How to Wake Up Someone Under Hypnosis

Although a person can't become stuck in a hypnotic state, it's highly important to help him make the transition slowly and comfortably instead of having him jarred back into reality, which could be traumatic and do damage to the work you've accomplished in your session. Counting slowly and methodically backward is a simple way to help your patient re-emerge.

Instructions

• 1

  Remind your patient before going under that you'll be waking her up gently. This should put her mind at ease and relieve any sense of anxiety she might have about being left under and never coming out. You can explain to her how waking occurs if she's worried.

• 2

  Keep your voice at a relaxed, even level in lower tones, just as you've done throughout the hypnosis procedure. The only difference is that as you complete the next steps of counting backward, your voice will raise in tone as you say each number as if ascending a musical scale. The words you say in between the number count should stay in your relaxed chest voice.

• 3

  Start the emerging process by cueing the patient that it's now time to leave the state he has been in. Say something like, "I am now going to count backward from five to one. With each number, you will feel more alert and present in the room. With each number I say, you will become more aware of your senses."

• 4

  Count backward beginning with five. Between the numbers, have the client focus on one specific thing to do. You can say things like, "Four. You are now aware of your hands and feet. Three. You are more alert. Two. You are re-emerging. And one, your eyes are open and you are present in the room."

• 5

  Ask the person to speak and tell you how she feels.