What is hypnosis?

The British Society of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis states 'In therapy, hypnosis usually involves the person experiencing a sense of deep relaxation with their attention narrowed down, and focused on appropriate suggestions made by the therapist' These suggestions help people make positive changes within themselves These suggestions help people make positive changes within themselves A hypnotist merely helps to facilitate your experience - hypnotherapy is not about being made to do things, in fact it is the opposite, it is about empowerment Contrary to popular belief, hypnosis is not a state of deep sleep It does involve the induction of a trance-like condition, but when in it, the patient is actually in an enhanced state of awareness, concentrating entirely on the hypnotist's voice. In this state, the conscious mind is suppressed and the subconscious mind is revealed. The therapist is able to suggest ideas, concepts and lifestyle adaptations to the patient, the seeds of which become firmly planted. Hypnotherapy is a kind of psychotherapy. Hypnotherapy aims to re-programme patterns of behaviour within the mind, enabling irrational fears, phobias, negative thoughts and suppressed emotions to be overcome As the body is released from conscious control during the relaxed trance-like state of hypnosis, breathing becomes slower and deeper, the pulse rate drops and the metabolic rate falls. Similar changes along nervous pathways and hormonal channels enable the sensation of pain to become less acute, and the awareness of unpleasant symptoms, such as nausea or indigestion, to be alleviated. How does it work? Hypnosis is thought to work by altering our state of consciousness in such a way that the analytical left-hand side of the brain is turned off, while the non-analytical right-hand side is made more alert. The conscious control of the mind is inhibited, and the subconscious mind awoken. Since the subconscious mind is a deeper-seated, more instinctive force than the conscious mind, this is the part which has to change for the patient's behaviour and physical state to alter. What form might the treatment take? The technique does not involve the patient being put into a deep sleep, and the patient cannot be made to do anything they would not ordinarily do. They remain fully aware of their surroundings and situation, and are not vulnerable to every given command of the therapist The important thing is that the patient wants to change some behavioural habit or addiction and is highly motivated to do so. They have to want the treatment to work and must establish a good clinical rapport with the therapist in order for it to do so

The readiness and ability of patients to be hypnotised varies considerably and hypnotherapy generally requires several sessions in order to achieve meaningful results. However the patient can learn the technique of self-hypnosis which can be practiced at home, to reinforce the usefulness of formal sessions with the therapist. This can help counter distress and anxietyrelated conditions. What problems can be treated by Hypnotherapy? Hypnotherapy can be applied to many psychological, emotional and physical disorders. Hypnotherapy can be applied to many psychological, emotional and physical disorders. It is used to relieve pain in surgery and dentistry and has proved to be of benefit in obstetrics. It can shorten the delivery stage of labour and reduce the need for painkillers. It can ease the suffering of the disabled and those facing terminal illness. It has been shown to help people to overcome addictions such as smoking and alcoholism, and to help with bulimia. Children are generally easy to hypnotise and can be helped with nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting) and chronic asthma, whilst teenagers can conquer stammering or blushing problems which can otherwise make their lives miserable. Phobias of all kinds lend themselves well to hypnotherapy, and anyone suffering from panic attacks or obsessional compulsive behaviour, and stress-related problems like insomnia, may benefit. Conditions exacerbated by tension, such as irritable bowel syndrome, psoriasis and eczema, and excessive sweating, respond well, and even tinnitus and clicky jaws (tempero-mandibular joint dysfunction) can be treated by these techniques. Dr Hilary Jones (1988) Doctor, What's the Alternative? Hodder and Stoughton: London

We all go into hypnosis many times a day. Examples are: daydreaming, being lost in deep thought, losing track of time while driving, the time just before going into sleep every night, and being engrossed by a particular topic. What does hypnosis feel like? You will feel a sense of well being and relaxation. One of my clients referred to this feeling as a "brain massage".

Hypnosis comes from the root word hypnos which means sleep. Hypnosis is the ability to access specific every day trance states of mind at will, both dissociated (divided) and associated (possible flow state).

Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and Depth Hypnosis by Isa Gucciardi, PhD UPLOADED 8/1/2005

Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome is a surprisingly pervasive disorder suffered by hundreds of thousands of people in the United States alone. Formerly referred to as shell shock in WWI and WWII soldiers and later named Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Vietnam veterans coming home from the war, it is now recognized by the American Psychological Association (APA) as a legitimate psychological disorder, affecting many people, military and otherwise. The causes of PTSD vary, but the common factor is usually a traumatizing event. Any long or shortterm event, such as an accident or physical abuse, can permanently affect a person and cause PTSD. Modern psychology has been helpful in describing and categorizing the ways in which PTSD presents itself in the form of panic, dissociation, hallucinations and other phenomena. However, the attempts of the APA and others to understand the disorder have yet to provide any substantial long-term alleviation of it. In most cases, medications are prescribed to address the symptoms of panic and lack of sleep, but they do not offer definitive ways of resolving the underlying causes. Depth Hypnosis is a therapeutic model that does offer an effective method for working with PTSD type symptoms. The alleviation of these symptoms depends upon identifying the traumatizing event and then integrating the emotions that were not processed at the time of the event. Depth Hypnosis provides the practitioner with techniques for identifying these symptoms related to PTSD, and for integrating the event and its severe effects within the client's psyche. In order for this to happen, the practitioner must create a safe space that enables the client to enter the time and place where the trauma occurred, allow abreaction to the extent that the client feels safe to do so, help the client transform their relationship to the trauma, and integrate the experience into the client's being. While Depth Hypnosis is not the only means of alleviating symptoms of PTSD and other psychological disorders, it does seem to help clients on a long-term basis. There is a great deal that we do not understand about the psyche and trauma related disorders, but through work of this kind, we can learn about more PTSD and ourselves in general. In the end, it is the courage and hard work of the clients who make healing possible

The Hospice-Hypnosis Connection By Paul Gustafson RN, BSN, CH (uploaded 8/11/2001) Do you know that you are hypnotized every day? Social hypnosis goes on all the time. We are constantly bombarded with information and messages targeted for our subconscious minds. Advertisers know this. They know that once a message reaches our subconscious it takes root and grows as an accepted belief. They also know that when we are relaxed and focused on a television screen our critical conscious mind rests and our fertile subconscious mind is open to receive their work, uncensored. Our conscious mind normally evaluates everything we hear and see everyday of our lives. Advertisers capitalize on this unguarded moment to convince us we need what they have. There are two ways messages can reach our subconscious mind. One is to just serve it up and keep your fingers crossed that the conscious mind will let it in. The other is to relax the analytical conscious mind allowing the subconscious mind to open up and become focused on what ever message is being offered. This way is more productive and ensures positive results. Hypnosis, whether it involves a hypnotherapist or the efforts of a Wall Street advertising firm, is based on this simple technique of achieving relaxed focus and offering suggestions to effect

