Ultimate Conversational Hypnosis is an online course similar to the Power of Conversational Hypnosis, but it was written by a different guy: Steve G. Jones, ME.d. He is a certified clinical hypnotherapist and president of the American Alliance of Hypnotists. He has a fairly impressive list of credentials which can be seen on the course's sales page, so I won't list them all here.
Unfortunately, however, his own web page is fairly hard to navigate, and most of his courses and recordings are overpriced if you buy directly from him. Paul Masetta has created a new page that allows you to buy the course at a discounted rate while still getting the same products you'd get for over $400 through Jones' own site.
With Ultimate Conversational Hypnosis, you get a total of 18 'modules', which are basically recorded chapters with transcripts. I would advise against trying to listen to these recordings in the car on the way to work or anywhere you can't give them your full attention.
The first few modules are fairly basic, giving you a rundown of what hypnosis is and the history behind it. Things get more interesting in the third module, which discusses the basics of NLP, how to use eye contact to benefit hypnosis attempts, pattern interrupt, suggestibility tests, and other essential hypnosis skills. Modules 10-18 get much more into conversational hypnosis, and there's even one chapter on self hypnosis. The last two modules also include specific hypnosis examples and a review section to practice and review what you have learned.
Personally, I do prefer this course over the Igor Ledochowski Power of Conversational Hypnosis because I like Jones' way of speaking and the clear, professional way these chapters are written. However, I found there was more work involved in Jones' course as a whole because it covers more techniques than the Ledochowski course and goes more in depth into each chapter. This is surprising, as the Ledochowski course is twice as expensive as Jones'.
I think the reasoning behind this is that Jones has put out substantially more material, and this course is meant more as an introduction to get you interested in finding more of his products - and subsequently buying them.
For the price, this course is hard to beat. You get more material than you would get with most courses that cost twice as much, such as the Power of Conversational Hypnosis. However, there is a LOT of work involved, so do not invest in this course if you aren't prepared to spend several hours a week reading, listening, and reviewing the material.
Read more about Ultimate Conversational Hypnosis
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
How to Initiate Hypnosis Without Your Subject Knowing
Have you ever had a deep, meaningful conversation with someone, to the point where you were so absorbed that you lost track of time and were completely focused on the discussion? Most all of us have. That intense state of focus, where your concentration is centered on one thing to where you can't even be distracted, is what Milton Erickson believed to be the trance state. It is the place that all hypnotists want to get their subjects, as it is the state in which you are most susceptible to the power of suggestion.
Creating what professional hypnotists call "rapport hooks" is the best way to initiate hypnosis in a subtle way that won't let the subject know you are even attempting to hypnotize them.
Rapport hooks are conversation starters, attention grabbers. They are a way to grab the subject's attention from the get go. By appealing to your subject's interests, you establish yourself as a good listener and someone who can be trusted. Give some information, then pull back and let the subject re-engage you. For example, if you are telling a story about a vacation you took to some exotic locale, describe the scenery, how pretty the sea was, etc. But don't tell them where specifically it was you went; instead, let them prompt you for that information. Get them interested in finding out about you.
By creating these rapport hooks - these initial conversation lighters that can form the foundation for future conversations - we establish and strengthen rapport. Strengthening rapport builds trust, which in turn makes it easier for us to induce trance in a subject.
Creating what professional hypnotists call "rapport hooks" is the best way to initiate hypnosis in a subtle way that won't let the subject know you are even attempting to hypnotize them.
Rapport hooks are conversation starters, attention grabbers. They are a way to grab the subject's attention from the get go. By appealing to your subject's interests, you establish yourself as a good listener and someone who can be trusted. Give some information, then pull back and let the subject re-engage you. For example, if you are telling a story about a vacation you took to some exotic locale, describe the scenery, how pretty the sea was, etc. But don't tell them where specifically it was you went; instead, let them prompt you for that information. Get them interested in finding out about you.
By creating these rapport hooks - these initial conversation lighters that can form the foundation for future conversations - we establish and strengthen rapport. Strengthening rapport builds trust, which in turn makes it easier for us to induce trance in a subject.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Who Was this Milton Erickson Guy Anyway?
