Hypnotic Induction Techniques


Non-verbal Method I

Instructions to hypnotist


The subject is seated in a chair and instructed to hold both arms out in
front of him and upward so that the hands are above eye level. They should
be parallel, the hands being about two feet apart. The hypnotist now moves
back and forth in front of the subject from one side to the other, making
a small postural change in the subject's right arm first, then over to the
other side to make a similar charge in the left arm.


First the right arm is bent at the elbow so that the hand comes a bit
inward and downward (the right elbow simultaneously extending more
outward). The hypnotist then moves over to the left side and repeats the
movement of the subject's left arm in the same way. After each movement he
pauses a few seconds and observes the posture. This permits him both to
observe the subject's reaction and to allow time for adjustment to the new
change in posture.


Once again he moves to the subject's right side and adjusts the right arm
again slightly downward. This is then matched in a few seconds with a
similar adjustment in the left hand. The postural adjustments of the arms
and hands are constantly transmitting the message of "inward and
downward," inward into one's self, and downward toward a more unconscious
level of awareness.


Finally, when the hands are almost together and are barely above the lap
the hypnotist grasps both of them firmly by the wrist and forcibly lowers
them rapidly all the way down. At this point the subject's eyes will
usually close and his head slump forward on his chest. If this does not
happen the hypnotist can pull the eyelids down, and by a push on the back
of the head, administer this final forceful suggestion which implies, "Go
inward and downward, close your eyes and enter a deep relaxed, hypnotic
state!"


No words have been spoken, but the induction has been accomplished by the
series of progressively spaced changes in posture. To remove the hypnotic
state which has been so achieved the hypnotist simply reverses the
movements. First, he lifts up the head. Then he lifts up both arms to the
position they held just prior to the forcible lowering of them. Next, one
arm and hand at a time the movements are reversed. The movements are now
outward and upward, "Come up out of yourself and back into the conscious
state," is the message. Finally, the arms are back in their original
position; the patient's eyes are fully open, the head is up.