by queenofdreams | Oct 1, 2020 | Hypnosis
I am a firm believer that analytical people make some of the best hypnosis subjects. I completely dispute the frustratingly pervasive assumption peddled by far too many hypnotists that analytical people are “bad” or “difficult” subjects because in my (many years of) experience this simply isn’t true.
I have had the pleasure of hypnotizing countless people and nothing brings me more joy than working with an analytical subject because right from the get-go I know that they are going to be amazing to work with.
How do I know this? Because analytical people are blessed with an incredible, often untapped and underappreciated gift. Their gift is that which far too many hypnotists incorrectly malign – the ability to analyse.
I don’t know how, when or where the assumption arose that analysing one’s trance experience is a negative thing and not to be encouraged but I do know that it’s utter nonsense. Yes, many people respond well to being told to “relax and not think”. It gives them permission to switch their mind off and focus on what the hypnotist is saying.
But that technique isn’t a catch all. It doesn’t work for everyone. If you’re analytical, being told to “relax and not think” often leads to the opposite effects (am I relaxed enough? How do I not think? I’m thinking about not thinking! type thoughts). This in turn leads to distraction and frustration and the (totally wrong) assumption that trance is at best difficult and at worst impossible for analytical people.
But what would happen if the subject was given permission to analyse? To be told that it is okay to explore and think about their trance experience as they are experiencing it? What if the hypnotist could gently guide the subject’s focus without imposing rigid rules around relaxation and not thinking? What if a more flexible approach was encouraged and more appropriate support offered to the subject by the hypnotist?
Well, I can tell you from my own experience (and I have chosen to specialise in working with analytical and so-called “difficult” subjects so that should tell you something) that this is when the magic happens.
Giving the subject permission to leverage their analytical abilities and appreciate them for the gift they are rather than a problematic hindrance transforms the hypnotic trance experience from one of stress and worry (will I be able to trance? Is it working? Am I doing it right?) To one of confidence, positivity and self-assurance (Yes, I notice that. Yes, I feel how that sensation has evolved, etc).
By allowing a subject to utilise their innate analytical gifts, and appropriately supporting them in doing so, they (the subject) are able to engage more deeply with the hypnosis experience. The result is that they trance faster and deeper than the average person. Because they are able to self-verify more quickly than the average person how their trance is evolving, they progress at a faster pace and enjoy a more profound hypnotic trance experience.
This is how the magic happens – encourage a subject to utilise and engage with the tools and gifts they already possess rather than trying to suppress them and they come alive. I have seen it time and time again, and the more they experience this, the more confident in themselves and their abilities they become and the more effective the trance experience becomes.
Success is often contingent on the support of an experienced hypnotist with experience of supporting analytical people which is why I constantly recommend people do their research, but the ability itself of a person to achieve trance does not lie with the hypnotist – it lies with the subject. The hypnotist’s job is simply to guide and support the subject and allow them to achieve their true potential.
I promise you – if you are analytical, you are a gifted hypnosis subject. If you’ve struggled to succeed so far that is not your fault in any way, shape or form. Different people learn in different ways. Once you find a method that works for you, you will be able to achieve things you never even imagined.
So – now you’re aware of the potential that lies inside of you, how do you get started?
I typically recommend live sessions over mp3s initially as in my experience this is a good way to lay the groundwork, create a solid base to build upon and allows the hypnotist to tailor the experience specifically to you. Some hypnotists offer in-person sessions whilst others, such as myself, offer remote video sessions (see my Live Sessions page for more information). I don’t believe that one is better than the other – if anything video sessions offer more flexibility and choice as you don’t have to travel, plus are just as effective as in person sessions. Ultimately, it comes down to what you’re comfortable with and what the hypnotist you’ve chosen to work with offers.
Remember – You need invest in yourself and appreciate your worth. Take your time, find a hypnotist whose style works for you and enjoy the journey!
by queenofdreams | Aug 2, 2019 | Hypnosis
This blog post evolved into a direction that is mainly aimed at helping hypnotists understand why confusion inductions are not always necessary – or indeed appropriate – for trancing analytical subjects, but I hope hypnosis subjects also find the information useful/insightful. If, after reading, you have any questions or thoughts please leave comments below. Thank you!
Speak to your average hypnotist about analytical people and you tend to get one or a variety of the following comments: that they’re “bad” or “difficult” subjects and that the only way you can successfully trance them is with the use of confusion inductions.
Those comments? They’re all absolute rubbish. Those of you who know me know that I absolutely love working with analytical subjects and years of hypnosis experience has consistently shown me how amazing and capable analytical subjects can be. I have written plenty of blog posts on the subject to date.
