowwhathypnosis
is.Regardingmy1stquestion,yourexampleofthehamburgerswasagoodone.Bywilling,that's
whatImeant.Example:IfIsmoked(Idon't)andIdidn'twanttostop,Icouldn'tbemadetostop
throughhypnosis.Anotherexample,ifIseeadog,hypnosiscouldn'tmakemethinkit'sahorse
becauseIwouldn'twanttothinkthat.AmIright?
Right!Exceptthatinthesecondexampleyoucouldbe"tricked"ifyoutrustedthehypnotizerandwere
toldthatanewlanguageoranewdefinition,wouldnowcallthedogahorse.(Ifyouwereonstage
youdreadilyidentifythedogasahorse).Butagain,youstillbelieveitbecauseyouwantto.And,once
outofhypnosis,theabsurditywouldhaveyoulaughing....
5.Regardingquestion#2youhitthenailonthehead.Ithoughtthehypnotistwasincontrolandable
tomakeyoudothingsyoudidn'twanttodo.That'sfalse?
ThoughtI'dmadethatpointasyouhaveabove.
6.Fromyourexplanation,amIrightinsayingthehypnotistcansuggestthingssuchasthirstyor
hungry,butifyou'renot,you'renotgoingtowantadrinkorfood.Hecansuggestitbuthecan't
MAKEyouwantit.Right?
Right.Whydon'tyoureadagoodbookonhypnosis?
7.Thelastpartof#3regardingtime.IfIwereinasessionwithyou,youcouldmakeitseemliketime
hadpassedquicklyorslowlybutifmyappt.startedat3:00andIleftat3:15Iwouldknowtimehad
passed.Youcouldn'tmakemethinknotimehadpassed.Correct?
Couldn'tMAKEyouthinkanything.Ididn'twritethatNOtimehadpassed.Iwrotethattime(remember
thisisahumanconstruct)issubjectivesothehypnoticsuggestionoftimecouldbeofstretchingit,orof
shorteningitbutnottoooutlandishlengths.
8.Sotosumitup,(1)ahypnotistisnotincontrol,(2)shecan'tmakeyoudoorthinksomethingyou
donotwanttodoorthink,and(3)shecan'tmakeyouforgetyouwerehypnotizedbecauseyouare
notinatrance(sleep).Correct?
Whetheryou'reinatranceornot,isacontroversialpoint.What,afterall,isatrance?But,definitely
notsleep.Howcouldyoufollowsuggestionsifyouwereasleep?Alwaysamazesmethatpeopledon't
wonderaboutthat.
9.Ithinkmywrongideasabouthypnosisarelikeyousaid.Frombadmovies,etc.Arehypnosisand
hypnotherapyoneandthesame?
Hypnotherapyistheuseofhypnosistoenablethetherapisttoconducttherapy.

