Here is an interesting question that came in via email:
The best induction honestly will depend upon the context and the trance partner you are working with.
Certainly, the long form progressive relaxation induction is one of, if not the, most popular induction being practiced in the world today, followed by variations of the eye fixation induction. These are great but they are not as reliable in terms of measuring whether or not you have experiential trance or hypnosis rather than eye closure and simple relaxation.
Many people swear by the Elman induction, and once I learned that induction it became my primary induction as it has a number of built-in compliance and trance tests. However, despite the press, many of the built in depth tests within that induction are not really as reliable indicators of hypnosis as some proponents claim in that they aren't really demonstrations of what they claim to be tests for, albeit it is a far more reliable induction in the hands of a skilled and competent hypnotist than the original progressive relaxation induction. So, learn it and practice it and through experience gain appropriate competence and you will find your success rate goes way up.
Personally, if it's a first time client for hypnotherapy who's never been hypnotized before, I will probably use the Phillips Induction (a variation of the Elman which has more complex tasks built into the induction proper) – there is a DVD at http://www.briandavidphillips.net/store which teaches and demonstrates the entire protocol for this induction. It's not for everyone but it is a very solid process. If I'm out and about for fun or doing a show then I will certainly use an instant or rapid induction in the one to three minute range. This would also be true if it's a late-in-the-day appointment with a client.
Since you have asked me your question, I assume you are at least somewhat familiar with my work or at least some of my youtube videos (http://www.youtube.com/user/briandavidphillips). I tend to err on the side of a brief induction over one that is longer or drawn out. Many times I will simply start with a single suggestibility test during the pretalk and once I've got a response to that simply convert it into formal hypnosis right then (usually through a suggestibility effects sequence).
I am getting closer than not to having two hundred hypnosis video clips on youtube and while there are obviously some processes I use much more than others (drunk inductions and happy fingers come to mind), I also do quite a bit of improvisational, creative, and exotic hypnotic processes for inductions and within session work.
The thing is this . . . the best induction could be one thing or another with any given person at any given time in any given context . . . it all changes. While I have a LOT of work out there related to hypnosis inductions, what many folks don't get is this . . . and you need to lean in close now because I am now whispering to you one of the most closely guarded secrets kept holy sancrosanct secret sacred and hands-off by the Secret Masters of the Hypnotic Kingdom of Mesmeric Masterly Masterfulness . . . shhhhh . . . IT'S NOT THE INDUCTION THAT MATTERS! Once you understand this, you are then free to use anything to hypnotize people . . . seriously, ANYTHING.
It's whether or not you've created rapport with your trance partner, allayed any misgivings they might have that might interfere with the process (they can have fears as long as those fears don't get in the way, actually, some misconceptions may even be helpful to getting results, albeit wrongheaded they may be). It's really all about focusing concentration and guiding into state through intensification of imaginative involvement. That's how one bypasses the critical factor of the conscious mind and gets in there within the subconscious to create experiential trance and faithful right on the trance experience that they can imagine and experience AS IF it's real.
You don't try out different inductions because they are effective . . . you play with different inductions . . . tons of them . . . because they allow you to play with ideas and words and concepts and experiences in ways that help you become better at engaging expectancy and intensifying that imaginative involvement.
Of course, you are welcome to purchase my DVD sets . . . I have more than a few at http://www.briandavidphillips.net/store . . . heck, knock yourself out and buy all of 'em, I really don't mind . . . however, understand that the hidden wisdom that I share is not so much the precise words to speak or the way to cock your hand and thumb at just the right angle during a hand drop induction . . . although that is actually discussed, based upon solid experience . . . the real secret is that I have mastered so many solid and useful inductions in part because I'm a bit of knowledge mole about such things (I do have a PhD and teach at a major university so solid research and the mastery of skillsets would not be strangers to me) and in part because I understand the fundamental truth that the induction itself is no big deal.
People WANT to be hypnotized by you . . . they EXPECT to be hypnotized . . . all you have to do is guide them in a way where you get out of the way of what naturally wants to happen anyway.
Now, go forth and think for a bit and let that sink in and then go forth some more and play with it. Oh, and feel free to buy all those really kool training DVDs in the shop on my webpage at http://www.briandavidphillips.net/store because there really are some rather nifty things in there that many folks find very helpful but you don't have to do that to get really good, although the background is certainly helpful. However, if you do purchase my products – and I really do encourage anyone and everyone to go to http://www.briandavidphillips.net/store and do so – once you've watched a bit, go out and actually practice it. Watch the explanation, then watch the example, then watch the explanation again, then watch the example a few more times then practice with actual humans . . . multiple humans if you got 'em (no, pets or plastic people don't count), the more actual humans, the better . . . then watch some more bits and repeat the process . . . I have heard very good things from folks who've purchased my seminar DVDs and have done that very thing . . . then, once you've gone through an entire set and absorbed it all and practiced all the skillsets with genuine humans . . . then . . . forget it all . . . you've got it, you've had the experience . . . now . . . move on and let the underlying concepts guide you . . . so that if you are running a progressive relaxation induction and find it's not as effective with this particular person as with the last one you can simple shift into something else, seamlessly, and engage the trance partner's imagination some other way.