In my many years (going on for a decade now) of being a hypnotist I also rarely use confusion inductions and yet have successfully hypnotised hundreds (I stopped counting years ago) of analytical subjects. How do I achieve that? Why do I go against the widely held/accepted belief that confusion inductions are the only reliable way to hypnotise analytical subjects?
Well, again, to be blunt – because it’s nonsense. Confusion inductions can be useful for trancing analytical people but so can many others. It’s most certainly not the only way to successfully trance analytical subjects. Far from it!
So – why don’t I tend to use confusion inductions if they are so popular? The main reason is that analytical people are usually also dealing with varying degrees of anxiety and confusion inductions can be overwhelming and/or uncomfortable in such situations. Of course some subjects will really enjoy confusion inductions but to me they often feel like beating the conscious mind into submission by overwhelming the mind of a subject who, if analytical is likely already prone to overthinking. Sending an overthinking brain into meltdown isn’t the most pleasurable way of inducing trance and as pleasure is a priority for me, I tend to turn to other ways of inducing trance.
This brings us to the million dollar question – how exactly do I trance analytical subjects? Unfortunately there is no clear cut simple answer as I tailor every induction to the individual subject but I can offer some general pointers. Firstly, and I cannot emphasize this enough the pre talk is important. I’m generalizing here but for the most part, analytical subjects like structure. They like to know what to expect. And even if it’s not “necessary” it’s good practice in general for all kinds of subjects to prepare them and let them know what will happen as well as dispelling some common myths (e.g. the myth that trance is like sleep to give one example). If the subject has an idea of what to expect then it helps to keep them focused and their mind is less likely to wander.
Secondly, never tell an analytical subject to “relax” and “not think about anything”. That is one of the worst things you can say to an analytical subject. It’s akin to telling someone not to think of a pink elephant. What’s the first thing you think about?
Finally, it’s okay if analytical people want to analyse their trance experience. Doing so won’t distract them or hinder the process in any way (assuming of course the hypnotist is competent and used to working with analytical subjects).
There are many different types of inductions you can use, and there’s no “one size fits all” approach. The induction is less important than the subject and what they need to enjoy a successful trance. If you go into a session determined to use a particular induction then you’re limiting your success rate (and potentially traumatizing the subject) whereas if you go in with an open mind, speak with your subject/client about what they need (they may not know how to articulate it, but again, a competent, experienced hypnotist will know what questions to ask to get the answers they need) then your success rate potentially skyrockets as you’re tailoring the induction to your client, and not trying to force your client to engage in a particular induction.
As I said before, some clients will respond well to confusion inductions and I am not dismissing such inductions out of hand. They remain a potentially fun and useful tools (I use confusion inductions with some of my regular clients for fun because I know how to do so in a more light-hearted way and I also know they trust me). What I am suggesting is that confusion inductions are not a blunt tool that can/should be applied to all analytical subjects. Get creative, have fun with inductions, experiment and learn to tailor your approach as a hypnotist to what your client actually needs, not what you assume they need.
by queenofdreams | Nov 22, 2018 | Fun/Memorable Hypnosis Sessions, Hypnosis, Uncategorized
I absolutely love what I do (hypnosis) and wanted to share some highlights of fun/memorable sessions. This story is part of a series where I recount some fun/memorable hypnosis sessions I have enjoyed over the years. All client identities are kept 100% anonymous.
So this one is a very recent experience. It was an off-the-cuff, opportunistic trance (on my part) with a guy who I’d met for coffee and who had tried to tell me he couldn’t be hypnotised because he was analytical and his mind was always going a mile a minute.
Always up for a challenge I proceeded (whilst we were each enjoying our hot chocolates – which were delicious by the way) to trance him. It was my usual casual conversational style…the one that kind of creeps up on you so you don’t realise what’s happened until it’s too late (I can see all my boys nodding automatically in agreement. Haha).
He really enjoyed the experience of having his mind be calm instead of a frantic, turbulent jumble of thoughts – the sensation of peacefulness and stepping out of time really appealed. I also had fun throwing in a few post-hypnotic triggers (triggers that I can use even when you’re not in trance).
It did take me a little while (30 minutes maybe?) to get him into the right head-space to be able to enjoy and appreciate the possibilities, but I never rush. Things take as long as they take and I truly believe he appreciated being able to take things at his own pace. The whole thing was really chilled and informal and relaxed (probably helped by the hot chocolate) and it was fun. A genuinely spontaneous experience that was “just for the hell of it”.
Analytical people are always wonderful to hypnotise because they have this innate ability which makes them fantastic trance subjects. Because their minds naturally work faster they’re able to self-verify the evolution of their descent into trance and the associated developments within that experience (basically how it feels to go in to trance). This in turn allows them to confirm that yes, a transformation definitely is taking place and they are brilliant at engaging with it. The result is that they can (and do) often trance faster and deeper than most.