Definitions
1. Whatishypnosis?
Althoughsomedefinitionsdescribehypnosisintermsofinteractionbetweenpeople,hypnosisisnot
somethingoneperson"does"toanother.
Hypnosisislikedaydreaming:aformofrelaxedconcentration.Whatisrelaxedis,firstthebodyand
second,theconsciouspartofthemind
2. Doesitputyouintoatrancestate?
Somehypnotherapistsbelieveoureverydaysenseofrealityisactuallyatrance.Thatweneedto
awaken,todehypnotizefromthemythsofwhatwethinkisreal.
Formostpractitioners,themostcommonviewofhypnosisisthatitisanalteredstateofconsciousness;
yourawarenessdifferssomehowtoyoureverydaysenseofreality.Thisisoftenreferredtoasbeingina
trance.However,formany,perhapsmostpeoplebeinginhypnosisdonotseemmuchdifferenttohow
theyfeelatothertimes.
3. Sodoesthatmeanthatyouarenotinatrance?
Theveryexistenceoftranceischallengedbysomehypnosisauthorities.
4. So,ishypnosisjustanothernameforrelaxation?
No.Oftenapersonnewtohypnosiswillnotethatshefeelsrelaxed.Oftenmoredeeplyrelaxedthan
sheseverfeltbefore.Thishasledtoclaimsthathypnosisisnothingmorethanprofoundrelaxation.But
laboratorytestsprovehypnosisissomethingmorethanrelaxation:e.g.,afterhypnosis,theheartrate
remainssloweddownlongerthanafterrelaxationalone.
5. Ishypnosissimplysuggestion?
Whatdoesthismean?Thatpeopleinhypnosiswillacceptsuggestionsmorereadilythanwhennotin
hypnosis?Thatexplainsnothing.
Peoplearereadilysuggestiblewithouthypnosisthemammothadvertisingindustryatteststothat
andpeopleinhypnosisbydefinitionwanttocooperate.Ofcoursetheyacceptsuggestions.
Theysuspendtheirdisbeliefastheywouldwhilereadinganovel.Butsuggestsomethingthatis
distastefultothemandthey'llquicklystopcooperatingjustasthey'ddropanovelwhichoffended
them.
6. Perhapshypnosisisjustroleplaying?
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Sometheoristssaythatpeoplethinkordothingsinhypnosisbecauseit'sexpectedofthemandby
them.Theyarefulfillingarole.Theywanttopleasethehypnotist.Sothere'snoalteredstateof
consciousness,there'ssimplyamotivationtoactasthoughhypnotized.
Thistheorymightholdforstageperformancesandthelikebutcanhardlyapplytosurgery.Thousands
ofhypnotizedpersonshavebenefitedfromoperationswithnochemicalanesthetic.
7. Ishypnosisaformofpsychologicalconditioning?
Accordingtothisexplanation,apersonlearnsthroughdirectexperienceorthroughTVorthemovies,
howtobehave'hypnotized'.
Anotherwaytoseehypnosisassomethinglearnedistoassertthatapersonbecomesconditionedtoa
wordstimulussuchas"Relax."Oncehavingallowedhimselftorelax,theclientisthereafterconditioned
torepeattheexperienceofrelaxinguponhearingthestimulusword.
8. IsHypnosisaFormofDissociation?
Thisdefinitionclaimsthatinsomeasyetunexplainedway,thementalfunctioningofapersonis
compartmentalizedandonepartcanbeisolatedfromtheothers.
Dissociationisaneverydayconsciousexperiencewhichbeginsinchildhood,accordingtoDr.Josephine
R.Hilgard,notedhypnosisresearcherandauthor.Whenapersonisengagedinconversationwith
someoneelse,heisalsotalkingwithhimselfandthinkingaheadtohisnextcomments.
Childrenblithelyslipinandoutoffantasylives,temporarilyadoptingmakebelieveroleswhichthey
discardatwill.Thiscapacitytofantasizecanberetainedthroughpracticeandmakesthedissociation
characteristicofhypnosislesssurprising.
9. Whenyouareinhypnosisareyouasleep?
No,youareconscious,awakeandaware.
10. So,whatishypnosis?
Alteredstate,relaxation,heightenedsuggestibility,roleplaying,conditioningordissociation,whatever
hypnosisis,itenablesapersontoexperiencethoughtsandimagesasthoughtheywerereal.
11. Doesthatmeanithasnothingtodowiththesubconscious?
Notnecessarily.Manyhypnotistsdefinehypnosisasthebypassingofthecritical[conscious]mindand
accessingofthesubconscious.
12. Thatsoundsimpressive,butwhatdowemeanbythesubconscious?

Althoughsomepeopleequatethesubconsciouswiththebrainsrighthemisphere,thesubconsciousis
probablybetterunderstoodinametaphoricalsense.Forexample,Freudclaimeditisacesspoolof
sexualandviolenturgeswhilepresentdaytheoristsaremorelikelytoconsiderthesubconscioustobe
eitherawellspringofgoodnessorastorehouseofmemoriesthatnormallyliesoutsideourconscious
awareness.

