THIRTY QUESTIONS

01. WHAT IS HYPNOSIS?

02. WHAT IS MEANT BY ENVIRONMENTAL HYPNOTISM?

03. IS HYPNOSIS AND SLEEP THE SAME THING?

04. IS THERE ANY DANGER OF A SUBJECT NOT AWAKENING FROM HYPNOSIS?

05. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO HYPNOTIZE A PERSON?

06. ARE MEN BETTER HYPNOTIC SUBJECTS THAN WOMEN?

07. IS IT DIFFICULT TO HYPNOTIZE A STRONG MINDED PERSON?

08. CAN CHILDREN BE HYPNOTIZED?

09. WHO MAKES THE BEST HYPNOTIC SUBJECT?

10. HAVE I EVER BEEN HYPNOTIZED WITHOUT KNOWING IT?

11. WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE TO BE HYPNOTIZED?

12. CAN HYPNOSIS PROGRAM A PERSON?

13. WHAT TECHNICAL TRAINING DOES ONE NEED TO BECOME A HYPNOTIST?

14. CAN A PERSON RESIST BEING HYPNOTIZED?

15. ARE SOME PEOPLE EASIER TO HYPNOTIZE THAN OTHERS?

16. WHAT IS MEANT BY VISUALIZATION AND VISUAL IMAGERY?

17. CAN A PERSON STOP SMOKING USING HYPNOSIS?

18. CAN A PERSON LOSE WEIGHT USING HYPNOSIS?

19. CAN HYPNOSIS HELP A PERSON SLEEP?

20. WHAT IS MEANT BY HYPNOTIC RELAXATION?

21. CAN HYPNOSIS HELP ATHLETES IN SPORTS?

22. CAN HYPNOSIS HELP DEVELOP TALENT?

23. WHAT IS MEANT BY AGE REGRESSION HYPNOSIS?

24. CAN HYPNOSIS HELP OVERCOME DRUG ADDICTION?

25. DOES ALCOHOL MAKE A PERSON MORE RECEPTIVE TO HYPNOSIS?

26. CAN HYPNOSIS STOP A HEADACHE?

27. CAN HYPNOSIS BE USED IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATI0N?

28. DO HYPNOSIS AUDIO PROGRAMS REALLY WORK?

29. WHAT PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS CAN HYPNOSIS HELPFULLY AID?

30. WHAT PHYSICAL DISORDERS CAN HYPNOSIS HELPFULLY AID?

IS IT DIFFICULT TO HYPNOTIZE A STRONG MINDED PERSON?
Actually we prefer to work with a strong-minded person, as a strong-minded person is someone who achieves the goals they set out to achieve. We would say that being strong-minded is really an asset to being hypnotizable. A strong-minded person can concentrate better and can focus better on the suggestions of the hypnotherapist, and are sometimes the best clients in hypnotherapy. Lawyers, doctors, teachers and even military personal can make great subjects for deep hypnosis and hypnotherapy sessions. Remember a stubborn person is not a strong-minded person. Stubborn people may be difficult to hypnotize. A strong minded person who is an open minded person, willing to allow themselves to be hypnotized, may be some of the most receptive types of people for hypnotherapy. <TOP

CAN CHILDREN BE HYPNOTIZED?
Indeed they can, and wonderfully so. Children go in and out of hypnotic mental states often in the games they play. In our clinical work with children, we employ a let’s pretend or make believe we are hypnotized technique which provides an exceedingly rapid method of hypnotizing children, as they make a game of it. When you watch children playing you can see that they are hypnotized almost naturally by pretending they are cowboys or pirates or playing with pretend friends. Children understand simple suggestions the best.
Children tend to stay in hypnosis shorter periods of time, but they seem to also go in and out of hypnosis a number of times during a hypnotherapy session. <TOP

WHO MAKES THE BEST HYPNOTIC SUBJECT?
To answer this question I would say that people who are willing to allow themselves to be hypnotized make the best subjects. A person who has an intelligent interest in hypnosis and has an understanding of what hypnosis is will let himself or herself experience it and usually make the best, deepest and receptive hypnotic subjects. People who do not think too much about the process of hypnosis but instead just “go” with the flow of the process tend to make the best hypnotic subjects. Hypnosis also depends on a person’s willingness to be hypnotized. All hypnosis can be considered “self hypnosis”. A person’s willing desire to be hypnotized will make them the best candidates for hypnosis. <TOP