I never try to suppress a person’s natural analytical ability. Analyzing what’s happening to you as you go deeper into trance won’t compromise the experience. It won’t stop you from trancing. If anything it allows you to engage with the experience more.
Want to see for yourself? Why not book a Skype session with me.
by queenofdreams | Nov 5, 2018 | Fun/Memorable Hypnosis Sessions, Hypnosis, Uncategorized
I absolutely love what I do (hypnosis) and wanted to share some highlights of fun/memorable sessions. This story is part of a series where I recount some fun/memorable hypnosis sessions I have enjoyed over the years. All client identities are kept 100% anonymous.
I had a client come to me a few years ago – very nervous. An older gentleman, he had been interested in hypnosis for almost 30 years and had been actively trying to experience trance for over 20 years with no success. I recall he was fidgeting and reluctant to make eye contact. Simultaneously excited at the prospect of enjoying trance and resigned to the fact that based on multiple previous experience with other hypnotists it wouldn’t work, he was nervous, conflicted and far from what many would deem a “good” candidate to work with. After all, what hypnotist wants to take on a client who has seen multiple hypnotists for many years and yet never been able to trance?
Well – me, as it turns out. I really wanted to work with him. I am a firm believer in the potential of trance. Of all the possibilities for pleasure that exist in this special experience and I guess I’ve also never been one to turn down a challenge. When people try and tell me that I can’t do something or that something can’t be done, oftentimes my response has been to say “okay” and then proceed to attempt it. I figure that often there’s a lesson to be learned, even if I don’t achieve the outcome I am expecting.
So, with that in mind I agreed to enjoy a Skype session with this new client who had never tranced before. I knew going in that none of the “typical” inductions would work. No doubt many hypnotists before me had already tried them (obviously without success) so I had to come up with something different. And I did.
I sketched out some potential ideas before the session, but I decided not to go into too much detail with any single idea as I wanted to be flexible – to be able to have the ability to explore, see what worked and adapt to the signals the client was offering me. I wanted to be able to be flexible and responsive rather than relying on following a “tried and tested” common induction.
Not going to lie – it was a challenge. The client was very nervous and consistently reiterated he wasn’t sure that this would work. It became obvious to me that launching straight into trance would only put him on edge due to the expectations based on previous experiences. As a result, I decided to take things slow and focus on putting him at ease. I’ve learned over the years that relaxation isn’t a requirement for enjoying trance, but being confident in the person hypnotising you is. I gave him time to get to know me. To ask questions. Gradually he became less tense and worried. We talked about all sorts of things ranging from how he became involved in hypnosis right the way through to his hobbies.
Soon enough the conversation began to flow more smoothly and he became much calmer. He was less directly focused on trance and instead simply enjoying our conversation. Over time his breathing naturally slowed and deepened a little. He relaxed more without direct prompting from me. I noticed other subtle hints and signs that suggested he was receptive (if not consciously aware of this fact) to exploring trance.
I took things gradually. There was no rush and initially I didn’t make direct suggestions or commands. I allowed him to explore how his experience was evolving without dictating its speed or direction. Instead I was his guide. I was there to support and reassure him. Remind him that he didn’t need to “try”.
Over time his confidence grew and by the end of our session he’d not only experienced deep trance for me, but I had been able to give him post-hypnotic triggers that could be used (solely by me for safety reasons) even when he was not in trance. They were simple – for example the command “trance” would send him instantly back to a trance state – but effective and the beaming smile on his face once he realised he had finally achieved this experience he had been dreaming of for so, so long was one of pure joy. He was like a child at Christmas – so happy and excited. For my part, I was also really happy that he had been able to experience and enjoy trance.
Since then I have built a solid reputation as someone who is able to successfully hypnotise people who have previously struggled to enjoy trance. I accomplish this by using a more relaxed, conversational style and tailoring my approach specifically to the individual I am working with rather than relying on some of the more typical/common inductions such as progressive relaxation and countdowns. I really do love what I do and feel incredibly lucky to be able to offer my clients the opportunity to enjoy such a special experience.
****************************************************************************************************
If you have enjoyed reading this post, please consider leaving a tribute as a thank you.
If you are interested in enjoying a session yourself, then I recommend you take a look at my Skype page for more information.
Please feel free to leave a comment below if you have something you want to share.
*******************************************************************************************************
by queenofdreams | Dec 1, 2017 | Hypnosis
I’ve developed somewhat of a reputation as being a “go to” hypnotist for people who’ve previously struggled to trance. Some of the wonderful clients who I have had the pleasure of working with have been trying for many, many years (I think the record so far is 20) to enjoy trance and had all but given up before they came to me.
