The possibilities when it comes to ways to hypnotise a person are nearly limitless.  I know because I have a lot of fun creating new ways to trance people, as well as tailoring existing methods to better suit individuals I am working with.  So in this blog I am going to talk specifically about how I hypnotise people. My way isn’t the only way, though. Different people will have different techniques and strategies.  I just thought it would be interesting to give you a little insight into how I hypnotise people, especially as I work a lot with analytical people and those who have previously struggled to trance.

If you want to understand hypnosis, however, you need to begin by understanding what it is and how it works. That includes understanding what hypnosis isn’t.  There are so many misconceptions associated with hypnosis that it can be difficult to distinguish the reality from the many and varied assumptions floating around.

The most important thing to remember is that the ability to trance is natural and innate.  Every time you’ve daydreamed, gotten lost in thought or driven on auto-pilot you’ve enjoyed a light trance state.  The role of a hypnotist is to show you how to capitalise on this innate talent you already possess so it can be utilised to your advantage.

Some hypnotists try and pass off hypnosis as magical or mystical – or as a special power only they possess (which is nonsense). The worst will simply sit there and read from a pre-prepared script. In my (humble) opinion, such people are to be avoided. A good hypnotist won’t need a script for a live session. Their techniques should be tailored specifically to you and should be adapted based on what works for you.

The key to successfully trancing someone is to recognise, utilise and build upon their existing natural talents rather than just force your own style/script upon them.  I like to use a conversational induction as a base initially as a lot of people who have sessions with me are initially nervous/excited and this gives them an opportunity to chat with me, get to know me, calm their nerves and settle into the experience.  It also helps me get to know them and to understand what techniques I can employ from my vast “hypnotic toolbox” to help them enjoy trance. I can also chat to them and dispel many of the common misconceptions surrounding hypnosis – you won’t be asleep or unconscious (if anything you’ll be more self-aware and in control of yourself than usual), for example – and also give them the opportunity to ask me any questions they may have.  You don’t have to be relaxed to enjoy trance, but it does help if you’re comfortable.

As I like to tell my clients, trance is actually the easiest thing in the world as you don’t have to actually “do” anything to make it happen.  Your subconscious already knows what to do and all you need to do is get out of your own way and allow it to happen. As a hypnotist I see my role as a guide or a teacher, showing you how to capitalise on your natural abilities.  I often use the analogy of learning a new skill…say you wanted to teach yourself to play the piano. Sure, you can teach yourself the basics but if you want to see real improvements you bring in someone to teach you. You’re still the one playing, but with appropriate guidance how you play improves.

I am there to guide and reassure. You can trance with your eyes open or your eyes closed.  This is your experience. It’s unique to you. There’s no right or wrong way to “do” trance.  It’s also not a binary state. So many people are focused on the idea of being in trance and achieving that state that they often miss out on the pleasure of actually going into trance and how good that feels.  As I am an avid fan of pleasure in all its forms I regularly encourage people to allow themselves to be aware of and embrace the pleasurable sensations of actually going into trance. Being open to that experience helps guide you easily into deeper trance states so it’s a win-win.

Every person has their own trance journey that is unique to them.  They also have unique “tells” or markers that occur at different stages. Most competent hypnotists will be aware of these and utilise them to help guide their client into trance/deeper trance.  I take this one step further by actively pointing out what I notice to the person I’m working with (something most hypnotists don’t do, I presume as they like to maintain the mystical/magical aspect of trance and/or feel that withholding this information gives them more control? Who knows?). I refer to this as signposting the trance experience.  The markers differ for each person – they’re like a unique fingerprint. Some people’s breathing deepens and slows…some people blink more and/or their eyes close, etc, etc. Sometimes people are aware that this is happening, sometimes not, but by bringing it to their attention they will be able to recognise their own unique markers which can act as “touch points”, reassuring them of the stage they’re at what what to expect when they trance again in the future.

Some signals are obvious, some are incredibly subtle but years of experience have taught me how to identify and work with my client’s natural abilities.  I’ve developed a confidence borne of experience which definitely helps – as does the fact that I am comfortable switching things up and adapting to my clients needs.  All I require is honesty. If a particular technique isn’t working I have many, many others I can use to achieve the desired effects.

So – how do I hypnotise someone? I identify and utilise their natural abilities and show them how to capitalise on their innate talents. I do this by talking them through what they can expect whilst not prescribing the experience. I don’t simply read from a script or expect them to automatically respond to specific inductions.  It’s about being open and flexible….having the experience to be able to not only identify what techniques will be most useful in helping a person achieve trance, but also the skill set to be able to put those techniques into practice.

The result? Hundreds of happy and satisfied clients, including some who had been trying to trance for many, many years (my record is 20+ years).  I don’t believe there is such a thing as someone who is “bad” at trancing, but I do believe in hypnotists who fail to appreciate the limitations of their skills and experience and prefer to place the blame (wrongly) on their subject. Never let a hypnotist try and tell you that you are a bad subject or difficult to trance.  That statement says everything about them and nothing about you or your capabilities.

A good hypnotist will be able to work with you and tailor a session specifically to your needs.  You should be able to trust the hypnotist, their motivation and their expertise and will be rewarded with a truly incredible experience.

If you’d like to know more about the experiences of some of my clients, then check out my testimonials page.