Hypnotizability
1. Cananyonebehypnotized?
Generallyspeaking,yes.Anypersonofnormalintelligencewhoiswillingtofollowinstructionscanbe
hypnotized.Theexceptionwouldbeindividualswhosufferfromseverementalillnesssuchas
Schizophrenia.
Manypeople,whentheyhearabouthypnosis,say,"Well,Ican'tbehypnotized."Thesepeoplehave
beenmisinformed,mostlybyHollywood,aboutwhathypnosisisandisnot.Itisnotnecessarytobein
somesortofotherworldlytrancetobeinhypnosis.Hypnosisisanaturalstatewhicheveryonemovesin
andoutofthroughouteachday.Manyofoureverydaynormalactivitiesareactuallyperformedunder
hypnosiswithoutusbeingawareofit.
Anexampleofhypnosisisplayingvideogames.Somepeoplecanplayvideogamesforhoursinone
sitting.Ifsomeoneweretotalktoyouwhileyouwereinavideogamesession,youwouldbeableto
respond.Yetanothergoodexampleofahypnoticstateisbeingonthecomputer.Peoplewhoareusing
acomputerarefocusedonwhattheyaredoing,butcanintelligentlyanswerthephonewhenitrings.
So,hypnosisisnodifferenttoplayingvideogamesorworkingonacomputer.Mostpeopleengagedin
theseactivitieswouldnotthinktheyareinatrance,buttheyare.Theyareinalighthypnotictrance
knownasAlpha.
Oh,bytheway,readingafascinatingarticle(likethisone)isanotherformofhypnosis...surprise!You're
inhypnosis!!!
Inalpha,yourmindissloweddownjustalittle,yourfocusisnarrow,yourbreathingisslow,andyouare
relaxed.Sinceyouareupto200timesmoresuggestibleevenwhileyouareinthelightstateofalpha,
anythingbeyondthisisunnecessaryformostpurposes(i.e.programmingsomeonetoloseweight,stop
smoking,overcomefearofflying,etc.).Youcanhaveanextremelyeffectivehypnosissessionwhile
beingawareofandabletorecalleverywordspokenbytheHypnotherapist.
2. Canasleepingpersonbehypnotized?
Althoughsomepeopleclaimthisispossible,youhaveonlytorememberthatthesleepingpersonis
unconscioustorealizetheabsurdityoftryingtohypnotizeher.
3. Ishypnosisaskill?
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Yes.Hypnosisisaninborntalentoftheclient.Itsuse,deliberateorunwitting,variesfrompersonto
person.Yourdevelopmentofthisskillcanbeenhancedwiththeguidanceofanexperiencedhypnotist.
Thenthetalentcansubsequentlybeevenmoreusefulandenjoyablewhenemployedbyyouonyour
own.
4. Isitatrait?
No.Hypnosisisnotafixedtrait,likeeyecolor.Althoughbuiltintoourbasicbiologyitcanbeenhanced
withpractice.
5. Ishypnotizabilitylinkedtootherpersonality?Characteristics?
Notmuch.Peoplewhoarehighlyintelligentaremoreeasilyhypnotizedasarepeoplewhohavebeen
sexuallyabusedaschildren(possibly,becausetosurvivetheyhadtodissociate).

