When and Why It May Be Necessary to Change a Client's Suggestibility

(This blog was originally posted on April 19, 2017)

Sometimes it is necessary to change a client’s suggestibility. One common reason to do this is to balance out the person’s suggestibility, such as if the individual has a high-emotional suggestibility score and does not seem to experience physical sensations. Alternatively, a high-physical suggestible person may want or need to have a less “literal” interpretation of information; in this case, it would be necessary to increase the person’s subdominant emotional suggestibility.

To successfully accomplish this, the hypnotherapist must understand how the mind works in the context of right brain/left brain theory. This theory posits that each hemisphere (half) of the brain is responsible for processing information that it receives. The right hemisphere is generally associated with symbols, pictures and images (inferences), while the left processes language and words (direct and literal). Hypnosis Motivation Institute founder John Kappas, Ph.D. believed that the most effective way to communicate with a person is based on his or her suggestibility and how the client’s subconscious mind communicates with his or her conscious mind.

According to Dr. Kappas, the right side of the brain is associated with physical suggestibility. Since each hemisphere controls the actions of the opposite side of the body, the hypnotherapist must work with the left side of the body to increase physical suggestibility. While the client is in hypnosis, the hypnotherapist should give suggestions to enhance physical suggestibility while the person clenches the left hand and tightens the fist, which sends more sensations to the right brain. Alternatively, to increase emotional suggestibility/logical response, the client should tighten the right fist while the hypnotherapist gives appropriate suggestions to increase emotional suggestibility.

“The more you have the client do this, the greater the [desired] suggestibility becomes,” Dr. Kappas said.

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/.

© 2017

Using a Double-Arm Raising Technique to Release Jealousy

Photo by Rick Hustead

According to John Kappas, Ph.D., “Emotional rejection is the worst kind of addiction you can have.”  The Hypnosis Motivation Institute founder liked to employ the double-arm raising technique to facilitate the release of extreme emotions such as jealousy because it help change the client’s receptiveness to his or her relationship crisis. 

As I explained in my previous blog titled Right Brain/Left Brain, the left part of the body is controlled by the right hemisphere (half) of the brain while the right part of the body is controlled by the left hemisphere. Furthermore, the right hemisphere associated with the emotional response and the left hemisphere is associated with logic. The goal of a double-arm-raising technique is to replace the extreme emotional (jealousy) response to the break-up with a more logical perspective about the end of the relationship. 

To demonstrate how this technique works, the hypnotherapist worked with a high-physical sexual male client who was extremely jealous of his estranged wife’s new romantic partner. As the client’s raised left arm began to lower and the right arm started to elevate, the subconscious mind received the message that extreme emotion would go down. Meanwhile the rising right arm reinforced the subconscious message that a logical, detached response to the break-up would enable him to release feelings for the partner and let go of the relationship.

“You made your decision to release the pain and jealousy and deal with it logically and effectively,” Dr. Kappas suggested. “The hurt dissipates and you logically see the [relationship] as it is.” The hypnotherapist followed up this technique with staircase visualization to reinforce the transference suggestion in the client’s subconscious mind. “There isn’t anything negative in the past, just situations and circumstances. You’ve learned from those conditions and you’ll carry them forward.”

He advised that future hypnotherapy sessions with this client would include increasing his self-confidence and working to further reduce jealousy and anger.

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/.

© 2016

Right Brain, Left Brain

(This blog was originally posted on June 15, 2014)

Image courtesy of Microsoft

     I always consider right brain/left brain theory when I work with my hypnotherapy clients. According to Hypnosis Motivation Institute founder John Kappas, Ph.D., it refers to the most effective way to communicate with a person based on his or her suggestibility and how the client’s subconscious mind communicates with his or her conscious mind. According to right brain/left brain theory, each hemisphere (half) of the brain is responsible for processing information that it receives. The right hemisphere is generally associated with symbols, pictures and images (inferences), while the left processes language and words (direct and literal).

     The hypnotic script must emphasize direct and literal instructions to target the left hemisphere of a physical-suggestible client, while images and metaphors are more to likely to activate the right hemisphere of an emotional-suggestible client’s brain. (Someone who has emotional suggestibility will understand and process a direct and literal suggestion, although those phrases may not resonate as strongly with this person.) When a client is in a deeper state of hypnosis, he or she can’t relate to the world in terms of words. At this is fourth-level stage of amnesia—which is associated with the right hemisphere of the brain—pictures and images (metaphors) are required to facilitate communication between the right and left hemispheres of the brain. Those words are intended to instantly call up a picture/image, emotion or sensation that the subconscious mind instantly recognizes and understands to increase the effectiveness of the hypnosis script and the hypnotherapy.

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®, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.

© 2015