Hypnotherapy Training

Speaking in Symbols

2008-11-04T09:18:00.000-08:00

Today, people think in sound bites. The best sound bites create mental images. When President Bush was justifying his reasons for attacking Iraq on the grounds that that country possessed weapons of mass destruction, he conjured up a powerful image by saying, "Facing clear evidence of peril, we cannot wait for the final proof -- the smoking gun -- that could come in the form of a mushroom cloud."

The powerful image of a mushroom cloud hanging over New York City or perhaps the city in which you live was powerful enough to set this country marching to war.
The intermediary between your brain and your body is the imagination. Before emotions can drive us to action they must first be created in the physical body- and nothing activates the body faster then a potent mental image.

Aristotle told us that "the mind thinks in images." When ideas and concepts reach critical mass in the mind they activate your inner cinema and the procession of pictures that are produced will dictate to the nervous system exactly what needs to be done. Emotions flow and actions are initiated.

Watch the President candidates Brock Obama and John McCain as they come down the final stretch. From images of "Joe the Plummer' to "struggling single mothers with sick children" sound bites filled with mental pictures will abound.

Hypnotists use imagery frequently to move their clients to action. So do President candidates Brock Obama and John McCain and with great success.

Come train with me and I will teach you how to put imagery to work helping others change, motivating a team, increasing sales, negotiating with skill and much more.

John

Hypnosis and Politics in the 2008 Presidential Race

2008-10-02T12:39:00.000-07:00

Part Two of Five

Attention Control

In the Oscar winning film, Fog of War, former Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara provides a peek into the mind control many politicians practice. When McNamara is asked, "How did you handle questions from the press that you did not want to answer?" McNamara candid response was, "When you are asked a question that you don't want to answer, answer the question you wanted to be asked." In other words when faced with a difficult question, change the subject.

To hypnotize you I need to "control" your attention. I need to capture your attention, focus it on what is most important and keep you involved. So do presidential candidates who want your vote.

Watch the Presidential debates and you will see this attention redirecting technique in action. When one of the candidate's is asked a question they don't want to answer, they usually will begin their response with a "truism" such as, "Well that is a very good question" or "That is a question on the minds of all American's today." The statement is true and we nod in agreement (more on why this is important in my next blog).

Right after we buy into the truism the politician will pull the direction change by saying something such as, "but more importantly..." or "but first let me respond to what my opponent just said..." Notice the word "but?" It is a cancelling conjunction. That means that "But" cancels out everything that came before it, which is why you get exasperated when someone says to you, "that is a good idea BUT I think..."

But allows you to cancel out the last thought, highjack the conversation and control the other person's attention. Using truisms and buts, the political then guides your attention back to the subject they want to you focus on and allows them to answer the question they wanted to be asked.

Controlling your attention is the device of magicians, card sharks, politicians and, yes, hypnotists. The difference is that where the hypnotist is trying to help you grow and change, the politician just wants your vote. Watch for the truism-but-attention redirection game in the next Presidential debate or press briefing. It won't be hard to spot if you control your attention and not get caught up in the Fog of Politics.

Hypnosis and Politics in the 2008 Presidential Race

2008-09-23T12:09:00.000-07:00

Hypnosis and Politics in the 2008 Presidential Race

Part One of Five

You are being manipulated. You mind is being twisted and turned to do the bidding of others. Like it or not John McCain and Barack Obama have you hypnotized.

Without resorting to swinging pocket watches or swirling spirals, the McCain and Obama campaigns are using the same tools hypnotists use to change your mind and, in the candidate's case, secure your vote. Let's look at some of the startling comparisons between hypnosis and the campaign for president of the United States.

Hot Button Politics

Perhaps you have noticed- just about the time we are going to the voting booth subjects like flag burning, gay marriage, abortion and threats to national safety start making their way into the headlines and making the rounds on talk radio and television. This is not an accident. Hypnotists and politicians know that most people spend their lives doing what they feel like doing and that in our society feeling drives behavior. If I want to get you to take action I must make you feel and to do that I need to find the ideas that stoke your feelings.

