Suggestions Needed

[zack]

I am learning to be a hypnotherapist. I have been given an assignment to hypnotize 10 people.
I have contacted two people. One has itchy hands and feet. The other one is fastidious. She wants to keep things too clean.

I already have three suggestions for the one with itch hands and feet. My nervous system is calm. My sensitivity level is normal. I am at ease. However i need 10 suggestions.

I don't know how to start with the one who is fastidious.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Zack

[Connie]

One comment I always make about cleanliness--overdoing it is no favor to your immune system! :) You don't want to live in a sterile environment. Yesterday I observed a mother whose 1-year old was crawling around on the floor in a store, finding interesting things to stick in her mouth. The mother didn't seem too concerned. Kids need some dirt to play with. If the fastidious one is a mother, that could be one suggestion to incorporate. Let's see, what else? Cleanliness. You want a home to look "lived in," not like a furniture showroom. Tell her the lived in look is warm and welcoming. Let me think on some others... :) Good luck with the assignment! Sounds like fun.

[Don]

Hi, Zack.

I imagine you were taught that before hypnotizing someone, you need to give what is called the "pre-induction talk." During this talk you do things such as remove fears and misconceptions about hypnosis, give accurate information about what hypnosis really is, and get a full history of the client.

During this time there is something else you can do: ask the client. With the itchy hands and feet, has the client been to a doctor? Itchy hands and feet could be associated with anything from fungal infections to diabetes or lupus or something else. If you get rid of the symptoms, this person could go for many months or years without getting needed medical treatment and the results could be very, very, undesirable.

So let's say your client has been to a doctor and no physical problem is at cause. Ask the client how they would like to have their hands feel and use that imagery. Ask them what they would be doing when they notice the itching and give them suggestions of being able to do that activity without any distractions. There are just so many issues here that could be discussed (when did they first notice the itching? What was going on in their life at that time?) that by asking questions you can get numerous suggestions that apply specifically to the client.

The same is true of the second person. What does he or she mean by "too clean?" "Too clean" to them might be slovenly to someone else. How clean would they like to be? What would they rather do in place of cleaning? If they no longer had the urge to be "too clean," in one year, what would their life be like? All of these questions can lead you to making suggestions for dealing with this issue.

Good luck!

[Connie]

Great answers, Don! :) Zack, rather than handing you a nice cellophane package of salmon filets, he's showing you how to fish!

[Poodle]

To add to Don's comments, specifically where are you studying and specifically what are you studying to be -- the word hypnotherapist doesn't get it.

Now, if you are the same Zach, you were seeing a hypnotist and a few days later you are studying??? You were requesting information for self-help and none would come, right as you would give me no concrete information? I really do not believe you are studying with anyone. I cannot imagine any certified instructor turning someone loose to the public not knowing what they are doing.

Lesson 1: Learn ALL THE INDUCTIONS from MEMORY.

Lesson 2: The client knows much more about the problem than you ever will.

Lesson 3: Listen to your client's language. Never use hypnosis on "medical" problems without a written referral from the client's MD.

Again, we are not a teaching forum so good luck in your studies if you are indeed studying. Pood

[Terry (existing)]

"I am learning to be a hypnotherapist". NO YOU ARE NOT.

To learn to be a hypnotist requires a trainer, for reasons of public safety. This board is not a replacement for such training.

[zack]

I am studying to be a hypnotherapist. The person training me has been doing this 32 years.

Thanks Don for telling me that i need to do the pre-induction talk and interview and get the answers from the client and giving me a fish and not the exact answers I was looking for.

Thanks poodle for reminding that the client has all the answers.

It's just that i have just completed my first level and i was a little scared about doing the interview and I still have trouble writing the suggestions even after talking to the client.

I still have a lot to learn and i know i will begin to feel more comfortable when talking with a client and gain more confidence doing the interview and get better at writing the suggestions as I go along.

Thanks to the ones of you that did give me advice.

Zack

[Connie]

You go, Zack! :) I sympathize about the nervousness. That's why you're doing these exercises, to become more experienced and comfortable. My advice: jump in with both feet. And have fun with it! Trust that you'll come up with the right things to say!

