Conversational Hypnosis Techniques

Patients in a trance-like state and watches that swing like pendulums are common images that come to mind when people think about conversational hypnosis. However, conversational hypnosis techniques are not intended to manipulate someone's mind as they lay in a semi-conscious state; instead, it aims to influence an individual's thought process through some simple principles of persuasion.

Critical Factor

• The aim of hypnosis is to bypass the critical factor of your brain that causes you to disregard suggestions that seem ridiculous. If someone were to tell you to jump off a bridge, the critical factor in your brain would negate that suggestion before you mind even had a chance to think about it.

  Sometimes, however, the critical factor works against us. If you want to quit smoking tobacco, but your mind tells you that you don't have the willpower, your critical factor has tricked you into thinking you're so addicted to tobacco that you cannot quit. Changing undesirable habits and behaviors is possible with conversational hypnosis.

Rapport

• You do not need to put the person (the subject) you're helping into a hypnotic trance, but it is very important to establish a sense of trust and openness with your subject. This part of conversational hypnosis is referred to as rapport. The subject should first make a clear statement about what issue is troubling her. In response, agree with her statement.

  For instance, the subject might say, "I don't have the willpower to quit smoking." In response, say, "You're right. You don't have the willpower." This will dissuade the subject from building any walls to resist your suggestions later on and sets up for the next stage: confusion.

Confusion

• The next step of conversational hypnosis is to confuse the original issue troubling the subject. Before your subject can respond, ask a question that suggests a solution could be readily available. For instance, after your subject's response about his willpower, challenge him by saying, "But are you sure that in the next moment or two, you won't find a stronger will inside of you?" This gets the subject to stop thinking about preconceived notion they stated and to start thinking about the possibility of changing their behavior.

Suggestion

• Suggestion is the last step of conversational hypnosis. It is used to solidify the different pattern of thinking exposed by confusion. Allow your subject to speak freely for a few moments about their issue and then make a suggestion that shows that you believe your subject has already improved. For instance, tell your subject, "Wow, it sounds like you have even more willpower than you thought when it comes to not smoking." Make this a positive statement. Wait for a response from your subject that signifies that the confusion stage has taken some effect and that they are in agreement with your suggestion. If they are not in agreement, repeat the confusion stage before moving on to another suggestion.