HAVE I EVER BEEN HYPNOTIZED WITHOUT KNOWING IT?
Assuredly you have been environmentally hypnotized. Every time you become completely absorbed in anything you enter a hypnotic state of mind. You go to a movie and become absorbed in the drama and the movie makes you cry or it makes you laugh, and yet it is only a motion picture and you know it is. But the movie has stimulated your emotions and you automatically respond to the way the story suggested. Even advertising campaigns and slogans can emotionally move you in certain directions to make purchases. Remember the slogan that went like this:
“Things go better with _____. You can fill the blank. <TOP

WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE TO BE HYPNOTIZED?
When you are hypnotized, you feel very calm and relaxed as though nothing else matters but being in this deep peaceful relaxation. Your entire body becomes lose, limp and relaxed also. You can be aware of everything around you, yet you are very peaceful and receptive to subconscious suggestions without resistance from the conscious critical facility of mind. It may feel like you are having a wonderful dream also. If you have ever been caught up in a vivid dream you will know what it feels like to be hypnotized. Even when you know the dream is a dream, it still powerfully affects you. Dreams are very real to the dreamer. Hypnosis is very real to the hypnotized. And being hypnotized like I had mentioned earlier for about 15 minutes, is equal to about 5 hours a deep natural sleep. Some people when they awaken from hypnosis may not remember what took place during the session and other will remember everything. When you awaken from hypnosis, you feel very calm and peaceful. <TOP

CAN HYPNOSIS PROGRAM A PERSON?
Your brain functions much like your personal computer. Just as you can program the computer on your desk, so your personal computer can be programmed and using hypnosis is an effective way to reprogram yourself. Just remember to program yourself in helpful and positive ways.
Every experience one has in life has the effect of programming a person. If the programming is good, hypnosis can be used to amplify the programming. If the programming is harmful, hypnosis provides a means of deprogramming that, which is not wanted. Hypnosis provides a directed means of allowing you to become the person that you want to be. Hypnosis can reprogram your bio computer to work for you and for you be in control of your mind. <TOP

WHAT TECHNICAL TRAINING DOES ONE NEED TO BECOME A HYPNOTIST?
The best training for becoming a hypnotist actually comes from gaining experience with hypnotizing. And being hypnotized yourself too, as you then gain an introspective understanding of the hypnotic state. In relation to technical training, college courses in psychology are valuable. Likewise there are numerous private schools and hypnosis institutes across the country that give courses in hypnotherapy like the courses that we teach at The Tom Silver Institute of Scientific & Clinical Hypnotherapy. Training in hypnotherapy is very important and we feel that if you are serious in wanting to become a hypnotherapist, you should enroll in a hypnotherapy program and start taking as many different courses as you can. The more knowledge you have, the better you will be.
I also feel that the study of the science of hypnosis and techniques to hypnotize a person should be taught to every person studying medicine and psychology. The A.M.A. officially recognized hypnosis back in the fifties and also requested medical students to also study hypnotism. <TOP

CAN A PERSON RESIST BEING HYPNOTIZED?
The induction of hypnosis is a willingness on the part of operator and subject to assist the latter to enter the hypnotic state of mind. The operator/subject with hypnotism is a dual role process, in which each has a specific role to play. The subject takes on the passive role of being receptive and concentrating on the suggestions, while the hypnotist takes on the active role to properly present the hypnotizing suggestions. Both devote their complete attention to the process. In this context, one school of hypnosis states the hypnosis as a form of social role-playing. In life, it is difficult to accomplish anything by resisting doing it. Hypnotizing is no exception to this general rule. Unless the subject is willing and agreeable to be hypnotized, the whole thing is a waste of time for both parties. <TOP

ARE SOME PEOPLE EASIER TO HYPNOTIZE THAN OTHERS?
Of course, just as some people are easier to communicate with than others. Some people are able to enter the hypnotic state almost in the instant and go into deep trance. Others take longer to learn how to do it. Entering hypnosis is possible for everyone, but in a way it is a talent, and the degree of talent each person has varies with each individual. <TOP

WHAT IS MEANT BY VISUALIZATION AND VISUAL IMAGERY?
Visualization and Visual Imagery, is the picture-forming power of the mind. In relation to hypnosis, the hypnotherapist has the client see in his mind a visual picture of what he wants to accomplish. The client visualizes his goal in his mind while he or she is hypnotized. The hypnotist now gives direct suggestions to the client of reaching this goal or he the therapist may give the client some positive affirmations to repeat silently to him or herself of reaching this goal. We use this principle of visual imagery continuously in our work. Visualization of a positive change is one of the most important processes we know for the production of successful hypnotherapy. Having a person visualize in their mind a goal and than seeing themselves achieving this goal all under hypnosis, has helped thousands of people achieve their goals in life. Athletes before competition utilize the powers of visualization. To use visualization, you do not even have to be hypnotized. The power of creative visualization is available for all of us to use. You should always use it in your private hypnotherapy practice because it works. Later on in our training manual we will teach you some visual imagery techniques that you will find very valuable.. <TOP

