Handbook of Hypnotic Suggestions and Metaphors

1. Hypnosis: A Versatile Tool for Diverse Clinical Needs

Hypnotherapy is the application of hypnosis in a wide variety of medical and psychological disorders.

Broad applicability. Hypnosis is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but a versatile tool applicable across a spectrum of medical and psychological challenges. From pain management and surgical preparation to emotional disorders and habit control, its potential is vast.

Ethical considerations. It's crucial to remember that hypnosis is a technique, not a qualification. Practitioners must possess adequate training in the specific area they're treating, whether it's medicine, psychology, or dentistry. Hypnosis training alone does not qualify one to work in subspecialty areas beyond their expertise.

Integrative approach. The most effective hypnotherapy often combines hypnotic techniques with other interventions, such as cognitive therapy, behavioral therapy, or medical treatments. This integrative approach acknowledges the complexity of clinical problems and leverages the strengths of different modalities.

2. Establish Rapport and Positive Expectancy for Effective Hypnosis

Establishing a relationship with the patient must always be considered the first and most vitally important prerequisite for suggestions to be effective.

The human connection. Hypnosis is a cooperative venture, not something "done to" the patient. Building a warm, understanding, and respectful relationship is paramount for reducing defensiveness and fostering trust.

Confidence is contagious. The therapist's confident demeanor and belief in the power of hypnosis can inspire confidence in the patient, enhancing their receptivity to suggestions. Avoid tentative language and project an air of assurance.

Individualized approach. Recognize that each patient is unique, with their own personality, expectations, and motivations. Tailor your approach to resonate with their individual needs and preferences.

3. Mastering Suggestion: Direct, Indirect, and Interactive Techniques

Your task isn't to force a patient to accept suggestions. Your task is to present a sufficient number of suggestions so that he will willingly take this one and that one.

Direct vs. indirect. There's no one-size-fits-all approach to phrasing suggestions. Direct suggestions can be effective for some patients, while indirect, permissive suggestions may work better for others.

Interactive trance. Engage the patient as an active participant in the hypnotic process. Solicit their input, obtain feedback through nonverbal signals, and confirm the acceptability of suggestions.

The power of commitment. Encourage patients to make conscious or unconscious commitments to the therapeutic process. This can increase their willingness to accept subsequent suggestions and facilitate positive change.

4. Harnessing the Power of Metaphors and Imagery

In many ways hypnosis is the art of securing a patient's attention and then effectively communicating ideas that enhance motivation and change perceptions.

Metaphors as indirect suggestions. Metaphors can be a powerful way to communicate ideas indirectly, bypassing resistance and enhancing motivation. They can also serve as a method of repeating suggestions without using identical words or phrases.

Types of metaphors:

• Personal stories: Sharing anecdotes from your own experience or those of previous patients
• Truism metaphors: Drawing on universal experiences like nature or common life events
• Created stories: Crafting original narratives tailored to the patient's specific situation

Imagery as a catalyst for change. Encourage patients to use their imagination to create vivid sensory experiences that support their therapeutic goals. This can involve visualizing desired outcomes, modifying problematic images, or exploring symbolic representations of their inner world.

5. Hypnosis in Pain Management: A Multifaceted Approach

The principle of reversed effect primarily applies to making suggestions to produce physiological effects.

Multidimensional assessment. Effective pain management requires a thorough evaluation of the physical, behavioral, affective, interpersonal, and cognitive components of the pain experience.

Hypnotic pain control techniques:

• Creating anesthesia or analgesia through direct suggestion, imagery, or ideomotor techniques
• Altering the perception of pain by substituting sensations, displacing the locus of pain, or reinterpreting its meaning
• Decreasing awareness of pain through distraction techniques like time dissociation or pleasant imagery

Trance ratification. Providing patients with convincing evidence of their hypnotic abilities can increase their confidence and motivation for pain management.

6. Hypnoanesthesia: A Powerful Adjunct to Traditional Methods

Men give me some credit for genius, but all of the genius I have lies in this. When I have a subject in mind, I study it profoundly, day and night it is before me. I explore it in all its bearings.

Preoperative preparation. Hypnosis can be used to reduce anxiety, promote relaxation, and prepare patients for surgery, potentially leading to better outcomes and faster recovery.

