Every so often, someone posts a message on a hypnosis discussion group asking for a ‘script’ for a particular problem.

Every time I see this happen, I always wonder why they might need one, especially if they have been ‘trained’.

And there are a lot of websites with hypnosis ‘scripts’ – reams of carefully tailored language designed to deal with a whole host of therapeutic problems.

For me, effective hypnosis is not about ‘scripted’ language. Hypnosis is, above all other things, a form of communication. Think about it for a minute.

Have you ever had a phone call from a telemarketer? This is a great everyday example of someone trying to communicate using a script. It’s so unlike a conversation that it doesn’t work very well.

Good conversation requires feedback. That feedback determines what you might say next. Telesales scripts only allow for this in a very limited way.

Similarly, to be a great hypnotist, you must pay attention to the verbal and non-verbal feedback you get from the client and adjust your communication as you go.

This is a lot easier than you might think - and it’s more intuitive, natural and effective than ‘scripted’ language.

We don’t live in a sitcom, so we shouldn’t treat hypnosis like one.

We all have our ‘life scripts’ as well – how we expect everything in our life (including other people) to behave.

Sometimes we get it right and everything goes well.

Often, people behave in an unexpected way and we find ourselves saying “that’s not what they were supposed to do!”

In short, it makes life much easier if we minimize the amount of scripting involved.

In hypnosis, scripts are great examples of elegant language. They’re well worth reading and taking apart – after you know how to use hypnotic language correctly.

They’re not for actual use with people. That’s just laziness on the part of the hypnotist.

It’s much easier to learn, play with and understand the principles of hypnosis.

That’s how I can teach everything from the basics through to advanced material in just three days, get great results and have fun doing it.

So use those hypnosis scripts as examples, become aware of your own ‘life scripts’ and treat hypnosis like a conversation with the person’s unconscious mind.

I guarantee that your success will skyrocket.

And next time you see a request for a hypnosis script, spare a thought and help to enlighten the person involved.

Your unconscious will thank you for it.

©2006 Philip Callaghan

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