Analytic Thinker

[Judy]

I just attended a second session with my hypnotherapist, who I am seeing for weight loss (~40 pounds). The first session he was unable to put me into a trance-like state and said it was likely due to my being an analytic thinker. He told me to come back in a few days and he would prepare a different script that would be more suitable for me. The method he used today did preoccupy my conscious mind somewhat, but I did not enter a trance state. Is it normal for a hypnotherapist to work from a script? Is it appropriate to move into "suggestions" before the client is in a trance? He also suggested I set my alarm for 25 minutes earlier than normal and listen to my personalized tape while I roll back to sleep. This confuses me because I thought hypnotic suggestion isn't effective when you are sleeping. He claims that your subconscious mind is open 24 hours per day and when you are asleep your conscious mind is out of the way. I believe that hypnosis can work, but at this point I'm somewhat skeptical of his skill level. He claims to have been in practice for 13 years. He spent significant time working to build rapport, and our sessions aren't rushed, and he appears very professional. I am just concerned that we haven't been successful in entering a trance state. He claims that merely by following his behavior modification program I will lose weight (even without the hypnosis) and that the hypnosis is just extra reinforcement. How does this sound to you out there?

[UnregisteredTerry]

If you are asking whether it is normal for a practitioner to read from a script, the answer is "absolutely not".......I wouldn't have done that even when training, and certainly it is not apropriate when charging for ones services.
Obviously you have grave doubts about the person you are seeing, and regardless of why, you should change practitioners. Any doubts will prevent you from relating to that person in a manner which will get results....
I wonder what made you pick that person in the first place?

[Unregistered]

I chose this person because he said he was a hypnotherapist (which I perceive as someone coming from more of a helping standpoint than a hypnotist "parlor tricks"); the price was reasonable: 8 sessions/$680; he was open in the evenings and close to the area where I work. Here is his website, which appears legitimate. http://www.hypnosistherapyofhouston.com.

Perhaps he wasn't actually "reading." Of course, my eyes are closed. However, after the first session, he did say he "needed to put some scripts together for someone more analytical." In the session yesterday he had me visualize writing letters on a blackboard with my right hand and erasing them with my left hand while he was talking (affirmations, etc.), but definitely wasn't in a trance state and his suggestions to have me go deeper didn't work. I encouraged him to include affirmations that I am being hypnotised to eliminate these sort of doubts, but to no avail. I sincerely want this to work, but some doubt has crept in as to whether his skill level is appropriate, although he gives the impression of being capable. His website lists what sounds like appropriate credentials (but no testimonials). He has $340 of my money so far. He's admitted that it's his opinion that I will be more successful in a deep trance state, but that it's just his opinion and that even a light trance state, following the behavior modification program, and using the tape (even if not in a trance) will create success if I want it badly enough.

To me it seems that without the trance state, the behavior modification program works like any other eating plan where emotions come into play. At this point I haven't noticed in any way that I am more successful than before I started, with the exception that I am trying to do better like you would on the first days of the diet, but I certainly am not saying to myself, "boy, vegetables sound good" or "I don't want that cake." Am I off base on what to expect from hypnosis?

[Obi Wan]

It sounds like perhaps your hypnotherapist doesn't have sufficent behavioral flexibility. It also sounds like he didn't complete utlize the state you gave him saying you were an analytical thinker, I'm am a highly cerebral person and have zero problems ever going into trance.
I completely disagree with Terry that a Hypnotherapist should or shouldn't use scripts, I don't in my practice because I find them to just bog down the process and don't allow my suggestions to come from my unconscious mind but some people do use scripts and that's ok.
My question to you would be how would you know if your were hypnotized? My other question to you is whose in charge of the session and how deep you go into trance? you are, aren't you? My suggestion would be just pretend you're intrance, in a deep, deep, trance whenever you're ready to make change when you're sitting in his office. Because if you're sitting there you should be ready to make change. If you're not ready to make change don't go back why waste your money

[skip]

Judy,

If you would like I can referr you to someone in Houston who wont need scripts, who will definately hypnotize you analytical or not, and who at one time specialized in weight loss.

[Judy]

Skip, I would definitely be open to a recommendation for a hypnotist in Houston. Obi Wan: I know I wasn't in a trance the first session, and the hypnotist agreed. He gave up and said let's try again next time and we'll treat this session as more of an introduction than an actual session. I'm certainly not sure what I expect a trance to be like, but I feel much too aware of what is happening and it feels forced. I am willing to do more than merely go through the motions, but I don't think I should have to fake a trance if I'm not in one.

[skip]

Contact Houston Vetter

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This recommendation constitutes my personal recommendation to you, and is not to be understood as an endorsement from Hypnosis.com.

[Don]

Greetings.

I would just like to point out that to the best of my knowledge, this board does not endorse any particular hypnotist. This is not meant as a comment on any person's ability, nor should it be construed as such.

Any recommendation given is not "official," it is merely the personal opinion of the person giving the recommendation.

[Obi Wan]

My suggestion wasn't to fake a trance, we'd never want you to do that. Have you ever had an experience or a dream that you thought was so real that when you woke you couldn't tell the difference? The unconscious mind is not able to tell the difference between pretending and actually doing it, so my suggestion is just pretend, because pretending is all any of us actually do.

[Unregistered]

Hello,

I'm not realy easy to hypnotize. Guess I'm pretty skeptical and analytical too. Any therapists you recommend in the Santa Ana - Tustin area?

Thank you.

[Don]

Of course you're easy to hypnotize! If a hypnotherapist knows you're analytical and skeptical, he or she should be able to get you into a trance in a short time (literally, just a few minutes--or less!)

Again, this board, part of hypnosis.com, does not make recommendations, and any recommendations which appears here would only be the personal opinions of the person posting them. However, the American Board of Hypnotherapy does make recommendations. You can email them at aih@ix.netcom.com and be sure to put "Hypnotherapist Referral Wanted" in the subject line.

[Jack D]

I disagree with Terry, it is apropriate to read from a script if needed to ensure that your client is getting the best work you can give them. When you work with four to five people a day and each one is a different issue and each person is different in their own. Processes are not generic, hypnosis works differently for everyone and if you are charging for services, you need to be giving them your best work each time so that your client can be successful. The problem some times with hypnosis is clients come to us expecting magic or some silver bullet. They think all they have to do is sit there in the chair and some magic spell is going to change their life. This person Judy sounds to me to be one of those that expect magic.

[Terry]

Jack, this is an old thread, so replying to it seems a little redundant, but I am replying to your comments, not because you disagree with me, I have friends who do that, and we still remain friends. No, my reason for replying is to question you as to the reason you feel as you do. I find it interesting that someone who is charging for a service would feel it just fine to read a script to a client, and then claim they were giving first class service by doing this!
I ask, because I am sure if you went to your doctor, and he looked in a book to check on your symptoms, before offering a prescription, you would feel less than satisfied with the service, and the skill of the doctor, would you not?
Perhaps you do have a valid reason for your comments, so I would like to give you the opportunty to expand on this. I await your reply, or the reply of anyone else who agrees with you, since learning is something I insist on doing "til the day I die. Terry