Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
thinking (i.e., people who talk very fast). Slower methods of induction, such as progressive relaxation, can give you
problems which are avoided by using instant inductions.
When I use the term, "Instant Inductions," I am talking about inductions that take your clients into a deep state of
hypnosis instantly. This is what the professional use of hypnosis requires. There are at least four parts to such an
induction: 1) focus your subject's attention, 2) instant redirection of focus (usually a startling stimulus), 3) the word,
"sleep," and 4) instantly deepen the hypnotic state or your client will emerge.
The Hand Drop Instant Induction we use at our Center can is shown below. I am demonstrating the induction and
Kathleen Skott-Myhre, M.A., C.H, is the subject.
1. Instruct the client to press down on the therapist's outstretched hand. See figure 1.
Figure 1
Say "Press on my hand."
While she is pressing down, have your client close her eyes, giving the client two tasks to focus her
attention on. See figure 2.
Figure 2
Say "Close your eyes."
2. While the client is pressing down on the therapist's hand with her eyes closed, the therapist's hand
is suddenly removed, creating the startle response which lasts for a very short period of time, two
seconds at the most. During the "instant" your client is in a state of high suggestibility. See figure 3.
Figure 3
Pull your hand out and your subject's hand suddenly falls
3. The word, "SLEEP," is said in an authoritative tone and delivery, which instantly induces a deep
state of hypnosis. However, if this suggestion is not immediately followed by further suggestions for
deepening, your client will emerge.
4. Short and simple suggestions for deepening, such as "go limp and relaxed, continuing to relax
further with every breath. As I gently rock your head, your neck relaxes and that feeling of
relaxation moves through your entire body."
Figure 4
Instantly in a directive tone say, "Sleep! And as I gently rock your head you go
deeper..."
In its shortest form, it is a powerful and reliable induction that can consist of only 8 words, "Press on my
hand. Close your eyes. Sleep!"
Certainly, more can be done to make the induction look more dramatic (which is something you may want
to do in a demonstration or if you are doing stage hypnosis). But the beauty of the instant induction is its
sheer simple elegance, so I prefer to keep it as short and simple as it can be. I firmly believe that the
shorter the induction is, the more reliable it will be, all other things being equal.
Variations on this simple theme are endless, and once you understand the four essential parts (focus,
startle response, ""leep? and deepening) you can go on to create your own versions. The one weakness of
the induction is that it does not have a test for depth of hypnosis in it. This is why I recommend that after
the initial deepening has been performed, that you borrow a procedure from the Dave Elman induction.
Suggest that the client now relax her mind, by counting and relaxing her mind more and more with each
number, until they have faded away to nothing. When your client fades the numbers away, you have
guided your client into a hypnotic state equivalent (at least) to the threshold of somnambulism or deeper.
The losing of the numbers is evidence of amnesia by suggestion, a well accepted test for the threshold of
somnambulism.
After achieving the threshold of somnambulism, we recommend that you perform a simple deepening, like
counting down from 1 to 5 with suggestion of going deeper. Do this and you will have her in a wonderful
state for doing even the most powerful hypnotic techniques, such as hypnotic age regression (with true
revivification).
A few words of caution is in order. Because this instant induction requires a hand drop which initially
startles your client, you would be ill-advised to use it on someone who is suffering from shoulder, back
neck problems or any client with a history of heart problems. Also, this induction does require that you
touch your client. Some hypnotherapists prefer not to do so. And, in some rare occasions a client may not
be willing to give permission to be touched. Although in our experience, most clients are willing to be
touched on the hand, arm, shoulder and forehead as part of a hypnosis session. We have conducted over
eight thousand sessions in the last six years and less than ten clients have indicated that they did not want
to be touched during the session. And, of course, if the laws where you practice do not allow you to touch
your clients, then you would be unable to use this induction method.
Remember, conducting a good pre-talk with your clients is an essential part of the hypnosis process. This is
especially true when using instant inductions. Your clients must understand that hypnosis is safe and
natural. They must also understand that it is important to follow your instructions.
Consider adding instant inductions to your practice. They are simple, effective and highly reliable. I believe
that they always work! Isn't that what you have always wanted out of a hypnotic induction any way?
Copyright 2002 Calvin D. Banyan. All rights reserved
Listen to the Eight Word Induction Sample