Perhaps the most important facet of Erickson's discoveries is his theory of trance and the unconscious mind. His idea was that the unconscious mind is always listening, and that in a trance state, the subject is made aware of (and becomes attuned to) suggestions that they would not normally be receptive to. Sometimes the patient may be aware of this, and sometimes they may not. Erickson's method attempts to make the patient respond to indirect suggestion, usually through hypnotic trance.
Erickson's definition of trance is not what most people associate with the word, however. He believed that trance is an everyday occurrence that happens all throughout our lives, when we are waiting for buses, involved in strenuous exercise, or listening to music intently. Trance, in Erickson's definition, is simply the state our minds go into when we are entirely focused on one thing and all other irrelevant stimuli are ignored.
Erickson pioneered many techniques for inducing trance states in people which have been learned by successful hypnotists all over the world. These techniques require time to practice and master, but with perseverance and the right learning materials, anyone can learn them. Perhaps one reason Erickson's techniques were so successful was because of how accessible he made them to average people as well as trained scholars.
The Value of Good Rapport in Hypnosis
Rapport is a key tool in hypnosis of any kind. When learning how to hypnotize someone through conversation especially, rapport needs a great deal of emphasis. Learning to establish good rapport can not only help you as a hypnotist, but in all your interactions with people.
In order to know how to establish good rapport, it's important to know what exactly makes up a good rapport between two people. Rapport is a necessary part of building trust and comfort between you and your subjects.
In essence, rapport is the close relationship including two or more people who understand each other's feelings and ideas. Rapport also means being able to communicate those feelings and ideas in a substantial way. We have rapport with everyone around us – co-workers, friends, family members. These rapports may be much different from each other, but they are essential to building meaningful relationships.
Trying to force rapport to go in a direction it is not meant to or to establish it too quickly can immediately destroy a hypnosis attempt. Rapport is something that must be established carefully and slowly; trying to force it will only make you seem desperate. To avoid forcing rapport, we have a few fundamental techniques: fractioning, storytelling, and matching and mirroring.
Matching and mirroring is a largely subconscious process that involves subtle mirroring of your subject's hand movements and gestures. However, it must be done carefully. If you are too blatant about mirroring someone, it will put them off and even possibly make them think you're making fun of them. If done correctly, though, it can build a subtle, subconscious connection with that person that they won't even be aware of.
Building successful rapport with people requires a very thorough understanding of rapport-building techniques. You must thoroughly understand them yourself before you can attempt to use them on anyone without looking foolish or having your hypnosis attempts seen through.
In order to know how to establish good rapport, it's important to know what exactly makes up a good rapport between two people. Rapport is a necessary part of building trust and comfort between you and your subjects.
In essence, rapport is the close relationship including two or more people who understand each other's feelings and ideas. Rapport also means being able to communicate those feelings and ideas in a substantial way. We have rapport with everyone around us – co-workers, friends, family members. These rapports may be much different from each other, but they are essential to building meaningful relationships.
Trying to force rapport to go in a direction it is not meant to or to establish it too quickly can immediately destroy a hypnosis attempt. Rapport is something that must be established carefully and slowly; trying to force it will only make you seem desperate. To avoid forcing rapport, we have a few fundamental techniques: fractioning, storytelling, and matching and mirroring.
Matching and mirroring is a largely subconscious process that involves subtle mirroring of your subject's hand movements and gestures. However, it must be done carefully. If you are too blatant about mirroring someone, it will put them off and even possibly make them think you're making fun of them. If done correctly, though, it can build a subtle, subconscious connection with that person that they won't even be aware of.
Building successful rapport with people requires a very thorough understanding of rapport-building techniques. You must thoroughly understand them yourself before you can attempt to use them on anyone without looking foolish or having your hypnosis attempts seen through.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Small Talk in Hypnosis: Helpful or a Deterrent?
The first impressions made on a subject by the hypnotist are vital. If you don't initially capture your subject's attention, you may as well give up right then. Small talk - or fluff talk, that has no real value or meaning (about the weather, current events, etc.) - is basically useless in a hypnotism attempt. Hypnosis through conversation is about meaningful, deep discussions; small talk is only going to hamper your attempts to get there.
