Alert Hypnosis: Alert Hypnosis: Teaching it to ClientsTeaching it to Clients

David M Wark, Ph.D. ABPHDavid M Wark, Ph.D. ABPH

wark@umn.eduwark@umn.edu

Alert Hypnosis

• Induction with

Eyes open

Active movement

Sense of control and involvement

• Suggestions enacted WHILE in hypnosis - not post hypnotically

Preparing a client

• Your privacy will be protected

• Invitation to experience alert induction

• Suggestions for better reading

Warm up #1

Take a deep breath, fill your lungs and hold it for the count of 5. Then slowly relax as you exhale.

Warm up #2

Put your feel flat on the floor. Take another deep, gentle breath and hold it. Lightly, gently push down on the floor so you slightly tense your feet, ankles, calves and thighs. Hold for a count of 5, then slowly relax as you exhale.

Warm up #3

Take another deep full breath, and gently tense every muscle in your body, from your forehead down to your toes. Notice the tension all through your body. Hold for a count of 5, then slowly relax your whole body as you exhale.

Model the Induction

Model the Induction Aloud

• Inhale and lift shoulders.

• Fixate and hold vision, exhale and relax..

• Tense lower body, focus higher and hold, exhale and relax..

• Tense whole body, focus still higher and hold, exhale and relax

Training Exercise #1

Induction

Q1

When you were looking at the spot, were there any visual changes in color, movement, brightness or clarity?

1. Yes

2. No

Q2

When you were looking at the spot, did anyof the blue frames or the red X disappear,even for a short time?

1. Yes

2. No

Training Exercise #2

Deepening

Pick a cue

• Visual—recall a pleasant image

• Auditory—recall a pleasant sound

• Kinesthetic—recall a pleasant touch or feel

Depth of Alert Focus 0. Widely focused as you usually are. 1. Slightly more focused then usual 2. Rather lightly focused on something 3. 4. 5. Strongly and deeply focused on something 6. 7. 8. Very focused on something 9. Very, very focused on something 10. Almost nothing outside your point of focus

Training Exercise #2 Using Cue to Deepen

• Do Lever and check depth

• Deepen on the exhale

• Associate a cue

• Lighten on the inhale

• Test cue

• Deepen and check depth

• Lighten on the inhale

Q3

Compared to the first induction, how did this induction feel?

1. Deeper

2. Same depth

3. Not as deep

Training Exercise #3

Emotional Enhancement

Exercise #3

• Pick a new target

• Induce hypnosis

• Suggest attention to HAPPY memories

• Lighten on the inhale

• Process the emotional experience

Q4

Did you recall any memories of the past?

1. Yes

2. No

Q5IF you recalled any memories of the past, were

they

1. Happy

2. Neutral

3. Sad

4. Other

5. No memories

Q6

How did you experience the memories. [check all that apply]

1. Feeling my self in the past

2. Thinking of my myself in the past

3. Seeing myself in the past

NOTE

To present the following exercise on reading in alert hypnosis you will need:

• A script for the induction• A script for the Basic Suggestion for

Reading• A short reading exercise.

• They are in the handout of this session or can be obtained from wark@umn.edu

Training Exercise #4

Reading in Alert Hypnosis

Training Exercise #4Reading in Alert Hypnosis

• Select text

• Review suggestion

• Induction, deepen and suggest

• Read in alert hypnosis

Reading in Alert Hypnosis

Exercise

Happens here

Q7

• How did your reading rate compare with what you usually experience?

• 1. Slower the usual

• 2. Your usual speed

• 3. Faster then usual

Questions?

For more informationFor more informationWark@umn.eduWark@umn.edu

• Published report on reading and study skills in alert hypnosis

• Scripts for alert induction and suggestions

• References on alert hypnosis