A Question of Permissiveness

Good morning! Since we have begun talking about permissive hypnosis, you can probably guess that is where today's question is headed. Or perhaps I should say today's contemplation is headed in a direction of how we prefer to intake or direct suggestions. Michael and the Subconscious Mind commented their thoughts on the subject a few days ago. Have you?

So here is the question:

When working on self-change or helping others with their desired changes, do you find you do better with a permissive or authoritarian style?

More Esoteric Hypnosis Theatre

Often in movies and theatre, hypnosis is considered "spell binding" or at the very least, mysterious. For those of us who practice it or enjoy it, it is something completely different. That is not to say the mystique and romance are gone, more it is just the difference between a crush and a true relationship. With a crush, traits are often idealized, where as in a long-term relationships reality sets in and the relationship deepens or dies.

Perhaps that is why playwright and clinical psychologist Bob Clyman's new play called Tranced may be most interesting for us. Currently running in Laguna Beach at the Laguna Playhouse, one can hope that it embraces the reality of hypnosis and is more truthful in its interpretation. Sadly, I am no where near by to see the show, so if any of you do, please report back on your impressions.

Clyman did offer a very poignant quote in the OC register that impressed me:

"A lot of the time, people assume that I get these great story ideas from my patients...But a lot of the most interesting things that your patients tell you aren't really the point of why they're there. Anecdotes and colorful stories are often a distraction. As a therapist you can be seduced and entertained by them, but that's often not the story they need to tell, not the problem you need to look at."

The basic plot is about a graduate student who suffers from panic attacks. The good doctor helps her using hypnotherapy to uncover repressed memories. These memories ultimately are based on past torture created by political powers.

Though hypnosis is the mechanism for the story, the play is considered more of a political drama.

Source:
The O.C. Register
The Laguna Playhouse

10 Questions with Sophie Nicholls

Location: Yorkshire, England

Cyber locations:
www.sophienicholls.com
www.hypnoticjournaling.com



1. Are you a full time hypnotist, part-time or hobbyist?

I work full-time running my practice, Sophie Nicholls Personal Development. This includes working with people one-to-one and running group workshops, using hypnotherapy together with lots of other techniques including creative writing for personal development.

2. Do you specialize in any type of hypnosis?

I help people to overcome all kinds of problems and challenges but I'm particularly experienced in helping people with stress and anxiety, eating problems and body-image issues.

3. Is there any type of hypnosis you do not do? Why?

I don't believe in guiding people into hypnosis in order to make lots of direct suggestions to them: "You will not do this.. you will not do that...' I don't think that's particularly useful. Everyone is different and I prefer to work with people on the underlying causes of a problem and to help them to discover their own solutions, abilities and approaches. For me, it's all about helping people to go on a journey, to have a real adventure.

4. Do you use self-hypnosis regularly in your life?If so, how?

I believe that self-hypnosis has transformed me as a person. It continues to transform me. I use self-hypnosis constantly. I think self-hypnosis is not just about being in a quiet place on your own with your eyes closed - although this is wonderful - but it can also be about doing something that absorbs you creatively, such as my writing. Hence, the Hypnotic Journaling techniques. I use self-hypnosis on the train or just before I fall asleep or in a traffic jam or before I give a presentation. I think it's something that you can integrate into your entire approach to life.

5. Describe your hypnosis office or work setting.

I am lucky enough to be able to work from home because I've been able to create a lovely room in my house. My clients tell me that it is very peaceful and welcoming. I also travel to lots of other places to run workshops.

6. Describe a typical day in your life.

Most weeks, I see private clients on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays; I teach two creative writing workshops on Thursdays; and I try to keep Fridays for catching up with paperwork, my own creative writing - which I find enormously helpful and nurturing - and working on my personal development articles, books and CDs.

My absolute favorite thing to do at the weekend is to go for a long walk - preferably by the sea - and then perhaps curl up with a glass of delicious chilled white white in front of our woodburning stove. I'm a big romantic.