Either people have been told by an (inept) hypnotist that they’re difficult or “impossible” to trance (utter nonsense) or they themselves have come to the conclusion that they’re no good at it because they’ve struggled to enjoy trance. It can be a frustrating and depressing experience being led to believe that you are incapable of achieving something you really want to enjoy and I have the greatest admiration for those who don’t give up and continue to pursue what they want because in my opinion there is no such thing as people who are “hard” to hypnotise.
Trance is an inherent ability we all possess, but we all learn in different ways (which is perfectly natural) so commonly used hypnosis induction techniques (to help someone achieve trance) may or may not be effective depending on the subjects personal learning style.
A good hypnotist will be able to quickly establish at least a basic understanding of how an individual best learns by talking to them, asking relevant questions and fine-tuning their approach to improve their insight.
Personally, I prefer to use a relaxed, conversational induction as a base that I then tailor specifically to the individual I am working with. Allowing the interaction to be more friendly and relaxed puts less stress on the subject, which is especially important if you’re dealing with someone who has already had multiple attempts at trancing end in failure.
By allowing someone to relax and clearly explaining how the process works and what they can expect you can help them to map-out the experience, giving more confidence and reassurance. If I am working with someone who I know has struggled to trance in the past then I know the “traditional” inductions are unlikely to be successful and this gives me license to unleash my creativity. It’s also important to reiterate that trance is a fun, relaxed experience. Your subconscious knows what to do, so my job as a hypnotist is to show you how to tap into your own innate talent and capitalise on it for your benefit.
You can’t use the same approach that other previous hypnotists have and just hope for a different outcome. I “read” the person – both in terms of what they say and how they say it, and also monitoring non-verbal communication which can be as subtle as a change in pupil dilation, flushed cheeks, breathing or any manner of other things. My role as a hypnotist is to lead, guide and teach.
If someone is being tranced and are struggling to achieve their goal then you can be damn sure that the issue lies with the hypnotist and not the person being tranced. The hypnotist needs to be able to tailor their approach to the individual they’re working with but so many hypnotists get stuck in a rut – parroting scripts they’ve learned verbatim or even worse reading directly from scripts. A hypnotist needs to be able to get creative – to improvise. To be able to understand the mechanisms that drive the trance experience and tailor them specifically to the individual they’re working with in a way in which that person can understand, and in doing so successfully engage with the experience. The hypnotist has to be confident in what they are doing and if a particular approach doesn’t yield the expected results don’t frame this as a failure (or even worse blame the subject) because it’s not. It’s a learning experience. It helps you narrow down and pin-point what will work. And it will work.
Analytical people are a brilliant example of this. If you’ve read some of my other blog posts you’ll know that I absolutely love working with analytical people. I totally geek out over it (I am an unashamed hypno-geek) and get very happy and excited. Why? Because in my experience analytical people make the absolute best subjects (read my other blog posts to find out why I feel this way) but many hypnotists are reluctant to work with analytical subjects and brand them as “bad” or “difficult to hypnotise” when in reality nothing is further from the truth.
It’s true that analytical people don’t always respond well to many popular inductions. Progressive relaxation inductions can be boring and drawn out if you’re of an analytically minded persuasion and many hypnotists tend to focus on telling their subject to “relax”, which, if you’re analytical will send your brain firing off in different directions going “how relaxed is relaxed? Am I relaxed enough? How do I relax more?” etc which completely derails the whole experience. Another common direction is to tell the subject to focus on the hypnotists voice and not to think of anything else. Again, if you’re analytical this is like saying “don’t think of a pink elephant”. What’s the first thing that comes to mind?
Of course none of this makes analytical people bad subjects. There are methods which can be effectively employed which utilise their inherent gifts and in my experience this results in analytical people being able to trance faster and deeper than most. What is important, however, is recognising the strengths of the individual you’re dealing with and tailoring your approach to them. If I ever hear a hypnotist try and tell me that someone is “hard to hypnotise” my immediate desire is to respond by pointing out that the subject isn’t the problem – it’s the limitations of the hypnotists ability which are showing through and falsely shifting the problem/limitation to the subject is disingenuous and unhelpful.
So in summation there’s no such thing as someone who’s “hard to hypnotise”, and if a hypnotist ever tries to tell you or insinuate that you are, run a mile! A good hypnotist will be able to tailor their approach to optimise your chances of success. Take time, research, shortlist and never be afraid to ask questions. You want to find a hypnotist whose style you like and who you feel comfortable with. Trance is possible and magical things can happen once you’re able to achieve it. This is why I am able to say that I can make fantasies come true on my homepage. Because I can and I do 🙂
If you have any questions or would like more information please feel free to email me at info@queenofdreamshypnosis.com or leave a comment below.
