Hypnosis: What To Expect? The 8-Step Guide On How To Advise First-Time Subjects [Includes Infographic]

Imagine this scenario…

You’re at a party or an event and word gets out that you’re a hypnotist.

Suddenly everybody’s curious and before you can say, “You’re getting sleepy,” there’s a crowd gathering.

But you soon find out that it’s not just idle curiosity. Far from it. Because most people have no idea what hypnosis is or how it works.

So they do what seems logical in this type of situation: They ask lots of questions.

Questions like…

• What’s hypnosis like?
• Can anyone be hypnotized?
• What does it feel like to be hypnotized?
• Exactly what happens during a hypnosis session?

Now, you can’t just fob them off. As tedious as it might be to answer these kinds of questions over and over again, it’s something you should be willing to do.

After all, you can’t be a hypnotist without having subjects to hypnotize. So rather than thinking of it as a chore, think of it as a quick and painless recruitment tool.

Also, remember that for many people…

Their first hypnosis session will be a journey into the unknown.

They’ll have no idea what to expect.

Whatever you tell them could be crucial in planting the seeds that will help them decide whether or not to give hypnosis a shot.

So what kinds of things should you say?

Obviously, it makes sense to have some kind of response prepared and memorized that you can reel off so you’re not caught off guard.

This might also save you the hassle of having to answer any “hypnosis and chicken” related questions… we hope.

But as mentioned above, this is all part and parcel of being a good hypnotist.

It’s your role to help people bypass the limitations surrounding their conscious mind’s wall so they can access infinite possibilities.

What Hypnosis Is Not – And What Can Stop It From Working

Hypnosis has a long history of being poorly understood. Whether that’s down to a certain amount of quackery or to its portrayal in cinema and the media, it doesn’t really matter.

As the hypnotist, your role is to make sure that your potential subjects/clients are not confused by the misinformation.

You can do that by quickly clearing up a few of the more common myths surrounding hypnosis. These include:

Furthermore, take the time to explain these 2 basic points about hypnosis:

It makes perfect sense that people experience doubt at first, because for many, hypnosis will be a new experience. It’s natural to feel a little bit of doubt whenever you’re experiencing something new.

Therefore, it’s relatively easy for people to doubt what they may regard as a mysterious practice – at least, that is, until they try it.

This is where you need to reassure potential subjects about the successes you’ve had and the different types of people you’ve been able to help. Also be sure to explain exactly how you can help THEM.

If they still need convincing, refer them to The Science Behind Hypnosis: 19 Breakthrough Medical Studies Prove The Astounding Power of Hypnosis To Heal The Body & Mind for some old-fashioned scientific proof.

The studies are completely independent and are written by accredited researchers that appear on respectable sites.

Are They Someone You Can Work With?

Remember that the goal is to get new subjects/clients when the event or occasion allows for it.

But you want subjects that you’re able to work with and not just people turning up to see some kind of sideshow.

You don’t want to be a performing monkey for the amusement of others, so you need to dig a little deeper and find out what they really want you to do.

One way to achieve this is by employing some of the tips used by hypnotists who do phone consultations.

You need to uncover the person’s motivation to change. Most people tend to want to move away from something painful, so you need to uncover their source of pain.

You could also ask them when they first experienced the problem or pain, whether or not it happens at specific times or in a specific place, and how it affects their life from day to day.

This gives you enough information to know if it’s something you’re happy to help them with, and, more importantly, something you think you might be successful in helping them to change.

This approach demonstrates that you know what you’re doing. It also helps to get them prepared, which will come in handy if they do decide to opt for a hypnosis session at some point.

You can find out more about the art and subtlety of phone consultations by reading 4 Steps To Mastering Phone Consultations And Booking Hypnotherapy Clients.

Hypnosis: What To Expect? 8 Ways To Advise First-Time Subjects

Below are some guidelines on what you can say to first-time hypnosis subjects.