7. Where did you get your training in hypnosis and are you certified?

That's quite funny because in the UK being 'certified' means that you have been deemed clinically insane (whatever that actually indicates). So, yes, I am a certified clinical hypnotherapist - ha! I am registered with the General Hypnotherapy Register.

I trained initially with a wonderful therapist called Steve Burgess here in the UK and I have since gone on to do more training with many other people in the personal development field. A huge influence on my work and thinking is Stephen Gilligan, a psychotherapist and apprentice of the great Milton Erickson, who uses trance-work in very creative ways. I did my doctoral research in creative writing and personal development at the University of Sussex. I'm still learning...

8. Most fabulous hypnosis technique you use?

You know, I think all hypnosis is fabulous when it puts the client in charge of their own destiny and future. It's so exciting to see someone discovering that they can grow the resources they need to achieve what they want to achieve. I get such a buzz out of seeing that happen and the amazing transformations that people bring about for themselves.

9. Worse moment ever in a hypnosis setting that ended up being a valuable learning experience.

I don't think I've had any 'worst moments'. It may sound corny but I love the challenges involved in my work. I am always learning new things, which is what I thrive on.

10. Any words of advice to potential clients or other hypnotist.

I don't feel that I can offer any better advice than that of Joseph Campbell's 'follow your bliss.' But sometimes, we first need to find out what that 'bliss' is, what we really want from life and what makes us happy. I think we all spend too much time living in our heads and we need, quite literally, to get out of our heads and into our bodies, to reconnect with what we feel rather than what we think we ought to feel or do or be.

Self-hypnosis is a great way to reconnect with how you are really feeling in your body. Spending time outside in nature is another way. I think it's all about discovering what works for you - and then remembering to practice it.

Maybe You Would Rather Try This - Permissive Hypnosis

Life is settling back down after the holidays and here we are, back to our long, and oh, so drawn out discussion on forms of hypnosis. To briefly recap (it has been a while), we discussed our working definition of hypnosis, the intake process, pre-talk, the analytic client, progressive relaxation, traditional hypnosis, analytic inductions, and left off with authoritative hypnosis. So that brings us to permissive hypnosis.

DO THIS! DO THAT! NOW!

A little off putting, perhaps? Do you find yourself reacting better to statements such as, "would you like to do this? Maybe you would rather do that? When your subconscious mind absorbs these suggestions..." These are the difference between authoritative and permissive hypnosis techniques. One tells you what to do, the other plays to the idea of allowing you to feel in control at all times, along with the idea of still making decisions for yourself.

Perhaps you have found yourself thinking, "I'd like to try hypnosis, but the idea of not being in control during the hypnotic process is really scary (or insert adjective here)." Well, relax my friend, you are so in luck. Permissive hypnosis is a form of hypnosis that optimizes the client control experience. It is a kinder, gentler hypnotic structure. It engages the thinking mind and ask questions of it, allowing you to control where you go, what you do, and what you experience in the session.

If you are the type who rebels against authority and fears the loss of control, permissive hypnosis is very much akin to total self, hypnosis. You are left feeling like you came up with your solution (which ultimately you do in any form of hypnosis).

For the hypnotist who finds that they are not so pleased with being authoritarian, permissive techniques may be a strength. It allows you to gently guide the client where they need to go.

Got it Covered?

It has now been several days since the new iPod touch came into my life. And as mentioned in my first post about it, it has become like a new appendage. It has made blogging easier, as it is so much lighter to tote about than the laptop. I can leave the heavy bags in the office and skip down the street to a coffee shop with much lighter burdens.

However, unlike my natural appendages, it takes much less of an effort to scratch its surface. So in my wandering, I have been looking for an ipod case or protector that might increase its life span (or okay, yes, its surface appearance).

The invisibleSHIELD™ looks like a potential solution. It is a heavy duty clear film that goes over the surface or the entire body of items such as telephones, computers and yes, the iTouch. Apparently, it is made from the same protective material that goes over leading edges of helicopter blades so that they do not get marred by surface issues caused by rocks and such. According to its specs, the Full body Shield for the iTouch is only .2 millimeters thick. If it ever does wear or scratch, the company will replace it.

