Help and Information about hypnotism

[ddeerreekk]

Hi,

Like many on these forums, I am just a youngster interested in hypnotism and the various aspects of it. At the moment I know very little about it but I hope in time I will learn more and eventually be able to successfully perform hypnosis. I plan to learn from books/online for now (yes, I know this is no substitute for real training), and in the next few years getting into it more seriously and getting professional training. I have a few questions, so feel free to answer one or all of them.

My three questions are:

What are some of the best books that are aimed for newbies like myself, hopefully ones that will actually get me performing simple, safe hypnosis on myself or others? (Don't worry, I'm not planning any hypnotherapy or anything)

Secondly, would it be best for a beginner to start with Self-Hypnosis, or hypnosis on others? Again, I'm talking very simple stuff.

And lastly, when I do find myself in a situation to get professional training, whereabouts do I go looking for this? Is this something that can be taken through a university or college?

Thank you very much, sorry if my questions seem childish or ridiculous :D
-Derek

[Poodle]

I'm sorry I have overlooked your post. Kudos on wanting to learn hypnosis.

Merlin has a FAQ with our recommended reading list on it. That is a great starting place. Books for people with no training is a little more difficult. I would recommend Training Trances - Julie Silverthorne, Hypnosis: A Comprehensive Guide - Tad James and then comes the biggie -- it's expensive as it is out of print Trance-Formation - Bandler & Grinder. None of these have self-hypnosis in them. That is usually something you learn at training or if your parents would allow you to go to a hypnotherapist to learn it. It's quick and fast.

Unfortunately there is nothing simple when a person with no in-person training plays around with the mind. YIKES!! Inductions you can learn in 1/2 a day but what do you do next? That's where the real knowledge and work comes in from in-person instruction.

Now to your last question - ABH has a list of instructors, NGH has a list of instructors and I hope ACHE does the same. Usually not offered at college or university. Dr. Matt that owns this Forum teaches hypnosis all the way to a Doctorate in Hypnosis. If you reside out of the USA, I could not say.

Be careful,
Pood

[Terry]

Well my young friend, what you ask is not stupid, just based on ignorance which can easily be changes by reading, but before you spend a cent, let me ask you......Would you ask a doctor how to get started in learning his skills by reading medical books, and experimenting on yourself by removing a wort or two with a cheap scalpel or better yet a razor blade which is much cheaper? Of course you wouldn't, yet here you are asking how to get started early using a very powerful therapy tool which deals with body, mind and spirit, and can change your whole life, either in a negative way or a positive way depending on how it is used....
Tell me, do you suppose I would be a decent person if I encouraged you to carry on as you suggest, or should I care enough about your future to warn you not to go there?

[Merlin]

What are some of the best books that are aimed for newbies like myself, hopefully ones that will actually get me performing simple, safe hypnosis on myself or others? (Don't worry, I'm not planning any hypnotherapy or anything)

See my FAQ

Secondly, would it be best for a beginner to start with Self-Hypnosis, or hypnosis on others? Again, I'm talking very simple stuff.

Best to go to a training because the trainer can help you with things you don't notice and possibly keep you from years of bad learning you later need to unlearn.

And lastly, when I do find myself in a situation to get professional training, whereabouts do I go looking for this? Is this something that can be taken through a university or college?

Also see my FAQ

[Snoopy]

In my opinion, I suggest you forget about the books and websites and concentrate more on getting professional training first.

My reasons for this are simple, If you start trying to teach yourself before professional training, you are going to teach yourself not only bad habits but also make it a lot harder for what your trainer says to sink in.. You're much better off starting training with an empty mind on te subject.

You're jumping into the deep end before you learn how to swim mate. Just be careful. Hypnosis in itself is easy, You can almost hypnotise a subject by accident.. But you need to know where to go once you have them under, otherwise you will run into problems

Terry