Science
1. Isthereascientificbasistohypnosis?
Yes.Hypnosishasbeenstudiedextensively.
2. Isthereabiologicalbasisforhypnosis?
Yes.Whenapersonisinhypnosis,specificpartsofthebrainlightupinbrainscans.Also,fordecades
CandacePert,ascientist,andErnestRossi,apsychologist,haveexplainedhowhypnosishasmeasurable
effectsarisingfromthoughtsandbehaviorsthroughtheintermediaryflowofneuronsandhormones.
3. So,hypnosisisbuiltintoourbasicbiology?
Yes.Itstheoppositeofthewellknownflightorfightresponse.Itsthecalmandconfidentresponse.
4. Isittruethateverythingthathaseverhappenedtomeisrecordedinmybrainlikeavideo,
waitingtobereplayed?
No.Memoryisselectiveandmalleable.Thereisnounblemishedrecordofyourlifestoredsomewhere
justwaitingforyoutorediscovereventsfromyourpast.Withhypnosis,youmaybeabletorecallsome
eventsthatyouareconsciouslyunawareofbut,thereisnoguaranteethattherecallisaccurate.
5. Arehypnoticsuggestionsakintosoftwareandthebrainlikeacomputer?
Sortof.Thesemetaphorssuitourcurrentthinking.Theyserveashandyshorthandfordescribingthe
processofhypnosis.ButjustasNewtonianphysicswasrevolutionizedbyEinsteinandhistheorieslater
broughtintoquestionbyquantumphysics,soourmetaphorswilllikelybesupersededwhenwe
understandmoreabouthowthebrainfunctions.Meanwhile,justasNewtonsideasarestillusefulin
certaincontexts,sotooistheideathatourmindsaresomewhatlikecomputers.However,remember
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thatacomputerspitsoutexactlywhatisenteredintoit.Thehumanmindmodifiestheinformation
entered.

Control
1. Doesthehypnotistcontroltheclient?
Thatisonlyasmuchastheclientwantstobecontrolled.Badmoviesandbooksnotwithstanding,since
theclientisawakeandaware,shedecideswhatshe'llagreeto.
2. Aretheretimeswhenitwouldbegoodtobeoutofhypnosis?
Yes.Forexample,whenyouaresomesmerizedwhilesurfingtheNetthatyouwouldbuysomething
youdontneed,justbecauseyouareinadaze.
Moreseriously,youmightwanttobedehypnotizedfromthefoodindustrysTVadsorfromthe
negativemessagesimplantedinyourheadbywellmeaning(ornotsowellmeaning)parents.
3. Cansomeonebehypnotizedtorobabank?
Thatisonlyiftheyactuallywanttocommitthecrime.Andthen,theywouldntneedtobehypnotized.
Ifitwerepossibletomakesomeonecommitacrimebyhypnotizingthem,thentheCIAandtheKGB
wouldhaverejoicedinbeingabletoprogramkillers.
Despitetheirbestefforts(inthe60s)theywereunabletopersuadenormalrecruitstokilljustbecause
theywerehypnotized.Andtheirpsychopathsdidntneedhypnosisasanexcuse.
4. WillIrevealsecretswhenIaminhypnosis?
Youwillonlysaywhatyouwanttosay.Intherapy,itisoftenbeneficialtorevealasecret.Butifyouare
revealingasecretwhileinhypnosis,itsbecauseyouchoosetodoso,notbecauseyourehypnotized.
5. Canhypnosisbeusedtouncoverthetruth?
No.Thisquestionisoftenaskedbysomeonewantingtoknowforsureiftheirpartnerisreallybeing
faithful.However,thepartnercouldtelllieswhilehypnotized.Hypnosisdoesnotactlikeatruthserum.

Dangers
1. Canhypnosisbedangerous?
No.Theresnodangerinhypnosis,onlyinhypnotists.Hypnosiscanbemisused,deliberatelyor
unwittingly.

