Clucking Chickens and Swinging Watches
What's the first question people ask me when they find out I am a Hypnotherapist? Will you make me cluck like a chicken? And my answer...yes if you want me to!
Very often the only ideas people have about Hypnosis is from watching a stage show and what they are seeing is a very different process. The Entertainer (and let's be clear because that is what the stage hypnotist is) will pick people who they assess are 'up for it'. Maybe they'll pick the guy being egged on by his mates or the person who is sitting forward in the seat taking everything in. What you see on stage does use some of the techniques of hypnosis but also uses people's preconceived ideas that they will be hypnotised and in this state they can do ridiculous things. Afterwards they can feign complete ignorance and say they didn't remember a thing!
I've recently had my picture taken for a local newspaper and the first thing they asked was did I have a watch! They wanted a picture of me swinging a watch like a pendulum - I refused politely. There is some truth in the method of watching a swinging fob watch to induce a hypnotic state - the method is called eye catalepsy and I do sometimes use it. However as Hypnotherapists we more frequently use relaxation methods such as the Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR).
So if you come to a Hypnotherapist don't be too disappointed if we don't make you cluck like a chicken or produce a swinging watch!
Very often the only ideas people have about Hypnosis is from watching a stage show and what they are seeing is a very different process. The Entertainer (and let's be clear because that is what the stage hypnotist is) will pick people who they assess are 'up for it'. Maybe they'll pick the guy being egged on by his mates or the person who is sitting forward in the seat taking everything in. What you see on stage does use some of the techniques of hypnosis but also uses people's preconceived ideas that they will be hypnotised and in this state they can do ridiculous things. Afterwards they can feign complete ignorance and say they didn't remember a thing!
I've recently had my picture taken for a local newspaper and the first thing they asked was did I have a watch! They wanted a picture of me swinging a watch like a pendulum - I refused politely. There is some truth in the method of watching a swinging fob watch to induce a hypnotic state - the method is called eye catalepsy and I do sometimes use it. However as Hypnotherapists we more frequently use relaxation methods such as the Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR).
So if you come to a Hypnotherapist don't be too disappointed if we don't make you cluck like a chicken or produce a swinging watch!
posted by Rachel at
7:56 pm
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