Hypnosis was accepted by the AMA in 1958 as a viable method for treating tension and stress related symptoms. Does it definitely work? And what should you look for when looking for a hypnotherapist, or purchasing hypnotic tapes & CDs?

There are many assorted hypnotic modalities that are used to reach the unconscious to bring about change. Each method has its positives and its negatives. We are all different, so it only makes sense that the best results will be obtained by utilizing methods that each individual will react favorably to.

Most companies that sell hypnosis CD's offer products that consist of standard traditional hypnotic techniques. A few sellers offer much more modern and effective Ericksonian hypnosis techniques. And fewer still offer NLP techniques.

The newest and by far most effective technique is video hypnosis. Video hypnosis uses the latest NLP thought patterns to cause instant changes in a subject. Video hypnosis methods are not subliminal in nature.

With "Traditional Hypnosis," we simply make direct suggestions to the unconscious mind. In case you are wondering, as far as I'm concerned, the term unconscious and subconscious are equal - they refer to the same part of the mind. This type of self-hypnosis works well for someone who generally accepts what he/she is told without questionning everything.

Most pre-recorded hypnosis tapes sold today are based on "Traditional Hypnosis" methods. This is because it really doesn't take much experience to create a script and just instruct someone to do something. Unfortunately Traditional Hypnotism is not very compelling for people who are critical in their thought processes.

By contrast, Ericksonian Hypnosis and NLP techniques work far for most people today! This is because today individuals are taught to question everything they hear, rather than just follow the flock. So these methodologies do work effectively on people who are critical in their thought processes.

These methods are much more effective at reaching and influencing the unconscious. However, it can take years of of experience to learn how to apply these techniques with success. This is a challenge that is only accepted by truly dedicated hypno-therapists.

With "Ericksonian Hypnosis," we use little stories, called metaphors, to introduce suggestions and ideas to the unconscious. This is a powerful mode of procedure, because it usually eliminates the mental blockage of suggestions that is often caused by the conscious mind. There are two types of metaphors, "Isomorphic," and those of the imbedded command or "interspersal" nature.

Isomorphic metaphors guide the unconscious by telling a story that offers a moral. The unconscious draws a one on one relationship between the contents of the story and the contents of a problem situation or behavior. For example, if a child is telling a lot of lies, the parent might tell the child the story about the "Boy who cried wolf." The unconscious would draw a comparison between the boy in the story and the child, and realize that telling lies could lead to disaster, so the child would probably stop lying.

With the Embedded Command technique, the hypnotherapist conveys an interesting story that distracts the conscious mind. The tale contains hidden post-hypnotic suggestions that are almost always accepted by the unconscious. For example: While the person is in the hypnotic state, she might hear the hypnotist say something like: I'm going to tell you a story about ...[a beach that has feelings. Isn't that] ...strange to... [you]? It's a warm summer's day, and... the beach [feels great].

The hypnotist pauses, shifts his voice tonality, and verbally stresses the bracketed text. The unconscious recognizes a "Selectional restriction violation." Beaches can't have feelings. So it's like the unconscious says to itself: "Wait a minute, a beach can't feel anything, so that must mean that I'm supposed to feel great."

Since the suggestions are embedded in a topic that is misdirecting the conscious mind, it is unlikely that the conscious will realize that it has just received a direct command, so it will not block it.

Process Instructions direct the unconscious to recall an experience of an appropriate learning experience from the past where something useful was learned, and then apply that experience to correct negative behaviors in the present.

With "Neuro-Linguistic Programming" (NLP), rather than using post-hypnotic commands, we use the same thought patterns that are creating a problem, like an excessive appetite or stress, to eliminate the problem. NLP in the hands of a trained therapist can be very effective.

NLP Anchoring: Have you ever heard some old music and had it remind you of feelings from the past? When you originally listened to the song, you were experiencing those feelings, and they unconsciously became associated with the sound of the music. So the song became an Anchor for the feelings. Now when you hear the song, it triggers the same feelings again.

Anchoring can be a very useful method. Suppose that you have a memory of being commended for having done a great job in the past. If you revivify that memory, you'll be able to revivify the feelings of self-esteem that you had at that time. If you touch two fingers together while you re-experience those feelings of self-esteem, that touch will become an anchor for the feelings of self-esteem.

Now suppose that you want to create motivation to stick to a diet and lose weight. If you make a mental image of yourself with a thin, sexy body, and simultaneously trigger the anchor - (press the two fingers together again), your unconscious will attach the feelings of self-esteem to the mental image of you with the thin body and your level of motivation to lose weight will increase markedly.

NLP Flash: This is a very effective Neuro-Linguistic Programming method that can be used to turn things around in the unconscious, so that thoughts and experiences that used to trigger feelings of stress actually trigger relaxation instead.

The NLP Flash method is also a fast way to obliterate a conditioned response. For example: If a smoker has a cigarette while watching TV, his/her unconscious will connect the two behaviors together so that he/she automatically gets a powerful craving for a cigarette anytime he/she watches TV. The Flash will cause the smoker's mind to disassociate the image of a cigarette from the TV so that he/she does NOT get an urge to smoke just because he/she is watching TV.

With "Subliminal" tapes, the recording has two different tracks. One track contains a cover sound that is heard by the conscious mind. The cover sound could be anything from music to the sound of a bubbling stream. The number two track contains direct commands that are heard by the unconscious mind. These suggestions are repeated many, many times during a session.

Subliminal programs can play in the background while you are working, or talking or partisipating in any other activity. You don't have to stop what you are doing and relax like you do with NLP CD's. Subliminals can be an addition to hypnotic programs. But Subliminals will never replace Hypnosis or NLP because they are not as effective! They don't even come close!! Some experts have claimed that it can take up to 80 hours of listening to a subliminal CD before it will have any effect on many people.

The last hypnotic method that we're going to discuss is Video Hypnosis. Video hypnosis is the most compelling form of hypnosis!

The methods used in video hypnosis are based on the Neuro-Linguistic Programming technology, which works based on the utilization of a person's existing thought patterns instead of suggestion.

Over 70% of the people on the planet learn more quickly based on what they are able to see rather than what they hear.

Think about it. If you feel an craving to eat or smoke when watching TV, it's because your unconscious mind recorded the video image of either food in your hand, or a cigarette in your hand, and then connected that image to an image of the television. You never spoke to yourself and told yourself in words to associate them together, true?

And that's why the Video Hypnosis mechanism is so effective. It's not hypnotic in the traditional sense, relying on the spoken word; rather, it relies on transmitting images to the unconscious. And if you've ever shed a tear when watching a sad TV show, then you know how powerful and effective video hypnosis can be at reaching the unconscious. With this method of treatment, results usually start with the very first viewing!

The Video Hypnosis / NLP modality is marketed under the trademark of Neuro-VISION. It trains the unconscious by way of a high-tech simulation process. This frees a person of their cravings and tensions and allows a person who smokes to stop without effort, and a dieter to lose their cravings and appetite. Results start with the very first viewing!

(c) 2007 By Alan B. Densky, CH. This document may be re-printed as long as it isn't changed in any way and the author's name and clickable web address links are retained.

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