(This blog was originally posted on March 26, 2014)
It
goes without saying that each hypnotic script that I create for my clients is
unique. It has to be: since each
person is idiosyncratic and individual, even similar issues such as the desire
to stop smoking, lose weight or increase self-confidence to speak in public
will be as unique as the person who is wants to replace or discard an unwanted
behavior. Furthermore, the origins of that unwanted behavior or habit will vary
as much as each person’s reasons and motivations to change it and the degree of
their suggestibility (how they learn). While I have and know many basic
hypnotherapeutic “ingredients” to help my clients achieve their specific
vocational and avocational self-improvement goal, it is up to me to create the
specific “recipe” that will achieve this objective.
I create and
tailor hypnotic scripts in a three-part process:
1.
First, I actively listen to what the person is
telling me/explaining about his or her situation and goals to change a
behavior. I will ask questions and even re-state or reframe what the person has
said to make sure I understand what is going on.
2.
Meanwhile, I will be processing/integrating this
information into a basic hypnotic script that I already know is or will be
useful to address this issue. Literally hundreds of generic hypnotic scripts exist
to address various topics, but each one is not necessarily appropriate for or
applicable to every situation.
3.
Next, I construct the actual script using the
client’s own words (descriptions) about why, how, when, etc., he or she wants
to change the unwanted behavior based on his or her suggestibility. If the
person is a physical suggestible, I know that the person’s subconscious mind will
understand and process direct and literal suggestions such as, “Your eyes are
closing.”) An emotional suggestible client’s subconscious will respond to
indirect or metaphoric suggestions, such as “Your eyelids feel heavy.”
Once I choose a
working framework for the hypnotic script I will use, I can be somewhat creative
with how/when/where I include the client’s specific words or phrases in the
suggestions. I may incorporate an imagery exercise or specific elements from a
different (albeit related) script to support the hypnotherapy work I am doing
with a particular client. For example, during hypnosis I like to include imagery around the
color red to reinforce the idea of “stopping” the unwanted behavior (e.g.,
eating sweets, smoking, nail-biting, etc.) whenever the person sees this color.
I can also decide—even at the last second—to not do a particular technique with a client, such as Inner Child
work, if I see that the individual is abreacting (negative physical response)
to some suggestions, which could indicate that his or her subconscious mind is
not ready to accept or process this information.
Basically,
during this process I am following the advice of jeet
kune do creator and martial arts legend Bruce Lee: “Absorb what is
useful. Discard what is not. Add what is uniquely your own.” I take the basic
framework of a hypnotherapy process and subtly tailor the script to make it
specific and relevant for the client I am working with, based on the fast
decisions I must make about which material to use and how and when to use it
during the session.
Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in
Southern California. She graduated with honors from the
Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more information about
Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.
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