Descriptions of Modules

The history of hypnosis is long and varied, from Anton Mesmer to Gil Boyne. Yet, there remain many myths about hypnotism that need to be separated from the facts. Likewise, there are many applications of hypnosis, and it is important to distinguish its entertainment uses (stage hypnotism) from its therapy uses (hypnotherapy). With this understanding, students can begin the journey to see hypnotherapy as a new health alternative. By the end of this course, students will create a self-hypnosis program themselves.

A short-course on brain anatomy and electro-chemical stimulation. Followed by a contrasting discussion of scientific and philosophical theories of consciousness. What are the relationships between the brain, the mind, and consciousness? What is reality? What is truth? With these concepts in hand it becomes easier to contemplate the nature of trance. This course also introduces the concept of energy medicine, and the relationship of energy to emotions.

All emotional energy traces back to either fear or love. The energy of fear creates and supports the issues that brings clients to hypnotherapy. The hypnotherapist cannot practice effectively without a comprehensive understanding of the anatomy of fear. Emotions reside in the subconscious, but can be modified via subconscious programming. To effect change the hypnotherapist uses various forms of linguistic effects, emotional language, and neuro-linguistic programming. 

Hypnosis is not sleep, but what characteristics does it share with dreams, and why? And if dreams are real, what type of alternate reality do they suggest? And why do daydreams encroach on consciousness? The ability to exercise imagery often predicts the ease with which someone might be hypnotized. But it also relates to the ability to manifest intentions. It could be some clients are stuck simply because their imagination is blocked. The effective hypnotherapist uses re-framing to get clients moving forward.

Hypnotherapy involves the clinical application of hypnosis. The intent is to help people. How will you present yourself as a hypnotherapist? There are your technical skills, of course; but there are also legal and ethical considerations as well. And how will you keep yourself grounded when all clients want to do is dump their problems on you? The practice of hypnotherapy is a spiritual endeavor that differs significantly from psychotherapy. But there are also different schools of thought and practice within hypnotherapy. You will likely practice autonomously, but the actions of your peers will influence perceptions you need to deal with while building a reputation for quality practice.

Just as there are a number of steps to hypnotizing someone, hypnotherapy involves more than just the application of hypnosis. Anyone contemplating hypnotherapy has convinced themselves they need help. Your initial challenge as a hypnotherapist is to present yourself as the person with the technical skills and knowledge to provide that help. Everything you do before, during and after hypnosis is designed to create expectancy within the client. 

This portion of the program alternates between lecture and lab.  Most lectures are immediately followed with a lab in which students practice the lecture content.

Using hypnotherapy to promote healing requires that the hypnotherapist be confident and grounded. The hypnotherapist need not be a health scientist, but should have at least basic knowledge. Knowing the underlying causes of some common health issues helps the hypnotherapist to create effective and relevant imagery and metaphors. Other issues require an understanding how spirituality influences health and clients’ sense of well-being. This foundational understanding allows one to simply enter practice. Complex issues and specialization require continued study and experience. The scope of issues for which hypnosis has proven efficacious is amazing; but most hypnotherapists establish boundaries of practice that ensure a positive experience for the clients they accept.  

Skill develops as one adapts to the client. At this point in the training it is necessary to move away from ‘protocols’ to start “dealing with what emerges;” yes, still applying specific methodologies, but with slight variations that accommodate the needs of each client. With that understanding, any necessary variations must still comply with standards of effective practice.

Levels One and Two emphasized the basic mechanics of hypnosis and its most common uses. Level Three expands the applications and techniques that make hypnotherapy truly unique. Having learned the technical skills, we now progress to spiritual and intuitive skills; again exploring different schools of practice. What makes hypnotherapy unique is that each hypnotherapist must pick and choose the things that personally work best, and then build a practice around them.

One of the thorniest issues for hypnotherapy is the confusion, misinformation and fear among many that hypnosis contradicts religious dogma. On the contrary, hypnotherapy is less effective with clients who have no belief system. This course explores a common thread that runs through all religions, in terms of energy medicine and quantum physics. In fact, all substance and life are representations of energy at different levels of vibration. And all energy is linked; meaning all things and all life are part of the universal divine. To some extent, that is what makes phenomena like past life regression possible.

The hypnotherapist walks a fine line between directing clients’ healing and allowing issues to emerge as necessary and appropriate. The process is at times authoritarian, and at others subservient (as in “dealing with what emerges’). Knowledge and intuition merge to create re-framing and resolutions that are almost always unique to the client. The tasks in this course provide sufficient experience to begin a hypnotherapy practice. Live and video demonstrations take on new meaning after students have experienced both sides of the hypnosis chair. Constant supervision, critical analysis, and discussion promote growth and confidence; this is, confidence in hypnotherapy skills, but also in establishing the new hypnotherapist as a knowledgeable presenter on this form of alternative medicine.