action or change. It can be as subtle as a 30 second television ad showing the Marlboro Man riding off into the sunset or as involved as a session with a hypnotherapist. It can be divisive or benevolent. So whats the hospice connection? In ten years of nursing Ive never seen a more attentive motivated group. Once you earn your hospice families trust, get them more relaxed and focused you can nearly always dramatically enhance their ability to cope and to manage the daily changes and inevitable hospice surprises by what you say and how you say it. Most people go into nursing because they want to make a difference. In hospice nursing the opportunity to make a big difference pops up everyday. Most hospice families are ready and eager to hang on every word the hospice nurse has to say. They want straight answers, guidance and empowerment. Seize the moment. This is what all nurses are looking for, to teach important things to people in need and get positive results. Early in my career I realized that the hospice population was starving for a compassionate ear. After the shock of their diagnosis, chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, nausea, vomiting, hair loss, busy doctors and nurses and then the ultimate hospice referral, this group always tends to have a few things on their mind. Listen to your families. Not only is this helpful to collect information, but its also a cathartic process for them to experience. It puts them in position to hear youre your helpful words. Finally they get someone who just listens. What a pleasant surprise. Your job is easy just ask open ended questions, get comfortable and let them run with it. When you think its time for you to speak, dont. Listen a little more. Give them all the time they want. This simple process of actively listening does three things. It supplies you with information, creates a trusting therapeutic relationship and more importantly it helps them to relax and focus. You can almost see the relaxation unfolding as they speak. This may not necessarily be obvious on your first visit but usually it is. There are, however, some families who havent had a moment of peace their whole lives and they are not about to start with you. So be open minded, realistic and patient. Once you have your hospice family relaxed and focused, how you speak and what you say can offer profound impact and direction. You speak slowly, confidently, with direct eye contact and use positive affirming tones. One statement builds on the next. For example: youve shown that you can manage his pain and there is enough medication in the house. Any victory along the way is praised and added to your laundry list of positive review topics. Such as: you did a great job repositioning him in bed, youve also made excellent decisions using the break-through medication and you know you can call us anytime. By packaging up distracting emotional debris you can better offer direction, validation and clarity in a way that supports their continued growth and success. The more order and control you create the more relaxed and focused they can become. The more at ease they are the more attention they pay to everything you say. When your words and suggestions reach their subconscious mind they have more dramatic impact on their ability to cope and make difficult decisions while dealing with their own issues of grief. Your words become their words and their actions. Whether you like it or not you are in the position of authority and knowledge of all issues involved with this life transition. All eyes and ears are pointed in your direction so take advantage of this opportunity to position them for success. By understanding the principles of suggestion and how the conscious and subconscious minds work, hospice nurses can empower effective change with every stop they make. The repetition of supportive constructive suggestions and affirmations to those in a more relaxed and focused

state of mind can have an enormous therapeutic effect. Good nurses know the obvious advantages of reducing stress and putting their clients at ease. By also practicing these simple communication techniques your hospice families will be much more autonomous, confident and in control during this difficult transition. Hypnotherapy, Therapeutic Psychology and the Healing Process by Del Hunter Morrill, C. Ht. I have been a hypnoanalyst through a good part of my life as a counselor and hypnotherapist. I began writing this paper as a means of confirming my work, expanding my views, and deepening my own convictions about the use of hypnosis in the healing of the physical body. To do this, it has been helpful to review the basics of understanding psychological behavior beyond the "norm." For this reason, a large emphasis of this particular paper is on the psychological underpinnings of the mental health field, and the hypnotherapist's crucial role in this field. In order to be effective in using hypnosis for mental and physical issues that have as their basis more psychological problem than habit, it is important to become familiar with basic psychology. Therefore, covering the definitions of the most basic psychology terms can be helpful to hypnotherapists, even if they choose to never work in the field of psychology directly. The Various Forms of Neurosis Neurotic persons are those who can function quite well in society despite having some mental problems. They have neurotic behaviors which interfere with parts of their lives and may incapacitate them to some degree, but they can usually keep them somewhat under control, therefore functioning fairly well in society. They may be unhappy with themselves, preoccupied and self-centered, easily upset, over-reactive or compulsive, and it may take little to get them upset; but they are rarely any harm to themselves or others. At the risk of being overly simplistic, there are many different kinds of neurosis: Disassociated neurotics are persons who will usually go to extremes of forgetting in order to avoid their problems, and are quite easily swayed by other people. It should not be surprising, therefore, that they make good hypnotic subjects. Phobic neurotics have heightened fears about people, objects or situations, which they cannot face. Obsessive-Compulsive neurotics have to follow certain routines and actions out of some deep fear of disaster if they do not. Depressive neurotics are those who continually feel low, most often with many complicating symptoms like poor sleep, negativity, deep anger, self-deprecation, and even physical problems of a chronic nature. Hypnochondriacal neurotics seem to take enjoyment in poor health, which brings attention to the self. While openly complaining about their symptoms, they actually use them to hide their problems. Neurosthenic neurotics often have many physical symptoms, especially those of fatigue, headaches and other physical problems. These often stem from deep anger or resentment, or being unable to escape from an unhappy situation.

