Hypnosis Induction using Visualization

Chris Harrison
26th November 2008
Go to comments

This hypnosis induction using visualization is similar to the relaxation method, and the two can be mixed together to some extent.

One of the keys with this hypnosis induction method is to ensure that the information is vague enough for the client to fill in the blanks and not be jarred by any of your descriptions. For instance, if I ask you to imagine standing on a beach listening to the sound of the waves, you should have no trouble referring to your memory and creating such an image. If I ask you to imagine standing on a beach listening to the sound of an electric drill, you’re suddenly aware of the fact that the instruction is odd (and difficult), and you will most likely be thinking about the question, rather than simply performing the instruction. The concept of vague verses concrete is very important in hypnosis (checkout the Milton model for a more detailed description).

Spoken Words	Description
I want you to close your eyes and as you listen to the sound of my voice, I want you to imagine lying on a beach on a warm sunny day.	As we want the visualization to be a relaxing one, we need to set the frame tight enough to ensure we get a positive experience, but not so tight that we actually tell the client exactly what to imagine.
And as you lay there listening to the sound of the waves, I want you to notice the feeling of the sun on your skin.	So we started with a visual request, now we've followed it with an auditory, and kinesthetic one. Currently we’re attempting to control all 3 sensory modalities. Based on the (7+-2) concept the client has less free channels that are not involved directly with what we are asking.
And as you continue to breathe deeply, you may become aware of other sensations, and sounds.	Do we mean in the memory? Or in the real world? This is ambiguous and also presupposes that breathing deeply is a good thing and we are suggesting indirectly that helps us to relax because that is what the client believes we are trying to do. In a sense here we are pacing the clients experience. It is clear that once someone is imagining something, other ideas will pop into their head. Here we are acknowledging this, which imply's we are still in control. For instance if during the hypnosis session a fire engine was to drive passed rather than ignore it, the hypnotist should mention it and incorporate it - 'and you may become aware of a fire engine going passed and as its sound disappears into the distance you can relax further knowing that you are safe and comfortable now'
You may notice a gentle breeze across your skin, or you may hear seabirds in the distance as you continue to relax.	Now we just continue to lead the client through different senses, and keep linking to their imagined relaxing scene to them relaxing. The hypnotist should continue with this hypnosis induction until the hypnotist is happy that the client is completely relaxed.

This hypnosis induction is really the bread and butter of hypnotic inductions - spend a lot of time with it and it will serve you well. Once you've got it down pat try many of the other types of hypnosis induction techniques available.