Creating Or Re-Experiencing A Pleasant Scene Hypnosis - Part 1

This induction, like the Perceiving Sensations induction, is very economical. It may appear to be quite simple, which it is, but that should not imply that it is easy. Clinicians who can use these inductions effectively usually have some previous hypnotherapy experience and already know some other inductions. People trained in neurolinguistic programming as well as hypnosis often prefer these inductions because they utilize the subject's current, ongoing behavior. These are also the inductions of choice among many Ericksonian hypnotherapists in Mexico, where the rich culture and language may aid in joining with a person's sensory experience.

Compared to conventional psychotherapy, hypnotherapy accelerates rapport because subjects must feel trust if the therapist is to lead them through the steps of trancework. Trust and rapport are expedited even more with inductions such as this one, in which the therapist closely observes subjects, pacing and leading their behavior. The therapist's leverage for influencing behavioral change may also be accelerated in very "personal" inductions such as these, in which subject and therapist seem to dance in sync.

We have found that subjects who do not close their eyes have difficulty experiencing these inductions. Accordingly, we like to find out about eye closure before we begin. We may say, for example, "Do this for me, please: Close your eyes for a second or two ... good ... now go ahead and close your eyes while I count to ten ... good, how did that feel?" We then ask if they would like to keep their eyes closed throughout today's trancework in order to have a more complete and pleasant (seeding) experience. Most people will say yes, but if the answer is no, we usually go to another induction, such as Eye Fixation or Don't Try Too Hard. If people feel uncomfortable with eye closure, this must be respected.