To minimize risk of exposure to and spread of the COVID-19 virus, I have temporarily suspended in-person hypnotherapy sessions with me in my office, but they will be returning soon! Meanwhile, phone, and Zoom consultations ARE and WILL REMAIN AVAILABLE!
A customer
walked into a music store the other day and the shop assistant said, “Good
morning.”
The
customer replied, “You too.”
The
assistant said, “Second shelf, first aisle on the left.”
I have been a certified hypnotherapist,
officially, for nearly 16 years. Suggestibility—specifically, the difference
between emotional and physical suggestibility—is
one of the first concepts I learned about during my training at the Hypnosis Motivation Institute. All these
years later, I continue to be fascinated by and amused with the way people’s
suggestibility influences people’s day-to-day interactions and communication.
Briefly, HMI founder John Kappas, Ph.D., described
suggestibility as the way we communicate and learn. Specifically, physical
suggestibility is a literal and direct communication style. Emotional
suggestibility entails inference and metaphor; the person looks for meaning
behind the words.
Suggestibility occurs along a spectrum and it
is not determined by your gender or sexuality. It is a behavior that we typically
learn from our primary caretaker. Typically, although not necessarily, “mom,” a
primary caretaker is the person whom we identify as the individual that met our
most basic survival needs from when we were born until about age 8. So it is
very common to have a different suggestibility and communication “style” from
our secondary caretaker (e.g., dad), as I recently experienced.
My dad: Can I get you anything from the
grocery store?
Me: I actually need more black-tea bags for
hot tea. Thanks!
My dad: Okay. And he purchased, literally, a
box of black-tea bags.
What I meant, though, was that I wanted
more bags of Tetley tea, which we both prefer for hot tea. Because I meant
a specific brand, I assumed he knew that, too. Nope. A physical suggestible, he
literally purchased what I asked for, and I could only laugh about that.
A few days later, during a riding lesson, my
trainer told me to ask my horse to go “forward.” I honestly cannot remember
what her specific words or instructions were; they were very general and vague.
Literally, a metaphor. But those words resonated so deeply and comfortably that
I knew exactly what she meant and what she wanted me to do. They created
a picture in my subconscious mind, and that picture became a feeling. My body
instinctively knew what I needed to do, so I did that. Once again, I had to
laugh. This was also a superb example of suggestibility in action.
In reference to the fun exchange between an
employee at a music store, who do you think was the Physical Suggestible? Who was
the Emotional Suggestible?
I wonder how the rest of the conversation might
have gone…
Special Offer!
I am extending my May 2021 special offer! This month, when you
book your FIRST (Introductory) hypnotherapy session with me you are eligible
for a $25 discount on BOTH your Second AND Third follow-up, a la Carte
appointments! This promotion may not be combined with any other
offer. It is non-transferable and may not be exchanged for cash. Discount does
not apply for hypnotherapy-package discounts. Valid through June 30, 2021.
Sara
R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern
California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in
2005. In July 2019 and in September 2020 she was voted the Best Hypnotherapist
in Santa Clarita, California. For more information about Calminsense
Hypnotherapy® and to set up an
appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.
© 2021
