Story Hypnosis

Story Telling Hypnosis, use of story telling in hypnotherapy

Stories and parables are very useful in hypnotherapy.   People are naturally used to becoming invested in stories, whether read or performed on television or big screen. For thousands of years performances and stories have been used to convey meaning and to send messages to the audience.

Storytelling hypnosis is a technique that uses the power of stories to induce a hypnotic trance and create positive change in the listener. It combines the art of storytelling with the principles of hypnosis to engage the imagination, bypass the critical conscious mind, and access the subconscious mind where deep-seated beliefs and behaviors reside.

Here’s how storytelling hypnosis works:

  • Engaging the Imagination: The therapist uses vivid imagery, metaphors, and sensory details to create a captivating story that draws the listener in and stimulates their imagination.
  • Bypassing the Critical Mind: The story acts as a vehicle to bypass the critical conscious mind, which often resists direct suggestions. The listener becomes absorbed in the narrative, allowing the hypnotic suggestions to be received more readily by the subconscious mind.
  • Accessing the Subconscious: Once the listener is in a relaxed and receptive state, the therapist can weave in hypnotic suggestions and metaphors that align with the listener’s goals and intentions. These suggestions can target specific issues, such as anxiety, fears, or unwanted habits, or they can promote positive change, such as increased confidence, motivation, or self-esteem.
  • Therapeutic Metaphors: The story itself can be a metaphor for the listener’s own life and challenges. The characters and events in the story can represent different aspects of the listener’s internal world, and the resolution of the story can provide a symbolic representation of the desired change or outcome.

Benefits of Storytelling Hypnosis:

  • Enhanced Relaxation: The immersive nature of storytelling can induce deep relaxation and reduce stress.
  • Increased Suggestibility: The hypnotic trance created through storytelling can make the listener more receptive to positive suggestions.
  • Bypassing Resistance: The use of stories can bypass the critical conscious mind, which may be resistant to direct suggestions.
  • Emotional Engagement: Stories can evoke powerful emotions and create a deeper connection with the listener’s subconscious mind.
  • Creative Problem-Solving: Metaphors and symbolism in stories can stimulate creative problem-solving and new perspectives.

Applications of Storytelling Hypnosis:

  • Anxiety and Stress Reduction: Stories can create a calming and relaxing experience, reducing anxiety and promoting a sense of peace.
  • Phobias and Fears: Metaphors and visualizations in stories can help individuals overcome phobias and fears.
  • Habit Change: Stories can support individuals in changing unwanted habits, such as smoking or overeating.
  • Personal Development: Stories can inspire personal growth, self-discovery, and positive change.
  • Trauma Recovery: Stories can help individuals process traumatic experiences and reframe their narratives.

Using stories during hypnotherapy

In a state of hypnosis, which is the relaxed state used in hypnotherapy, stories can be used to illustrate issues, describe change, or give a new slant or perspective on a situation or problem.  Sometimes re-framing the problem as if it is something faced by a stranger causes a completely different attitude to develop.

Sometimes re-framing causes the person to realize actually they can tackle something that was too scary or seemed to large a problem to overcome previously.

Using Story parables in hypnotherapy

Sometimes the story can be symbolic and not literal. Talking about an animal, tree or rock might seem odd, but the description can be symbolic and really refer to the client. For example talking about a tall strong tree might reflect on the hidden strengths of the person,  a deep pure lake of water might be the start of a description inviting deeper personal reflection. Almost anything can be used in the right and appropriate circumstances to draw comparisons and tell a therapeutic tale.

Hypnotherapy for personal change

Story telling is often used in the sort of hypnotherapy that relates to personal change. It opens the idea of a new narrative, a new personal story that could develop. That story could relate to increased confidence, stronger personal self esteem, motivation or a more caring attitude to oneself or others.

Styles of Hypnotherapy

Milton Erickson famously used stories a lot in both explicit structure hypnotherapy sessions, and in altered state work, where he did not appear to “hypnotize” the client, but rather simply tell them a story.  Other therapists have used stories with younger clients, and Sidereus is a model of hypnotherapy specifically using story and narrative.

Underpinning hypnotherapy with psychoanalysis and psychotherapy

Story creation relies on a comprehensive understanding of the client’s situation.  The story has to be symbolic based on information gathered. Therefore psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, counselling or other talking therapies are usually used to gain a picture of the current situation, from which to design a “change” story.

Stuart trained in psychoanalysis and hypnotherapy from 1993-1996 (externally NVQ accredited and assessed diploma course and CNHC accreditation route via SSM), being assessed on over 200 clients (more than 1,000 client hours) with a required positive feedback rate of 80%. Since then he has studied other forms of psychotherapy and counselling and has completed CPD (continuous professional development) in a range of areas including Sidereus story telling. Other areas included eastern psychologies and meditation and a MSc in Psychology.

In the UK we have voluntary “right touch” regulation of Hypnotherapy via the  Professional Standards Authority Accredited Register system to ensure standards for healthcare practitioners not subject to statutory regulation. Stuart (and Denise) are registered with the CNHC, who hold a PSA AR.

Stuart practices in Edinburgh.

Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council

Key words: Hypnotherapy, Hypnosis, Trance, Self Hypnosis, Parable, Story telling, narrative, therapy, change process, visualization, meditation, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, counselling, Edinburgh,  psychoanalyst, psychotherapist, counsellor, hypnotherapist, hypnotist, MCBT, CBT, CBA, IPT, NLP.

Contact via the contact us page HERE

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