You will find that because you've practiced a whole slew of differe
nt techniques – all those kool things that I go over in what may seem like umpteen million different DVD training products on my webpages at http://www.briandavidphillips.net/store – that because of that experience you no longer need a particular technique or process because the underlying principles are available to you based upon your real experience with many different techniques so that it's no longer about this or that induction but about this or that interactive experience.
It's NOT your induction that matters . . . it's not even your trance . . . what matters is your trance partner's experience . . . the trance partner's trance. Focus on that and how you get there matters less than simply finding the right doorway within that particular moment that allows your trance partner to step through into hypnosis . . . to surrender to their own trance . . . the trance that wants to happen, you're just enabling it.
I know, some of what I've written here seems solid and informative (certainly, the advice to purchase my training products at http://www.briandavidphillips.net/store is genuine – although, honestly, you can purchase other folks' stuff if you prefer, I recommend mine, but I might be slightly biased) . . . but . . . some of what I have written might seem purposefully obtuse . . . I am not trying to play head games with you, okay, maybe a little . . . but I do want to drive home the idea that there really isn't any single BEST induction that works with everyone. In any single context with any single person, there are literally infinite possibilities for guiding them into trance. It isn't about the induction but about the trance of that moment . . . experience with as many different formal techiques as possible provides you with the experience that leads to greater flexibility in the field. In my speed hypnosis and walkabout trance type trainings I emphasize flexibility, improvisation, and creativity for this very reason.
Oh, and . . . seriously . . . you don't need to learn all that by purchasing my products (although they are good solid products) . . . http://www.briandavidphillips.net/store . . . but you do need to play with as many different techniques and ideas as possible.
I hope this has been helpful.
Good luck.
We will be exploring improvisational and creative ways of achieving hypnotic effects off-the-cuff during the Walkabout Trance Beach Resort Getaway (the improvisational speed street hypnosis event coming Aug. 15-16 at http://www.walkabouttrance.com) at Redondo Beach in sunny California.
Sign Up Now
WALKABOUT TRANCE
improvisational creative speed hypnosis
http://www.walkabouttrance.com
NOW for registration!
For those looking for adult erotic applications, well you can
imagine where one might gently stroke or what sort of shenanigans might
go on for this sort of thing.
Folks attending the Erotic Hypnosis seminar I will be teaching (the Engineering eXperiential Erotic Ecstasy seminar at https://briandavidphillips.net/category/eroticatrance/)
in August, also at Redondo Beach in California, will be learning variations of these patterns and more.
Yes, the folks who attend the upcoming EROTIC HYPNOSIS seminar on Aug. 17 – https://briandavidphillips.net/category/eroticatrance/
– will also learn a great many techniques with an erotic twist and
much, much, more. They will also learn how to induce consensual full
body orgasms with a single word and very much more.
Sign Up Now
EROTIC HYPNOSIS
a comprehensive course in erotic and sensual hypnosis
for any context from therapy to entertainment
to consenting adult recreation
https://briandavidphillips.net/category/eroticatrance/
NOW for registration!
The seminar is open to beginners through experienced hypnotists, all
we require is that you be at least twenty-one years of age for the
adult seminar and have a genuine curiosity in the subject matter with a
willingness to come in and play. No, there is no nudity in the Erotic Hypnosis
course nor is there anything untoward – as long as you don't consider
inducing consensual orgasms and erotic experiences in others as
untoward. The techniques taught can be applied to a wide range of
situations in a variety of appropriate contexts from therapy to
entertainment to recreational activities between consenting adults.
Anyone is welcome, couples or singles, male or female, straight or
not-so-straight, with special pricing available for couples and even
more price advantages for groups of three or more.
Go to https://briandavidphillips.net/category/eroticatrance/ for more information and register right away to reserve your spot in the very special presentation of the Erotic Hypnosis program.
Note that folks who sign up for the Walkabout Trance Beach Resort Getaway (the improvisational speed street hypnosis event at http://www.walkabouttrance.com) and-or the Erotic Hypnosis seminar (the Engineering eXperiential Erotic Ecstasy seminar at https://briandavidphillips.net/category/eroticatrance/)
in August will be learning variations of these patterns and more.
Please note, that it's actually to your advantage to sign up for both
events (they are scheduled together for your convenience).
However,
it's
to your advantage to sign up early for either or both events to reserve
your opportunity to
attend. I don't travel to the US very often and likewise teach these
courses very infrequently so this is a unique opportunity for folks to
have an amazing experience with us. If you have not yet completed your
registration for these events, you will really want to do so NOW to ensure your opportunity to participate in a very very unique experience.
All the best,
Brian
(If you are reading this blog post via a stream, go to https://briandavidphillips.net/ to access the full post with any videos or photos included.)
http://www.briandavidphillips.net/store
See http://www.BrianDavidPhillips.com for details
Brian David Phillips, PhD, CH [brian@briandavidphillips.com]
Hypnotist, Hypnotherapist, Intuitionist, Trance Wizard
President, Society of Experiential Trance
Associate Professor, NCCU, Taipei, Taiwan