Regarding this not being a teaching forum. That's true! It's not. However, I believe that there are gems spread throughout that one can learn from.

[Don]

Hi, Zack.

I, too, understand your nervousness.

In my initial training, I always studied in classes. So we would practice, in class, with our classmates. Doing the interview a few times will show you just how easy it is and help you to overcome the nervousness.

[Poodle]

The "person" does not equate to a Certified Instructor. A Certified Instructor would not turn you loose upon the public. You would have had lots of hands on practice on other students so you would know what to say. Sorry man. I just don't believe you at all. And lastly, you are studying to be what kind of a hypnotherapist. Maybe the day you scan and put your diplomas up for all to see I will believe you but until then, no way! ... Pood :(

[Connie]

It IS easy for people to "pretend" to be other than what they are on the internet. We'll all just have to trust our respective psychic muses on that one! (As far as multiple screen names, I look at spelling, word use, grammar, level of diction, or any other measurable idiosyncrasies to recognize someone.)

[zack]

I am not pretending. I have been through my first 50 hours. We did practice on our classmates. Doing both the interviewing and the hypnosis. However I still feel a little unsure of myself. However I do realize it will get easier as i go along.

Zack

[Terry (existing)]

Connie, one should look for content. It is difficult if not impossible to post as one who has had training when in fact one has not. This one has NOT and it is obvious.

[Poodle]

Go to the thread about cleaning house. I bet you can find all kinds of information in there. I have a very hard time understanding your instructors want you to hypnotize 10 people that are NOT classmates. This seems very wrong to me without an instructor watching your work. 50 hours is nothing in the world of hypnosis. What happens specifically if you do not encounter any itchy people or anyone that is unsatisfied with their home. After you finish and get your practice going you will find the wisdom in my words.

What things do people do to stop itching? What does a nervous system have to do with itching? One may be very calm and still itch. Is it an allergy, dry skin, you need to know WHY the person is itching. AGAIN, the client has the answers.

As for the other person you may like to read the first chapter of "Reframing" by Bandler and Grinder. It should be available on Amazon. Got to give Leslie her due, that was great work.

[Connie]

Connie, one should look for content. It is difficult if not impossible to post as one who has had training when in fact one has not. This one has NOT and it is obvious.

I know. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt (if there's even a shred of doubt.) Sometimes the appearance-of-pretense in a post may be due to poor writing skills, or someone in a hurry and not being as complete or careful as they might in what they say, and not a true indication of what they know or have learned.

[zack]

I don't have to prove anything to anybody. I know what I am studying and if you don't want to believe me it is up to you. I asked for help and all I am getting is criticism. People saying that they don't even believe that i am studying hypnosis. I am sorry i even posted to this forum. i thought i could get some help form other people that have more experience than i do but now i know i was wrong.

Zack

[Terry (existing)]

I don't have to prove anything to anybody. I know what I am studying and if you don't want to believe me it is up to you. I asked for help and all I am getting is criticism. People saying that they don't even believe that i am studying hypnosis. I am sorry i even posted to this forum. i thought i could get some help form other people that have more experience than i do but now i know i was wrong.

Zack You are absolutely right Zack, you certainly don;t have to prove anything to anyone, on this we are agreed. We can also agree that we are under no obligation to believe you, since we don;t know anything about you except what you write, which fails to breed any confidence in your veracity.
The end result of all this agreement, is that we are entitled to view your request with suspicion, (I certainly do,) and you for your part, have no reason to be upset by this since you choose to take the attitude that you really don't care if you are believed or not. Good for you, I aplaude you for standing up for your rights. What I do find rather sad however, is that if you are truthfull, you are being taught by someone who is acting in a criminal manner, and choose to cover up for him or her! So you see, either you are admitting to lying, or to protecting a person acting in a manner dangerous to the general public. Either way, you fail to get what you want, but on the other hand, you asked the wrong questions, and created the atmosphere of distrust yourself....

[Don]

Hi, Zack.

Well, I thought I shared a wide variety of concepts and ideas as to how you could get suggestions for your work. I also wrote that I understood your nervousness.

I note, however, that you wrote that all you are "getting is criticism." That sort of ignores what I posted.

