Over the years I have seen many demonstrations of hypnosis induction and deepeners, as have most  hypnosis professionals (I would say ‘every’, but I think I’d be inaccurate). Most of those inductions and deepeners are not necessarily all that compelling to watch, because most of what you see involves a hypnotist or hypnotherapist talking to a person who is sat perfectly still in a chair and not much else happening until some tests are employed, though even they don’t get demonstrated all the time.

The majority of the television coverage for hypnosis in the UK has been a series of Paul McKenna’s stage hypnosis effects, whereby the results of the hypnosis were deemed entertaining, or other documentary footage whereby the results of anaesthesia are shown because they are so impressive to watch.

Hypnotherapy tends to be far less compelling to view and the inductions and deepeners taught to hypnotherapists and clinical hypnosis professionals does not tend to make the most fascinating viewing.

So it goes without say, that I really enjoyed reading about and watching Gil Boyne demonstrate the automatic spinning hands hypnosis deepener a number of years ago, it is something used by stage hypnotists and I have seen footage of and read about Ormond McGill using this process too, however, it is also something that can be used in hypnotherapy sessions should you wish and offers up a far less static way of deepening hypnosis.

Step One: With rapport developed, expectancy created, and with the client educated appropriately, you induce hypnosis in your chosen manner. There are plenty more things that may well be considered or  done before you use this process, but this article is not about them and presupposes you know how to get to this stage already.

Step Two: Advise the individual what is going to happen before actually doing it, then raise their hands and begin to move the around each other.

Step Three: Now you suggest to the individual that when you let go of the hands, they continue to carry on with the motion unaided, all by themselves. You punctuate your words and sentences with some motion inspired language “moving, spinning, rotating, all on their own, easier and faster.”

All the time encourage the positive response of the individual. Feedback to them that they are doing it well and correctly.

Step Four:  Tell them that as their hands continue spinning that they now start to think about and consider the way the heart beats. Of course they know this, but remind them and tell them that their heart automatically responds to the needs of the body. Then link the automatic response of the heart to the hands moving automatically and even suggest “the more you try to stop them spinning, the faster they continue to do so, all the time rotating, spinning, moving…”

It is wise to engage the imagination here and have the imagination assist. You might suggest their hands are moving with the same action of a spinning wheel, or that they can see the outline of their hands in their mind, leaving a trail like that left by sparklers when you spin them in the air on fireworks night.

With the imagination engaged in whatever way you felt most appropriate and useful, you can now set them a challenge if you are certain that they have really got it and are continuing along automatically. Challenge them to “try to stop spinning your hands and notice they keep on spinning, try to stop them and notice them go faster.”

Step Five: With the challenge overcome, and the automated response of the hands spinning continuing smoothly, explain that you are going to touch their shoulder or forehead or somewhere that is appropriate and comfortable and that when you do, the hands will start to spin in the opposite direction. Again using the words of momentum “moving, spinning and turning the other way, faster again, easier…” Then you touch them and continue to generate the language that gets them moving and continuing, all the praising and telling them they are doing everything well.

Now you use this to deepen. “As they turn, with each turn, you go deeper.” And apply similar suggestions to use the momentum to create more depth of hypnosis.

Step Six: Now suggest that when you touch them again, the right arm drops comfortably into the lap and they continue to go deeper, the left arm remains spinning, taking them deeper all the time. Then touch them and watch that happen, all the feeding back that they are doing things well. Do the same process with the left arm now and have that drop to the lap also, comfortably, all the time suggesting this is deepening the process.

Let them rest and relax the arms, use the relaxation and stillness they are now experiencing to deepen and spread through the body should you wish to and you are ready to take the next step, depending on the focus of your session, with the client.

So there you have it, a simple process of deepening, that is slightly more interesting to watch, involves some activity and also gives you obvious and immediate feedback of the clients response and receptivity to your suggestions. I really rather like that.