WHO CAN OR CANNOT BE HYPNOTISED?

Who can be hypnotised?

The vast majority of people CAN be hypnotised. And, in my opinion, the most important element is willingness. People love to say that they can’t be hypnotised but really, it’s a case of won’t rather than can’t. The client needs to be willing to use hypnosis.

During the initial free phone or Skype consultation I do with prospective clients, I check for the following things:
~ whether they expect it will work.
~ whether THEY want it work. I’ve capitalised ‘they’ because it’s important that the person calling me wants it to work, instead of, for example, their partner, spouse, work colleagues want them to do it.

Can you be hypnotised?

My answer is usually ‘yes’ if you can answer ‘yes’ to the following two questions:
Can you follow simple instructions?
Do you want to be hypnotised?

Who cannot be hypnotised?

~ A person unwilling to be hypnotised. If someone doesn’t want to use hypnosis, then of course they won’t be hypnotised. Hypnosis is a powerful tool but it does rely on your willingness to use it.
~ A person who is drunk.
~ A person with extremely low intelligence, typically scoring an IQ level lower than 70
~ someone who has no rapport with the hypnotist or hypnotherapist. While this isn`t always included in the list, I`m going to add rapport as a factor. It is helpful to have a good or reasonable rapport with the person who is about to hypnotise you. You need to be comfortable with that person as they’re going to guide you into relaxation.

Who should not be hypnotised?

~ People who are better served by going to a psychiatrist, psychologist or physician. Hypnosis isn’t intended as a replacement for psychiatric or medical care.
~ people who suffer from epilepsy are often advised not to use hypnosis. As always, if you have any concerns regarding such conditions, you should consult with a doctor.

What can’t hypnosis do?

~ Hypnosis will not `make` someone accept new ideas or behaviours that are in conflict with their personal values.
~ There is a common misconception that those with 'a strong will’ cannot be hypnotised. Go back to the `willingness` point above. Can`t strong willed people want to make changes?
Many people call me and say `how are you going to make me quit smoking ? I`m very stubborn.` Again, go back to the willingness factor. I always ask them if they want to quit and if they`re willing to work with me and use hypnosis to do it.
~ Hypnosis cannot be used to control someone else's mind, or their actions. We can only control ourselves, our responses to situations, events or things heard/read.

People who say that they tried hypnosis and couldn’t be hypnotised

When people say that they went to a hypnotist and `nothing happened`, I ask them what they expected to happen and I invariably find that they either hadn`t been adequately informed or hadn`t understood what to expect, ahead of the session - they`d erroneously adhered to their belief that they needed be unconscious, and / or like a zombie in a movie. It is helpful for prospective clients to be carefully and repeatedly informed of what hypnosis is and is NOT and to realize the potential for positive and empowering effects. Personally, I find it beneficial to reiterate briefly what to expect before every session, even with clients who `know the drill`.

An additional note:

Everybody is in a hypnotic state at some point of each day. By this I mean, a state where we’re doing things but not needing to concentrate consciously on doing it as it’s a familiar activity. I don’t just mean vegging out in front of a movie - a person can even be in a state of hypnosis while running. For example, during the spring and summer, i.e. when the track is visible in the parks here in Canada, I run 4 or 5 miles every other day in the beautiful St Lawrence parks. I do the same route and at the end, (presuming I don’t need to move out of the way for slow moving SUVs filled with people who prefer to experience the park by looking out of their truck windows at the view), I actually have no recollection of having done my run. I look at the stop watch on my cell phone and know I must have done it by looking at the time passed, but I only remember starting it. That’s because I don’t need to be consciously aware of where I’m running. I’ve done it so many times, I can run it ‘unconsciously’ i.e. just allowing my unconscious to guide me. If a truck has to go by me, then my conscious mind needs to become alert again so I can move out of its or their way.

For all you runners out there, I would like to add that running is a great way to use self-hypnosis to come up with solutions or ideas. Just start your mind on that route to lateral thinking as you start your body on the running route by asking some questions in your internal voice (check my blog entry on my website on internal questions and how to word them for the maximum efficacy).

If you’re interested in finding out in what areas of your life hypnosis could be used, have a look at my list on this page of my website: http://www.schoolyourmind.com/caniusehypnosisfor.html If you see something that applies to you (or perhaps I should ‘when’ :) and want to learn more, you are welcome to set up a complimentary phone or Skype consultation with me.

All the best,
Louise Goddard