Even Hypnotists Need Sharpening

Last night, I had the opportunity to participate in Trance Junkies, a hypnotic induction practice hosted by my friend and fellow hypnotist Ryan Dejonghe. This was a session I have wanted to experience for a while, and it certainly did not disappoint.

The session opened with the usual friendly banter and transitioned into the rules and expectations. Not that there are strict rules when it comes to hypnosis, but overall guidelines for how the session would go.

Ryan began with a brief demo, inducing trance, pacing and leading the experience, and then awakening. When he concluded his induction, the rest of the group offered positive feedback on what went well and areas that could make it better.

Next, two more hypnotists took a turn at leading an induction and hypnotic experience. Each time, I went deeper and deeper. By the third induction, I was so deep, I cannot even remember what the session was about. All I know is I was deeply relaxed and full of peace.

The point is, hypnosis isn’t done in a vacuum. It takes willing subjects; and the best subjects are the ones who already know how the process works. The great thing about practicing with other hypnotists is getting to observe different techniques in real time. And when you calibrate what works well for you as a technique, you can pick up new skills to use in your own practice.

Plus, the feedback is invaluable for building confidence as a hypnotist. While I personally did not get an opportunity to lead an induction during the session as time ran out, I did benefit from being a subject, giving feedback, and listening to the feedback from others.

One comment that stood out from the rest is how one of the people in attendance was aphantasic during the first induction. Aphantasia is an interesting concept hypnotists should be aware of. While many hypnotic inductions and guided experiences lean heavily on visual cues, subjects with aphantasia are unable to visualize. It is important to be aware of this when facilitating trance because if you are leaning heavily on visual metaphors, you are missing the mark of your subject. I began wondering how I might tailor my work to accommodate aphantasic subjects.

Some ideas bubbled to the surface, such as, using auditory and kinesthetic cues or changing language patterns like “You see a door,” to “Become aware of a door or the concept of a door in front of you now.” In the second pattern, I’m not telling you to see a door but rather to become aware of the concept, which is a very different thing than telling a subject to imagine or visualize a door. These ideas are merely scratching the surface, and I need to do more research in this area. I wouldn’t have thought to sharpen this in my practice had it not been for Trance Junkies. So, hypnotists really do need sharpening.