But the thing is, that's the way it is on the internet. Not just here, but on every forum.

You see, the very nature of forums such as these encourages misunderstandings. We can't see you and get any sort of non-textual information which is often far more important in communications than the words themselves. You do the best to provide information to get responses you want, but people reading it--with their experience, beliefs, training, interpretation, things going on that day, etc.--may think you are not providing enough information to give a good answer, or they may see something and interpret in a way you didn't mean it.

There are many ways to learn hypnosis. Some people take weeks of training. Others take series of brief classes with space between them. Some take classes at night and on weekends. Some people try to learn from books alone. And I'm sure there are other ways, too.

Now, you may not have known of all these ways, but people here have experienced and heard it all. Unfortunately, we most frequently get posts from people saying "I'm learning hypnosis" only to eventually reveal that they're just reading a couple of books (and frequently the books are out-of-date).

Frankly, I find it odd--although not inconceivable--that your teacher would tell a relatively untrained person such as yourself, to go out and hypnotize several people and give them suggestions. There are numerous reasons for this. Part of it is that you cannot get expert feedback as you could if you were hypnotizing someone else who was also training. Part of it is that given such an assignment, most beginners would attempt to work with a friend or family member, and hypnotizing them can be quite difficult.

I'm going to assume that you are going to some sort of hypnosis training. However, the curiousness of your not describing the school, your not knowing how to individualize suggestions, and the assignment to go home and hypnotize people could easily strike people as questionable.

Because of the nature of internet forums, and because you are starting in your training, you couldn't know the problems we see in your statements. So I understand that it surprises you that people are questioning what you are doing. I hope you also understand now that your statements also surprise those of us who may have gone through more extensive training than you.

So blame this lack of communication on the nature of internet forums. Or blame it on your current lack of knowledge (that's not saying you're stupid, just that you don't have training and experience). Or blame it on people who have seen claims from other people who have made requests similar to the ones you have made here and who are not really going through training.

But just as you discounted what I wrote to you, and others may have discounted your experience, I hope you will understand that this happens all the time on the internet. You began your last post by saying that you "don't have to prove anything to anybody." I would respectfully suggest that although you have said that, it's possible that you don't really feel that way. Otherwise you wouldn't have attacked people here in anger.

All that goes on here is the placement of pixels on a screen. Pick what is helpful. Ignore what you don't like.

Good luck on your studies.

[Connie]

All that goes on here is the placement of pixels on a screen.

There's more. There are hearts and minds behind those pixels, and caring and knowledge and inspiration. There's "community." Pixels on a screen have the power to change somebody's life...mine, for instance!

[zack]

Don,
I didn't discount any advice you or Connie gave me. Your advice were helpful. I didn't mean for you to take that way. It just sounds like the other ones that posted don't believe me. I am taking a course on the weekends. It is divided into four sessions and 100 hours i have to get on my own. The 100 hours is for my clinical hypnotherapy. By the time i have finished i will have completed 300 hours.

Zack

[zack]

Let's just end this post. I did get something out of the post that Don and Connie gave me. I didn't mean I don't care if anyone believes me or not the way you have taken it. I just said that because some of you don';t believe me.The person training me is no criminal and will not harm society. She has a very thriving business helping a lot of people.

Zack

[Don]

Zack, my friend, I'm afraid you missed my point. Sorry about that.

You don't have to prove anything to anyone.

My point was that because of the nature of the internet and internet forums and newsgroups, misunderstandings always happen. It's just the nature of the beast.

So don't get upset or you're going to find yourself quite alone on the internet. Just remember that people you don't know don't know you, and if the information they provide isn't any good, or if it attacks you, just laugh about it and forget it.

[Merlin]

I have been given an assignment to hypnotize 10 people.

Is your assignment to hypnotise, or do therapy?
huge difference.
I hope you just misunderstood your assignment.

You might even be in violation of loacl laws if you offer therapy as opposed to hypnotising.

A person comes to you with a fever.
You ask for suggestions here of how to lower the fever.
People here are asking, what is causing this fever? What is the temp.? is it really a fever?

[Poodle]

what the problem was in telling the person where to find the information instead of spoon feeding him.