How To Hypnotize Someone: A Basic Hypnotic Induction

Posted on November 1, 2008 
Filed Under Tools & Techniques

Even though hypnosis is a natural state every one of us goes in and out of several times each day, hypnosis is still one of the most misunderstood techniques on the planet. Though hypnosis may appear like sleeping, or mind-control, hypnosis can be done with eyes open or closed; and it is actually a state of heightened awareness rather than unconsciousness. Though hypnosis can work while you sleep, the goal is to stay awake and relaxed during hypnosis. It is in this state that hypnotic suggestions can be best learned, retained, and accessed. Though I use many different methods, here’s how I use the most commonly known method of hypnosis – the progressive relaxation induction.

Whether you do this yourself for relaxation, stress-management, self-improvement, or to help someone else, hypnosis works best in a quiet, comfortable setting – preferably sitting-up rather than lying down – with dim lights and soft, instrumental music with no lyrics. Complete silence is my preference; but, since that’s hard to find, soft, soothing music (spa music) helps to mask ambient noise that might otherwise be distracting. People often get cold while in hypnosis, so have a blanket nearby, or turn-up the thermostat. Once you’ve established ideal conditions for hypnosis, and obtained permission from the person being hypnotized – and agreed on what you are doing hypnosis for – you are ready to induce a hypnotic state and offer helpful suggestions designed to help the client reach their goal. In a clinical setting, this would all be part of a pre-talk that included an explanation of what hypnosis is and is not, and what the client would likely experience – along with busting a few myths and misconceptions about hypnosis.

Have the person being hypnotized simply close their eyes and do their best to relax. Ask them to take a deep breath in through their nose and release it along with any stress or worries they might be holding on to. Instruct them to take a couple more deep breaths and, as they release them, relax more deeply, and let-go of any remaining tension. Once you have them starting to think about relaxing, start at the top of the head and work down to the feet – guiding the client step-by-step through the process of relaxing each part of their body. Once they’ve relaxed from head-to-toe, there are deepening exercises and tests a clinical hypnotherapist would use; but, for these purposes, you can start issuing affirmations and positive, helpful suggestions that you have agreed to prior to hypnosis – repeating the suggestions at least three-times each to make the statements have a deeper impact. Or, if you’re just using this technique for stress-management, relaxation, or to go to sleep, once relaxation is reached you can do whatever you want – including go to sleep.

Here’s a basic script you can use to induce hypnosis; but there are many versions of hypnotic inductions in books on hypnosis and online.

“Put your attention on your eyes. Just let your eyes relax and notice how easy it is to relax your eyes and eyelids and the muscles around your eyes. Just let your eyelids hang shut like window shades as you feel your eyes relax even further. Your eyelids, in fact, are so relaxed that they actually feel heavy. Your eyelids feel so heavy, in fact, that you are sure that you couldn’t open them if you tried. And it’s almost as if they were glued shut, they’re so heavy. Even if you tried to open your eyes, you’d find that they are so relaxed and heavy-feeling that they feel stuck shut as if they were glued and you couldn’t open them if you tried. And the more you tried, the heavier they’d get. Now your eyes are the easiest part of your body to relax; and, now that you have relaxed your eyes so deeply that they just wouldn’t open no matter how hard you tried, take that feeling of relaxation you’ve developed in your eyes and use your attention to move that feeling of relaxation around your entire body – starting at your head.

Feel that wonderful relaxation spread through your scalp and down your face; feel that relaxation spread to your ears, cheeks, nose, lips, mouth, and cheeks. It feels good to relax so deeply as you continue to let that deep relaxation spread down your neck and across your shoulders – continuing down your back, feel each muscle in your body simply relax and let-go. You can continue spreading that relaxation as you let it travel down your right arm and then your left arm – relaxing your biceps, elbows, forearms, wrists, hands, and fingers. As you continue relaxing more and more deeply, let that feeling travel down your chest and abdomen, relaxing your waist, hips, pelvis and lower back. It continues to feel better and better, relaxing so deeply, as you relax each leg starting with your right leg releasing all tension and tightness starting at the thigh, then the knee, calf, ankle, foot, and toes. And now relax the left leg – from the thigh, to the knee, calf, ankle, foot, and toes. Now, that feels great to be so relaxed – limp and loose like a wet dishcloth. You are certain that you are so relaxed you couldn’t even move if you wanted to; and you certainly couldn’t open your eyes. In fact, you’re so relaxed sounds in and around you – in this room and outside of it – only deepen this state of relaxation. Now, listen to the sound of my voice, and, relaxing deeper and deeper with every breath and every sound, continue to relax and let everything but the sound of my voice drift away.”

This induction only takes a few minutes, depending on which version you use. After finishing with this induction, you can test the level of hypnosis, or simply start offering hypnotic suggestions. When you are finished, simply tell the person in hypnosis that you are going to count from 1-to-10; and, when you reach the number 10, they will be wide awake and feeling great. Start counting slowly, reminding them every number or two that they are becoming more and more alert and that they will be wide awake and alert when you reach the number 10. When you reach nine, say, “Nine…and your eyes are opening…completely open and wide awake at ten…and ten! Wide awake now and feeling great; say, “I feel great!” And let them say it. This is a safe way to relax, and a very effective way to achieve better health and performance in every area of life. Hypnosis can be used for practically anything; just search the Internet and library for more information on hypnosis, hypnotic inductions, and suggestions.

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