The above mentioned topics are known to create strong emotions. Powerful feelings bypass the logic centers of your brain so that you act without really thinking about it. Your argument may not have a leg to stand on but you feel strongly that your side is in the right. Just listen when people talk about these issues. Lots of feeling but very little logic.

Hypnotists know that the subconscious mind is the feeling mind and that to help you change they must find and touch the personal hot button that gets you to move. Politicians use the media to target your hot spots for the very same purpose.

Once electeded, the politician puts the hot topics back on the shelf until the next election when they trundle them out to work your emotions and get you to vote for them.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

2008-06-16T21:14:00.000-07:00

Another great 201 class graduated last weekend. One of the hallmarks of our training is that Marc and I expose the students to live demonstrations. These are real people facing real challenges. These challenges that pertain to the course subject matter. This weekend we were working with fear. One of the students complained of a fear of heights. Holly told the class a funny story about having to clutch on to a friend’s arm in order to walk out on the balcony of one of the high-rise apartments here in Las Vegas. We were all laughing but the fear was real.

Using a technique that I learned from Dr. John Kappas called, Circle Therapy, I hypnotized Holly and walked her through the process. It took less then 5 minutes. That night, Holly and some of the other students went down to the Las Vegas Strip. Holly, confidently leaning on a balcony rail, faced her fear and found it had vanished. Attached is the evidence from a photo taken by a camera phone.

Hypnotherapy 201 Update

2008-06-08T07:39:00.000-07:00

Today is the last day of our hypnotherapy training. We are going to be covering how to deal with fears and phobias. Yesterday, we demonstrated ideomotor responses and pendulum hypnosis and their associated therapies. John Zulli demonstrated how to use ideomotor responses to help with a hives condition that one of the students had.

I had the oppertunity to work transformational hypnosis with one of the students in front of the entire class. She was a young, bright inividual who felt that others perceived her to be insignificant. During the pre-induction interview, I asked our client some questions to begin to uncover what her underlying issues were. Once we knew what she wanted to work on, I hypnotized her using a rapid induction. I began to intensify the emotion, and once that was completed, I used age regression to move back in time to help her uncover the initial sensitizing event. Once we arrived to the sensitizing event, I moved her into Gestalt dialoging. She began the process of finding a resolution, then I began to take her through the re-education process of her sub-conscious mind. After the awakening procedure, she opened her eyes and began to speak of her experience. It was such an intimate experience that the entire class shared together.

I believe that one of the most valuable parts of the hypnotherapy training at the International Institute of Hypnosis is the live demonstrations and excercises that we perform with the students. Not only do they become certified hypnotherapist, they change completely as human being for the better. It is impossible to be exposed to this information and not change. :-)

I hope to see you in one of our classes soon.

Marc

Nothing Less Than Amazing

2008-06-04T22:04:00.000-07:00

Nothing Less Than Amazing

I have been teaching hypnosis and hypnotherapy since about 1990, so I speak from experience when I say that the students enrolled in our current 201 class are no less then amazing.

Like ducks to water, this class has rapidly grasped the intricacies of the hypnotic process and are readily putting them into play. Not only are they hypnotizing each other with ease, they are already adding their own creative spin on the inductions and techniques. They are a credit to this 5000 year old art.

And speaking of credit, while I would like to take the credit for their brisk development, the reality is that their gains come from the fact that their imaginations are on fire.

Learning the concepts of hypnosis is liberating. Experiencing trance is an exercise in self-mastery and power. This 201 class is accelerating their understanding and their experience by making this information their own and putting it to use straight away.

I am having a great time teaching them.

Best,

John Zulli

"Problems cannot be solved by the level of awareness that created them." Albert Einstein

Hypnotherapy Training 201

2008-05-27T10:36:00.000-07:00

Let the excitement begin (again)! On Friday, May 27, we start the 201 section of our hypnotherapy certification training. While the 101 class focused on how to hypnotize, manage a trance and give suggestions, the 201 program is the class's introduction to in-depth hypnotherapy. And that is exciting! Don't get me wrong learning multiple ways to hypnotize is an exhilaratingexperience.