CAN A PERSON STOP SMOKING USING HYPNOSIS?
The use of hypnosis has helped many people to stop smoking. Trying to stop smoking using your Will Power is very difficult. Stopping smoking by using your subconscious motivation to stop smoking often does the job quickly. One thing we must tell you about this though, we never hypnotize a person to stop smoking unless stopping smoking is their personal wish, and never because someone outside tells them to. Smoking is a habit activated by a tobacco addiction. To master such a habit requires personal desire in that direction which motivation is amplified by the hypnotist. Cigarettes contain nicotine and sugar and it is a two chemical addiction not just one. Most people do not know that each cigarette contains about a half a teaspoon of sugar. Hypnosis can help you to let go of the chemical addictions and also to let the habit and addition go. The person who wants to stop smoking must be consciously motivated and willing to stop smoking and needs to follow the hypnotherapists program. <TOP

CAN A PERSON LOSE WEIGHT USING HYPNOSIS?
Yes hypnosis can help in directing the hypnotic motivation towards goal of regulating proper eating habits and body metabolism and to handle a smaller intake of food while increasing a person’s energy. <TOP

CAN HYPNOSIS HELP A PERSON SLEEP?
While hypnosis is not the same as natural sleep, it can definitely be a great aid in helping a person sleep. What disturbs sleep most is an over-active mind when one is trying to sleep, and an over active mind comes from an over-active body, that is to say a restlessness that comes from stress of some kind or other. The body affects the mind and mind affects the body. It is a vicious circle. Hypnosis breaks the circle. Hypnosis provides a pathway to relaxing both mind and body, and when both work in harmony, healthful normal sleep is always the result. <TOP

WHAT IS MEANT BY HYPNOTIC RELAXATION?
The entire process of hypnosis is directed towards the ends of relaxing the mind through relaxing the body. What is meant by hypnotic relaxation is a deliberately directed process that interrupts the circle of mind disturbing body and body disturbing mind syndrome. What is very interesting to us is that just the entering of the hypnotic state alone brings about wonderful relaxation. That is what hypnotic relaxation means. It directs mind towards being at peace with itself. A hypnotic relaxation is very healthful in restoring energy and vitality. <TOP

CAN HYPNOSIS HELP ATHLETES IN SPORTS?
Hypnosis can definitely increase athletic ability in sports. It removes apprehensions of failure to win and increases motivation to win. Hypnosis has been used by many famous sports figures. Hypnosis can increase focus and concentration and put an athlete “in the zone”. Hypnosis in sports has become a popular use for the art. Lot’s of golfers utilize hypnotism. We have helped many an athlete reach their sports goals with the use of hypnosis, visual imagery and conscious affirmation. <TOP

CAN HYPNOSIS HELP DEVELOP TALENT?
Hypnosis can very much help develop talent in persons who have talent. It’s used by artists, musicians, singers, dancers and actors, and has proved wonderfully successful. Hypnosis does not create talent, but if talent is there it can amplify the talent. We highly recommend that talented people learn The Art of Self-Hypnosis. It will prove of great value to all talented people who wish to increase their talent. Hypnosis can help you to reach your true performance peak level and ability. Hypnosis can help a person let go of fears and explore their own creativity and imagination. <TOP

WHAT IS MEANT BY AGE REGRESSION HYPNOSIS?
Age Regression hypnosis deals with bringing forth experiences and memories, which have occurred in the subject’s current lifetime. Mostly this form of hypnotic regression deals with surfacing childhood experiences and traumas which have occurred in the past and which have a bearing on the behavior of the person in their current space and time. If you have had a traumatic event in your life at any time, that event may be affecting the way you feel and act.
A regression therapy back to a negative event to let go of the emotional scars of that event may be very therapeutic. Some hypnotherapists also practice the therapy that is called Past Life Regression. We have personally conducted over 1000 past life regression therapies. This is the process of hypnotizing a person and taking them back to a past life memory so that they can learn and change from that memory. Age regression therapy is used extensively and successfully in hypnosis. <TOP

CAN HYPNOSIS HELP OVERCOME DRUG ADDICTION?
If the person shows enough good sense to want to master a drug habit, hypnosis can definitely help as hypnosis through the proper handling of suggestions, can increase the subject’s motivation to kick the habit and to even get over the chemical addition that the drug might create. When a subject has an open mind to want to stop, while hypnotized we present a barrage of good solid reasons and suggestions of why they should stop. These are positive hypnotherapy suggestions and visual images. When such suggestions and visual images are accepted by the subconscious mind, drug addiction can often be curbed and even eliminated. There also might be a number of factors involved that have created the drug addiction. The addiction might be the symptom and the cause something else. With therapy, sometimes when the cause of a habit is revealed, the symptoms will disappear. Addiction to drugs or alcohol might just be a temporary bandage that the client is putting over the wound, which might be the emotional scar from the past. <TOP

