Hi guys... This has probobly been posted a million times before but when starting out is it better to try and hypnotise people you don't know or people you do know?

I ask this because when hypnotising people you do know, you lose some of the in built suggestion of being a hypnotist if you know what I mean.

Also does anyone have any tips on practicing inductions while on your own? How does a hypnotist practice? I'm just starting out in hypnosis. Thanks.

People you don't know are far easier.

It builds expectation.

I agree, people who I don't know are FAR easier.

Practice my memorizing scripts, incoprorating them into you everyday world. Practice rapport, tone, voice, speed, rate, pitch. Hypnotize anything and everything under your breath in and in your mind. For example, talk to yourself. When opening a door say to yourself, "OK door, you could open slowly or quickly it really doesn't matter and when you open that willl be a que to open wider and feel even better!" Crazy stuff like that... but it helps. Master hypnotic language patterns, and practice them everythwere....

I did a lot with my kids when I was learning.... They thought I was crazy, but that way I could practice timing, routines, etc. In fact, I still use them today! Wish I could suggest they clean their rooms though and have that stick!

Richard

In addition to Richard's excellent suggestions, you could try recording an induction into a recorder of some sort. Tape recorder, MP3 player, whatever. Then listen to it. Not only will you be practicing the induction that way, but you might just get a better idea of what it sounds/feels like, as well.

Also, try taking *one* language pattern and focusing on using that as many times as you can that day. Say you choose "and linkage." Go throughout your day as normal, but look for ways to link two unrelated concepts with "and." "The sun is shining and I want a sandwich."

Even if it doesn't work as a hypnotic suggestion, it still gets you in the habit of talking that way.

Or take one aspect like matching tone or rate of speech and do that repeatedly throughout the day.

Sometimes breaking things down into smaller chunks is helpful, isn't it?

Silverfish, I STILL do that using the NLP/Milton deck of cards as the pattern of the day... You can find cards all over my house and office.

LOL. Another idea that is used in another forum I'm a member of is a thread for posting suggestions. Simple suggestions or complex; it's up to you. The idea is to post every day and get into the habit of thinking hypnotically. I haven't been as active in that thread as I'd like, but I do participate and find it useful. Not to mention fun.

I have yet to buy one of those card decks I see floating around, though I probably will in the near future.

Thanks for the excellent replies, I'll be sure to put them to use, if anyone else has some good ideas I'd be keen to hear them!

Just to add my vote to Silverfire's advice of recording and listening to your own inductions.

I did this when first starting out on a hypnotherapy course. I'd record an induction, useful suggestions (ie a confidence script) and an emerging script and then sit and listen to it almost as a self-hypnosis session. Apart from learning what I actually sounded like instead of how I'd thought I sounded (very, very different!), it was invaluable as a tool for learning pacing, emphasis, etc. It also helped me learn various scripts quickly and easily and because I'd get them to the point that I felt they worked most effectively on me, gained a real confidence in using them and their working on other people.

Other than actual practice with other people (preferably not friends), it was probably the most useful exercise I did.

ETA: I just remembered that another trick I used was to have photocopies of the scripts I was learning stuck around the house such as on kitchen cupboard doors or the bathroom mirror, and each time I got something out or cleaned my teeth or whatever would go over a section.

Here's a awesome idea, one that's been mentioned. Pick a induction, one that's already out there or if you know the principles of inductions make one up. Then make a "Self Hypnosis" recording. Do your induction, then just give yourselve all positive suggestions, and so on and count yourself out. Listen to it everyday that way the induction gets ingrained BUT you will start feeling more positive about life in general. Another thing DON'T laugh, get a somewhat big stuffed animal. Sit it in a chair, talk to it, to your pre-induction talk to it, and hypnotize it. If you use arm drop techniques as I do, pick up the stuffed animals arm and do that. Also use friends and family (though they will be harder) or if you meet someone on the street really talk up hypnosis BIG TIME, then right there ONLY if it's safe hypnotize them if they'll let you. Hand your business card to that person tell them to call you for future hypnosis sessions, Ed, (Eddini), Certified Hypnotist. C.H.

Wouldnt practicing on people would be a better start? I am so new to hypnosis also but I feel like if I go out and try it on a stranger and if I fail,that would demoralise me and take all my confidence away

or am I totally wrong?

Practicing with other people, IMO, is better. Even better is practicing with other people while being observed by an experienced trainer, which is why I always suggest people save their money and take some in-person training--it tends to be faster and more effective.