Some may argue that small talk can be useful in conversation by helping you to seem friendly or welcoming to your subjects. This may be true if you can make your small talk count. Don't ask about the weather; instead, take an interest in your subjects' lives. Ask about their families, their friends, their health. Taking an interest in peoples' lives shows them that you care, and that is a crucial factor not only in hypnosis, but in building any kind of meaningful relationship. People are more astute than we might give them credit for, and can usually tell when you are genuinely interested in them or when you are just putting on a front.
This doesn't mean you have to start a trance by launching into an attempt to reach the subconscious the second your subject walks through the door. Rather, make yourself welcoming; ask how the person is doing, help make them comfortable. Offer them a comfortable chair, something to drink, etc. Putting someone at ease is a crucial factor in initiating any kind of successful hypnosis.
Some may argue that small talk can be useful in conversation by helping you to seem friendly or welcoming to your subjects. This may be true if you can make your small talk count. Don't ask about the weather; instead, take an interest in your subjects' lives. Ask about their families, their friends, their health. Taking an interest in peoples' lives shows them that you care, and that is a crucial factor not only in hypnosis, but in building any kind of meaningful relationship. People are more astute than we might give them credit for, and can usually tell when you are genuinely interested in them or when you are just putting on a front.
This doesn't mean you have to start a trance by launching into an attempt to reach the subconscious the second your subject walks through the door. Rather, make yourself welcoming; ask how the person is doing, help make them comfortable. Offer them a comfortable chair, something to drink, etc. Putting someone at ease is a crucial factor in initiating any kind of successful hypnosis.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
The 4 Stage Hypnosis Protocol
Many people think of hypnosis as being a state where the mind is relaxed and not focusing on any one thing. In reality, hypnosis is just the opposite, where someone becomes so intensely focused that the unconscious mind is given free reign to act beyond the normal restrictions imposed by the conscious mind.
James Braid, the Scottish neurosurgeon who came up with the term of hypnotism, also created the concept of the four stage hypnosis protocol which we can use to induce the state of hypnosis.
The first stage
Stage one of the hypnosis protocol is the Absorb Attention stage. By capturing the subject's attention, we put them in the initial receptive state for hypnosis. This requires a good deal of focus and concentration, and must be accomplished by capturing your subject's attention and leading them on through suggestions and conversational hooks.
The second stage
The second stage of the protocol is the Bypass Critical Factor stage. The critical factor is the part of the subject's conscious mind that says "This is not possible." Resistance to trance is caused by the critical factor, and failure to bypass it will result in an unsuccessful hypnosis attempt. Learning to bypass the critical factor is an intense process which must be learned through proper hypnosis training.
The third stage
Stage three is the Activate an Unconscious Response stage. Once you begin activating these responses, you know you have successfully put your subject into a hypnotic state. Emotional responses are good examples of an unconscious response; they are triggered by feelings rather than conscious, analytical thoughts. If you are dealing with a subject in an emotional state over something such as a recent breakup or a death, the subject is already in his or her own state of hypnosis.
This leads to step four: Lead Unconscious to Desired Outcome.
The fourth stage
The stage of leading the unconscious to a desired outcome is actually quite simple. Through the previous stages, you have put the person into a state where they are receptive to your suggestions, and therefore capable of receiving the thoughts that you put forth to them. By leading the subject to a positive response to their hypnotic state - suggesting ways of coping with their recent losses, for example - you can help the person overcome their grief or any other emotion which may be interfering with their life.
Completing these four stages of the hypnosis protocol means that you're capable of successfully hypnotizing someone simply through the power of your own voice.
James Braid, the Scottish neurosurgeon who came up with the term of hypnotism, also created the concept of the four stage hypnosis protocol which we can use to induce the state of hypnosis.
The first stage
Stage one of the hypnosis protocol is the Absorb Attention stage. By capturing the subject's attention, we put them in the initial receptive state for hypnosis. This requires a good deal of focus and concentration, and must be accomplished by capturing your subject's attention and leading them on through suggestions and conversational hooks.
