a common everyday approach after Erickson

a generic invitation into hypnosis  

Every hypnotic invitation [called "induction "in some circles] involves these 3 elements -

1 an experience - relaxation, look at a spot, listen to my voice ... etc

2 focus on the relaxation, spot, voice ... etc

3 absorption into the experience of focusing

4 naming the experience as hypnosis. This is particularly important if a client specifically requests hypnosis. If we don't say that this is hypnosis, or what we mean by hypnosis, they can be left uncertain, and we risk disappointing them by not satisfying their expectations.

I want now to add another element, and one which is given prominence after Erickson, and that is ... 

ratification.

By ratification, I simply mean articulating any desirable changes that we want to enhance - stillness, change in breathing, alteration in the blinking ... anything that we can observe. When we verbalise our observations, the changes tend to be enhanced so this contributes to the hypnotic process.

Ratification must be observations not interpretations. So we can say "There is a relative stillness in your body" but we cannot say "You are feeling more comfortable" since the latter is our interpretation only, and may not be consistent with the client's experience.

 

17 comments so far

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Ratification is very useful and powerful thing to do. It is so obvious but one can forget to do it unless reminded. Thanks Rob.

Posted by Neil Mellor on April 10, 2015 at 04:21pm   #     Reply
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Thanks for the reminder, Neil.

Posted by Rob McNeilly admin on April 10, 2015 at 11:41pm   #     Reply
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A few typographical errors have crept in, as is their want.

I am looking forward to finding out if ratification will be chased by catalepsy.

Posted by Andrew Dickinson on June 8, 2015 at 09:46pm   #     Reply
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They tend to creep in when I'm not looking.

Looking forward ...

Posted by Rob McNeilly admin on June 8, 2015 at 09:55pm   #     Reply
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"Their experience coming from within them, not imposed by us". Perfect! Thanks Rob!

Posted by Eli on October 21, 2015 at 03:03am   #     Reply
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Love the reminder of observation and not interpretation...in that vein, would it be appropriate to say, "It appears there is a relative stillness in your body" as oppose to the more definitive, "there is a relative stillness in your body"?

Posted by Kate Upchurch on October 25, 2015 at 08:41am   #     Reply
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Thanks Kate. Lovely refinement. Thanks. I like to say "I can see ..." or "Without you making any effort ..." etc.

Posted by Rob McNeilly admin on October 26, 2015 at 07:17am   #     Reply
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I appreciate the reminder to only state what is observed and not to interpret what was observed and also that it is important to define what has happened, to check the mutuality of the agreement of what took place.


Posted by Judith Beaumont on June 15, 2016 at 08:36am   #     Reply
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Exactly. Observation connect us with the client's experience whereas interpretation is about us, disconnecting us from the client. For me, this is a crucial difference.

Posted by Rob McNeilly admin on June 15, 2016 at 08:59am   #     Reply

A simple reflection on what is observed, rather than interpreting, is so much easier too.

Posted by Jill Bayly on October 16, 2016 at 11:19am   #     Reply
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Am I right in saying that when observing the client, the phrase "thats right" occasionally after mentioning the observation to the client, can really reinforce what they are doing is right for them and so increase trance state?

Posted by Keith Travis on March 5, 2017 at 04:42am   #     Reply
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"That's right" Keith. Exactlytly as you observed, and I ionvite to to use this and see what you noticedce.

Posted by Rob McNeilly admin on March 5, 2017 at 08:44am   #     Reply
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thank you for the reminder on this Rob!

Posted by maryke maryke on March 25, 2017 at 07:49pm   #     Reply

Hi Rob,

First, thank you so much for making this material accessible.

Secondly, thank you for your teachings.

Thirdly, how can I download the audio?

Thank you.

Posted by Zack on December 5, 2017 at 02:32am   #     Reply
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Hi Zack

Thanks for your thanks. It's a pleasure for me to share this with the hope that it is of use.

And all the audios and videos are available to listen to or view on the website on the free programme. If you want to download them, you cn subscribe to the extras here https://robmcneilly.simpler...

Thank you.

Rob

Posted by Rob McNeilly admin on December 5, 2017 at 07:18am   #     Reply

Hi Rob

Please unsubscribe me.

Thanks

Gwen Pasin
Psychotherapist | Counsellor | Clinical Hypnotherapist
M. Counselling, B.Soc.Science. Honours. (Psychology), Dip. Clin. Hyp.
www.BrisbaneWestHypnotherapy.com.au <http://www.brisbanewesthypnotherapy.com.au/>
M: 0404 705 453

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Posted by Gwen Pasin on December 5, 2017 at 07:41am   #     Reply

Thanks Rob, So true.

Posted by Tessa Golding-Clarke Golding-Clarke on September 10, 2018 at 03:31pm   #     Reply
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