Fundamentals of Hypnotic
Language
Shelly Johnson Gottsegen, LICSW
Hypnovations
April, 2010
Rapport, Rapport, Rapport
• Establish a positive alliance with respect,
empathy, warmth and concern
• Create a sense of positive expectancy: act
and speak with confidence and reassurance
Fundamentals of Hypnotic
Language
• Formulate suggestions emphasizing the
use of imagination rather than appealing to
the conscious will (saying you will do this
or that).
Repetition, Repetition,
Repetition
• A principle based on the idea that when we
concentrate attention on a goal or idea, it
tends to be realized.
Successive Approximations
• Utilize the process of time: Use words
like: “soon”, “before long”, “yet”,
“beginning to notice”, etc..
The Law of Dominant Effect
• Connect suggestions to a dominant
emotion
• Stir emotions and connect suggestions to
them
The Carrot Principle
• interject comments about the patient’s goal
• As you allow your hand to lift, you can
remember the ease you can feel when
you’re anxious….
The Principle of Positive
Suggestion
• make affirmative statements about the patient’s
goal.
• For example: “You will not overeat” (negative
suggestion)
• instead say: ”You will be surprised to discover
how comfortable you will feel after a normal size
meal portion of … “ (positive suggestion)
The Principle of Positive
Reinforcement
• Compliments and praise in and out of trance
enhance rapport and compliance.
• “that’s it”
• “good”
Create an Acceptance “Yes” set
• Use the “Socrates Method” stating undeniable statement of
facts sequentially to gain a “Yes, Yes, response
• Example: “I am sure you have felt how cold the winter air
feels against your skin, have you not? (yes) and you can
remember how cold it feels against your face…can you
not..”
Acceptability
• Interact with patient to Confirm the
Acceptability of Suggestions: head nods,
ideomotor finger signals, and voice
responses.
The Principle of Trance
Ratification
• A way to give patient an experience that
helps them distinguish the altered state of
consciousness with the use of hypnosis.
The Timing of Suggestions and
Depth of Trance
• the deeper the trance, the more influential
the suggestion
Interspersing and Imbedding
Suggestions
• Speak to the unconscious with stories,
metaphors, ideas and phrases that convey
the desired suggestion.
Erickson’s Principles of
Individualization and
Utilization
• Tune-in to the patient’s use of language and
accept whatever they present in trance.
• Use what they present in trance to “speak
their language”.