However, anyone can read an induction and suggestions, The big question, IMO, is "How do I know someone is hypnotized?" I think this is a question many new hypnotists have, especially if they're training from books or videos. I've often heard, "well, the person looked really relaxed." That's great as relaxation often accompanies hypnosis, but is not required for it. Hypnosis is not sleep or relaxation.

So I would suggest that after the induction and BEFORE making suggestions you use convincers. If you want to discuss convincers, let's start another thread. However, I will say this here: a convincer will prove to you that a person is hypnotized, can help you lead a person to a more profound hypnotic trance, and later, if the person wonders if they were hypnotized, you can remind them of what happened with the convincer. They almost always will say something like "oh, yeah," and smile, knowing that, indeed, they were hypnotized.

There is no real problem practicing with people who know you well as long as they are prepared to take your efforts reasonably seriously. In other words do what you are asking them to do in terms of where you want them physically and what you want them doing mentally.

Some people get experience by settling their subject down and essentially reading a script to them. This is often something like progressive relaxation or 'Ericksonian' in nature. If you do that you may well hypnotize people and will gain some experience but it makes the leap to testing your work as suggested by dmkraig above (good advice) a little tougher. Plus it leads to some beginners getting stuck in a comfort zone of hiding behind their script or worse still into a belief that it is the script that is doing the work. From there on in they tend to search for better scripts. However this approach can get you started.

My advice and the way I teach people is to first of all know how to set up your hypnotic situation, how to establish a hypnotic relationship. Knowing that I suggest you master and deliver repeatedly some of the well known exercises (what I refer to as a set piece) commonly known as suggestibility tests or exercises in waking hypnosis - such as magnetic fingers, magnetic hands, stiff arm, cataleptic eyelids etc. Deliver these to anyone who will put up with you. You do not have to mention hypnosis - just show them something interesting. You should be able to get 100% success with magnetic fingers and hands and 80% success with the others.

Doing this over and over with a variety of people is going to give you a chance to observe people taking instructions, develop your patter, heighten your observation skills and also the skill of pacing and leading. At that point you really are very close to being able to hypnotize.
So once the above is accomplished choose one or two inductions that you feel comfortable with. Never mind worrying if it is the right one for your subject. Just master one that you can deliver with confidence, smoothly and without faltering.

Then go from the set piece stuff smoothly into your induction.

Deepening can be simple and short. Fractionation can help especially beginners.

Know what your first real 'routine' is going to be. I have often seen beginners flounder when they surprise themselves by zapping someone. So know where you are going next. I suggest you make suggestions for arm levitation or arm catalepsy.

Build up one step at a time. You will get there quicker than you might imagine.

Anthony

I forgot to say, experiencing failure is part of the learning process. If you are not prepared to get egg on your face or should I say accept it is gonna happen and learn what you can it is very difficult to get started with hypnosis.

Just tell yourself it is them not you and move on

Anthony

I, in truth, never actually went out and practised in the early days.. I just learnt what I had to know and then risked a show. After the success of doing it on stage twice I then started honing and perfecting things in the real world, out and about.

I would back up EVERYONE else's advice and say that you should definately practise on people that you have never met.. they don't know that you're learning it. I've always preached this...

BUT, a current student of mine phoned me yesterday to say that she had just hypnotised her first 2 subjects and one of them is her best friend!

So it can be done in the early days BUT the success will be lower than that of someone you have never met.

Rob

Cwg- look at it this way ... you will either SUCCEED or you will LEARN .. either way, your improving!

These posts were so helpful thank you all,do you have any advices as convincers?

everyone mentions magnetic fingers so far,anything else to start with? I know I should go with what I feel comfortable with but I guess everyone got different opinions about this.

Magnetic fingers is not going to convince many people you can hypnotize or that they are hypnotized. It still sets the ball rolling though and gives you a chance to observe them under instruction. Magnetic hands will get them wondering, possibly fascinated. A hand lock and regardless of what they are thinking you are ready to proceed further.

Anthony

I would suggest the attitude that there is no such thing as failure, only feedback.

What did you learn from the experience? How can you use that learning to make sure you succeed next time you encounter a person similar to this one?

I thought magnetic fingers is pretty convincing as richard nongard said that's the one he uses most of the time on the dvd,

how many convincers are good to go before starting with the induction?"

LOL. It is if you are The Hypnotist. Richard is, so I am guessing his work is as good as done bar the flourish when he has done magic fingers. That is what you should aim for.

However you are still learning and may have to work a bit harder to raise what can seem like a schoolboy trick into something convincing. Use it.

Anthony