For the purposes of this short article, I decided to candidly interview a fellow hypnotist, who, for the purposes of confidentiality, will refer to as “C.” She has, in the past, also undergone hypnotherapeutic treatment to try and figure out why she had a lack of self-confidence and mild social anxiety.
I get asked a lot, what is it like being in a state of trance or “going under” as they refer to it. So, I thought, why not ask another professional in my industry for their first-hand account. After all, it is right and proper that someone who hypnotises others should be willing to be induced into a state of trance themselves, right?
Below is a transcript of that very conversation:
Me: So, please remind me why you are here today and would like to undertake hypnotherapy?
C: It was out of a sense of frustration at people thinking they could treat me like a doormat and walk all over me. I used to feel that I was walking around with a note saying “kick me” pinned to my back. I was constantly taken advantage of; my good nature exploited. I was an obvious target for bullies – you might as well have painted a bullseye on my face. The fact that my self confidence had taken somewhat of a battering came as no surprise at all…
Me: So, as a therapist yourself, you wanted to see if there was something you were unconsciously doing to attract negative attention?
C: Indeed, yes! I thought I may have been shining as a beacon for bullies and anyone with a sinister ulterior motive – that I was giving off some vibe. I know hypnotherapy can help one to delve deep into one’s unconscious mind and effectively wipe an old computer program or computer virus, to use an analogy, and put a better, positive one in its place.
Me: What did the hypnotherapist do?
C: He did something called “Rapid Induction” where I was quickly and deeply placed into a deep trance. As you know, for inexperienced clients, the process is usually more gradual than that, especially if you have never been hypnotised before. However, no matter what sort of hypnosis you undergo, you have to want to be hypnotised and you need to trust the therapist. As a hypnotherapist myself, such trust and faith was never an issue. I remember being asked to focus at a fixed point on the ceiling and I let his words wash over me. I remember him asking me to ask my unconscious mind what the problem was and what it wanted to fix, even though I did not consciously know what it was at the time. Once my unconscious mind had conducted a metaphorical Google search of all my memories and experiences, I was then prompted by the therapist to signal to him that I had found said file by a twitch of my little finger – the famed ideomotor response, yes?
(For those reading at home, who are not hypnotherapists, an ideomotor response is when a therapist will ask you to move your finger or nod your head while you are in trance to answer their question)
Me: Indeed! How did you feel whilst you were under? What can you remember?
C: Completely relaxed. It was a blissful, floaty feeling – I was willing to be prompted by the therapist and be directed, but, at the same time, I felt in control – autonomous. I knew I could resist and put mental barriers up at any time, but why would I want to do that?
Me: Was the treatment effective? How did the results manifest?
C: The effects were immediate. That is what is so brilliant about hypnotherapy! I carried, without thinking, this air of super confidence and authority – it was really dramatic. When I got on the train in Sydney, I had some really rough character try to stare me out to intimidate me. I merely met his gaze and he hurriedly looked away and pretended to look at his mobile phone. The next day, I was mistaken for a police officer! I was in my biker gear! Since when do police officers galivant around dressed in leather, studs, and patches? I was bemused but delighted at this newfound respect that people had for me, I ain’t gonna lie…
You too can benefit from the virtues of hypnotherapy and enjoy the state of trance. Book your session now.