However, in 201 we peer into the subconscious and plum it's depths. No one can take this class and not be transformed. From observingthe power of ideomotor response in the healing process to understanding thedynamics of age regression, 201 is a life changing experience. Marc Savard and I will be there and I hope you will join us as we uncover and explore the subconscious side of the mind. Join this class only if you areready to grow, change and excel.

Self Hypnosis Class is wrapping up...

2008-04-28T15:24:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow evening concludes our self-hypnosis class for the International Institute of Hypnosis. For those of you who attended, thank you, and we hope you got plenty of valuable information from the class.

We will be holding another class in June. Please visit our calendar of events to sign up and register.

Marc

The top 3 mistakes people make when choosing a hypnotherapist

2008-04-02T13:18:00.000-07:00

Most people are pickier about choosing a good restaurant to eat in then they are about selecting a qualified hypnotherapist to work with. Here are the top three mistakes people make when choosing a hypnotherapist and what you need to know to avoid them.

Mistake #1: “It didn’t work”
All too often I will hear someone say, “I tried hypnosis once but “it” didn’t work.” I have news for you- there is no “it.” The hypnotherapist is working with your mind and body; not some metaphysical force. Just because you were hypnotized doesn’t guarantee you will get the results you were looking for. If fact, I tell my students that hypnotizing the person is the easiest part. The real work starts after the client is in hypnosis.

Bottom Line
The therapists experience, skill level and understanding of your particular problem makes a real difference. When considering someone to work with ask questions. Interview questions such as, “Please tell me about your hypnotherapy training? How many times have you worked with this issue in the past? What results have you seen?” will give you a good picture of who you are dealing with. Find a hypnotherapist who is competent working with your issue and one you are comfortable working with. See if the hypnotherapist will give you a free, short phone consultation to make sure that your problem matches the hypnotherapist’s skill level.

Mistake #2: “This guy’s the closest and the cheapest”
Hypnosis is more popular then ever. Today, most yellow pages and online guides are filled with hypnotherapists in your local area. While convenience is a good way to shop for a 7-11, it rarely works well when looking for a qualified hypnotherapist. This isn’t like getting your hair cut.

Your time with the hypnotherapist is, or at least can be, a powerful experience. Think about it, how often do you get a chance to be hypnotized? The time you spend in hypnosis is a unique opportunity to learn about yourself, to make dramatic change and to accelerate personal grow. Take the time to get the most out of the process. Even the time you travel to and from your hypnotherapy session can be extremely valuable because it gives you a chance to internalize your experience.

Bottom Line
While you may want to use hypnosis to just quit smoking or lose weight, the opportunity for some serious self-exploration and insight exists. Make a personal commitment to get the most from this unique and potential profound experience. While you certainly have to stay within your budget and likely have limited time available to work on yourself, don’t just pick the first name in the phone book. Be selective even if you have to travel or invest a few dollars more. You are worth it.

Mistake #3: “I want a Ph.D.”
“And I thought you wanted results,” is my standard reply when clients tell me they want me to be a licensed clinical psychologist. Not all licensed therapists are trained in hypnosis. In fact, in most states, licensed therapists are not required to take any training in hypnotherapy at all. Hypnotherapy is a separate and distinct form of people helping and you do not need to be a psychologist to practice. I will put my track record of safety and success up against anyone’s – licensed or unlicensed. From Tony Robbins to Harvard grads, bring it on.

However, and this is very important, hypnotherapy and non-licensed hypnotherapists have some very strict limitations. Unless they have additional training and proper licensing, Certified Hypnotherapists are not trained to diagnosis or treat mental disorders or medical problems. They are forbidden from prescribing (or even making recommendations about) medications.

The best hypnotherapists know their limitations and learn to work with the licensed community. I regularly get referrals from MD’s, licensed counselors and even psychiatrists because I practice “complementary care” not “alternative medicine.” For more information about the lawful practice of hypnotherapy please visit http://www.thehypnosisschool.com/.

Bottom Line
Whether a therapist is licensed or not make sure they have had special training in hypnosis. The practice of hypnotherapy is both a science and an art. Learning hypnosis out of a book is like learning to fly a plane from watching television.
On the other hand, beware the hypnotherapist who thinks hypnosis is a panacea-curing everything from cancer to schizophrenia. This person is either a conman or terribly ignorant. Hypnosis is a powerful tool but not for every problem. Pick a hypnotherapist who is grounded and professional and who has a proven track record for success.

