The Hypnosis Protocol and Its 4 Stages
September 17, 2009
Hypnosis is recognized all over the world as a process that can change people’s lives. Using this technique one person can get happier, full of life, healthier and be more satisfied with his life and his own personality. Hypnosis happens when the subject is intensely focused on a subject or object. This sets a state of freedom in his unconscious mind and determines him to act beyond any restriction that was possible in the conscious mind.
To say it in a concise way, it sets him free. One can not start learning about hypnosis without understanding the past and the present of this process. You may know by now that hypnosis appeared many centuries ago. Only in 1800 it emerged from the “Dark Ages” and was recognized as a science.
The term hypnosis was created by James Braid, a respected Scottish neurosurgeon. He was not only the father of that specific word but also responsible for proving that hypnotism is a real science and not just a response to the magnetic fluids that are flowing inside our bodies.
Braid has spent a lot of time studying Animal Magnetism and Mesmerism. He reached the conclusion that anyone could lead somebody into a state of trance if they followed a simple set of rules. The surgeon also experimented on his subjects and he noticed that some of the subjects were sleeping and the others remained awake during the trance.
He even thought about naming the technique “monoidealism” as mono represents one and idealism comes from being focused on an idea. The term has a lot of sense because hypnosis is the process of complete and intense focus on one idea that eventually will become reality for that subject. But that term didn’t take and hypnosis remained the usual term.
James Braid did a great thing when he showed that in order to induce a trance to someone you must follow some clear and simple steps. These steps are now known as the 4 Stage Formula.
This formula starts with Stage 1, which means Absorbing Attention, capturing the focus of the subject. In order to complete this step you need to be concentrated and draw the subject into you so that he can follow your language and suggestions.
Only after that you can go to Stage 2 which is to Bypass the Critical Factor. This factor is that moment when the conscious mind is reasoning that one thing is not possible. The subject will resist hypnosis when the critical factor will stand between the trance state and the subject. The critical factor must be eliminated so that the subject responds at the unconscious level.
After getting pass the factor, you will work with hypnotic suggestions that take the form of an advice. And now that the critical factor is no longer in the way, the subject’s mind will take in the suggestions. The stage 3 of the 4 will be all about how to activate an Unconscious Response.
The activation of these unconscious responses is a clear sign that the subject is in the hypnotic state. Emotional responses are unconscious responses as they are a product of the unconscious level. If a person is already in an emotional state, after a breakup for example, he is inside his own hypnotic process. The next step is to get a response from the unconscious before moving any faster.
The last step is to Lead Unconscious to Desired Outcome. Using suggestion you will obtain the desired outcome for your patient. By combining all these 4 steps you will successfully engage the person in conversational hypnotic interaction.
