Many hypnotherapists that I mentor and supervise talk about how the client just talked and talked and talked and talked and talked… They just (for want of a better expression) dumped a load in the therapy session.
Ok, if this is really what the client wants, to let go, to have someone listen to them and so on… Though where is the time and place for the hypnotherapy in such a session? Isn’t the role of just being a listener actually the role of a different type of therapist or counselor? I am not trying to sit in controversy corner today, but I do hope you get my point on this…
I am not suggesting it is wrong, and of course we are active listeners as a matter of course, but I think to make the very most out of a hypnotherapy session, the client needs to have done more than just pour out everything that was on their mind and then gone home. Our skill set is such that the client should surely be leaving feeling equipped and enriched in some way for having been to see you.
Plus, how do you go about wading through hours of information dumped before you like that? “Well, it all started on a windy night way back in 1942 when my mother had a twinkle in her eyes…. (several thousand words and hours later)… which brings me onto the 1960s...” Etc, etc.
Perhaps we should be taking more control and focusing the client on the things that are more pertinent to the issue they are coming to see you about, no?
It is a discussion that I have with many hypnotherapists – many who disagree and insist that the client needs to be heard and if they wish to unload ‘their stuff’ then they should be allowed. Heck, this is not necessarily what I wanted to debate and discuss with today’s blog.
Instead, what I wanted to share is a means of teaching our clients, and anyone else, of how they can be heard even if there is no-one in their life to play the role of an effective and sympathetic listener.
Being able to vent and express ourselves is essential, establishing a feeling of being ‘unburdened’ and experiencing some catharsis is seen by many as equally essential in emotional and psychological well-being.
Some people simply do not have the kind of support network available to them to be able to do this regularly in a healthy manner, and some may not wish to share certain aspects of themselves with those closest to them. So the therapists sometimes adopts that role… Especially if the client expects that to happen and has not necessarily been educated about what hypnotherapy sessions comprise of and the true nature of it… Heck, they may have seen a bunch of Woody Allen films and think that all therapy involves them sitting on a couch talking to the person in the chair about anything and everything for hours on end…
The process that I offer up today gives someone the opportunity to do this kind of process, using self-hypnosis.
Step One: Induce hypnosis.
You can do so by any means you desire or know of. You can use the process in my Science of self-hypnosis book, use the free audio we give away on this website to practice or have a look at the following articles as and when you need them; they are basic processes to help you simply open the door of your mind:
Heavy Arm Self-Hypnosis Induction Method
Using Eye Fixation for Self-Hypnosis
The Chiasson Self-Hypnosis Method
Hand to Face Self-Hypnosis Induction
Using Magnetic Hands for Self-Hypnosis
The Coin Drop Self-Hypnosis Induction
However, with this process, an induction is potentially too much activity, so I teach my clients how to adopt a hypnotic mindset and simply have a mindset that is positive and expectant. Again, to really understand the cognitive set of the hypnotic mindset, go grab a copy of my Science of self-hypnosis book where it is explained in simple but comprehensive terms.
Once you have induced hypnosis, or just adopted the hypnotic mindset, move on to the next step.
Step Two: Engage your imagination and imagine being in a place where you feel comfortable and at ease. Make it an environment that you feel safe and secure in. Notice the colours, the sounds of the place and notice how you know it makes you feel at ease and assured of yourself.
Take all the time necessary to truly imagine being in this place. When you have created it and you are there in it, move on to the next step.
Step Three: Invite and bring in to this place a sympathetic listener, someone with a sympathetic ear. It can be someone from your actual life, or someone totally neutral that you create in your mind.
Notice what they are wearing, notice the expression and manner of them that tells you that they accept you and this situation on all levels and allow yourself to get comfortable with this person. Notice how this person is keen and eager to hear what it is what you have to say. Notice how they are open, congruent and are encouraging you to speak your mind and to speak from the heart.
Once you are at ease and have really created them there with you, move on to the next step.
Step Four: This is the key step and the important stuff.
The listener wants to listen, wants to hear you and trust that they listen and hear you without judgment or opinion and in fact this sympathetic listener is fully accepting of you. The listen listens with close attention and never seems distracted or waivering in their attentiveness.
So you start to speak your mind fully and with conviction and meaning. Tell them everything that you want to get off your chest. Speak openly and honestly and express any concerns, tell them what is on your mind at this time in your life. Express any potential worries or fears and any uncertainties you may have… Just let it all out.
Continue to speak and as you do, notice how the listener continues to hear and accept and pay attention.
Notice that the longer you talk, the more you feel a sense of release and comfort grow and develop. Notice how much lighter you feel and enjoy the experience.
Step Five: Once you feel that you have let go of anything on your mind, then take a few minutes and engage in some progressive and beneficial relaxation. Use any process you know of. You can imagine spreading colours through your body, you can imagine tensing and releasing your muscles or you could engage in some relaxing breathing exercises. Whatever you use, just enjoy relaxing to compliment the natural good feelings you have following your expression with the sympathetic listener.
Once you feel beautifully relaxed and at ease, then move on to the final step.
Step Five: tell yourself that each time you run through this process, it works more effectively for you and that you gain more benefits from letting go and being able to vent your thoughts and feelings in this way.
Then open your eyes, wiggle your fingers and toes and go about your day, bringing with you the feelings of lightness and easiness.
I am not necessarily suggesting that this is a total substitute for talking to real-life human beings. Actual interaction has a host of benefits that we all benefit from. However, it is a great way to allow yourself to gain some of those benefits without needing to speak to a real person. All my clients that do this find it to be wonderfully useful and beneficial.
I hope you do too.
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Have some of themes here resonated with you? Then have a read of these pages:
1. Do you need help or support in a particular area of your life?
Coaching with Adam Eason Or Hypnotherapy with Adam Eason
2. Would you like a satisfying and meaningful career as a hypnotherapist helping others? Are you a hypnotherapist looking for stimulating and career enhancing continued professional development and advanced studies?
Adam Eason’s Anglo European training college.
3. Are you a hypnotherapist looking to fulfil your ambitions or advance your career?
Hypnotherapist Mentoring with Adam Eason.