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Deliberatemisuseofhypnosisiswhataphilanderingphysiciandidwhenhetrickedhishypnotizedwife
intoswallowingafataloverdoseofpills.
UnwittingmisuseisliketheBritishstagehypnotistwhowasconvictedofcausingavolunteerextreme
distressbecauseheregressedhertoanagewhensherecalledbeingsexuallyassaulted.Heshouldhave
suggestedsheactlikeasixyearold,ratherthanbesixyearsold.
2. Canthehypnotistcreateafalsememoryinmyhead?
No.But,shecouldcreateafalsebeliefinadvertentlybecauseshesuggestssomethingthatdidnt
actuallyhappenordeliberately,becauseitspartofyourtherapy.
Letmeexplain:thehypnotistmightbyaccidentaskaleadingquestionsuchasAndwhoelseisinthe
roomwithyour7yearoldself?whichwouldlikelycauseahypnotizedclienttoimaginesomeonebeing
inthatroomevenifinrealitytherehadbeennootherpersonpresent.
Ontheotherhand,thehypnotistmightverydeliberatelyandpositivelysuggestaclientwhoisafraidof
publicspeakingimaginehimselfgivingagreatspeechathisnextbusinessmeeting.
3. CanIgetstuckinatrance?
No.Ifthehypnotiststoppedtalkingtoyouafterawhileyoudeitherdriftofftosleeporyoudopen
youreyestofindoutwhatsgoingon.
4. WillIsaythingsthatwouldembarrassme?
No.Youaretheoneincontrolofwhatyousayanddo.Eveninahypnotictrance,youareawareofyour
actions.
5. CouldIbesexuallyassaultedwhileinhypnosis?
Ofcourseanyonecouldbeassaultedatanytime.Fortunately,sinceyouareawakeandawareofwhats
happeningwhileyoureinhypnosis,youwouldbeabletorespondinthesamewaythatyouwould
whenyouwerenotinhypnosis.
6. Whatdoesitfeelliketobeinhypnosis?
Thisistraditionallyansweredbyitfeelsdifferentforeachpersonwhichisabitlikeclaimingthatno
twosnowflakesarealike.HowonEarthwouldweknow?Whenusedinatherapeuticcontext,many
peoplereportfeelingrelaxed,uncaringabouttheireverydayconcerns,onlyvaguelyawareoftheir
surroundings,barelyhearingextraneousnoises,focusedintheirimaginations,armsandlegseither
pleasantlyheavyorlight,enjoyabletinglingsensations,senseofpeaceandlethargy,mindsuperalert.
Toanobserver,thehypnotizedpersonlooksasrelaxedasifshewereasleep.Inparticular,theface
becomesplacidandsometimesalittleflushed.Theeyelidsmaytwitchalittle.
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7. HowdoIknowIwashypnotized?
Thebestwayisfromtheresultsachieved.Ifyouexperiencethekindofphysicalandimaginativedetails
describedabove,youprobablywontevenaskthisquestion.However,iflikealotofpeople,youdont
feelmuchdifferentphysicallyormentallywhilesupposedlyinhypnosis,therearethreepossibilities:
a. Youwerehypnotizedbutbecauseoffalsenotionsabouthypnosis,decidedyouwerent.
b. Youchosenottobehypnotized.
c. Youwerenothypnotized.
8. WhenIwassupposedlyinhypnosisIheardeverywordthetherapistsaidsoIcouldnothavebeen
hypnotized,couldI?
HypnotherapistSirMichaelCarrJonesanswersthisbysayingyourquestionishisbiggestbtenoir.
Ofcourse,youheareveryword.Youareawake,aware,andfullyconscious.Ifyoucouldnothearevery
word,wewouldallbewastingourtimeandyourmoney."
9. WhyareyouandSirMichaelannoyedwhenpeopleusethephraseunderhypnosis?
Thatisbecausethatinvokestheoutdatedconceptofthehypnotistbeingincontrol,oftheclientbeing
involuntarilysedated.
10. Ishypnosissafeforchildren?
Yes.Hypnosisissafeforeveryone.Childrencanreadilybenefitbecause,evenmorethanadults,they
slipinandoutofhypnosisnaturallyalldayastheyplaymakebelieve.
11. Isrelaxationaprerequisiteforhypnosis?
No.Itis,ofcourse,preferabletorelaxwhenyouareinatherapistsoffice.Butyoucould(andoftendo)
gointohypnosiswhileexercisingvigorously(e.g.runningamarathon)orinanemergency(suchasacar
crash).
12. Whatisforensichypnosis?
ForensicHypnosisistheuseofhypnosisinpoliceandsimilarinvestigations.