These will not only put your subjects at ease, but will help you clearly define what happens during hypnosis.

And underneath the 8 points listed below, you’ll find a summarized version of them in an infographic that you can share with your subjects, or quickly reference before a session.

So here we go…

1. Tell subjects that they can expect to feel extremely relaxed. Above all else, hypnosis is a state of relaxation. The more they relax, the easier it will be to go into a state of trance. Ask them to close their eyes to make this easier.And be sure to mention….

   Even when someone goes into a state of trance, they’ll still hear everything that’s being said and be completely aware of what’s going on around them.

2. The deep relaxation people experience during hypnosis can create subtle changes in the body.These changes might lead to sensations such as a slowed pulse, a change in breathing patterns, relaxation of the face, slight changes in the voice, and so on.These are all linked to relaxation and are completely natural by-products of the process that are totally and utterly harmless.
3. Tell subjects that they can expect it to be easy. However, hypnosis doesn’t work without their participation.Some people will think that it’s magic and that they don’t have to do anything. Others will expect you to pull out a pocket watch and start waving it about until they nod off into a hypnotic trance.And many, unfortunately, still believe that it’s a tool for control where they’ll be forced to obey your every command. But, of course, none of these things will happen.
4. Explain to your subject that you will be doing a hypnotic induction. Depending on your interaction with your subject so far, decide what type of induction you think will be most effective at bypassing their critical factor, for example, an arm induction. This will demonstrate the power of hypnosis and help them feel confident with the hypnotic process and with your abilities. What’s more, explain that if they’re able to let go and fully cooperate, they’ll find hypnosis easy, pleasant to experience, and surprisingly fun. But it won’t be magic; it’ll be a form of back and forth communication between you and them that’s totally above board and agreed upon beforehand.
5. Advise that they can expect mental boundaries to be stretched, in addition to the fact that millions of people worldwide have used hypnosis to help them break habits and change. Maybe you’ve helped someone lose weight or stop smoking as part of your own hypnosis business. If so, don’t be shy. Tell prospective subjects about your successes and how people have used hypnosis to achieve things they couldn’t achieve any other way.
6. Remind subjects that nothing will happen except what you’ve both agreed at the beginning of the session. They won’t come into the session hoping for one result – to become a non-smoker, say – and leave with an uncontrollable desire to go on a diet. This goes to the heart of the hypnosis session, the part where the change work happens. This is where you concentrate on dealing with the issue, whether that’s pain management, overcoming fear of public speaking, getting rid of a limiting phobia, or something else.
7. Explain that their body may react to what’s going on around them. During hypnosis, depending on the issue they’ve come to you for, such as to heal a previous traumatic event or experience, it’s possible that they’ll feel quite emotional.Explain that when emotions get stirred up, the body often responds. That could take the form of feeling hot, feeling thirsty, feeling light-headed afterward, or perhaps their stomach may start to rumble.These are all normal things that can happen during hypnosis and are not things they should be worried about. It’s extremely healthy to process emotions in this way, especially if they’re emotions that have been repressed for any length of time or have been preventing someone from moving forward with any aspect of their life.
8. Expect the unexpected. Encourage subjects to enjoy hypnosis for what it is; a new experience. After the session, they’re not going to be able to fly out the window like some kind of superhero, but they might just end up exploring new areas of their mind. It’s highly likely that they’ll end up getting rid of unwanted or repressed emotions, which will take an enormous weight off their shoulders. At the very least, they’ll discover a brand new way to get into a relaxed and pleasant state quickly and easily.

And now for the summarized version…

(Tip: If you use Pinterest, you can save this graphic by “pinning” it to your account so you’re able to easily access it at a later date, or you can simply bookmark this page!)

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So there you have it… 8 clear ways you can explain the hypnosis process to first-time subjects that’ll help put their minds at ease, and that’ll also give credit to the wonderful, healing power that is hypnosis.

We hope this information has been useful, and most of all, that you keep fine-tuning your hypnosis skills!