 Conversion neurotics actually take on a real incapacity or handicap, such as paralysis or blindness, in response to great feelings of inadequacy or a severe trauma. The Psychotic Person In contrast to the neurotic, who may be unhappy and have difficulty in dealing with his/her surroundings but is able to function, the psychotic is helpless in coping with life. Psychotics have frequent delusions, which affect any decision-making. Their emotions can shift rapidly, often from passivity to violence, without apparent reason. They are incapable of dealing with the strictures and demands of society. They can sometimes be of danger to themselves or their communities. Unfortunately, many psychologists feel such people cannot be helped. There are several types of psychotics, again, defined simply: Simple Schizophrenics still have a fairly good contact with reality, but can slip out of reality now and then. Having regular unchanging routines minimizes this to some extent. Although many are indifferent to their appearance or to other people and show few emotions, this is not always the case. I had two suspected schizophrenic clients who heard voices and felt threatened by those around them. Both were well dressed and tidy. The greatest anger I have ever seen in my practice was displayed by one of them. I have found some paranoia often accompanies such schizophrenia. Paranoiacs have all the symptoms of the simple schizophrenic but with more intensity, delusions of grandeur, moodiness, and a strong distrust of other people, even to the point of believing that people are after them. Hebephrenics have hallucinations and delusions, and are continually moving from one subject to another, and from one space to another. Catatonics usually act as if they are afraid of any movement at all, and can stay in one position for very long periods of time unless physically moved by another person. They rarely will communicate verbally. However, occasionally one might suddenly become violent. Effective psychotics can move, in a moment, from being hyperactive to being extremely depressed. In the past, psychotics usually would be confined in some way. Today, in most states, only those who are of extreme danger to themselves or their community are in mental facilities. Unfortunately, many of those released from institutions, or who have none to go to, live in adverse circumstances, often the streets. When I lived in New York City, it was not uncommon to see deranged people throughout the city, in streets, on buses and subways, behaving in very odd ways, even threatening or otherwise abusing passerbys. They had no home of their own except what they made in or under the streets. They received no mental health assistance unless it was drugs furnished by welfare. It is an increasing tragedy of extreme proportions. Therapies for Working with Neurotic Conditions There are several effective means of dealing with the mental health of those clients who either come for assistance, are sent to a therapist, or who are in contained situations where therapists are part of the staff and its healing processes. Behavior Therapy, primarily founded by J. B. Watson, and brought into popular use by Carl Rogers and others, along with client-centered approaches, does not limit itself to any single technique. Its focus is to change behavior, rather than focus on getting to the source of the symptoms, such as psychoanalysis does. It is, therefore, a counter-therapy to Freud and other psychoanalytic masters' approaches. Some of the behavior techniques popularly used are

counter-conditioning, also called "de-sensitization;" observational learning, in which the client is urged to watch the more healthy responses of someone else; aversion in which electric shock or drugs may be added in order to get rid of inappropriate behavior; and positive reinforcement. Behavior therapy may get very good results, but it is questionable how permanent those results may be, if one has not dealt with the source of the symptoms or inappropriate responses. Group Psychotherapy is very popular these days in helping many people cope. Its advantages are in helping people relate to others in more effective ways, in helping an individual understand he/she is not alone (or crazy), and in having peers assist in the healing process. The down sides are: time for proper healing is indefinite, it is often difficult to know when healing has taken place fully, and the reasons for problems vary so considerably from person to person and may not be reached in a group setting. From a behaviorist's standpoint, the outer action is more important; therefore, its change is what is looked for, rather than its source. Obviously, there are many other methods and ways of doing counseling than are covered here. Mental Health and the Hypnotherapist Although the above methods have their place, and many people are helped in dealing more adequately with their lives through such means, there is no question in my mind that the most effective therapeutic method available today is that of hypnosis. Its use helps people get to the depth of their problems quickly, and brings about solutions in far more pleasant ways than most other mental health methods. This does not exclude the other mental health methods. They can be important additions to one's "tool kit'' in helping people deal with their lives. Psychotics make poor hypnotic subjects for several reasons: they are less likely to seek hypnosis as a solution; they do not trust others; and they can become violent even toward someone trying to help them. It is important to be aware of occasions when a person has stepped over the line from neurosis to psychosis. If someone is suspected to be psychotic, they need to be referred to a psychiatrist or psychologist immediately. Under no circumstances, should a hypnotherapist (or anyone) untrained in dealing with severe mental illness attempt to assist, on their own, such a person. Although it is wise to avoid using hypnotherapy with a psychotic person, unless doing so in tandem with a qualified psychiatrist or psychologist, the same is not as true in dealing with the neurotic individual. A client's neuroses can be effectively positively redirected with the use of hypnosis by a skilled and well-trained person. Most hypnotherapists who work with such issues would refer to themselves as hypnoanalysts, or hypnotherapists who work with psychological analysis and therapy. It is very important that, if any hypnotherapist wishes to go beyond doing inductions and giving the subconscious self suggestions for change, that he/she seek the training to do so. Lacking this training, they should at least be able to identify neurotic problems, and recognize their own limitations as therapists. They should then send the client to someone who is properly trained to handle such issues. It is my belief that most hypnotherapists are not trained to deal with mental issues beyond those which perpetuate simple habits. If someone is desirous of working more broadly with deeper, more complex issues, then it is important to get additional training in the basics of psychology, especially Abnormal Psychology. It is helpful to be able to quickly determine whether you can be of assistance to someone, or whether they will need more specialized help by other resources. Also, I would recommend to any hypnotherapist, whether or not they plan to do hypnoanalysis, that they include the reading of books of counseling and psychology along with their hypnosis bibliography, especially those which focus on methods of change.