Hypnotherapy
1. Ishypnosisthesamethingashypnotherapy?

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Strictlyspeaking,no.Thelabelisoftenusedwhenatherapistuseshypnosiswithaclient.But,however
refreshingitistoenjoybeinginhypnosis,theexperiencebyitselfisnottherapeutic.Therapyisdone
whileapersonisinhypnosis,notbyhypnosis.
2. Sothehypnotisthastobeatrainedpsychotherapist,physicianorpsychologist?
Notnecessarily.Inmanyjurisdictions,anyonecanopenanofficeasahypnotherapist(orasa
psychotherapist)withabsolutelynocredentialsinpsychology,medicine,hypnosis,psychotherapyor
psychopathology.
3. Howlongdoesaposthypnoticsuggestionlast?
Generallyspeaking,itdependsonanumberoffactorssuchasthedepthofhypnosis,thenumberof
timeahypnoticsuggestionwasgiven,andthehypnotictechniquesbeingused.Ihavefoundthatthe
deeperthehypnoticstateis,andthegreaterthenumberoftimesthesuggestionisgiven,thelongerthe
suggestionlasts.Alsousinginsighttechniquessuchashypnoticageregressioncanmakesuggestions
lastaverylongtime,orevenbepermanent.
4. Havingsuccessfullyhadhypnotherapyforaphobia,williteverbenecessarytohavea"topup"to
preventthephobiafromreturning?
Perhaps.Ifyouarefrequentlyintheformerlyphobicsituationbutnowfeelcomfortable,itsunlikely
youllneedatopup.Thenewhabitofbeingnonphobicwillhavereplacedtheoldphobia.
However,ifthephobicsituationisonethatyourarelyencounterbutyoudofindyourselfonceagain
abouttofaceitthenyoumightneedbriefhypnotherapy.Oryoucouldusetheselfhypnosistechniques
taughttoyoubyyourtherapist.
5. Doesapersonhavetogodeeplyintohypnosistomakechangesinherlife?
Depthinhypnosisissubjective.Butwhatmightbecalledalighttranceissufficientfortherapeutic
changesuchasstoppingsmokingorlosingweight.Presumablythough,youdwanttobedeepinto
hypnosisifitwastheonlyanestheticyouwereusingwhileundergoingsurgery!
6. Doeshypnotherapyrequiregadgetsorelectronicdevices?
Somehypnotherapistsliketohavetheirclientslistenthroughheadphonestoarelaxinginductionmixof
wordsandmusic.Otherswilluseametronome,pendulumorotherdeviceforfocusingtheclients
attention.
Nodeviceisactuallyessential.Mosthypnotherapistssimplytalktheirclientsintohypnosisonaoneto
onebasis.Probablynotasfinanciallyprofitableashavinganumberofclientsinseveralroomswith
electronicallyequippedreclinerslinkedtoacentralbroadcastingunit.
7. Canhypnotherapybeperformedlongdistance?
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Yes,butnotinsomeotherworldlymentaltelepathyformat.Atelephoneorcomputerisnecessary.
TodayNetHypnosisisalotmoreconvenient.Skypeandwebcamsmeanhypnotherapyisavailableto
anyone,anywhere.
8. Doesahypnotherapisthavetohaveaspecialvoice?
No,unlesshestryingoutforapartinaHollywoodmovie.Reallifehypnotherapistsusewhatevervoice
theyvebeengracedwith.Ofcourse,ithelpsifthevoiceissoothingratherthangrating.Andaconfident
toneisimportant.Apartfromthatanykindofvoiceissufficient.
9. Whatispastliferegression?
Regressionishelpingaclientinhisimaginationtogobackinhislife;pastliferegressionsupposedly
takesapersontoapreviouslife.Morelikely,themanyaccountsofsuchexperiencesareatributeto
humancreativity.
10. Whattrainingdoesapersonneedtobecomeahypnotherapist?
Hypnosisprofessionals(bothhypnotistsandhypnotherapists)receivetheirtraininginmanydifferent
ways.ManygothroughlivetrainingprogramssuchastheNationalGuildofHypnotistsApproved
BanyanHypnosisCertificationSuperCourse.Howevermanysuccessfulhypnosisprofessionalscan
receiveexcellenttrainingthroughdistantlearningcoursesthatconducttestingoftheirgradsthatison
partwiththeprogramsthataregiveninaliveclassroomsituation.
11. CanhypnotherapybesuccessfulifIdoitmyself,i.e.whatcanIaccomplishwithselfhypnosis?
Yes.Andyoucanaccomplisheverything.Itsbesttofirstexperiencehypnosiswithacompetent
practitioner.
12. Arethereothernamesforhypnotherapy?
Yes.Althoughtheiradvocateswillargueotherwiseinmyopinionhereareafewofthemanypractices
thatarebasicallyhypnotic:

