Title:
Stage Hypnosis versus Hypnotherapy
Summary
In my twenty six years Hypnotherapy practicet, I have been asked hundreds of times what the difference is between Stage Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy. Stage Hypnotists appear to be in full control of their subjects and I feel it is about time this untruth was put to rest. I reveal how Stage Hypnotists convince the audience they are all-powerful and briefly what Hypnotherapy is.
Keywords
hypnotherapy, hypnosis, stage hypnosis, new career,hypnotherapy training
Article Body
Let me firstly briefly outline my credentials.
I have been a practicing Hypnotherapist for 26 years and have, sometimes to my shame, done a fair amount of demonstration hypnosis to audiences, including hallucination hypnosis and altering a subjects memory. I am principal and founder of The Robert shields College and have trained Hypnotherapists since 1986. I presently do the training through the Internet.
Here are brief explanations of the two types of the application of hypnosis I am writing about:
Stage Hypnosis
Is a demonstration of the willingness of certain individuals to use hypnosis as an excuse to be the centre of attraction to a non-criticising audience. It is also a vehicle for a proclaimed hypnotist to stroke his own ego and to give the false impression that he is all powerful and in total control of those individuals I have just described.
Hypnotherapy
On the other hand, a Hypnotherapist is an individual who for whatever reason, usually because of a need within his personality, to help other individuals in need of psychological help. A Hypnotherapist should be well versed in both the ethical use of hypnosis and a working knowledge of psychology, both of which are used to help his client towards a better life.
The Mechanics
How does a stage hypnotist appear to control his subjects? To answer that we have to become aware of what is actually happening some hours before and during his performance.
Hypnotherapy
Here are the procedures that are typically applied before a hypnotist carries out his act:
The suggestibility tests are varied and numerous, an example being the hand clasp test.
a. The audience is asked to stand up (those that do are responding to an order (a suggestion) to do so) and then to hold their arms out in front of them. They are then instructed to clasp the hands together, intertwining their fingers (the hypnotist will demonstrate to ensure the instructions are followed exactly as that is very important).
b. The audience is then told that when the hypnotist counts up to a certain number, the hands will become stuck together (this is repeated at least three times in accordance with the laws of suggestion) and on the final number the hypnotist will ask the audience to try (this word suggests that they cannot) to unclasp their hands. The harder they try (this is another law of suggestion the harder you try, the more difficult it becomes) the more difficult it will become and they will find they cannot unclasp the hands, no matter how hard they try. (Think of the tight ropewalker. The novice will try too hard and fall, whereas the experienced walker just takes it easy and succeeds)
Those of the audience who accept the invitation are in effect giving the hypnotist permission to do whatever he wants with them as they know what is to be expected.
However, there will always be those who pretend to by hypnotised or who simply want to make a fool of the hypnotist in front of their friends. But a good hypnotist will be well aware of this and look for signs that will weed out those problem makers.
For example, he may have a stooge in the audience who will secretly point out to him anyone who is misbehaving behind his back. Or, another possible sign is the audience laughing at something that is happening that the hypnotist does not see. So following the direction of the audiences eyes, will tell him who is going to cause him problems and steel the limelight. Those people are quickly asked to return to their seats in the audience.
So on with the show. The hypnotist will then carry out his act appearing to hypnotise at will and getting his subjects to perform funny, but harmless acts in front of the audience.
Those of the audience who accept the invitation are in effect giving the hypnotist permission to do whatever he wants with them as they know what is to be expected.
It should be noted that NOBODY will respond to any form of SUGGESTION that is OBNOXIOUS or against his or her MORAL CONVICTIONS!
No stage hypnotist would risk his reputation by giving a suggestion to anyone knowing that that person would object to carrying it out. For example, it would be very risky to suggest to an attractive woman that she should physically take her clothes off. Ok, there are women who would gladly do that in front of an audience, but the hypnotist would not know that and would, therefore, avoid such a suggestion.
You will also note that religion is NEVER included in a stage hypnotists performance.
Those of the audience who accept the invitation are in effect giving the hypnotist permission to do whatever he wants with them as they know what is to be expected.
It should also be noted that in any audience, there are a small number of people who would be happy to go on stage and do silly things to get a laugh. Go to any holiday camp and you will see performers calling up on stage members of an audience and having them do silly things. There are clowns in every audience and the stage is a perfect vehicle for them, with or WITHOUT hypnosis as an excuse.
Genuine Hypnosis or Not!
So are those volunteers on the stage genuinely hypnotised. The answer is a Yes and a No. Some are in such a deep trance that they are genuinely hypnotised. Those people usually cannot remember what they have done immediately after a show, but do remember as time passes by. (Of course, some people who do remember, say they do not because they want to cover up their tracks with their friends and family).
Those of the audience who accept the invitation are in effect giving the hypnotist permission to do whatever he wants with them as they know what is to be expected.
Others will NOT be hypnotised, but pretend they are.
I watched a show once and one woman was certainly under hypnosis whereas there was a man who was obviously not. The hypnotist got only a few laughs from the woman and made full use of the man as he was willing to do virtually anything to raise a laugh.
It should be noted that an ethical hypnotist will always establish normality, at the end of his act, in his subjects, regardless of whether he believes it necessary or not.
Those of the audience who accept the invitation are in effect giving the hypnotist permission to do whatever he wants with them as they know what is to be expected.
Ok, enough about stage hypnosis and now to Hypnotherapy.
Now for the boring part of this article.
What does a Hypnotherapist do? He or she helps people to live a normal and happy life. The definition of normal has to be left up to you for it is how you want to live your life that is normal.
Those of the audience who accept the invitation are in effect giving the hypnotist permission to do whatever he wants with them as they know what is to be expected.
A Hypnotherapist will be educated in both the application and use of hypnosis and also in the application of psychology in the form of psychotherapy.
Good Hypnotherapists have an arsenal of techniques and therapies at his or her disposal. The importance of recognising every client as an individual with his or her own personal characteristics, life experiences and most importantly a way of dealing with problems, cannot be emphasised enough.
Hypnotherapists are there to help and not to make a client feel foolish. An important requirement for any Hypnotherapist is a caring, kind and understanding nature. The need to help others is a bonus.
Those of the audience who accept the invitation are in effect giving the hypnotist permission to do whatever he wants with them as they know what is to be expected.
Also important is the training a Hypnotherapist receives. Any course taken MUST include the psychology aspect of treating clients. The reason simply being that a Hypnotherapist treats psychological problems and he or she must understand human behaviour. It is not necessary to hold a degree in psychology, but knowledge of most forms of psychology is important.
Subsequent sessions are then conducted to bring about a solution to the clients problem.
At no time would an ethical Hypnotherapist produce a situation where the client becomes reliant on the therapy of therapist. The goal of a Hypnotherapist is to guide the client towards self-reliance when he or she is in full control of the life he or she wants to lead.
Hypnotherapy can be used to treat almost, but not all, psychological ailments.
I hope the above helps you recognise the difference between what is perceived as stage hypnosis and Hypnotherapy. One entertains and is not what it appears to be and the other is used for healing.
Subsequent sessions are then conducted to bring about a solution to the clients problem.
Please note that in the above article I have used the male gender throughout, but this is for easy reading and does not exclude female hypnotists, or Hypnotherapists.