The second stage
The second stage of the protocol is the Bypass Critical Factor stage. The critical factor is the part of the subject's conscious mind that says "This is not possible." Resistance to trance is caused by the critical factor, and failure to bypass it will result in an unsuccessful hypnosis attempt. Learning to bypass the critical factor is an intense process which must be learned through proper hypnosis training.
The third stage
Stage three is the Activate an Unconscious Response stage. Once you begin activating these responses, you know you have successfully put your subject into a hypnotic state. Emotional responses are good examples of an unconscious response; they are triggered by feelings rather than conscious, analytical thoughts. If you are dealing with a subject in an emotional state over something such as a recent breakup or a death, the subject is already in his or her own state of hypnosis.
This leads to step four: Lead Unconscious to Desired Outcome.
The fourth stage
The stage of leading the unconscious to a desired outcome is actually quite simple. Through the previous stages, you have put the person into a state where they are receptive to your suggestions, and therefore capable of receiving the thoughts that you put forth to them. By leading the subject to a positive response to their hypnotic state - suggesting ways of coping with their recent losses, for example - you can help the person overcome their grief or any other emotion which may be interfering with their life.
Completing these four stages of the hypnosis protocol means that you're capable of successfully hypnotizing someone simply through the power of your own voice.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
What exactly is a trance?
In its most basic definition, a trance is a specific state of mind that represents the level of awareness and consciousness in our minds. The trance state is not voluntary, but rather induced by subtle suggestive techniques (such as hypnosis), meditation, or prayer. Trance is essentially a way to communicate with the subconscious mind.
During a trance, the person will be more aware of his own self. This state is meditative and reflective in nature, allowing the individual to see parts of themselves that they cannot reach in the normal conscious level. Trance isn't something we can just snap our fingers to get to; we have to slowly and carefully induce this state, either by ourselves or with the help of others.
One means of generating a trance is a technique known as a cognitive loop. A cognitive loop is basically a repeated sequence of thought objects, which can be sounds, words, feelings, or even physical movements. Drumming and marching are two examples of cognitive loops; music is often a complex combination of cognitive loops, as is mantra meditation.
The theory behind cognitive loops is that when repeated over a period of time, a cognitive loop causes a splitting of consciousness, where certain cognitive functions are disabled – and others, which may be in the subconscious, are enabled.
Through conversational hypnosis and using a cognitive loop – for example, suggesting a certain place or thought that holds special significance to the person we're attempting to put into a trance – we can reach that person's subconscious. Inducing the trance state makes people more open to suggestion, more receptive, and less focused on outside stimuli which may influence their decisions. Instead, they can hear what you're saying and make a decision based exclusively on their own thoughts and feelings without any outside interference.
During a trance, the person will be more aware of his own self. This state is meditative and reflective in nature, allowing the individual to see parts of themselves that they cannot reach in the normal conscious level. Trance isn't something we can just snap our fingers to get to; we have to slowly and carefully induce this state, either by ourselves or with the help of others.
One means of generating a trance is a technique known as a cognitive loop. A cognitive loop is basically a repeated sequence of thought objects, which can be sounds, words, feelings, or even physical movements. Drumming and marching are two examples of cognitive loops; music is often a complex combination of cognitive loops, as is mantra meditation.
The theory behind cognitive loops is that when repeated over a period of time, a cognitive loop causes a splitting of consciousness, where certain cognitive functions are disabled – and others, which may be in the subconscious, are enabled.
Through conversational hypnosis and using a cognitive loop – for example, suggesting a certain place or thought that holds special significance to the person we're attempting to put into a trance – we can reach that person's subconscious. Inducing the trance state makes people more open to suggestion, more receptive, and less focused on outside stimuli which may influence their decisions. Instead, they can hear what you're saying and make a decision based exclusively on their own thoughts and feelings without any outside interference.
Monday, December 7, 2009
What is hypnosis?
Clinically defined, hypnosis is the psychological process of overcoming the mind's critical thinking ability and replacing it with subconscious thought. Simply put, it's putting someone into a relaxed frame of mind where they become more open to the power of suggestion.
Stage hypnosis is purely for the purposes of entertainment - the swinging pocketwatches and swirly-eyed trances that usually get people to do something they wouldn't normally. Clinical hypnosis - "real" hypnosis - is not at all about making a person surrender their will. It's not mind control. Instead, real hypnosis is simply a method of getting people to be more receptive to suggestion.