Robber Hypnotizes Store Clerk

2008-03-25T17:11:00.000-07:00

Why Everyone Needs to Take Training in Hypnosis

I have said it before and feel compelled to say it again- just because you are a licensed therapist doesn’t mean you understand hypnosis. Case in point is a recent video interview on MSNBC with Dr. Joy Brown (see link below)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/23766568#23766568

about a series of robberies in Italy in which the bandit “hypnotized” the cashier and “suggested” that they hand him all the cash in the register, which they did.

Dr. Browne laughed off the idea that someone could be made to do something in hypnosis that violated their ethics or morals. Dr. Browne also stated that the reason the clerks gave away the cash was that they were doing the smart thing. After all they’re minimum wage employees faced with a crazy person demanding money. Forking over the lira makes sense.

On both these points the doctor and I are in complete agreement. It is smart store policy to turn over the cash to a robber without a fight. Cash can be replaced. People can not. And it is a childish fantasy to believe that you can hypnotize a person and make them do your absolute bidding. Whether you think you are Svengali or use “street hypnosis”- I hate to break it to you - but the people you are hypnotizing are not “in your power.” Grow up.

So, as far as control and the power of hypnosis are concerned, Dr. Browne and I are on the same page. Beyond that however we are barely in the same chapter. First, Dr. Browne states that very few people are “suggestible”. Perhaps P.T. Barnum had it wrong when he said, “There’s a sucker born every minute.” but I don’t think so.

Most people are highly suggestible. Suggestibility is the reason that marketing works. Suggestibility is the reason you cry when the hero on TV dies- even through you know he’s living in Malibu and dating a supermodel! Suggestibility is the reason an athlete can take the coach’s “suggestions” and turn them it into performance on the court, course or field. The reason people don’t just hand over money when it is “suggested” to them to do so is that most people who have a job- even a menial one- just aren’t that stupid. Stupidity and suggestibility are not the same.

My second beef with the Doctor’s assessment of the hypno-bandit comes when she is asked by the interviewer if someone “could be hypnotized that quickly.” Her answer is no and here is where the lack of exposure shows through. Just about every Hypnosis 101 class demonstrates (or should demonstrate) the shock or rapid induction. Most variations of rapid hypnosis involve overloading the nervous system with a startling command while simultaneously disturbing the subject’s equilibrium. Rapid hypnosis takes about 3 seconds and uses the same principles as an arm levitation induction which could take 20 minutes. The rapid inductions can be very effective when a person is slow to respond to conventional attempts at inducing hypnosis.

My third point of disagreement is in the Doctor’s unfortunate use of the phrase “under hypnosis.” “Under” is a pejorative term. Think of the underlining message behind the phrases “under a spell” or “under my thumb” and you will quickly see why knowledgeable hypnotists use the term “in” as opposed to “under” when referring to the hypnotic state. “In” builds rapport while “under” breeds resistance. I am not picking on the Doctor. Hypnosis achieves its effect with words so semantics matter. Wise hypnotists chose their words well to avoid being thrown “under the bus.”

Now don’t get me wrong. It is obvious that Joy Browne is a very bright and intelligent person. From her poise and confidence in front of the camera you can see she is loaded with personal power. I imagine that she is a gifted therapist. However, when it comes to hypnosis, it is doubtful that the doctor has done much more than read about the subject. It is also highly unlikely that she has ever been hypnotized. Talking about hypnosis without having experienced the state is like telling someone about cooking when you have never tasted food.

Even Carl Jung found hypnosis perplexing so Dr. Browne is easily forgiven.
But using hypnosis is a science and an art. No matter what your doctorate is in or how many years of med school you have, you still need to take the training to become a proficient practitioner or a knowledgeable spokesperson.

7 Reasons why EVERYONE should be hypotized!

2008-03-13T09:22:00.000-07:00

Seven Reasons Why Everyone Should Be Hypnotized

When was the last time you were hypnotized? If the answer is "never" you may be missing something that could do you some good. More misunderstood then the code in a DaVinci painting; hypnosis has proven to be the key to better health, higher performance and greater personal power. Now a master teacher on the subject explains why hypnosis is good for you and why everyone should be hypnotized. Here is why you should put being hypnotized at the top of your to-do list.

