Hypnotherapy vs. Hypnoshow

For many people, their only exposure to hypnosis has been attending a hypnosis show. Invariably, they think that the participants in the show MUST have been friends of the hypnotist, because it seems impossible that they could have acted so ridiculously on stage by simply being hypnotized in just a few minutes.

This week I went to the Oregon State Fair in Salem and caught the Hypnosis show. The hypnotist did all the expected gags: starting with a few magic tricks, inviting about ten volunteers on stage and then eliminating those who did not seem to be going into hypnosis easily, and then having the remaining group perform a variety of obviously embarrassing, yet hilarious, acts to the delight of the audience.

I heard a few people during and after the show expressing their doubts about the authenticity of the participants and the trances they were experiencing. As a hypnotherapist, I was awfully tempted to comment to them about what it was they were seeing and the difference between the stage hypnotist and a clinical hypnotist like myself, but I thought a blog post might reach more people, so here I go!

First of all, when you see a hypnosis show, almost without exception the participants ARE random strangers who are NOT in cahoots with the hypnotist. They are volunteers, so they expect to be hypnotized; a key component to the ease with which they go into trance. The stage hypnotist is usually well-trained in hypnosis, and may even practice hypnotherapy as well as stage hypnosis, but for whatever reason – financial, love of performing or whatever – they have chosen to dally or specialize in the entertainment side of hypnosis.

So should you expect a similar experience in a clinical setting with a hypnotherapist as what you saw on stage? The answer is about ninety percent “no,” and about ten percent “yes.” In a hypnotherapist’s office, you will receive a hypnotic induction, that is to say you will be placed into a hypnotic trance, just like on stage, but that is about where the similarities end. Hypnotherapy is therapy utilizing the tool of hypnosis, and the hypnotherapist is approximately equal parts therapist and hypnotist. A hypnotherapist usually spends a great deal of time conducting a diagnostic interview of the client. Clients of hypnotherapists come to address particular problems or to make a particular life change. Understanding the details of the problem or situation, family history and dynamics, health and medical history, etc. helps the hypnotherapist to know how to approach the session and that individual client. You will see no such interview by the stage hypnotist, simply because the goal of hypnosis is completely different.

The clinical hypnotherapist may take a longer time inducing hypnosis than the stage hypnotist. A stage hypnotist usually has a set amount of time in which to conduct his entire show, often an hour or less, so he/she does not have the luxury of spending a long time inducing hypnosis. While time is also an important consideration for a Clinical Hypnotherapist, the focus is on ensuring the client achieves a certain level of hypnosis, known as “trance depth,” so that the conscious mind can be distracted and suggestions for change made to the subconscious are received and effective. After all, the hypnotherapist does not have the luxury of thanking the client, sending him back to his seat and continuing on with another client. While I have heard clinical hypnotherapists tout their preference for instant or “shock” inductions because of their speed, I and many of the therapists I know prefer a little longer induction.

Most importantly and likely most reassuring to anyone considering hypnotherapy, the client will not be put in the position of singing like Elvis, walking like a chicken, or any other embarrassing stunts. The purpose is to achieve the goals laid out jointly by the hypnotherapist and the client, whether that be being able to sleep better, managing stress or chronic pain, stopping smoking, or any of hundreds of areas in which hypnotherapy is so effective.

If you or someone you care about in the Willamette Valley or the Salem, Oregon area is considering hypnotherapy and want to ask questions or set an appointment, simply contact me or find out more information through my website at www.skipnotherapy.com.