CreativeVisualization
GuidedImagery
Yoga
Flooding(atechniqueusedbypsychologists)
EFT
EyeMovementandDesensitizationandReProcessing

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13. MustIclosemyeyesduringhypnotherapy?
No.Youcankeepyoureyesopen.Therearethreereasonsahypnotherapistwillaskyoutocloseyour
eyes:
a. Doingsosetsthestageforyoudoingassheasks,
b. Youfocusmoreeasilyonwhateveryouareimagining,
c. Itsquitedisturbingtothetherapisttowatchanunblinkingclientforanhourorso.
14. Whatproblemscanhypnotherapyovercome?
Therearesomanyapplicationsforhypnosisthatyoumightconsideritapanaceai.e.,asolutionforall
emotional,psychologicalandphysicalproblems.Especiallysincehypnosiscanbeusedwithpeopleofall
agesandwithamyriadofproblems.
Hereareafew:phobias,weightcontrol,insomnia,alcoholism,depression,psychosis,hypertension,
eatingdisorders,sexualdysfunctions,smokingcessation,medicalillness,posttraumaticstress,and
bipolaraffectivedisorder.
15. Canhypnotherapyhelpmedobetterinsports?
Yes,forsure.Hypnosiscanbeusedtoenhance:yoursportsactivities,yourlovelife,yourworkhabits,
yourconfidence,andyourcreativity.
16. Howisitpossiblethathypnotherapycanbesopowerful?
Becauseitdealswithfundamentalbeliefs.Supposedlystoredinwhatwecallthesubconscious(or
unconsciousinEngland)thesebeliefsarewhatguideusinoureverydayliving.Changethesebeliefs
andyouchangeyourlife.
17. Canhypnotherapycurecancer?
Therearehypnotherapistswhomakesuchclaims.Whilesomeremarkablephysicaleffectsof
hypnotherapyarepossible,theactualcuringofdiseasessuchascanceranddiabetesseemstobea
somewhatoutlandishclaim,nottomention,probablyillegalinmostjurisdictions.However,hypnosis,its
imitatorsandderivatives,arecertainlypowerfulinhelpingsickpeopleberelaxedandtoleadless
despairinglives.
18. Howcanhypnotherapyhelpaterminallyillpersonfocushermindwhenshehaslittletimeleft
andmightbesufferingfromnauseaandpain?
Hypnotherapistswhospecializeinpaincontrolsaythatthefocusingmaybeginfirstonthepain.
Alleviationofsomediscomforthelpstheclientfeelshestillhassomecontrol.Then,whenshesready,
sheexercisestheultimateinselfcontrol:lettinggo.
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19. Wouldn'tsuchclientshaveadifficulttimereachingsomnambulismwhileundertheinfluenceof
morphine,forinstance?
Somnambulismistheconceptofaverydeeplevelofhypnosisthatsomepractitionersconsider
mandatoryifaclientistosuccessfullyachievechange.SinceIconsiderthistobeabelief,ratherthana
fact,myansweristhatreachingsomnambulismonlymatterstothetherapist?
Morphinemightmakeiteasierforapatienttoutilizehypnosisafterall,sheisalreadyrelaxed.Imnot
awareofanystudiesonthis,soIamnotgivingadefinitiveanswer.
20. IsittruethatIwontrememberanythingthatwentonduringthehypnotherapysession?
No.Onthecontrary,youwillremembereverythingyouwanttoremember.Unless:yourequesta
suggestionforamnesia,youchoosenottoremember,oryouspontaneouslyforget.
21. WhywouldIspontaneouslyforget?
Eitherbecauseyoursubconsciousconsidersyouarenotyetreadytoconsciouslyfacewhateveryou
weredealingwithduringthesession,orbecauseyouareoneoftheestimated3%ofthepopulation
whoenjoysuchahightalentforhypnosisthatamnesiaoccursautomatically.
Evenforthesefortunatepeople(sometimesknownassomnambules)afewverbalhintswillsufficeto
activaterecall.
22. Whatisthehiddenobserver?
SomethingwithinyourbrainthatErnestHilgard,scientistandhypnosisresearcher,postulatesisalways
therekeepinganeyeout,sotospeak,tokeepyousafe.Itsthereasonsomnambulescanrecallwhat
wentonwhenpromptedtodoso.
23. Ishypnotherapysimplyaplacebo?
No.Butaswithalltherapies,placeboplaysalargepart.(Perhapsmorethan50%,claimsErnestRossi,
psychologist).