1 - Stress into Success

Most people think that chronic tension is just part of life in the new millennium. Actually, tension is a signal from your nervous system that something is wrong. Tension saps your strength and chronic tension breaks your body down leading to disease. Tension also impedes your performance in every human endeavor. From public speaking to sex, tension is your enemy. Hypnosis is like pressing the restart button for your brain and body. In the hypnotic state, you dump accumulated stress and your body shifts gears devoting energy to lowering blood pressure, improving digestion, pumping up your immune system and balancing your hormones. Imagine a night of perfect sleep where you wake refreshed; your mind is clear, your body blissfully relaxed and you feel reenergized. You now have an idea of what many people experience when they come out of hypnosis.

2 - The Hypnotic Facelift

When I demonstrate hypnotism one of the most common remarks from the audience is how much younger the subject looks after the trance. This isn't anti-aging magic, its biology. Many of those lines in your face are the products of tension and worry, not genetics. Release this pent-up mental and physical tension and you look years younger instantly. Think of hypnosis as Botox without the toxin. Hypnosis also turns back the aging clock by relaxing your capillaries, which allows blood to carry oxygen and nutrients out to the hair and skin more efficiently. In fact, all the markers of old age including inflexibility, fatigue and depression are reversed by trance. There is a real fountain of youth hidden inside of you. Hypnosis can help you discover it.

3 - Natural Self Mastery

Diet gurus, success gurus and golf gurus can teach you how to lose weight, make money and win tournaments but in the end it's you that will have to make it happen. Hypnosis gives you the mental focus and discipline to do the things you say you are going to do. The simple act of guiding your brain and body into hypnosis opens a line of communication between your conscious intention and the subconscious parts of you that make things happen. This interaction brings with it an amazing sense of personal power and self-discipline. Instead of failed diets or fears holding you back in business, you walk away with the winner's trophy because now your mind and body is accepting your directions instead of telling you what to do.

4 - The Great Sex, Sound Sleep, Swimming Pool Connection

Have you ever noticed that sometimes the harder you try to do a thing the more difficult it becomes? That is because of the law of reversed effort. Try to sink in the swimming pool and you float but struggle to stay on top and you sink. The same is true for getting to sleep or having great sex, we usually do our best the less we try. In hypnosis you quickly discover how to "let go" and allow your mind and body to rise to the occasion. As you learn to allow your subconscious to do its stuff and use less conscious effort, you drift off to dreamland faster and find the power to be a super lover naturally. Best of all harnessing this letting go process isn't limited to the bedroom. Allowing old wounds to heal, letting go of toxic relationships and self-limiting beliefs, and releasing fear all become second nature once you learn to let go and allow yourself to go into trance.

5 - Creativity2

Do you get your best ideas in the shower? When you are driving or working out do insights and solutions seem to pop into your mind as if out of nowhere? While most people strain to solve problems with the analytical part of their brain, your real source of creativity is located in the subconscious. The "Ah-ha" moments that hit you "out of the blue" are byproducts of this powerful but hidden creative process. Since hypnosis primarily involves the subconscious it gives you access to this creative force and allows you to direct it into the projects and problems you face each day. A math professor was hypnotized and given a series of complicated calculus problems to solve in twenty minutes. In those twenty minutes, the teacher accomplished an astonishing two hours worth of work. Asked by the researchers how he managed to ramp-up his speed six-fold but still maintain his accuracy, the professor replied, "It was fun."

6 - Passion & Purpose

We live in a raced paced world that can seem as complicated as quantum physics. With so much going on it is easy to be swept up in the chaos and cut off from life's big picture and our place in that picture. When we lose our sense of purpose, an undercurrent of dissatisfaction dogs our days and some people go through addiction, divorce and jail before they realize that the issue is within. Hypnosis frees the mind from endlessly traveling those nutty little neural loops that keep people small and feeling miserable. Changing the way you use your brain, hypnosis takes you out of your regular mode of thinking, giving you an objective and expanded view of your situation and attitude. Rising above old thought patterns allows your perspective to fill with new possibilities and fires up your passion.

