taking courses or just reading about it

[chloe]

do you suggest taking courses before trying to do hypnosis on the self or friends or is it ok to just read about it? is it easy to learn?

[Don]

You can try it on yourself or friends at any time.

If you want to be successful in establishing hypnosis in yourself or others, I would suggest taking one basic training.

If you want to be good at it, I suggest taking many classes and studying many books.

Learning how to hypnotize is really pretty easy. What you do after someone is hypnotized takes study and practice.

[Nicholas]

Some will suggest that reading books and practicing on your own is no comparison to taking a course. I am not one of these. You will end up with a more rounded and comprehensive knowledge from doing a course, but reading and practicing is what will make you good at it.
I refer to the example of people who leave their GCSEs and go straight to work in a factory. Meanwhile someone else goes on to study A-levels and a degree in engineering.
When the engineer arrives at the factory they know nothing. They suggest infeasable ideas, and make bad descisions.
The person who has done an apprentiship or just worked there for a number of years, knows far more, and is able to perform with a far greater proficiency.

This isn't so much a dig at those doing a course, but more an example showing that the most important thing is practice, and applied knowledge.
The engineer represents either someone who did a course without practicing, or someone who reads books withouth practicing. Wheras the apprentise represents someone who applies what they have learned every step of the way.

[Unregistered frog]

do you suggest taking courses before trying to do hypnosis on the self or friends or is it ok to just read about it? is it easy to learn?

Chloe if you want to try hypnosis for the first time i would highly recomend learning what you can from books before diving into a course, because do you really want to buy before you try?

it sounds as if you reall have no knowledge of the subject, would you like to try hypnosis, if so £30 will get you a session with a local practitioner and they will be more than happy to talk to you about their job and what is involved in hypnotising someone, also they will give you the chance to be entranced which i'm guessing is something you would like to experience

as for is it easy to learn, it is indeed, your local library will have numerous books on self hypnosis and some books on hypontising others, also look on this forum at the scripts they explain precisely how to hypnotise someone, as long as you have a wiling volenteer you should be able to hypnotise them, try the relaxation methods and use a deepener if you feel comfortable with playing with a deeper state of hypnosis, this is where you can create illusions (they perseve 1 object such as a broom as the sugestion you give them i.e a fishing rod)

have fun and don't be put off by any replys that sound negative, hypnosis IS safe

[Merlin]

You actually make a good case for taking a course (gaining aprenticed experience) Vs. acedemics (book learning).

A good course gives hand on leadership and experience from someone who has actually used hypnosis and knows something about it, Vs. acedemics only, such as from books, which can lead you astray from a misunderstanding of what is being said.

Seems to me it'd be quicker and easier to have someone there who notices your mistakes and guides you, as opposed to trial & error.

[Nicholas]

Well having never been on a course, I was going by information that had been given to me by someone who had, so I don't propose to have really got it the right way around.

When it comes to trial and error vs being told what won't work, I think they are both just as usefull as each other. Obviously you need to be given the basics of what will work, and what will not. But you don't really learn nearly as much as if you try, and get it wrong.

[Don]

Hi, Nicholas.

You wrote: "When it comes to trial and error vs being told what won't work, I think they are both just as usefull as each other." IMO, this is true...

BUT... which will take longer, taking one class and learning what does and does not work, or learning through experience?

AND...how would YOU like to be the client when a hypnotist is learning what doesn't work?

For speed and treating all clients with the respect they deserve, individual study and/or practice in a course will be the fastest and help you treat clients the best. Trial and error takes longer, and turns your clients into Guinea pigs while you reinvent the wheel.

[Poodle]

Obviously everyone knows where I stand on this issue. TRAINING - TRAINING and MORE TRAINING. Then read books and buy lots of good DVD's. Just take as an example the ocean. You can read all about it, see all the pictures but you REALLY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT IS UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY EXPERIENCE IT. You have some kind of preconceived idea in your mind that was probably false. I agree with the suggestion that you should go to a good hypnotist and enjoy your trance experience. Lots of times we don't charge for this as it doesn't take up much of our time but it does give you the opportunity to experience what is necessary and then see if it is something you really wish to pursue. For about everyone it is different and even then not always the same for the s ame individual.

Also, FYI -- Rossi books came today and they are GOOD!! Thanks Alonzo.