DOES ALCOHOL MAKE A PERSON MORE RECEPTIVE TO HYPNOSIS?
Actually there is no need for it. We prefer to avoid its use. However, remember a little alcohol is a far cry from drunkenness. Drunkenness is a very unpredictable state, and sometimes hypnosis is difficult. The focus and concentration of an intoxicated person is very weak. A person who is not on alcohol or drugs make the best candidates for hypnotherapy because they can focus better and as you now know hypnosis is magnified concentration and focus of attention. <TOP

CAN HYPNOSIS STOP A HEADACHE?
We would say that hypnosis could relieve the pain and discomfort of a headache, especially if the headache is created by stress, tension, worry, anxiety or any other negative emotion. Over 60% of all physical problems or what we call “body syndromes” which are physical pains, caused by mental anxiety. Using hypnotism has neutralized many a headache. Even some migraine headaches have been drastically reduced by also using hypnosis. <TOP

CAN HYPNOSIS BE USED IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATI0N?
Truly amazing results are possible. Most academic learning is a matter of recalling the learned information that has been given in the classroom. Everything you have ever learned is right there for recall in that wonderful mental computer in your head called subconscious mind. Hypnosis can bring in spontaneously recall of what one has learned. Used for educational purposes it can turn one into a scholar. We have used hypnosis with students and professional people to increase their focus and concentration on what they study, and to increase their long-term memory. All long-term memory is subconscious. Hypnosis can help you to increase your focus and concentration when you study, it can also increase your long-term memory receptiveness. Hypnosis has been very effective in helping students be more calm and relaxed during test taking so that the correct answers can easily come up. When my (Tom) daughter Nicole was in elementary school, I hypnotized her first grade teacher to pass a bilingual exam. A stimulating teacher, who captures the attention and emotions of her students, is practicing waking hypnosis without even knowing it. <TOP

DO HYPNOSIS AUDIO PROGRAMS REALLY WORK?
Hypnotic audio programs of worthwhile suggestion formulas have definite value. Both of us have hypnosis audio programs that we have created and we sometimes give to our clients. Some people do not have a clinically trained hypnotherapist in their area and a good self-hypnosis behavior modification program might work great for them. Usually these are designed to commence by a relaxation series of suggestions, which are followed by the recording of the desired suggestion formula, for purposes such as overcoming stress, developing confidence, increasing memory, losing weight, stopping smoking etc. Many such tapes or CDs can be found on the public market, and their consistent use has proves successful. It actually took me (Tom) five years to create self-help hypnosis programs that I felt were as good or even better than most hypnotherapy sessions. <TOP

WHAT PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS CAN HYPNOSIS HELPFULLY AID?
Here is a list of some of these disorders the correction of which hypnosis can be of great help and value:

Abandonment Issues Addictions Age Regression
Aggression Agoraphobia Anxiety
Assertiveness Career Success Change Habits
Concentration Control Issues Cravings
Creativity Death of Loss Dreams
Fears and Phobias Frustration Gambling Habit
Guilt Headaches Memory
Moodiness Motivation Obsessions
Perfectionism Pre Surgical Problem Solving
Procrastination Public Speaking Rejection
Relationship Enhancement Resistance Responsibility
Sadness Self Confidence Self Esteem
Self-Defeating Behaviors Sleep Disorders Stop Smoking
Stress Elimination Study Habits Writers Block
Helplessness Hopelessness Relaxation
Test Anxiety Hypertension Trauma <TOP

WHAT PHYSICAL DISORDERS CAN HYPNOSIS HELPFULLY AID?
Hypnosis has likewise been used to successful aid, through hypnotic suggestions, many kinds of physical ailments, such as:

Anesthesia Bed Wetting Asthma
Digestive disorders Hair Twisting Obesity
Loss of Appetite Epilepsy Pain
Impotency Muscle Spasms Frigidity
Labor pains Herpes Itching
Snoring Warts Nail Biting
Perspiring Paralysis Arthritis
Nausea Tics Ulcers
Headaches Lower Blood Pressure Health
Hypertension Paralysis and more!

As a human being is a mind/body phenomenon in which mind affects the body and body affects the mind, the usefulness of hypnosis is obvious, and hypnotherapy can successfully treat all manner of difficulties for the individual in detail and effectiveness. Hypnotherapy is not a cure for everything, but it helps people in many areas of life. <TOP