The Counselor and Hypnosis I find that being a knowledgeable counselor expands my ability to respond more effectively to what arises within the therapy sessions. However, I am amazed at the number of counselors who have been trained in hypnosis who rarely use it. I personally believe that there are some definite reasons for this, both conscious and unconscious: (1) Because they are so ingrained in the traditional counseling process with its general conviction that any mental healing takes a long time, counselors have great difficulty making the necessary paradigm shift into understanding the value of hypnosis as a primary tool in the counseling system. Even behaviorists seem convinced that changing a behavior takes a relatively long timegranted, not in relation to the time taken in psychoanalysis, which is usually even longer. Most of the counselors with whom I have discussed how they handle clients, use a two-year time period as a normal counseling process, especially with addiction issues. (2) Hypnotic training which either does not make use of and encourage the counselor's particular abilities and experience; or gives the impression that it is enough to know inductions and suggestions. (3) The unconscious belief system underlying the counselor-counselee relationship, which implies dependence. Creating the helper-helpee relationship is more possible with a longer time frame. (4) The natural lack of confidence in using hypnosis if it is not used immediately and frequentlythat is, use it or lose it! I think some don't use it because they feel insecure with it or have not experienced enough success with it to intensify its usage in their practices. There are programs which offer courses that focus on training counselors in hypnoanalysis. But when I have spoken to some of those who have taken the course, I am amazed at how little these same counselors seem to use hypnosis with their counseling clients to any great extent. It sometimes seems like more of an adjunct, used when all else fails, rather than the primary tool. This is where my practice differs. The Hypnotherapist's Role in the Body's Healing Although I do not feel a hypnotherapist must be an anatomist to understand the body in order to help a client heal themselves, it is helpful to at least have some overall view of both the anatomy (structure) and the physiology (interior processes) of the human body. If we are made up of this fantastic complexity out of the merging of two single cells that kept dividing (including the nucleus with its total encoding of the uniqueness that is each of us), then it makes perfect sense to me that every cell has its own intelligence, whether it is located in the specialization called "the brain," or it is located in some other gland or organ or vessel. It is with this intelligence that the hypnotherapist does his/her work when dealing with the body's healing. When using hypnosis for the process of helping the body heal itself, it is important first, to recognize that our bodies have their own miraculous and natural abilities. I like the image given in class of the "community" of cells, each group of cells having their own particular roles and tasks in assisting the whole. If for some reason, any group fails in their prescribed task and the community as a whole is unable to respond to cover the lapse, then an imbalance occurs, and illness can arise. The unconscious mind handles all the automatic functions of our bodies, helping all the community to do its work. Since that unconscious mind is the major catalyst of these functions, and keeps the body's equilibrium, then it makes sense that it would also be the force that brings the body back into balance. Thus, the hypnotherapist becomes a doctor, whose arena is the "mind."