7 - It is FUN ! ;-)

Hypnosis FAQ's

2008-03-12T12:05:00.000-07:00

Can I be hypnotized?

Yes. Every person of normal or above average intelligence has the ability to be hypnotized.

While hypnotized, will I do anything I don’t want to do?

No. This is one of the most common misconceptions about hypnosis. While hypnotized, you will not do anything that is against your moral and ethical beliefs. If someone hypnotized you and told you to load a gun and hold up a bank, you would reject the suggestion and refuse to take that action (unless, of course, you’re a bank robber).

Will I say anything I want to keep secret or private?

No. Many people have the misunderstanding that, while hypnotized, they will blurt out their deepest darkest secrets. This will not happen. If you have thoughts, ideas and information you want to keep private, you will keep them private.

Will I be programmed to bark like a dog or scratch like a chicken?

Not in any session using hypnosis for therapy. Stage shows featuring hypnotists are for entertainment. Audience members who volunteer to be hypnotized on stage, provide their consent to be a part of the show. At the end of the show, all hypnotic suggestions are cancelled, and there are no lingering effects. When you schedule an appointment with a reputable hypnotist or hypnotherapist for therapeutic purposes, be assure that the only focus is on producing the results you came for, not entertainment. Your dignity is respected.

Will I remember anything that is said while I’m hypnotized?

Most people remember everything from a session. Some people are capable of very deep levels of hypnotic trance, and may not consciously remember every detail of a session. If you want to be certain you’ll remember every word, ask your hypnotist to give you the suggestion that you will remember everything from your session.

Will some awful, hidden personality emerge from me while I’m hypnotized?

Thanks to Hollywood, the Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde fear is surprisingly common. While hypnotized, no “under the bed” monstrous creature will emerge. You will remain you.

Will I be aware of anything?

You will hear every word the hypnotist or hypnotherapists says, and will be aware of the sounds of everyday living surrounding you. The hypnotic trance is a very focused state of mind. You are more aware than in your normal, waking state of mind.

Will the hypnotherapist make sexual advances while I’m hypnotized?

Since you’ve taken care to find a reputable hypnotherapist, honorable conduct is expected. And since you will be aware of what is going on around you, and you will not do anything against your own moral or ethical beliefs, sexual encounters are extremely unlikely. You remain in total control of your thoughts and your body.

What happens if I don’t come out of hypnosis?

This is an impossibility. All trances end, whether formally ended by your hypnotherapists, or by yourself. If, in the unlikely event, you are hypnotized and the hypnotherapist drops dead, you will end your trance naturally, much like how you wake up from a nap.

What does it feel like to be hypnotized?

A hypnotic trance provides a sense of profound physical and mental relaxation. Internal chatter is quieted, and you feel peaceful and calm. Its similar to those few moments of being not-quite-awake just before you fall asleep. When you come up from a hypnotic trance, you feel wonderfully good, refreshed, revitalized, and full of energy.

What can hypnosis do for me?

It can put you in control of your life. Hypnosis can help you build unshakable self-confidence, enhance learning and comprehension, reach goals, be free of procrastination, increase motivation, reduce stress, improve health, control habits, boost creativity, develop intuition, manage pain and accelerate spiritual growth. Hypnosis puts you in touch with the most powerful and resourceful part of you, your subconscious mind.

How does hypnosis work?

This remains a mystery, even after 4,000 years of use. The how is not known. However, the results are undeniable. Burn victims heal faster, the timid become confident, smokers lose the desire for tobacco, procrastinators become productive, arthritics increase comfort, the fearful become calm and assured.

How do I find a qualified hypnotist?

Ask your friends and others you respect for recommendations. Check credentials and ask about training. Did he or she attend an approved school? Is he or she a member of the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners or National Guild of Hypnotists? Ask how long the hypnotist or hypnotherapist has been practicing, and if he or she specializes in any issues or problem areas. Request a consultation. If, after your meeting, you feel uncomfortable with the person, keep looking. You want to find a hypnotist or hypnotherapist that you feel at ease with and can trust.