Intraoperative suggestions. Positive suggestions delivered during surgery, even under chemical anesthesia, can influence physiological processes and promote healing.

Ethical considerations. Hypnosis should only be used to treat problems that practitioners are qualified to treat with nonhypnotic techniques. Training in hypnosis alone does not qualify one to work in subspecialty areas beyond their expertise.

7. Ego-Strengthening: Building Confidence and Self-Efficacy

Part of his brilliance lies in the expertise that he has in integrating the practical contributions that are found in a great diversity of different orientations and approaches to hypnosis.

Ego-strengthening techniques. These techniques aim to increase self-esteem, self-efficacy, and confidence, helping patients to overcome negative self-perceptions and develop a more positive self-image.

Methods for ego-strengthening:

• Direct suggestions of self-worth and competence
• Identifying and challenging negative self-talk
• Facilitating age regression to experiences of mastery
• Utilizing metaphors and imagery to promote growth and resilience

Individualized approach. The most effective ego-strengthening techniques are tailored to the unique needs and preferences of the individual patient.

8. Taming Anxiety and Phobias with Hypnotic Techniques

The tremendous breadth of suggestions will also serve as a stimulus to your creativity in preparing hypnotic suggestions and metaphors of your own.

Hypnosis for anxiety relief. Hypnosis can be used to reduce anxiety by promoting relaxation, facilitating imagery scenes, reframing anxious thoughts, and de-fusing panic.

Hypnosis for phobias. Hypnotic techniques can be used to treat phobias by creating a sense of safety and control, reframing the phobic stimulus, and desensitizing the patient to the feared situation.

Suggestions in dental hypnosis. Hypnosis can be used to manage anxiety, control pain, and reduce gagging in dental procedures.

9. Hypnosis for Habit Disorders and Addictions: Breaking Free

The intent of this book is to provide clinicians with models of hypnotic suggestions and metaphors from seasoned hypnotherapists who have diverse approaches and styles.

Hypnosis for smoking and addictions. Hypnosis can be used to help patients quit smoking and overcome other addictions by modifying cravings, promoting aversion to the addictive substance, and reinforcing positive self-talk.

Hypnosis for habit disorders. Hypnosis can be used to treat habit disorders like nailbiting and trichotillomania by increasing awareness of the behavior, substituting alternative responses, and addressing underlying emotional factors.

General strategies for overcoming pleasure-producing habits:

• Negative accentuation: Vivifying the negative consequences of the habit
• Aversive metaphors: Creating negative associations with the habit
• General strategies for overcoming pleasure-producing habits

10. Hypnosis for Academic and Athletic Excellence

Although he clearly makes scholarly and research contributions to the field, Dr. Hammond is primarily a clinician of the greatest magnitude, as exemplified by this text.

Enhancing academic performance. Hypnosis can be used to improve concentration, memory, and study skills, as well as to reduce test anxiety.

Enhancing sports and athletic performance. Hypnosis can be used to improve focus, motivation, and performance in sports, as well as to manage anxiety and pain.

Suggestions for aesthetic refinement. Hypnosis can be used to enhance artistic expression, aesthetic appreciation, and musical performance.

11. Hypnosis with Children: A Gentle and Effective Approach

The variety of suggestions will often provide you with alternative ways of communicating with a patient about a particular problem.

Hypnosis with pain. Hypnosis can be used to relieve pain in children, both acute and chronic, through techniques like hypnoanalgesia and visual distraction.

Hypnosis with enuresis. Hypnosis can be used to treat enuresis (bedwetting) in children by increasing awareness of bladder signals and promoting control over urination.

Miscellaneous pediatric problems. Hypnosis can be used to treat a variety of other pediatric problems, including thumbsucking, Tourette syndrome, asthma, dyslexia, and school phobia.

12. Time Reorientation: Rewriting the Past, Shaping the Future

In many ways hypnosis is the art of securing a patient's attention and then effectively communicating ideas that enhance motivation and change perceptions.

Age regression and abreaction. Hypnosis can be used to access and re-experience past events, allowing patients to process and resolve unresolved emotions.

Age progression. Hypnosis can be used to project patients into the future, helping them to visualize desired outcomes and develop strategies for achieving their goals.

Time distortion training. Hypnosis can be used to alter the subjective experience of time, making painful or difficult experiences seem shorter and more manageable.

Last updated: April 8, 2025