It is important for the therapist, and the client, to view the body in its healthy, balanced mode, rather than focusing on the illness or imbalance, when dealing with its healing. Remember that we are made up of atoms of energy just like everything else in our universe. And that energy can be creative and positive or it can also be destructive. The hypnotherapist understands the power of that energy and encourages the unconscious mind to direct it for "good." Our thoughts are energy, as well. Our bodies respond to what we think about ourselves as well as how we treat ourselves. The images and belief systems we carry around within us affect how we look and how our bodies operate. So, part of the hypnotherapist's job is to help the client shift their belief in themselves, their situation, and other people. The hypnotherapist must also deal with the hypnotic spells that have been inadvertently or overtly placed upon the client. These include: (1) Authority: acceptance of what some authority has said, i.e. parent or doctor (You'll get ill if you go out in the rain; You have a weak heart, so you must be careful; There is nothing anyone can do, so live with it); (2) Imitation: unconsciously taking on family and societal attitudes and surroundings (Everyone in the family is obese; To be a woman is to look after the man at all costs; Boys get to do more in school and sports) (3) Association: taking on that which resembles other ideas one has previously accepted, even if there is no real conscious agreement (Just seeing rain and getting a sore throat; Getting the latest "TV news Health Watch" disease). The hypnotherapist's job includes combating these old "spells" and breaking them, and replacing them with more "healthy" hypnotic spells. It is therefore necessary to know the images and beliefs out of which the client is currently operating. Conclusion Many physicians will now support the understanding that 90%, even more, of all illnesses arise out of the unconscious mind-that is, they are psychosomatic. Therefore, the 'physician of the mind' has a wonderful opportunity to be of service in the healing process, helping people to be released from whatever either causes or supports their symptoms, while assisting them in moving forward in positive, helpful, and joyful ways. Amazing results can come from simply guiding the unconscious or subconscious mind to help the body, and all its parts, do its job perfectly and completel

Assessing the Depth of Hypnosis by Tom Connelly, D.Hyp, FBSCH After practising hypnosis for some time we gradually develop an intuitive sense that indicates to us the depth of hypnotic trance our subjects are experiencing. This impression is probably formed inside us in a number of ways but at the beginning of our training we have to rely on a mixture of guesswork and knowledge 'borrowed' from hypnosis books, videos and our tutors. The obvious way to make an estimate of the ongoing success of your hypnosis is to watch for the 'classic' indications of the deepening hypnotic state. Some of the following might be observed:

Stillness

Change of breathing Pallid / waxen complexion Postural slumping REM type eye movements Eyelid fluttering Swallowing/gulping Increased Lachrymation Redness around the eyes etc.

You will be taught to watch for these signs (and others) at the beginning of any hypnosis course of tuition but accurate assessment of trance depth only really happens when the hypnotist can evaluate these signs from personal experience. An important part of this learning process takes place when the hypnotist takes the part of the subject and experiences hypnosis from the point of view of his prospective clients. After being hypnotized a many times the hypnotherapist gains an inside perspective of the mental processes that take place and an empathy for the physical nature of hypnosis. Good experience can also be had from experimenting with self hypnosis and relaxation techniques. Apart from personal experience of hypnosis it's possible to learn a great deal from verbal feedback. Don't be afraid to ask your subjects about their experience of trance, most will be happy to describe the 'feeling' of hypnosis and many interesting insights can be gained. Remember that hypnosis is a subjective experience and although there are many common elements to it there is much that will be unique to each individual. It's also possible to gather direct information about the process of hypnosis and depth of trance by using a fractionation type of induction. With the fractionation method of inducing hypnosis the process is broken into stages and the subject is questioned at each point for a verbal description of their particular experience. So the novice hypnotist can learn a great deal about the experience of relaxation and trance as it occurs in others. The main Idea behind the fractionation method of inducing hypnosis (sometimes known as Vogt's fractionation) is to discover the personal experience of the subject as they begin to enter trance and then to 'feed back' this information to take them deeper. Subjects are relaxed into the early stages of trance and then roused and questioned for their particular experience of hypnosis and this information is then used to help the subject to go deeper still. So in a very real sense the subject is describing the best way that they personally should be hypnotized! This type of induction is not as quick as other methods but it's interactive nature does seem to lead to the deeper trance states. This method of inducing hypnosis is outlined in most good tuition courses and books but as it is outside the scope of this article the student is advised to search this information out. Apart from methods of assessing depth of trance through observation there are also physical tests that give the hypnotist valuable information about the ongoing state of hypnosis. The most common test is for catalepsy, usually of the eyelids. Here the subject is asked to relax the muscles of the eyelids deeply, so deeply that the eyelids will not open. This is an excellent test of relaxation, susceptibility and willingness to co-operate with the hypnosis process. It is also possible to ask the patient to look upwards with their eyes (the head remaining still) as if at a point at the top of the head and when they have done this you can inform them that they cannot open their eyelids. It is typically quite hard to open one's eyelids with the eyes looking