Has anyone tried this on their iPods?

Changing for the Better

Back to tea in the mornings. Years ago I heard that coffee is considered a "hot" beverage in the realm of Chinese medicine. This means that it has high acidity and can cause digestive problems. Tea on the other hand, is a "cold" beverage (yes, even when served hot). For those who have an imbalance of hot or digestive problems, cold is the way to go. So, back to hot tea it is.

In beginning the baby months of the New Year, I have seen two phenomenon in the world of change and resolution. The first is the ever increasing idea to not have a New Year's Resolution. Hats off to those who go this route, unless of course your resolution has been well thought out and you are ready to make certain changes. Resolutions for the sake of having a resolution seem a bit doomed. So, if you are one of those lovely people who made a spontaneous resolution for the New Year, I also say hats off. (Yes I am fence sitting again). Do not tax yourself too much with the stress of change if you are finding it as such. Just let it be a source of inspiration and the door to perhaps a longer process of thoughtful change.

Now here is the other phenomenon that gets my goat. I have heard a lot about other people desiring to force change on someone else. Shame on you! Worry about yourself and rather than coercing or convincing someone else to change, be a support mechanism for change. State your view in a respectful manner (seriously, I mean respectful, no underhanded passive aggressiveness). If the person you want to change is doing something truly awful, express your concern and caring. You may not condone what they do, but it is up to them to change, not you. If they change because you want them to and this is the only reason, you may become the center of their resentment. If you truly cannot live with what they are doing, your only option may be to change yourself to deal with it.

And, for those who I know who engage in this behavior - coercion or underhanded manipulative nastiness, none of you, not one of you, is in a position to expect change from others. Work on yourselves. For the energy you expend engaging others to change, the energy would be better spent opening yourselves and finding kindness and more self-esteem.

Sorry. But I think with the start of 2008, it is best to get that out in the open. Touch love, really.

And soon, we will move back into the more studious discussions of forms of hypnosis.

The Resolution to Try Hypnotic Journaling

So here it is, 2008. There always seems to be a little sadness in leaving the old year behind us, but maybe that is part of the magic of moving forward.

I suspect the blogisphere is full of new resolutions this morning and it seems like a prime opportunity to create a list of some sort. But I am not today. Rather, I will let you in on my resolution. As a hypnotist, this is a popular time to tout the ideas of change since everyone seems primed to do so. Instead of coming up of one of many things to change, I am resolved this year to do something I have wanted to do for awhile. As mentioned yesterday, I am going to use 2008 as a ground for experimentation. I am going to go through the various process out there in the world that tout evolving the self, creating a peaceful consciousness, moving forward form the static. The new blog is being ready (have you suggested a name for it?).

My first exploration involves hypnosis, how could it not? We will be delving into Sophie Nicholls' Hypnotic Journaling: Learn powerful creative journaling techniques that will help you to explore yourself and your feelings in just five days. Sounds like the perfect beginning point for a blog. It is also easily accessible in an ebook format, so if any of you want to do this with me, please consider doing so. To learn more about this book, Sophie, or to purchase it, visit her web site at www.hypnoticjournaling.com. She has also agreed to be present during the process, so this is really exciting.

Here are her four key points for why one would be interested in her process:

1. If you’re the kind of person who wants to break free from old habits and limited patterns of thinking, this book will help you to do just that.
2. If you’ve already discovered the secrets of self-hypnosis as a powerful tool for personal transformation, but you’re always on the look out for new techniques, then this is the book for you.
3. If you love to write but never quite know how to begin, this is the book for you.
4. If there’s an issue or situation that you feel you’d like to work through, privately, in your own time, then you can start that process right now, even if it’s the middle of the night, by downloading Hypnotic Journaling.

The time frame:
I am deciding on blog titles until this Thursday.
On Friday, I hope to unveil the new blog.
I hope to begin Hypnotic Journaling next Monday.