Okay – this is a question I get asked a lot in various different ways.  For example: what makes a good trance subject?  How do you know someone is a good trance subject?  What do you look for in a trance subject?  (and various other iterations).

I know how I would answer this, and in a moment that’s just what I will do but I want to preface this by saying that by and large it is subjective if you’re looking at it from the hypnotist’s perspective (which, for the purposes of this blog, I am).

Objectively, to my mind, there is no such thing as a bad subject.  Subjectively, however, from a hypnotist’s point of view, if they struggle to trance someone, they may perceive the subject as a bad hypnosis subject.  It doesn’t mean they are, it simply means that due to the hypnotist’s own limitations that’s their perception.

I guess the way I would choose to describe it is to liken it to a student who is being taught a particular subject.  If the student applies themselves but still struggles, who is at fault?  The student or the teacher.  The student is not at fault – they are applying themselves but they simply don’t understand where the teacher is coming from.  The teacher is also not necessarily at fault – they’re used to teaching their subject a certain way and most students understand them.  The fault exists, however, if the teacher then tries to blame the student for their poor performance rather than recognising that their style of teaching doesn’t make sense to the student.  If blame is allocated then to my mind, that’s where the fault occurs.

I’ve had so many clients come to me and say they have either assumed or been told that they are a “bad” subject because the hypnotist struggled to hypnotise them.  It’s a sad but all too common occurrence and the first thing I do is reassure the client that they are not a bad subject.  All that’s happened is they haven’t yet found a hypnotist whose style resonates with them.  So they learn in a different way? So what?  It doesn’t make them a bad subject, but to my mind, any hypnotist that tries to claim they are is a poor hypnotist who doesn’t recognise their own shortcomings.  No one, single induction will work on 100% of people.  A good hypnotist will have a range of tools in their toolbox and a thorough understanding of when and how they can be applied to different situations.

So what do I say when I get asked what makes a good hypnosis/trance subject?  My answer is simply an open mind, honest communication and a willingness to engage with the process.  I don’t suggest that you need to be “good” at trance because that statement is meaningless.  Einstein was, in his early career, not considered to be good at maths (I know, right?) but look at what he achieved.  And “good” is subjective.  Some people may say “good” is an experienced subject who they can trance easily whilst others may think a “good” subject is one who will challenge them and make them work to help the client obtain the trance, encouraging them to explore and utilise new techniques.

For my part, as long as you’re open minded, communicate with me and engage then I can be as sure as I can be that you are an amazing subject and that we will both have a great time.  Plus – I’ve yet to be proved wrong on that front (though I guess I could be jinxing it by saying it! haha).

I absolutely love what I do (I cannot convey that enough) and part of what I love is showing you what you are capable of.  You are a great subject and you’re capable of amazing, incredible and wonderful things.  All I ask for is the opportunity to show you!