upwards and this might help to convince your subject of the efficacy of your techniques but it is also quite a well known physiological 'trick' and might just as easily arouse suspicion. Another test to gauge the level of relaxation that has the added benefit of allowing you to test for an increase in body temperature (which indicates a medium deep trance state) is the hand lift technique. After first informing your subject (who's eyes will no doubt be closed) that you are going to lift their hand, gently raise it up and let it go. The hand of a relaxed person will flop limply back. Notice how limp, warm and pliant the hand seems. Suggestions can be added to this testing technique. For example you might suggest "that as your hand falls limply down, you can go deeper and deeper into hypnosis", "as your hand falls to your lap you will go twice as deeply into relaxation." Finally a cognitive technique to test trance depth, which does not rely on observation or physical testing. Here the hypnotist tests for amnesia (an important hypnotic phenomenon) usually by asking the subject to begin counting backwards from 300 (the actual number is not too important but it must be sufficiently large to be out of the range of 'automatic' counting) and suggesting that a point will soon be reached when the numbers will be forgotten. If a suitable trance state exists the suggestion will be accepted and the subject will forget the numeric train of thought. This method has the additional benefit that even if the subject doesn't have the correct depth of trance at that moment, the counting process may well help to bring it about! For most practical purposes the hypnotherapist will be more concerned with establishing that there is sufficient trance depth for therapy, rather than the more academic pursuit of gauging the precise depth of trance attained. There seems to be a consensus of opinion from most learned sources that trance depth might not be such an important concern and that effective therapy can take place providing at least a light stage of hypnosis is established. This may well be the case but obtaining a medium to deep hypnotic state has two advantages: It inspires confidence in the hypnotist, which improves personal performance and is detected, however subliminally, by the subject. it is a hypnotic convincer and while it might not be any more therapeutic than a light trance state it is more of a contrast to normal waking consciousness and so helps to persuade the subject to persuade themselves that something 'significant' has taken place.

Throughout this short article I have used the convention of dividing the depth of hypnotic trance into three stages - light, medium and deep, as this seems quite sufficient for my purposes. I should point out however that there are several systems of classification, some more ancient than others. The difference is usually one of division and nomenclature as the nature of the state must be a constant but the student may encounter the following descriptions depending on the source of information: i.e., Lethargy, Catalepsy and Somnambulism or Hypnoidal, Somnambulism, Coma / Esdaile state, Hypnosis attached to sleep. It is important to realise that the 'depth of trance' does not refer to an objective or quantifiable state but is characterised by the phenomena available in that state, thereby equating trance depth with suggestibility. For example, eyelid catalepsy is quite easy to obtain and so when this phenomenon becomes available we can label the trance depth as 'light'. Pain control becomes available as a hypnotic phenomenon only when the subject becomes more suggestible and when this phenomenon becomes accessible we can label this a medium trance depth, and so on. Full amnesia or positive / negative hallucination are among the most extreme of hypnotic phenomena and require the greatest suggestibility and so when these become available we can label this a deep trance state.