Anyone who wants to understand hypnosis fully needs to realize the importance of the subconscious mind. There are two basic frames of mind: subconscious and conscious. The conscious mind is the here and now - the part of your mind that's aware of what's going on and making decisions about things that are taking place in your life at this very moment. Subconscious is "the back of your mind", or an underlying layer of thought that you aren't aware of. The subconscious mind is essentially what's responsible for basic bodily functions like breathing - something that's happening in your body but you aren't directly in control of most of the time.
And that is the trick of hypnosis: to tap into the subconscious. By reaching a part of our minds that we aren't even aware of, a good hypnotist can make us receptive to certain things we might not normally even think about. By learning how to use hypnosis in conversation, we can talk to people more easily and make them more receptive to us. Conversational hypnosis can be an extremely powerful tool, provided it is used properly and ethically.
Stage hypnosis is purely for the purposes of entertainment - the swinging pocketwatches and swirly-eyed trances that usually get people to do something they wouldn't normally. Clinical hypnosis - "real" hypnosis - is not at all about making a person surrender their will. It's not mind control. Instead, real hypnosis is simply a method of getting people to be more receptive to suggestion.
Anyone who wants to understand hypnosis fully needs to realize the importance of the subconscious mind. There are two basic frames of mind: subconscious and conscious. The conscious mind is the here and now - the part of your mind that's aware of what's going on and making decisions about things that are taking place in your life at this very moment. Subconscious is "the back of your mind", or an underlying layer of thought that you aren't aware of. The subconscious mind is essentially what's responsible for basic bodily functions like breathing - something that's happening in your body but you aren't directly in control of most of the time.
And that is the trick of hypnosis: to tap into the subconscious. By reaching a part of our minds that we aren't even aware of, a good hypnotist can make us receptive to certain things we might not normally even think about. By learning how to use hypnosis in conversation, we can talk to people more easily and make them more receptive to us. Conversational hypnosis can be an extremely powerful tool, provided it is used properly and ethically.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
The Power of Conversational Hypnosis: A Thorough Review
The Power of Conversational Hypnosis is an online course developed by Igor Ledochowski. He is an author, hypnotist, and master NLP trainer. He has authored The Depp Trance Training Manual and has an LLB in European Law from the University of Exeter. Ledochowski is best known for creating this course in order to make hypnosis more accessible to people who have no experience with it – or any other psychological techniques.
There are over 16 CDs, transcripts, exercises, and workbooks in this course, so it's a hefty download. The course costs $197 for the full version and is available for immediate download after purchase.
The course is basically the online equivalent of Ledochowski's personal training which he teaches to clients in private sessions. It is in a much different format, of course, since you're given the material and pre-recorded instruction as opposed to one-on-one training. This course combines techniques of hypnosis with neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), which is a theory of communication based on tapping into someone's thought processes and experiences to communicate with them on a deeper level – and then subsequently alter their patterns of thinking.
The interesting thing about this course is that it's not really 'hypnosis' you're learning. Hypnosis is usually associated with swinging pocketwatches and swirly-eyed, entranced people. Instead of actually entrancing people, you essentially learn how to talk them into a frame of mind that's favorable to what you want. Thus the “conversational” aspect of this program.
Overview
The first lesson of the course is some background info on the practice of hypnosis; session 2 is where it starts getting into actual hypnosis techniques.
You're taught the key principals of conversational hypnosis:
Now the thing to remember about this technique: you're not tricking people into listening to you or doing something dishonest. The goal is to become a master at talking to people so that you can make them more receptive to what you're trying to say. You essentially talk them into a receptive mindset in a subtle way – the “hypnosis” factor.
The course is structured into 12 sessions – chapters, basically. The best way to digest the material in the course is to listen to the recordings, take notes, and practice. It helps if you have someone to practice with; either someone who is taking the course with you, a friend or colleague, or your spouse.
In a lot of ways, this course is designed to build self-esteem. By becoming more comfortable with talking to people, your self-confidence grows, and naturally people gravitate to you and are more receptive to what you tell them.
