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.