Religion
1. IshypnosiscompatiblewithChristianity?
SomeChristianfundamentalistsfrownupontheuseofhypnosis.Theybelievehypnosisisatoolofthe
Devil;thathypnosisopensyouuptoaccessbyevilspirits.
MainstreamChristiangroupshavenosuchqualms.Indeed,somenotonlyusehypnosisinatherapeutic
mannerbuthavetheirownassociations.

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2. IshypnosismentionedintheBible?
Perhaps.Somepeoplethinkhypnosisisreferredtohere:Genesis2:21,1Samuel26:12,Job4:13,33:15,
Acts10:10.
3. Doorganizedreligionsusehypnotictechniques?
Yes.Fromprayertomusictoritualprocessiontorepetitivechantstoaweinspiringbuildings,religions
benefitfromtechniquesthatcouldbeconsideredhypnotic.Someoftheseare:suspensionofdisbelief
inculcationofnewbeliefsrepetitionthroughsermonssingingorchantingritualstoreinforcebeliefs
repetitivedrummingordancing.

StageHypnosis
1. Onstage,surelythehypnotistisincontrol?
He(andoccasionally,she)deliberatelygivesthatimpression.
However,theonlycontrolthestagehypnotisthasiswhateveramountthevolunteersgive.Theyare
cooperatingwithhissuggestions,allowingthemselvestohavefunandtheycanexithypnosisanytime
theychoose.
2. Arethepeopleonstagereallyhypnotized?
Yes,ofcourse.
3. WhydoesthestagehypnotistsaySleep!?
Seemstobeaholdoverfromearliertimeswhenpeoplethoughthypnosiswasatypeofsleep.Alsoin
thosedays,allhypnosisinteraction(stageandtherapeutic)wasauthoritarian.Today,audiencesexpect
thisapproachbystagehypnotists.

The#1QuestionThatIGet
Thewordingvariesbutthe#1QuestionIvebeenaskedis:
1. Canhypnosishelpmeforgetsomeone?
Possibly.Oftentheenquirerwantstobeabletoforgetaformerlover,atraumaticeventoranobsessive
thought.
Whatiscertainisthatthedamagingemotionsaroundanevent,personorpersistentthoughtcanbe
minimizedoreveneliminatedwithhypnotherapy.
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Cuttingthecords(orthetiesthatbind)isatechniquethathypnotherapistsoftenusetofreeaperson
fromadisturbingmemory.

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