Pros and cons
This course is written in a professional manner. It's very much like taking a self-improvement course at a university, as the material is all very well-presented, organized in a way that's easy to understand, and still fairly simple to put into practice if you read and digest it carefully. The recordings are of professional quality, but less helpful if you don't like learning by listening to recorded material. If you prefer to read a book that will teach you how to talk to people or put them into a state of hypnosis, this course will give you a lot more than you need, and probably isn't a wise investment.
Bottom line:
The Power of Conversational Hypnosis may benefit you if you are looking for a straightforward, easy to understand method of learning to talk to people better. If you want to be more confident in how you communicate and are willing to put forth the time and effort to finish the course (it will probably take at least 20-30 days to fully complete and review all the material within the course), it will be a worthwhile investment. The quality of material is top notch and just as good as you'd get from a college course.
It's also in a very accessible format; if you can read, listen, and want an online, downloadable resource, this is ideal.
If you don't buy into the idea of hypnosis or using conversation tactics to change how people react to you, or just don't want to put forth the time required to digest the course fully, the course probably won't be worth your money.
Click here to go to the Power of Conversational Hypnosis website
There are over 16 CDs, transcripts, exercises, and workbooks in this course, so it's a hefty download. The course costs $197 for the full version and is available for immediate download after purchase.
The course is basically the online equivalent of Ledochowski's personal training which he teaches to clients in private sessions. It is in a much different format, of course, since you're given the material and pre-recorded instruction as opposed to one-on-one training. This course combines techniques of hypnosis with neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), which is a theory of communication based on tapping into someone's thought processes and experiences to communicate with them on a deeper level – and then subsequently alter their patterns of thinking.
The interesting thing about this course is that it's not really 'hypnosis' you're learning. Hypnosis is usually associated with swinging pocketwatches and swirly-eyed, entranced people. Instead of actually entrancing people, you essentially learn how to talk them into a frame of mind that's favorable to what you want. Thus the “conversational” aspect of this program.
Overview
The first lesson of the course is some background info on the practice of hypnosis; session 2 is where it starts getting into actual hypnosis techniques.You're taught the key principals of conversational hypnosis:
- Building rapport with strangers
- Getting people to listen
- Making sales
- Changing clients' and colleagues' minds
- Negotiating deals with clients
- Altering your friends/loved ones' mindsets
Now the thing to remember about this technique: you're not tricking people into listening to you or doing something dishonest. The goal is to become a master at talking to people so that you can make them more receptive to what you're trying to say. You essentially talk them into a receptive mindset in a subtle way – the “hypnosis” factor.
The course is structured into 12 sessions – chapters, basically. The best way to digest the material in the course is to listen to the recordings, take notes, and practice. It helps if you have someone to practice with; either someone who is taking the course with you, a friend or colleague, or your spouse.
In a lot of ways, this course is designed to build self-esteem. By becoming more comfortable with talking to people, your self-confidence grows, and naturally people gravitate to you and are more receptive to what you tell them.
Pros and cons
This course is written in a professional manner. It's very much like taking a self-improvement course at a university, as the material is all very well-presented, organized in a way that's easy to understand, and still fairly simple to put into practice if you read and digest it carefully. The recordings are of professional quality, but less helpful if you don't like learning by listening to recorded material. If you prefer to read a book that will teach you how to talk to people or put them into a state of hypnosis, this course will give you a lot more than you need, and probably isn't a wise investment.
Bottom line:
The Power of Conversational Hypnosis may benefit you if you are looking for a straightforward, easy to understand method of learning to talk to people better. If you want to be more confident in how you communicate and are willing to put forth the time and effort to finish the course (it will probably take at least 20-30 days to fully complete and review all the material within the course), it will be a worthwhile investment. The quality of material is top notch and just as good as you'd get from a college course.
It's also in a very accessible format; if you can read, listen, and want an online, downloadable resource, this is ideal.
If you don't buy into the idea of hypnosis or using conversation tactics to change how people react to you, or just don't want to put forth the time required to digest the course fully, the course probably won't be worth your money.
Click here to go to the Power of Conversational Hypnosis website
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