Hypnotherapy - Who Will It Work For, And Why?

There are many noteworthy hypnotic methods that are used to reach the unconscious mind to bring about change. Each method has its pros and cons. No two people are the same, so it stands to reason that the best results will result from utilizing techniques that each individual will have the most success with.

Most companies that sell hypnosis tapes offer tapes that consist of standard traditional hypnotic techniques. A few sellers offer much more modern and effective Ericksonian hypnosis methods. And fewer still offer NLP or Neuro-Linguistic Programming methods.

The newest and possibly most effective technique available is video hypnosis. Video hypnosis utilizes the latest NLP thought processes to trigger rapid changes in a person. Video hypnosis modalities are not subliminal in nature.

With "Traditional Hypnosis," we simply make suggestions to the unconscious mind. This type of self-hypnosis works well for a person who generally accepts what he/she is told without questioning everything. Most pre-recorded hypnosis CD's that are sold today are based on "Traditional Hypnosis" techniques. Unfortunately Traditional Post-hypnotic Suggestion is not very compelling for people who are critical in their thinking processes.

By contrast, Ericksonian Hypnosis and NLP methods work far for most individuals in today's generation! This is because today individuals are taught to analyze everything they see and hear, rather than just follow the flock. So these methods do work effectively on people who are critical in their thinking processes. Ericksonian Hypnosis and NLP are much more effective at reaching and influencing the unconscious mind. However, it can take many years of training, study, and most of all experience to learn how to apply these methods effectively.

With "Ericksonian Hypnosis," we use little stories, called hypnotic metaphors, to introduce suggestions to the unconscious mind. This is an effective art, because it usually eliminates the resistance to suggestions that is often caused by the conscious mind. There are two types of metaphors, "Isomorphic," and those of the imbedded command or "interspersal" nature.

With "Neuro-Linguistic Programming" (NLP), rather than using hypnotic commands, we use the same methods of thinking that are creating a problem, like a phobia, to do away with the problem. NLP in the hands of an experienced practitioner can be very effective.

NLP Anchoring: Have you ever heard an old song and had it trigger feelings from the past? When you originally heard the music, you were experiencing those feelings, and they subconsciously became associated with the sound of the melody. So the melody became an Anchor for the feelings. Now when you hear the song, it triggers the same feelings again.

Anchoring can be a very effective technique. Suppose that you have a memory of being commended for having done a great job in the past. If you revivify that memory, you'll be able to recreate the feelings of self-esteem that you had at that time. If you touch two fingers together while you re-experience those feelings of self-esteem, that touch will become an anchor for the feelings of self-esteem.

Now suppose that you want to create motivation to stick to a diet and lose weight. If you make a mental image of yourself with a thin, sexy body, and simultaneously trigger the anchor - (press the two fingers together again), your unconscious mind will associate the feelings of self-esteem to your image of you with the thin body and your level of motivation to lose weight will increase markedly.

NLP Flash: This is a very powerful NLP method that can be used to turn things around in the unconscious mind, so that thoughts and experiences that used to trigger feelings of stress actually trigger relaxation instead.

The NLP Flash method is also extremely effective for extinguishing conditioned responses. For example: If a smoker has a cigarette while watching TV, his/her unconscious mind will pair the two behaviors together so that he/she automatically gets an urge for a cigarette anytime he/she watches TV. The Flash will cause the smoker's mind to disassociate the image of a cigarette from the TV so that he/she does NOT get a craving to smoke just because he/she is watching TV.

With "Subliminal" methods, the recording has two tracks. One track contains a cover sound that is heard by the conscious mind. The cover sound could be anything from music to nature sounds. The number two track contains direct suggestions that are picked up by the unconscious mind. These suggestions are repeated many times during a session. Subliminals can be an addition to hypnotic programs. But Subliminals will never replace Hypnosis or NLP because they are not as effective! They are not even in the same universe!! Some studies have claimed that it can take up to 80 hours of listening to a subliminal tape before it will have any effect on many people.

The last hypnotic methodology that we're going to talk about is Video Hypnosis. Video hypnosis is the most efficient form of hypnosis!

The techniques used in video hypnosis are based on the NLP technology, which works based on the utilization of a person's existing thought processes instead of post-hypnotic suggestion. Over 70% of the population learns more efficiently by seeing, rather then by hearing.

Think about it. If you feel a craving to eat or smoke when watching TV, it's because your unconscious recorded the video image of either food in your hand, or a cigarette in your hand, and then tied that image to an image of the TV. You never spoke to yourself and told yourself in words to associate them together, did you?

And that's why the Video Hypnosis method is so compelling. It's not hypnotic in the traditional sense, relying on the spoken word; rather, it relies on transmitting images to the unconscious mind. And if you've ever shed a tear when watching a sad TV show, then you know how useful video hypnosis can be at reaching the unconscious mind. With this method of treatment, results usually start with the very first viewing!

The Video Hypnosis / NLP modality programs the unconscious mind through a high-tech simulation process called computerized digital optics. This frees you of your compulsions and allows someone who smokes to quit without effort, and a dieter to lose their cravings and appetite. Results start with the very first viewing!

Alan B. Densky, CH is certified by the NGH. He is the inventor of Neuro-VISION Video Appetite Control Hypnosis DVD's and Video Stop Smoking Hypnosis DVD's. Neuro-VISION was granted a United States Patent. He can be reached through his Neuro-VISION Self-Hypnosis site.